would any one be able to help me out on how to read the full story please TIA, Can someone please tell me how to get a Manual for my 1998 Gazal Champion Caravan, I want to do it up but dont know all the specs. Yeah my fathers side were 10 poms and worked at Viscount. Commencing operation in 1956, at one time Viscount was the largest caravan manufacturer in Australia, easily outstripping the total number of caravans produced today. Includes all luggage, accessories and passengers. ACE Jubilee Viceroy / 5 2009 | Touring Caravan. If you have a caravan restoration or DIY build you think Australia would like to see, please let us know by emailing us at sayhello@rvdaily.com.au or use our contact page. A truly beautiful van. Fully renovated with new paint inside and out, new curtains and new queen size bed which lifts up for extra storage. If nothing else, it takes up less space than other caravan refrigerators. Which is a longwinded way of answering question two is it any good? Body length: 6.7m (22ft) Overall length: 8.56m (28ft) Width . 21 V3.1 Cafe (Available with reverse ensuite) 21 V3.4 Club (Reverse ensuite) 21 V3.2 Club. $73,990.00. This is testament to the quality of these vintage vans still around after all these years! And soon youll be able to hire Wilde for your own holiday adventures! Soon after, John began building caravans for a small, local business before deciding to build his own caravan, which they lived in when their daughter Jacky was born. Mt Isa. Highly recommend. White with green strip. Go to Trading Post . Approved for Motorhome use (ADR Approved). Both the Valiant and Ambassador were re-designed in 1965 with the dynamic new lightning flash on the side. Dont forget to see more of Velzy on Instagram: @velzyandsol. One of the hardest things about the entire build was the amount of forethought that has to go into every little detail, as well as ensuring that all the compliance is adhered to (especially rules surrounding running 240v cabling and gas compliance). Viscount set the standard for great value, luxury caravans with an exclusive selection of high quality appliances and fittings. Salty is another Viscount van that has been lovingly revamped into a perfect family holiday home. It was with some delight, then, that we learned the name was being given a new lease on life by the Concept group of companies. The caravan - $3.3k (a steal from Gumtree) Panel painting - $3.2k (this process isn't cheap but it was worth it, as it's not something we could do ourselves) Decals - under $500. You can see more of Sadie over at @weekendswithsadie and check out the accompanying blog for more: Weekends with Sadie. Can sleep up to 4 people. You could start with #caravanrenovation and then get more specific to search things like: #viscountcaravan #vintagecaravan #vintagecaravanrenovation. The slimmer fridge (about half the width of a traditional one), means more bench-space further down. Trade Seller (56) He was asked to go but however at that stage we could not go. On top of that time was research and learning, as well as ensuring that all the compliance was adhered to so that final registration would be possible. Ideal for 2 people. Instead, niches have been cut into the wardrobes a common layout feature. Number of Leaves. We have a 2300mm club lounge (which houses the electrical set up, water pump and heater), a 2440mm kitchen bench with 600mm fold-up extension table (a very handy extra surface! After a couple of short-lived jobs, Maureen says John found himself building caravans in a small backyard operation owned by a man by the name of Hardy. General Interest Posts. It was so much fun when the workers went home. Her character and personality have not been lost, as she retains those cute cabinet doors and hardware, yet shes looking fresh and bright! Its not aluminium framed, though, which was a hallmark of the old Viscounts, and thats something that would improve this van. If youve got a Millard and particularly want to check out DIY renos that have been completed on the Millard brand, then head on over to our post: Millard Caravans | Caravan Renovation Series. my Dad and I bought a new Viscount in 1967,I only sold it about four years ago,under pressure from the wife.It was the last of the silver finishes,and I polished it all over,and it looked beautiful.Certainly was a sad day to see it drive away. . Just ordered our Viscount V3.1! The maximum legal caravan width in Australia is 2.5 metres. Raym provided the following information on 29 April 2008: According to the Adelaide phone book in 1958, 59, 60 & 66 Viscount were located at 306 Glen . WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. Gordon Cairnsdale, whod steered the company for many years, died suddenly after a road accident late one night on his way home from the factory. The highly practical V1 layout is the perfect upgrade, or an easy to tow first . I bought a vintage caravan. The Carr family also grew, with four daughters and a son following in close succession. See more pictures of the Viscount over at @ourvintagecaravan. Ive only included a selection of photos from each caravan, so head over to their Instagram profile to see more photos and information. 