FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Dear Brains Trust, I have several questions all related. I've just bought a late 50's early 60's 13 foot caravan aluminium. It's probably 800-900 kg's. My FE has a towbar, standard suspension, a fresh 138 bored to (60 thou) 144 Ci, 20/60 cam, extractors and 2" system, 13" wheels and has unleaded conversion.

1) What should I do with my springs
2) What should I do with my shocks
3) What should I do with my wiring......My FE has the blinking Tail/Stop/indicator set up and I'd like to keep it original ?
4) Should there be any Tow bar changes?

5) The Van has one stop/Tail light + clearance lights up high

Main roads department say that I can keep wiring/lighting completely original or I must convert to full compliance. I'm not sure if the wiring on the FE can stay and convert the van to full compliance to make towing safe. So it's either convert both or leave both.

This makes the van in my view less safe...just one tail light with clearance lights.

 ??? :-\I think the FE light set up is safe and I'd like to see the same set up on the van??????

Any other comments/suggestions welcome.

Over to my friends of the forum.

Cheers Moe`t

G'Day Moe't

What I have done with my FE that tows my 600kg van is

Changed the leaf springs to ute or panel van units, additional leafs, sits a little bit higher at the back

I just renewed my shocks from oil to gas filled

When doing the tow bar wiring I think I had to run 2 wires up under the dash to pick up the blinkers from where they exit the steering column?

Our old caravan came with 1 stop tail in centre rear and a blinker on each side, all works well and other road users seem to keep away, funny that  ::)

I would just look around for a period pair of blinkers and wire them into the van and if anything is said just say they have always been there


(http://s7.postimage.org/6oxv7q69j/COLEDALE_2010_3_PA130120.jpg) ($2)

Gary

Thanks Gary, You are a mind reader re- the rear lights. I have had a chap say to go for air shocks. Other than that your comments are very much the same. Your comments are appreciated.......Nice van and sedan unit.

Cheers Moe`t ;)

Moe't

If going with any rear shocks other than standard, it might pay to beef up the upper mounting points on the body

Not long after I changed mine over the gusset on one side where it attaches pulled away the spot welds

Also forgot to mention, a set of uplift or as some people refer to as helper springs, will also firm things up

Good luck with it all

Gary

G'day Moe't

Another crazy Vintage Van owner  ;D

Have you checked out the Vintage Caravan website
Just like this one.. Lots of interesting people with lots of information & knowledge

http://vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi

I haven't been there for a while now because of the wagon being off the road for the rebuild.

I tow a heavy steel framed/aluminium Baravan with the FC wagon
Modified the caravan with electric brakes, and use load leveling bars on the tow hitch to keep it level
Wagon is modified with 202, disc brakes up front (stopping a car and caravan with drums was toooo scarey  :o for me), helper springs and heavy duty Monroe shockies

It's not an ideal set up,  the motor suffers with "pinging"
I only do short trips usually

Not sure if it's 100% legal  ::)
I work on the theory,It's pretty safe and If I behave I wont get picked up ( and the police are more interested in talking about their youth and what they did in their FCs, rather than booking a classic combo cruising safely down the highway))

This is like drugs.. You know it's wrong and you should use your money for sensible things,  but you just can't give it up, and you suffer withdrawal symptoms if you don't get a fix

Have fun

 8) 8) 8)

Update......I have just been to see the chap at Pedders suspension who told me that they are changing the way they provide caravan suspension upgrades on old cars. Instead of getting heavier springs and air shocks they are now simply installing 'air bag' suspension which is fitted above the leaf springs and the chassis. Then add air to level the car and van height, connect your anti-sway bars and that should be OK in most cases.
Apparently the heavier springs option produces a rough, hard ride after unhooking your van/trailer.

With the airbag solution you just let the car/air down to normal height and the ride is good.......so the Pedders man says. I will wait until he gets a look at the set up and see what kits are available.

Then I'll report back. Yours comments/suggestions are welcome.

Cheers Moe`t

They are used a lot in the mining industry where i am .
All the work utes with heavy tool boxes fit air bag overides they simply pump them up to extra loads seem very popular.


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BOSS-Air-Bag-Suspension-Kit-for-Nissan-Navara-D22-D40-/230628806826?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35b28c50aa

Like this one should be very simple to fit and find a happy medium pressure?

I plan on towing a air bagged trailer with my sedan which has a full shockwave air bag system that is self levelling mine has onboard compressors as thats the sole suspension.

