Welcome to my site devoted to the Newlander campervan , I hope to have as much information on these campers as is possible over the next few months, After owning the one in the picture for over 1 year now, and having trawled through the internet without managing to find a lot of information on this model of camper, I decided to try and bring as much as I could onto this site, so I would ask anyone who has owned one or worked for the company that made them, to please get in touch, as any further help would be gratefully accepted.
I would just like to point out that I am no expert on any of the work that I have undertaken, and I have often asked advice before attempting some of the more trickier jobs , jack of all trades master of none springs to mind. But I am happy to offer any help if you have a problem as far as I am able, this site is for information only and I will not accept any responsibility for any damage or injury caused by the advice given in its content, If you are restoring or planning to restore an old camper the following may be of some help.
Modernizing is easier than trying to get a old camper back to original simply because parts and fitting are more abundant.
- I used mainly recycled materials because of the cost but better if you can afford new.
- Measure twice cut once surprising how many times this saved me a silly mistake.
- If you are replacing wall boards think about any extra timbers you might need for fixing, lights and wall cupboards wish I had thought of that before doing mine ! ! !
- Be especially careful when removing wiring its amazing on a old vehicle just how many wires have been added over the years. Really would seek help if you plan to alter wiring or installing mains hook-up even if you do it yourself.
- Again all the gas appliances really should be checked by a competent person.
- If the camper you are planning to restore is roadworthy try and restore a bit at a time and keep using it (rolling restoration) the amount of half finished campers I have seen, where the owners have totally gutted everything with the best intention of a complete rebuild, only to find money/time or just interest runs out and it stands slowly falling into disrepair. Does take longer, a bit at a time, mainly due to going away in it rather than working on, but at least you have something saleable if circumstances change.
21/03/08 Two new brochures added showing the Ford Transit, first one of these I have seen, plus a original price list. Still finding it hard to obtain information so please if you know anything about them could you contact me.
20/04/08 No further information as yet , plenty of contact with people who used to own a Newlander , so who bought them, have you one then contact me with your story even if its falling into disrepair .
12/05/08 Made a big decision to start to restore the bodywork , think I regret this as holes began to appear ,which had been not very well prepped, the rust behind pushing the filler out. No more trips for a few weeks, that's if I can do it, bodywork is my least favorite job. But due to limited financial restraint ( the better Half) got to do it myself. Took a few pics just to show I am not exaggerating they are on my camper page.
25/05/08 Finished up removing the door, as it makes it a lot easier to work on. Posted some more pics of my rubbish weldiing.
14/06/08 Decided to spray the door while it was off, trouble was I had to refit it on the same day as spraying , as I was fitting it I put my hand over the edge and left three finger prints on the painted side, life is sometimes a bitch, now I will have to rub it all down and spray it again. At least I can rectify some off the blemishers that are showing through.
04/07/08 Well what to do I must have upset someone above, Most of the repairs done , struggling to get some primer on either wind or rain, and do not want to spray next doors car think it will upset him, and to make matters worse mot due in 2 weeks, supposed to be going away in it in 4. Oh well such is life !!!!!!!
06/07/08 The gods smiled on me in the end, managed to get it all rubbed down and bits of filler done, and thanks to a great brother-in-law and his skill at spraying, with about 3 hours of dry weather it is done.
13/07/08 All back together for the summer, now for the mot gulp.
22/07/08 Well would you believe it passed the mot with no advisories.
26/08/08 Just returned from a excellent 2 weeks tour visiting South Devon, North Devon and Somerset weather could have been better but camper ran like a dream over 650 miles.
28/08/08 Started adding some pages on the catalogue page from the Toyota Hi-ace Master parts catalogue covers approx years 1967 to 1975/76, only doors at the moment because a owner requested the info, would like to do the lot but it takes ages to do, If you require a certain page I will try and put it on but please remember it does take a lot of fiddling about so make sure you really need it.
23/10/09 I have sold the camper really gutted to see it got, but I had the offer of an Elddis caravan with damp and not enough room for both.
23/10/09 I am still planning to keep this site on as I have still an interest in these campers and may have the chance of another needing work next year. If you have some photos of your camper any more info or stories please send them to me.