240 volt power inlet on side of van full of water as sides and bottom of module sealed but not the top. It rides atop load-levelling leaf springs and has a reasonably light ball-weight of 101kg, which gives it plenty of room to be loaded up forward of the axle. This included welding the new suspension in place, a completely rebuilt and extended drawbar, custom rear bar to carry our 2 spare tyres, new step location under the new door, 4x wind down leg brackets and a couple of spot welds on the chassis where the old door used to be. Well let Dominic tell you about his incredible rebuild: Wed never attempted anything close to the scale of a complete rebuild and it was only 3 days between deciding to purchase an old caravan, and starting work on the rebuild once we bought the van for $2050 from just a few kilometres away. roads. I would like to contact your father to chat about his memories of working at Viscount Caravans. Not long after that, the former junior accountant was appointed managing Director of Viscount Industries. GROSS COMBINATION MASS (GCM)Maximum allowable weight of car and caravan combined as set by manufacturer. The Viscount V2 is fitted with all of the standard features that are now expected from the Viscount range, this dual axle ensuite van is sure to please. Because the house battery is inside, under the bed, this boot is aside from the Camec Brake Safe unit completely unencumbered, so theres plenty of room for the chairs, ground mat and all the other items we pack. Sadie. They were fantastic to deal with, have hundreds of designs and print to your exact custom dimensions so its exactly how you want it. ), full-size double bed, full-size single bunks, 128L Thetford 3-way fridge, Dometic 4 burner gas cooktop with grill and integrated oven, 900mm x 800mm ensuite with Thetford bench toilet and shower above. The cabinetry is constructed of 15mm CNC-cut lightweight ply finished in glossy laminate. TOTAL TOW VEHICLE AND CARAVAN LENGTH The 'total length' for travelling (tow vehicle connected to the caravan) must not exceed 19.0 metres. Sitting on a six inch chassis, coupled with all terrian wheels and tyres, this van can handle national parks and dirt roads with ease. Our awning is a 4m Fiamma F45S Wind-Out awning. Thanks guys at Explorer Caravans in Prospect South Australia. Caravan Towing Weights you absolutely must know: VEHICLE TARE WEIGHTWeight of empty vehicle with all fluids but only 10L of fuel. Grossweight from*. My brother and I caused so much grief for my dad. So your caravan's GTM limit is 1200 kg. Here are a couple of resources Ive found useful. Best check your source on that one. Viscount Caravans Ltd. are . After taking over arch-rival Millard in 1978, three out of every four vans sold were Viscount vans. We have V1 since Jan2019 and couldnt be happier! Learn More. This is set by the manufacturer and includes luggage, accessories and passengers. Hi Ed. Among the other features, the V3 has a Gree reverse-cycle air-conditioner, a microwave built into the overhead kitchen cabinetry, reading lights at the dinette and bed, and a flatscreen TV a swivel-arm bracket is mounted to the forward end of the kitchen. This new one is, maybe, a little more-fancy than what the everyman needs, but it comes pretty close. I got a plastic skateboard that didnt steer LOL. There are certainly some similarities. Another Viscount from our DIY Caravan Renovations post is VanWarro. Forum Guidelines & Helpful Forum Hints. General 2008 onwards. Double doored, I was expecting the freezer to be at the bottom, but thats actually a pull-out drawer for tall bottles and the like (they wont fit in the door trays), while the freezer is up top. (1965/66?) View more. Available in seven layouts, the range caters for families, couples and solo travelers, with bunk bed, and single bed options. The only part of the build (except 240v and gas) that I didnt do myself was the welding. We had a Viscount for years best part of growing up spending time in the caravan. The smallest and lightest in the Viscount range, the single . His name was Frederick Kirk. Should You Travel To Bushfire Affected Communities? The bathroom gets a top-loader washing machine, a cassette toilet and central vanity. Facebook proved to be a fantastic resource for information from people who have previously done this type of project, as well as hundreds of hours of YouTube tutorials and videos that I watched when I wasnt physically