Wooden caravans - 1950/60's round style

[Aberdeen]

Has anyone experience or thoughts on building old style wooden caravans?

A bit of 'retro' keeps coming to mind - namely find a chassis somewhere and build an original wooden caravan... you know ... the sort grandpa may have had.

I think the shape of some were called 'Tear-drop' Either way nicely rounded, probably between 10 and 12 foot long....

The simple way would be to find a derelict one and use it as a pattern and no doubt somewhere out there plans exist ?

Might be something a bit different to building yet another wooden boat

[soundman]

I remember my father building one in the mid sixties.
The good ones used boat building methods..... marine ply was a relatively new thing in 1965......Even thought I was very small I still remember my father proudly displaying samples of plywood.......

I don't think it would be a good idea to work on a wooden chasis....even the one my father built has a steel chasis.

As far as starting with a wreck......it would be quicker to start from scratch

over here some of the woden caravans were quite large.....Someone still advertises tear drop plans in fine woodworking.

There are a few wooden van enthusiasts on this board.

cheers

[JMB]

A couple of interesting websites for teardrop campers, mostly made with timber frames.

Teardrops and Tiny Travel Trailers -

www.mikenchell.com/halloffame.html

The Aussie Teardrop Campers.

www.aussieteardrops.com/

Hope you find these enjoyable - I still dream of making one of these.

[Aberdeen]

Thanks guys.
And yes, I don't intend to use a timber chassis.... if I do go ahead would probably find one from a van that has come to a miserable end.

Will check those links over the weekend.... might just do it as it shouldn't be harder than building a boat