Our Touring Past

I recieved an email from Graham and Merrin form South Australia last week enquiring about a little caravan thay have just purchased. They had done a bit of research and thought that it could be a Rowvan, but wasnt sure.

It looks as though it is a Rowvan, but it has a couple of things that I wasnt sure about. Such as the cut off at the top of the door, and the profile curve of either end.
The typical Rowvan short axle and no wheel arches.
The typical Rowvan coupling.

I asked Graham and Merrin to send some interior shots before I could say for sure if it was a Rowvan or not.
The first two photos pretty much confirmed that this is a Rowvan, there is also a few other things that confirm it as well, the kitchen stove recess and the wardrobe.

But in saying all that I could still not work out why there was a cut of at the top of the door. Was it a modification done years ago because the owner was a tall person ?
Well the answer was staring me in the face all of the time. The third photo down shows the table mounted sideways across the front, this would give about 2 feet from the front to the side of the door. Where as in my Rowvan I have a dinette across the front which gives about three feet from the front to the door. Problem solved, it this is actually a 10'6" Rowvan, so because it is shorter the door moves slightly to the front causing the Rows to cut the top of the door down to follow the roof line.

The two photos below show the difference between my 12' Rowvan and Graham and Merrins 10'6" Rowvan.

Hi Richard

Regarding the door cutout and your explanation. If you look at the pink Rowvan in this thread, you will see that there is no cutout at the door. Yet it too is a 10ft 6 inch van. So perhaps the mystery for the cutout is still there!!

http://vintagecaravans.proboards.com/in ... hread=8863

Ray

I know the van in question , prior to the current owners purchasing it, it is definitly a Rowvan.

Would enjoy seeing the van and progress if any


Dave

Hi Dave.
I haven't heard any more of this van since I originally posted the photos.
I too would like to see some progress photos, as you all know we love vintage caravan photo restorations.
Cheers.