working on the van itself. Wanting road test-performance info on 2005/6/7 Viscount Sportz Caravans. Over the past 3 years, weve lived almost exclusively off-grid in the Jayco so a good power set up was essential and actually accounted for 10% of our total build cost. I remember john carr and Gary Dunn. GEPPS CROSS Trailers & Mobile homes More info. Maxium Overall Length is 19 . We have done the hard work for you to come up with a package that considersthe entire familys needs. However some friends bought a new Viscount Sports 17ft pop top about a year . Viscount Caravans have simplified purchasing a new caravan for your family. Viscount Caravans launched many models over their reign as the largest caravan manufacturer in the country, but the most recognised were the Valiant (1962-75), Ambassador (1964-70), Royal (1971-78) and Supreme (1975-80) models. Luna is the second iteration of this caravan renovation. Saying that, the ensuite is nice. Your email address will not be published. Body Length 6020mm My father worked as a General Manager, at Australian Screw Company. For more detail on how to work out each measurement, head to the How to Measure Caravan Lengths article. Loved ever minute in it. Show: . I remember, vaguely an enormous Xmas party at Orange Grove Road , 1 time only. If you havent seen this style of hitch before, it is absolutely phenomenal and a complete life & marriage saver. Viscount brought mass production to the industry, making stylish and durable caravans affordable for average families for the first time. Velzy has the great fortune of being owned by a young family that love getting away in her whenever they can. Love the finishes & the price. 43 Items . SPECS. One of the reasons Im putting this caravan renovation series together, is to bring together a group of people that can help each other and so that you can find answers to some of those tricky questions. Hope this article helps a bit with compliance plates. needs couple of window catches and new stickers f and r. touch up stripes on side and its magic. PRIVACY POLICY Bench seat reupholstery - $750-$1000 (for labour only - I sourced the material myself) Hover over image to zoom . Why not check out the V-Series options list, or check out the all new Premium Upgrade; Viscount Caravans are proudly Australian owned and made. (this included sewing all the curtains and cushion covers myself). Jethro the Viscount is a great example of how much difference you can achieve even when youre just making cosmetic changes. John was a talented carpenter and both went to work straight away. And look at her! Thank u for the memories x. Hi. To measure the height of a caravan window . A perfect little haven for this family of four. In terms of the vans self-sufficiency, you could expect to live comfortable for a few days away from civilisation. We have been living in a V2 for 6 months and towed it for over 5000 km. He has those rare skills of integrity, honesty and fairness. Twin beading enables the Viscount to also be used on a . Always adopting new innovations, Viscounts were known for their large, curved wraparound corner windows, as well as their aluminium cladding, referred to as Duralvans. The newlyweds were part of the Ten Pound Pom wave of immigrants paid to come and help ease the countrys post-war labour shortage. The TBW changes every time you add, subtract or shift your payload (luggage, accessories, water, fuel, passengers etc.). In the 1960s, as Australians became more prosperous, Viscount was producing stylish and durable caravans prolifically. Like Peter Findley, we found them excellent to deal with. Viscount Caravans is an iconic Australian Caravan brand with history dating back to the 50 's. Proudly Australian made and Australian owned, Viscount Caravans aims to set the standard for fantastic value luxury caravans with a handpicked selection of quality appliances and fittings. Fitted with a spacious interior and standard features youd usually expect to pay for, the V2represents exceptional value as a home away from home. But there are a couple of Facebook groups that may be helpful: "Fix It or Renovate That Caravan Australia." Senior staff and their families were also rewarded with fact-finding tours to the US. Join us as we dive into the history of this caravanning icon. 2794. It weighs 2118kg at tare and can handle another 400kg of stuff, which, if you can sacrifice 18kg of load capacity, makes it old Prado-friendly. <p>The Viscount 400 is Camptech's flagship inflatable awning made from high quality Climatech material. Competition was strong between the now 60-odd manufacturers, with each company attempting to produce superior caravans. Viscount Caravans is an iconic Australian Caravan brand with history dating back to the 50s. Follow Jethros journeys over on @Jethro_the_Viscount on