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How to makeover a 1973 caravan?

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Need kitchen, dinner, bed and new owner. How? I have looked at the projects on Bunnings and spoken to someone from my local Bunnings store. BASICALLY I don't know what to do. I want to make what missing. I don't have any of the parts moved and gone. This is my first project. So first thing first the kitchen. How to build a kitchen cabinet for the bench top? Any ideas out there be greatly appreciated. Ngaa mihi Maria from Te Awamutu Waipa. NZ

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twocutekelpies

Hi @MaTH

Keeping the weight down is very important in caravans so I follow original construction of cabinetry and use stick frame. I mostly use 30x18 or 40x18 unless something needs to be more structural. I staple the frame together (also following original methods), fix the frame to the floor and wall of the caravan (preferably screwing into the van framing) and then glue 3mm caravan ply to the cupboard frame to create the skin. Not sure if you have it there, but I use the mouldings for wet panels for joiners, corners and capping.

See below for a few things I've made in 2 of my caravans

Created to go over the wheel arch Shelves added using 3mm plyFront and sides added. I used a router for the opening Skinned and fire extinguisher bay added with Hevea Benchtop from Bunnings Bed frame from pine with ply slats and gas struts to hold up Frame formed either side of bed After skinning and cupboards added

Overhead cupboards can be tricky to fit unless you know where your frame is. Originally they were attached from outside with hundreds of staples and a few nails/screws before the outside cladding went on. I strip the inside and add timber noggins into my wall framing and ceiling to be able to screw the cupboard frames into for better support.

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EricL

Hello @MaTH

Thanks for sharing your question about your caravan renovation. I can give you recommendations in regards to what materials you can use to build your kitchen and bed. But I will have to defer to our members who have done full blown caravan renovations as they will be more familiar with how big the kitchen should be.

Here is a link to ideas and inspiration: 15 caravan and campervan renovation projects.

Let me call on our experienced members @Peggers, @twocutekelpies, @LizzieCro and @selva for their recommendations on how big the kitchen should be.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

twocutekelpies

Hi @MaTH

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MaTH

Thank you @twocutekelpies for sharing and thank you for the tips. I like how you used stick frame and I like "structural". Yes fixing to the floor screws and glues. I'm sorry I need to do some research eg research what are panel? I think I know what moldings are. I have no idea of cabinetry. Very raw. So raw I got carried away and ripped out everything now I'm finding I have to put it all back because people don't want to an empty caravan for 4k.

Jason

Looking forward to seeing how you can transform the van @MaTH. I imagine the key is breaking the project into small, manageable tasks so it doesn't feel so overwhelming.

The three-part guide How to renovate a caravan by experienced member @Peggers should offer lots of helpful advice for getting started.

Great to see you have already been inspired by some caravan projects by other Workshop members.

Jason

MaTH

Yes same here. I wonder too!

twocutekelpies

@MaTH I couldn't search NZ Bunnings site but these are the panel mouldings I was referring to, I'm not sure if you have something similar there. - https://www.bunnings.com.au/search/products?page=1&q=wall+art+joiners

If you're not doing the project to keep, you may want to cut your losses and sell the caravan empty as a project for someone else to do. Do you still have everything you took out? Rebuild costs can add up quickly and it's not often you can make a profit as a fit out and flip.

Shelley

MaTH

Yeah I might have to @twocutekelpies! Everything i took out of it destroyed. In your opinion how much do you think it's worth aiwi? It has a rego & new Wof. Ewof 2026. Dry no leaks. Jockey wheel abit bent. No kitchen. No diner. No seats.

twocutekelpies

Oh that's a shame @MaTH

Valuing a caravan is a bit like real estate - location, demand and condition all factor in, what might be worth $4k in one location may only get $1k in another. Best to have a look on your local Buy, Swap and Sell on Facebook to see what other caravans are selling for in a similar condition.

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