Abi Monza 3.60D Deluxe Caravan

[Banshee]

So I've decided for now that I'm going to spruce up the caravan and at least use it a few times and as it was totally free I'm going to throw a little cash at it to make it look a bit more modern and welcoming. I may sell it if I don't really end up enjoying it but I reckon I may look at storing this and going away in it and also using it for Green Laning weekenders :thumb2

So it's a 1985 Abi Monza 3.60D Deluxe which according to the product brochure is a 4 berth Caravan :clap

 

[panelbeater]

you once said you wished you could live like me,always out in my van,well now you can lol.

 

[Blocky10]

Good man. Living veg! Now you'll be eating and sleeping veg!!:lol You'll wake up starving cos of the smell

 

[Banshee]

The look over

I've been in and around the Caravan and made a list of issues that need to be dealt with but on the whole it's a solid little caravan, I expected it to be plagued with issues after being stood for a few years at a farm but I was very surprised with the condition, I've paid money for worse!!!!!!!

Underneath the chassis looks solid, no damage to the floors, wheels and tyres are in good condition (came with a spare wheel fitted with a new spare that's not touched the tarmac). Brakes work, handbrake works, jockey wheel works, hitch was a bit seized but I've freed that up now.

The body has no dents or scrapes and really just wanted a jet wash, I took it to the local garage as can been seen in the previous post. I think I'm going to paint the outside but going to wait for warmer weather for that.

Inside is very dated but that's soon to change, the gas heater and gas hobs work but I'm going to get these passed by a professional before I use them as I don't want to kill myself with Carbon Monoxide poisoning. The windows are all in good shape as are the seals, no damp anywhere at all, I've checked every nook and cranny.

Let the project commence....................

 

[Banshee]

you once said you wished you could live like me,always out in my van,well now you can lol.

Said it, meant it, did it!!!!!

Good man. Living veg! Now you'll be eating and sleeping veg!!:lol You'll wake up starving cos of the smell

:lol :lol

 

[Banshee]

 

[Banshee]

Decided I'm going to tackle the inside first, so straight to it

These bad boys are going way soon to be covered as I need to hide all references to the 80's!!!

Even got the girlfriend helping!!!!!!

We went for a Matt Emulsion Dulux Easy Care which is cleanable as it's inevitable camping that it may get dirty from time to time. I was going to go for a light grey but in a last minute moment of madness decided to go for Dulux Colour of the year 2017 - Denim Drift, not too sure on it yet :lol

 

[Banshee]

Grabbed a few quick snaps this morning before I left for work and it's growing on me :thumb2 I'm going to do the wooden units and furnishings in a different colour which I'm not going to decide on until I've finished painting everything else.

 

[Blocky10]

No photos in your last 2 posts pal:nenau

 

[Banshee]

No photos in your last 2 posts pal:nenau

I can see them all :S

I know Photobucket where I host them was down yesterday, maybe they are having problems again

 

[rustic]

When you do a refit, measure what materials they useded in the original build, some ply might only be 3 mm thick, and timber bracing only 20x20mm but it did the job for bed bases for 30 years.

My temptation would be to use 9 or 12 mm ply and 35mm worktops, but the caravan was built to keep the weight down, so you need to keep everything lightweight, or you are eating into your payload rapidly.

Use glue where possible.

Note modern 3mm ply is made from basically chips and air spaces on the inner cores, it has little structural strength. I bought some 9 mm from wickes recently and when I cut it, it delaminated.

If you weigh the materials that you have taken out, you will be surprised as to how light it all is. Then compare it to a piece of melamine coated chipboard.

Just thought I'd mention that.

Rustic

 

[Banshee]

When you do a refit, measure what materials they useded in the original build, some ply might only be 3 mm thick, and timber bracing only 20x20mm but it did the job for bed bases for 30 years.

My temptation would be to use 9 or 12 mm ply and 35mm worktops, but the caravan was built to keep the weight down, so you need to keep everything lightweight, or you are eating into your payload rapidly.

Use glue where possible.

Note modern 3mm ply is made from basically chips and air spaces on the inner cores, it has little structural strength. I bought some 9 mm from wickes recently and when I cut it, it delaminated.

If you weigh the materials that you have taken out, you will be surprised as to how light it all is. Then compare it to a piece of melamine coated chipboard.

Just thought I'd mention that.

Rustic

Thanks for the advice Rustic I'll bare all that in mind, but to be honest I don't think I'll be doing anything like that apart from possibly replacing the kitchen tops.

 

[Banshee]

Can everyone see the pictures?

 

[don simon]

Can everyone see the pictures?

All 23.
Looking good. :clap

 

[Banshee]

All 23.
Looking good. :clap

Cheers mate, I'm not going too mad with it, kinda doing it on a budget.

This is a pretty similar one to what I have and they have done a very nice job inside, I'm going to do a bit more than they have, I'm going to be painting the wooden units too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322426711389?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I need to source me a toilet door as mine is missing :doh

 

[don simon]

Cheers mate, I'm not going too mad with it, kinda doing it on a budget.

This is a pretty similar one to what I have and they have done a very nice job inside, I'm going to do a bit more than they have, I'm going to be painting the wooden units too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322426711389?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I need to source me a toilet door as mine is missing :doh

Why not just a curtain? It's not like the door gives that much privacy anyway.
I'd have a look at Clarke's Amazing Spaces for ideas on how to fit it out too.

 

[Blocky10]

I can see them all :S

I know Photobucket where I host them was down yesterday, maybe they are having problems again

Yup. See all photo's now. They were little boxes with squiggles in them:nenau

 

[Blocky10]

Thanks for the advice Rustic I'll bare all that in mind, but to be honest I don't think I'll be doing anything like that apart from possibly replacing the kitchen tops.

Granite? :lol

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

When you do a refit, measure what materials they useded in the original build, some ply might only be 3 mm thick, and timber bracing only 20x20mm but it did the job for bed bases for 30 years.

My temptation would be to use 9 or 12 mm ply and 35mm worktops, but the caravan was built to keep the weight down, so you need to keep everything lightweight, or you are eating into your payload rapidly.

Use glue where possible.

Note modern 3mm ply is made from basically chips and air spaces on the inner cores, it has little structural strength. I bought some 9 mm from wickes recently and when I cut it, it delaminated.

If you weigh the materials that you have taken out, you will be surprised as to how light it all is. Then compare it to a piece of melamine coated chipboard.

Just thought I'd mention that.

Rustic

You will find the "Throw out Corner" in Ikea is your friend when doing modifications to the caravan. A lot of their cabinet shelves are light weight, with hollow cores, ideal for making shelves in the caravan, and the backs of their wardrobes, which are 2x 8ft, x 2ft, 3mm MDF, folded in half lengthways, so basically 8ft x 4ft, sell for £2.

 

[emjaybee]

Granite? :lol

I'd have suggested tumbled Travertine marble myself, set it apart from the humdrum.

:augie