Instagram. we are now in Alice Springs. For more information, see our disclosures here. Length measured from eye-to-eye or eye-to-slipper. Battery 1 x 100ah Style Touring caravan The van has 4 water tanks. We stock new and used caravans and motorhomes from a range of brands including Bailey, Swift, Elddis and Sunlight. Huge lounge area when the double bed is folded into the wall. This gives us the ability to have virtually endless hot showers when we are near a water source as we can also pump from an external water source straight to the water system. As glorious as they look, in full 1970's colour schemes, there's a ton of work in resorting an old van. The ATM of 2780kg gives the van a payload capacity of 500kg which, again, is a reasonable figure. Sadie is a 1971 Viscount Ambassador and when she first arrived (back in 2016) they just gave her exterior the new coat of paint she needed. Great Savings & Free Delivery / Collection on many items. Viscount grew quickly, moving to a new purpose-built factory and a few years later to NSW. Sometimes the threads are a bit old, but theyre still chock full of helpful information. With things like tow vehicles, weights, varying styles and PPSR checks, there are a lot of things to consider. There are three Vs to the new Viscount range, largely separated by length and chassis dimentions. Overall, the fit and finish of the Viscount V3 is of a high standard. They are metal and quite heavy, hence the chipping. Most outbound links are affiliate links.We participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. It is quite light to tow and Prado friendly.InteriorThe V1 has LED lighting throughout an. Take measurements from the surface of the jambs, not from the weatherstripping or rods the window that goes to change. Can Your Caravan Help After The Bushfires. View Photos. Viscount has made its return with five different layouts and sizes initially available we hooked-up the tandem-axle V3 for a shakedown run in country Victoria. . The same thing happened when we later bought the factory site at Orange Grove Road. In the 1970s when Aussies sang of their love for football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holdens, odds were that close behind the car was a Viscount caravan. Proudly Australian made and Australian owned, Viscount Caravans aims to set the standard for fantastic value luxury caravans with a handpicked selection of quality appliances and fittings. This was a very detailed job involving both strip out, repairs and re sheeting, removing all windows and trims for resealing and custom . It offers greater off-grid capabilities, upgraded appliances, a new, modern . This practicality makes it a great option for a first . Have a single bed van had to put things under needs drop down doors on side. At its peak in 1978, not long after taking over arch-rival Millard, Viscount accounted for three out of every four caravans and campers sold. Viscount Caravans are proudly Australian owned and made. See less Towing Length 7870mm Contact Us. All our lighting is by Narva, with warm white being our colour of choice. According to Dunn, Cairnsdale had been a crucial partner in the business, working with Carr to make it successful. Its exceptional design and specifications makes it an ideal awning for all your holiday needs. Max Taylor has been caravanning since he was a kid and was the editor of some of Australia's most well-known RV publications for almost 10 years. Blinds? And guess what you can hire her for YOUR family holiday! With only basic hand tools and a few Ryobi 18v battery tools, we started the rebuild on a vacant block of land owned by a friend. Cladding: High profile aluminium; composite aluminium front, rear and roof, Wheels: 15in alloy with all terrain tyres, Cooking: Thetford Caprice MkIII four-burner, with griller and oven, Refrigeration: Thetford, with separate compartments, Shower: Variable-height, separate cubicle. and check out the accompanying blog for more: You can hire Salty for yourself over on Camplify (, And see more pictures of her on her own Instagram, You can see more photos of Sunny over on Instagram, You may remember @ourvintagecaravan from our post. Corporate Office, P.B.No-5424, Mascot Square, Thiruvananthapuram-695033 - Kerala. sorry ,got carried away. You can see more pictures on our post: DIY Caravan Renovations | More Aussie Gems. Phone: +91-471-2721243 . Advertisement. The smallest, and lightest in its range, the Viscount V1 squeezes all of the modern day comforts into just a single axle caravan. Kit. The most common term used when talking about caravan length is the body length. This is outside length of the body of the caravan, not including the draw bar, rear bar or any accessories. ALL RV'S. Caravans. The Viscount Caravans brand dates back to the 1950s, when carpenter John Carr