Carawagon laminate - all the same, and modern equivalent?

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Peaceand
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Carawagon laminate - all the same, and modern equivalent?

Post by Peaceand » Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:21 pm

With nowhere to go and no prospect of adventuring in the next few months I decided to remake some of the butchered Carawagon furniture the previous owner had a go at with a nail gun, red laminate and glue.

In pulling apart the side cabinet I found that they had stuck the reddish laminate over the top of what may be the original. A white wood grain pattern, the photo is one of the kick boards, about 10 inches tall.
Original laminate?
Original laminate?
holly original laminate.jpg (64.85 KiB) Viewed 7697 times

First question, is this the same as other Carawagons?
I remember they are usually white with a grey pattern, but I don't recall such a distinct wood grain. I think it's totally smooth but being covered in adhesive it's hard to tell for sure.

Second question, does anybody have a source for a modern equivalent to it?

Thanks,
Patrick
  • Holly - 1972 Searle Carawagon Continental Ultimate (200 TDi)
  • Basil - 1969 Searle SWB (Prima TD)
Jonny72
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Re: Carawagon laminate - all the same, and modern equivalent?

Post by Jonny72 » Sun Apr 05, 2020 5:59 pm

Hi Patrick,

I cant be on much help I’m afraid, as the PO of my Carawagon also removed the original furniture and re-made to his own design. I wouldn’t recommend using that as a template. I’ve been looking at different solutions for rebuilding the interior of mine, and will look at a couple of custom-built options using modern, lightweight materials. If you want to build yourself, there are lots of YouTube tutorials about the use of 80/20 which is a pretty flexible system that’s allow a lot of flexibility if you wanted the rebuild. Here’s link to t a clip that’d give you an idea. https://youtu.be/1pDkqf0Ggm4

80/20 Is available in UK - might be an option for you..

Hope you’re staying safe during these strange days of the virus 👍
1971 Carawagon ‘Ultimate’ (currently undergoing restoration)
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Peaceand
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Re: Carawagon laminate - all the same, and modern equivalent?

Post by Peaceand » Sun Apr 05, 2020 11:44 pm

Hi John,
Thanks for the link, if I were doing a vehicle from scratch then that would be a very tempting option - fairly easy to reconfigure too if the owner wants something a little different it would just be nuts and bolts. I am debating how to do the runners for sliding doors and that would make it very easy with the built in slots.

But today I've actually managed to peel off some more of the red laminate and the surface underneath isn't that bad. Unless there's some horrors lurking under the bits I haven't got to yet, I don't really understand why it was covered over in the first place.

After trying various solvents and thinners on the adhesive residue, I found WD40 specialist degreaser dissolves it really well so I am optimistic about being able to salvage the rest, in the blurry photo just that first square has been quickly wiped over with it.

holly original laminate 2.jpg
holly original laminate 2.jpg (43.05 KiB) Viewed 7670 times

My new plan is to try and build something vaguely similar to what I think the original was but to suit my requirements, and if I can then I'll reuse the white wood laminate panels.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with with the 80/20 if that's the route you go down for yours.

Hope you are keeping busy somewhere safe too!

Patrick
  • Holly - 1972 Searle Carawagon Continental Ultimate (200 TDi)
  • Basil - 1969 Searle SWB (Prima TD)
Welshcarawagon
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Re: Carawagon laminate - all the same, and modern equivalent?

Post by Welshcarawagon » Sun Apr 12, 2020 11:27 pm

EA7D957C-1992-444B-9EFE-2A92339940F9.jpeg
4FD215A9-DB94-42EE-856C-8AB76840B766.jpeg
Went out tonight and took these photos- not the greatest in the dark!
Our interior is mainly original and looks like you photo
Hope it helps
As for modern replacement not sure but maybe vehicle vinyl graphics firms? They may be able to replicate pattern and then sick it on? Just a thought
Phil
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Peaceand
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Re: Carawagon laminate - all the same, and modern equivalent?

Post by Peaceand » Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:31 am

Thanks Phil, that's exactly what I needed to confirm that it's the original surface.

I'm still planning to reuse the worktop, but as I uncover and clean more of it I'm finding there are bits of damage here and there. So I've ordered a roll of stick on vinyl with a similar pattern to stick over the top. That way if a future owner (or me) wants to go back to the original or do something different then it'll be a simple matter of peeling it off. Time will tell how well it lasts, and if it looks anything like the original.

John, after spending a few days now making lots of plywood templates trying to match all the curves of the inner tub and wheel arches I'm not sure that the 80/20 extrusion frame would be very space efficient. There's not much of a flat surface to work against back there, and there would be a lot of dead space if using entirely straight struts and flat panels. If it was a totally regular box shape I'd guess about 30% of the space would be lost in the odd curves and corners.

I'm restricted by the 2nd row doors so I'm being a little obsessive about utilising all the available space. But if you had a longer cabinet and more space to play with then the struts and panels could still be a viable option
  • Holly - 1972 Searle Carawagon Continental Ultimate (200 TDi)
  • Basil - 1969 Searle SWB (Prima TD)
andyp
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Re: Carawagon laminate - all the same, and modern equivalent?

Post by andyp » Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:38 pm

Patrick,
I believe the original material was “Formica” which is still available today.
They make a wide range of colours and can supply swatches. Hope this is of some help.
Andy
Calum
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Re: Carawagon laminate - all the same, and modern equivalent?

Post by Calum » Sun Jul 05, 2020 12:04 pm

Just been cutting an original piece of Formica in the Carawagon yesterday - the cooker lid is now hinged a little further forwards so I can open it fully under the roof. It also allows a vent at the back for the fridge below. My Formica is a different pattern but as my cupboards were built by the first owners I am not entirely surprised. It's incredibly hardwearing stuff given how brittle it can be on its own. On my long cupboard I have some rust stains from a couple of items that were sat there whilst it was sat parked up for 20 years. I have managed to lessen their appearance but not remove them altogether.

From all the original vehicles I have seen the pattern on your laminate looks to be correct.

I too am hunting down every wasted bit of space and I am trying to make more organised storage in a lot of places. The shape of the LR bodywork does limit this as you say. Behind my side bench was originally a large sheet of ply but when I redid it I managed to find enough space there for a long shelf to house a lot of food tins - 'free' storage that would otherwise be wasted.
I have just fitted a leisure battery after installing a cabinet fridge and I am already thinking about rebuilding the whole underseat battery box to move the leisure battery there - so much wasted space in the factory underseat battery tray!
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