Yesterday I had the privilege of weighing a caravan in the suburban streets of Pimpama. The caravan was a charming 1978 Millard caravan.
The customer is restoring this beautiful aluminium vacation home on wheels and needed it weighed for road registration. All he needed was axle weight, tow ball weight, and total weight so he can take the steps necessary for weighing.
It is amazing how lightweight this classic Aussie caravan weighed in:
748kgs on the axle, 216kgs on the tow ball, adding up to a total weight of only 964kgs.
It’s no wonder the old Falcons, Holdens, and Valiants had no trouble towing these old classics to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast beaches back in the day!
While getting the wheels back on to the hubs, I was able to see the simple construction of the leaf springs, solid axle, and brakes. The brakes are mechanical by inertia. As the towball hitch compresses during stopping, the brakes apply via leverage and cables.
The chassis or frame of the caravan was box steel welded construction. Profile of the steel was only approximately 25mm x 35mm. Plywood was used as the flooring. No plumbing or wiring underneath. Very simple. All plumbing and wiring is above the floor and inside cabinets. Oh for the simple life!
I enjoyed my visit to the new and bustling neighbourhoods of Pimpama for the mobile caravan weighing session. It has changed so much from the sleepy town with little more than a sawmill and a shop that specialised in commercial scales for shops and warehouses. The ‘South Coast Highway’ or ‘Highway 1’ was positioned to run directly through the main street of town back in the 1960s and earlier.
If you would like your caravan, vehicle, trailer, camper, boat, or RV weighed in Pimpama, I am happy to call by anytime. Contact me at 0474 911 123 or book on the booking form today.
Remember, I can also help with caravan and camper servicing, repairs, and pre-trip servicing.
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