and his wife Maureen arrived in Adelaide as British Ten Pound Pom immigrants. Would buy a caravan when i win lotto ? She just happened to charm a farmer passing by the single caravan they had on display at the Royal Adelaide Show. And just type [cowra caravans] for more photos & info. 9,995. NEVER USED - NEW AND STILL IN WRAPPING ALWAYS KEPT UNDERCOVER FULLY OPTIONED - CAFE DINING ENTRY CABINET DELUX STARTER KIT PLUS ADDITIONAL BATTERY ADJUSTABLE TOW COUPLING ANTI FLAP KIT, 2 X ROOF RAFTERS, LONG AND SHORT WALL PRIVACY SCREEN FULLY ENCLOSED CUSTOM-MADE CANOPY FOR EXTRA ROOM AND COMFORT AVAILABLE NOW OTHERWISE 6 MONTH'S WAIT FROM RETAILERS GENUINE OFFERS ONLY Non Negotiable . We have a 2300mm club lounge (which houses the electrical set up, water pump and heater), a 2440mm kitchen bench with 600mm fold-up extension table (a very handy extra surface! Both the Valiant and Ambassador were re-designed in 1965 with the dynamic new 'lightning flash' on the side. and happy travels Viscount buyers. Read the full story download the app to readIssue 11 of ROAM magazine. At one time it was a powerhouse in Australian manufacturing, producing seven out of every 10 caravans on the market. JC actually came to our house in Cabramatta in a Gold Maserati and took me for a cruise to Warwick Farm and back , I must have been 7 or 8 yrs old. All Rights Reserved. Viscount Caravans describe their fleet as being good value with a touch of luxury. FLOORPLAN. Length of entire caravan from tip of drawbar to furtherest point at the caravans rear, Length of entire caravan from furtherest point at the the front to the furtherest point at the rear (with beds popped out), Length from the middle of the front awning arm to the middle of the rear awning arm, Length from furtherest point at the front of the tow vehicle to the furtherest point at the rear of the caravan, Weight of Vehicle + Oil & Fluids + 10L Fuel, Weight of Caravan + Only Factory-fitted Accessories, Maximum Allowable Weight of Car + Caravan, Maximum Allowable Weight the Vehicle Can Tow, Open Length (for vans with pop-out/ slide-out beds), Combination Length (both car + van when hitched up), Parking areas (if theyve got height bars, I wouldnt even attempt it! Viscount Caravans launched many models over their reign as the largest caravan manufacturer in the country, but the most recognised were the Valiant (1962-75), Ambassador (1964-70), Royal (1971-78) and Supreme (1975-80) models. We do not use your information for anything else, nor do we pass this information onto third parties. Its quite a long-affair, too. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Two Australian vintage caravans I spotted on my travels.. A Holden Kingswood HQ sedan was purchased and we became the 1970's quintessential caravanning family with the Holden towing the Viscount. GoRV is the country's premier recreational vehicle media group. SOUL SEEKER. Caravan heights in Australia must not exceed 4.3 metres. Its also tropical rated, so should be fine up north if you stay longer than you should. As the years of hard work brought big rewards in the 1970s, the Carrs travelled the globe, making alliances and doing deals. Here are 3 Ways to Measure Caravan Tow Ball Weight. Very happy Packed with standard features you'd expect from a van priced thousands above, this ensuite van packs a whole lot of punch. Best floor plan for a family with a few kids. It was an amazing place, amazing play ground. living in our V2 since March last year. Great service, down to earth service so far. Maureen Carr says her late husband suffered from mild autism, a secret they never told their children. On road, though, the V2 tows great. Yep, the new Viscount is pretty good. Egon and Carol somewhere in the Northern Territory, We have just ordered a Viscount V2 Premium. Sadie is a 1971 Viscount Ambassador and when she first arrived (back in 2016) they just gave her exterior the new coat of paint she needed. He just convinced the market gardeners who were there it was time to move on, Maureen says. Size. Its got an innerspring mattress which is of medium softness. Do any readers have any experience with it? You can see more photos of Sunny over on Instagram @project.sixteen. The table below shows the size of each caravan length available in Australia in feet, millimetres and metres. I also liked the kitchen, with its cooktop well recessed into the bench and gas burners far away from the nearest combustible surface. With extensive help from Dave at Huntsman Products in Victoria, we now have a 2.5T rated roller rocker suspension system with 10 electric brakes. For a fully explained version (with pics) of towing weights, check out the Caravan Towing Weights article and if youre ready to work out your own towing weights, here are the step-by-step instructions for How to Weigh a Caravan.