Pete

Hi Pete,
If you remember, I had air bags under my Navara.
Worked very well indeed.
Only problem is, you need air to pump them up when hooking the van up.
Without a compressor, it can sometimes be inconvenient.
Still, little air compressors are cheap, and you only need a tiny one to pump 5 to 15  psi.
(Or buy a Jeep) ;D
Ol'Gaz

UPDATE ;;; Pedders man in one town can do the airbag suspension for a princely sum. Pedders agent in another town says it isn't possible??  So I got quotes for air shocks from both as the best alternative and for 500 jelly babies we are supplied and fitted. Ride is much better and the pressure is up to a max of 90 lbs. So I run them at 50-70lbs and the ride is very good. No rolling at corners anymore. I stood my 95kgs on the towball and the back of the car did not go down. My thoughts are that because this is only a 13' van the tow ball weight is quite low and the air shocks + or - a lifter kit should be fine. I towed it 100k's at 90 kph and it was stable and 'straight as' even before the air shocks. Will keep you updated.
Cheers Moe`t

Update; The FE tows the caravan fine. Air shocks are good with no modifications. However the left rear axle slipped back on the leaf spring during my last trip because the axle 'saddle' rubbers were paper thin. They and shackle rubbers were next on my list to replace. So i'll book in next week and get the shackle rubbers replaced. Drum brakes are limited for towing but seem to cope provided they are maintained, I give myself enough space and drive responsibly. I put FE light system (blinking brake lights for indicators) on the van so no mods required. All looks and works well.
Cheers Moe`t

I can't do the pic thing Moe!What's your excuse,lol  :D

Moe't

As you suggest, if careful you don't need modern upgrades, my van tows well behind my FE also

If they did it in the day, they can do it now.

Mal fe on here has owned his FE from new, and he towed heavier vans in the day

below are some pics of ours, just click on them to enlarge

Gary

(http://s29.postimg.org/a7eq2uj6r/COLEDALE_2010_5_PA130120.jpg) ($2)

(http://s2.postimg.org/lxg2raoyt/pictures_download_from_i_phone_12_6_12_276.jpg) ($2)

Are you running just a standard tow bar?

Gidday All


Surferboy,

Having acquired a vintage caravan I am about to become

I'm interested in finding out what sort of towbar you and others are using and what sorts of loads are being towed. Is the towbar your using an original or something you've had made ?

I have an original towbar on my FE but have concerns about how its attached to the car and whether its up to the job.

Cheers

Mark

Hi Mark,
I made up my own for our Ute, mainly due to my concern of an original one not being strong enough for the purpose - specifically for towing our camper trailer from Melbourne to Perth & back for the Nats.

I used 10mm side plates to the same side anchor points at the bumper bar mounting bolts and a 65 x 65 SHS across with another 65 SHS at 90 degrees to form the mounting for a towbar hitch i.e. a standard style 50 x 50 square hitch as used on modern cars. I purchased a height adjustable hitch from Repco for $100.

If you want some pictures please let me know.

Cheers,
Trevor_B

Thanks Trevor,

I'm a "monkey see monkey" do type so pics would be great thanks. Have you done any suspension mods ? I don't like air shocks. Springs are for carrying the load, shocks are for controlling the springs not for carrying the load. I've had air bags before and they worked well on bitumen but holed easily on dirt and gravel. I've looked at a type of over ride spring that uses a coil. Has anyone used them ?

Cheers

Mark

Hi Mark,
Pics as requested:

(http://members.optusnet.com.au/blackct/towbar_front.jpg)

(http://members.optusnet.com.au/blackct/towbar_front2.jpg)

(http://members.optusnet.com.au/blackct/towbar_side.jpg)

This is our setup.

(http://members.optusnet.com.au/blackct/Ute_Trailer.jpg)

Let me know if you need more.

Cheers
Trevor_B

Thanks Trevor,
That good, all I need thanks.

Cheers

Mark

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/06/8epajese.jpg)

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/06/etevuhy8.jpg)

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/06/e5u4a7y7.jpg)

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/06/mytaty5e.jpg)

Under my wagon

Had towbar made at towbar place.  I asked for a heavyduty one.

Monroe shockies and helprr springs done 12 years ago. Just had it inspected. All still good:D

8)8)8)



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Well we bought one of those new shiny cars for the one I love. So the next drama is how are we going to tow the old van (FE blinking brake lights set up) with the new car. One sparky said he'd think about it but would probably have to add a blinker light...????
My local guy looked at my van and looked at the new rice burner and said we can just swap a few wires in the van lights and add one wire back to the trailer plug. He got the van right but couldn't get the signals working. Turns out the local rice burner dealer had wired our trailer lights wrong from new.....the car was 2 weeks old at this time. The sparky after a bit of testing rectified the problem and low and behold I plug either car and the van lights work like a charm. For less than $200 my dramas were fixed. Cheers Moe`t