26/10/09 I have removed the feedback page because it was just being filled with non relevant links to other sites, please use my email kevin.stone2@ntlworld.com for any questions or to send info and photos.
26/10/09 2 new pages added for the Elddis Earl caravan I am restoring, will be plenty of photos and descriptions of the jobs, I tend to take lots of photos as I take things apart and then at least I stand a chance of putting them back together, and because someone may find them useful if they are planning to sort out a damp caravan I thought i would put them on here.
27/10/09 I have been contacted by one of the sons of the founder of Newlander Campers and after speaking to him, he has agreed to write the story of the history and email it to me, Will be great to add this to the site which I will do as soon as I receive it.
22/01/10 Bad weather has stopped the restoration of the caravan , done as much as I could but now need to use sealer and in the cold its like using gone off putty,
25/02/10 A few more restoration photos added.
07/03/10 The restoration progresses more photos added
19/04/10 Rebuilding
26/05/10 Finished just posted a couple of photos will add some more later
20/04/08 No further information as yet , plenty of contact with people who used to own a Newlander , so who bought them, have you one then contact me with your story even if its falling into disrepair .
12/05/08 Made a big decision to start to restore the bodywork , think I regret this as holes began to appear ,which had been not very well prepped, the rust behind pushing the filler out. No more trips for a few weeks, that's if I can do it, bodywork is my least favorite job. But due to limited financial restraint ( the better Half) got to do it myself. Took a few pics just to show I am not exaggerating they are on my camper page.
25/05/08 Finished up removing the door, as it makes it a lot easier to work on. Posted some more pics of my rubbish weldiing.
14/06/08 Decided to spray the door while it was off, trouble was I had to refit it on the same day as spraying , as I was fitting it I put my hand over the edge and left three finger prints on the painted side, life is sometimes a bitch, now I will have to rub it all down and spray it again. At least I can rectify some off the blemishers that are showing through.
04/07/08 Well what to do I must have upset someone above, Most of the repairs done , struggling to get some primer on either wind or rain, and do not want to spray next doors car think it will upset him, and to make matters worse mot due in 2 weeks, supposed to be going away in it in 4. Oh well such is life !!!!!!!
06/07/08 The gods smiled on me in the end, managed to get it all rubbed down and bits of filler done, and thanks to a great brother-in-law and his skill at spraying, with about 3 hours of dry weather it is done.
13/07/08 All back together for the summer, now for the mot gulp.
22/07/08 Well would you believe it passed the mot with no advisories.
26/08/08 Just returned from a excellent 2 weeks tour visiting South Devon, North Devon and Somerset weather could have been better but camper ran like a dream over 650 miles.
28/08/08 Started adding some pages on the catalogue page from the Toyota Hi-ace Master parts catalogue covers approx years 1967 to 1975/76, only doors at the moment because a owner requested the info, would like to do the lot but it takes ages to do, If you require a certain page I will try and put it on but please remember it does take a lot of fiddling about so make sure you really need it.
23/10/09 I have sold the camper really gutted to see it got, but I had the offer of an Elddis caravan with damp and not enough room for both.
23/10/09 I am still planning to keep this site on as I have still an interest in these campers and may have the chance of another needing work next year. If you have some photos of your camper any more info or stories please send them to me.
26/10/09 I have removed the feedback page because it was just being filled with non relevant links to other sites, please use my email kevin.stone2@ntlworld.com for any questions or to send info and photos.
26/10/09 2 new pages added for the Elddis Earl caravan I am restoring, will be plenty of photos and descriptions of the jobs, I tend to take lots of photos as I take things apart and then at least I stand a chance of putting them back together, and because someone may find them useful if they are planning to sort out a damp caravan I thought i would put them on here.
27/10/09 I have been contacted by one of the sons of the founder of Newlander Campers and after speaking to him, he has agreed to write the story of the history and email it to me, Will be great to add this to the site which I will do as soon as I receive it.
22/01/10 Bad weather has stopped the restoration of the caravan , done as much as I could but now need to use sealer and in the cold its like using gone off putty,
25/02/10 A few more restoration photos added.
07/03/10 The restoration progresses more photos added
19/04/10 Rebuilding
26/05/10 Finished just posted a couple of photos will add some more later
