| [ Total Views: 846 | Total Replies: 12 | Thread Id: 53228 ] |
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 Schmoburger
A.k.a.: Kieran "Schmeaux" Boundy Stock-Nazi, Kombi Konquistador
Veteran Volks Folk
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Location: Jervis Bay area, NSW... Tomerong to be precise
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 posted on June 12th, 2006 at 07:56 PM |
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Trakka and MCI bay Kombi campers...who's got one?
How many people on AVD own a bay Kombi camper coversion by either Trakka (formerly Trakkavan), or Modular Camping Industries?
I'm particularly interested in finding out how many Trakka kombi's still exist in Australia... as they seem very few and far between... and how many
are owned by AVD members.
The only ones thus far that Ive seen are mine, baybuscamperkids, and a white one on ebay a few months ago... a grand total of 3! :duh... plus the one
on the Trakka site.
They have a similar configuration to the common "official" Sopru camper, however they do not have a gas cylinder storage compartment on the drivers
side, and the poptop is lower profile and has a black rubber seal a few inches above the gutters when closed, as the poptop edge stops short of the
gutter. They have chrome 1920's style hood-catches to hold down the poptop... which seems to lift higher than the Sopru unit when up. 
Here is a couple of pics...
This IS a Trakkavan camper. 
This is NOT a Trakka! 
I'm also as mentioned before, interested in the Modular Camping Industries conversions and how many are around... they seem to be particularly
obscure. I think kombikim has one?
ANyway...this probably seems pointless...but i wont be happy till ive asked hehe  .. If ya got Trakka pictures, please post em up! :bounce
if you happen to have a trakka.. maybe also find time to go to this here thread on
BWM...http://s3.phpbbforfree.com/forums/baywindowmafia-about9.html
Cheers lads and lasses!
[ Edited on 12-6-2006 by Schmoburger ]
1976 Kombi Trakka camper, "Buttercup"... driver.
1976 Beluxe Microbus, "Saphir"... resto.
1974 Kombi panelvan, "George"... shed.
1974 Superbug, "Schmeetle"... resto.
[url=www.baywindowmafia.tk][img]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b366/c
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baybuscamperkid
Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber
prince of insufficient light, ruler of heck
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| posted on June 13th, 2006 at 10:10 AM |
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good luck! i know there is a short - roofed one out near me in Lilydale, used to see it around a bit, had stickers on the roof, and one of the others
on here has a trakka as well because he was making up stickers for them (cant remember who) besides that i have seen maybe 5 in my travels, which is
crazy, since they were so nicely made, all that marine ply, the best long-term layout as far as i am concerned (take a look in their new VW campers,
they still use the identical layout - swing stove behind passenger, sink and fridge behind driver, wardrobe covering one rear window, drivers side,
and mini shelves in the corner behind that,only now the mini shelves house a hot water service)
unfortunately you wont get any help from Trakka, i went to their plant in NSW when i was travelling, and no-one from the 70's works there anymore and
most of the paperwork from the time was either destroyed or lost in a big shift to their current premisis. an interesting read though, i have a
magazine artical from about 78? from a 4x4 mag on the aacross Aus van that they made.
Reimagined/Recycled/Upcycled Cool
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bajachris88
A.k.a.: Chris Leete
23 Windows of Awesome
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| posted on June 13th, 2006 at 10:23 AM |
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hmm, so camper bays were never standard were they?
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears.
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta! |
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baybuscamperkid
Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber
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| posted on June 13th, 2006 at 10:53 AM |
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they were never built 'in-house' but each country did have an 'official' builder. Westphalias were the German OEMish manufacturers and VW even
made vans with custom roof supports to match the westies needs, over here VW released official brochures for CampMobiles so i suppose they were the
recommended fitter over here, although i have a feeling Soprus were sold at VW dealerships as well. so far as i understand Trakka came on to the
scene a little later (1974) and did new vans, (which i believe mine is one of), customers vans and possibly even sold diy kits.
Reimagined/Recycled/Upcycled Cool
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Warrenm
Wolfsburg Wizard
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| posted on June 13th, 2006 at 01:10 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by baybuscamperkid
they were never built 'in-house' but each country did have an 'official' builder. Westphalias were the German OEMish manufacturers and VW even
made vans with custom roof supports to match the westies needs, over here VW released official brochures for CampMobiles so i suppose they were the
recommended fitter over here, although i have a feeling Soprus were sold at VW dealerships as well. so far as i understand Trakka came on to the
scene a little later (1974) and did new vans, (which i believe mine is one of), customers vans and possibly even sold diy kits.
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Sopru was first official converter and they were sold only through VW dealerships.
Photo is a 74 sold new through a VW dealership and was their top line with seat behind driver etc
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kombikim
A.k.a.: Kim
Custom Title Time!
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| posted on June 13th, 2006 at 01:16 PM |
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yep Campmobiles were all built by Sopru
oh yeah, our 75 camper is Modular, a microbus, converted by them, the only other modular ones I have had a close look at were microbuses as well, very
goos quality fitouts
[ Edited on 13-6-2006 by kombikim ]
Please, I need drivers side window regulator (winder mechanism) for my '54  |
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 Bizarre
Super Moderator
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| posted on June 13th, 2006 at 01:44 PM |
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So do all campers have an engineer certificate???
Futue te ipsum!!!
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kombikim
A.k.a.: Kim
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| posted on June 13th, 2006 at 01:51 PM |
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neither of mine did/does the Sopru had a plate affixed by sopru saying it was a four seater , whereas the compliance plate said 2
& both are registered as "motorhomes" which means that is what the RTA determined they are, I think if you have a poptop Camper VW in NSW & the
rego does not say "motorhome" then you are somewhat in trouble without an engineers certificate
[ Edited on 13-6-2006 by kombikim ]
Please, I need drivers side window regulator (winder mechanism) for my '54 |
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Bizarre
Super Moderator
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| posted on June 13th, 2006 at 02:04 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by kombikim
polate
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:alien
Futue te ipsum!!!
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Bizarre
Super Moderator
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| posted on June 13th, 2006 at 02:12 PM |
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T'was the ONLY reason i did it
Futue te ipsum!!!
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Bizarre
Super Moderator
The artist formerly known as blue74l
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| posted on June 13th, 2006 at 02:13 PM |
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Hey.... no fair!
You changed it!!! :cussing
Futue te ipsum!!!
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kombikim
A.k.a.: Kim
Custom Title Time!
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| posted on June 13th, 2006 at 02:22 PM |
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sorry? changed what?
(rings home to let dogs out & secure possessions & hide kombi)
[ Edited on 13-6-2006 by kombikim ]
Please, I need drivers side window regulator (winder mechanism) for my '54 |
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Schmoburger
A.k.a.: Kieran "Schmeaux" Boundy Stock-Nazi, Kombi Konquistador
Veteran Volks Folk
Baywindow Mafia Godfather and Cement-Shoe Fitter
Posts: 2185
Threads: 116
Registered: October 10th, 2005
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Location: Jervis Bay area, NSW... Tomerong to be precise
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Mood: Over the moon... having difficulty breathing up here! :duh
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| posted on June 13th, 2006 at 09:36 PM |
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Sopru were the Aussie equivilant of the Westy and Canmpmobile in the US and Europe... and hence the most popular... Trakka came onto the scene in 1973
and made a camper similar to the Sopru... but IMO rather more aesthetically pleasing because of the lower top and the lack of crappy bits attached to
the side (gas cylinder storage etc).
Trakkavan were quite an innovative company and as bbcc said, they made very high quality conversions... using good marine ply instead of crappy
chipboard unlike some other companies, and other small details such as metal hood-catches holding down the poptop instead of ties or straps. They even
patented a design for very low power consumption camping fridge... which was almost perfected when Electrolux came out with a comparable unit... which
went into trakka campers from then on.
They also introduced swivelling front seats in mid-1976 which turned the front cabin into a part of the van's living space.
I believe sunliner also came onto the scene around the same time as Trakka, building vans similar to the westy in their interior layout and
appointments and external appearance. Many Sunliners came with such items as mirrors, full length cupboards and electric water pump... presumably in
an effort to rival Trakka and Sopru in luxury... and I suppose it is for this reason Sunliners seem relatively common.
As ya say, it's a shame Trakka's arent more common these days... cos they really are a well-designed, comfortable and nice looking van... IMHO the
best looking of the poptop kombi's.
Ive never seen another one aside from my own in person 
Hey kim... fekkinel showed me a pic the other night of him and a few of his uni mates kombis, and I believe one of them also to be a Modular...
As for the certification plate... I dont believe Sopru's were required to have the conversions certified and plated for whatever reason... something
to do with being the official VW-approved converter or something i think... but all other companies conversions like Trakka, MCI, Sunliner etc did
require certification and a plate to be considered a legal modification and pass roadworthy.
That said I as yet have not been able to locate a plate on my Trakka bus aside from the normal vehicle certification plate behind the seat... but its
been happily registered in NSW for at least 20 years...
Would still love to see some more piccies of some Trakka buses if anyones got any and like to know if anybody else has a Trakkavan...or is it just me
and baybuscamperkid? :alien
Cheers
1976 Kombi Trakka camper, "Buttercup"... driver.
1976 Beluxe Microbus, "Saphir"... resto.
1974 Kombi panelvan, "George"... shed.
1974 Superbug, "Schmeetle"... resto.
[url=www.baywindowmafia.tk][img]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b366/c
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