| [ Total Views: 1759 | Total Replies: 3 | Thread Id: 5682 ] |
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 phatrat
A.k.a.: steve
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| posted on April 26th, 2003 at 09:57 PM |
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Swagman conversion
Swagman conversion..this is written on my pop-top & interior...
Has anybody heard of this company? or is it just the name of the conversion?
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SKEWtYpe3
Custom Title Time!
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| posted on April 26th, 2003 at 10:40 PM |
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post some pics dude !
only way to find out !
:bounce
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Robo
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| posted on April 27th, 2003 at 09:30 AM |
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Swagman was the name of the company that used to make and install the fibreglass camper conversions, late 70's-80's you could buy a van
already converted or you could have your own van done, they didn't only do VW's, toyota Hi Ace and nissan Urvan were two others I remember,
I have seen quite a few of them still around and it looks like they were a quality fit out, the furniture has stood the test of time well, and it was
a good design.
Dose yours still have the spare tyre cover with the Swagman logo on it, a swagy laying above a billabong with the swagman name in it?
Post us some pic's
The first conversion company I can think of that converted Kombi's was Ernie Sopru, he designed the pop top that most of us have seen in
Australia, Ernie had the backing of the VW factory, and did the conversions on order from the dealers.
Trakka Van, also did conversions on Kombi's, this company was started by a man named Dave Berry, they converted a panel van Kombi to full
camper spec's to tackle the Strzelecki track and surrounding outback! it was called the Bronco, this was 1978
It had these modifications
Full camper conversion, fridge, cooker, sink, Z bed, table and cupboards (marine ply)
Front 4 post bullbar and rear bar
Half (centre) poptop
DPD air con & over head console
4 Gabrial air shocks, with on board compressor, dash mounted compressor control
Water tank and 36ltr auxillary fuel tank
2 louvre windows
VW limited slip diff
80 Ah auxillary battery
Sunraysia Mk 3 14x7 rims with BF goodrich traimaker tyres
Recaro seats
All these things were available to order on your conversion.
It completed the outback trip with no problems, well there was one, but that was a mechanics fault not the vans.
I often wonder what happened to this van, the rego number was JJB-576 Rob.......
Boxer Power
Member of DMLRK.....Die Mittler Lebuns Resto Komeradschaft
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phatrat
A.k.a.: steve
Fahrvergnugen
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| posted on April 27th, 2003 at 11:48 AM |
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Robo...someone's done there homework
The reason I ask is that I am missing the hatch on the pop-top and their not the same shape as the ones with the VW logo...
My interior is full fiberglass right done to the sink and trim with the infloor footpump for water...The poptop itself is a lot higher when opened
then others and as a fiberglass luggage rack upfront...
As anyone seen this type of conversion before?...would like to copy the hatch
Steve
[Edited on 20-5-2003 by DakDat]
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baybuscamperkid
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| posted on April 27th, 2003 at 12:27 PM |
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does the hatch have a metal shell? is it square? my camper had an aftermarket hatch on it that is ugly and too tall, maybe it is similar?
As for the Trakka Robo, they were around since '73 if memory serves, all of them came with marine ply interior, water tank under rear seat, 4
post bullbar on front, and at least the longer length tops were reinforced with steel along the sides.All tops were a much lower profile when down
then other companies. inside was a nice plastic sink/drying rack combo. unfortunately there were a few mistakes Trakka made. there were sometimes
leaks (there was in mine) at the rear of the poptop into the rear roof beam, the seats rubbed on the cupboard when converted to bed, they had
god-awful taste in fabrics, but worst of all, when they put 2 windows in the passenger side of my kombi THEY INSTALLED THEM OUT OF LINE!!!!!
Reimagined/Recycled/Upcycled Cool
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phatrat
A.k.a.: steve
Fahrvergnugen
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| posted on May 20th, 2003 at 09:04 PM |
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Bump :bounce
Still looking 
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Phil74Camper
Son of Jim - Creator of Good
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| posted on May 23rd, 2003 at 11:28 AM |
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Since Sopru campers were the official VW Campmobiles, as sold through dealers, the other aftermarket conversions of 70's Kombis are not as
common.
Other companies like TrakkaVan (as they were called then), SunCamper and Swagman all had similar but different designs. It's much harder to find
parts for these. Swagman are now a motor home converter; they make Winnebago-like things. Check out the latest Caravan and Motorhome magazine and
you'll see what I mean.
As for another Swagman camper, you can easily spot them as the fibreglass roof addition covers the whole length of the Kombi's roof. It has the
normal pop-up section (in a shape that's more square than a Sopru), but forward of that there is a fibreglass shelf-rack unit above the
driver's cabin.
I don't know anyone who owns one, but I often see an orange Swagman Kombi parked outside the Golden Barley Hotel in Edgeware Rd Marrickville
(Sydney). I play trivia there every Monday night and it's there every time I go by. Stop and have a look if you're in the neighbourhood.
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phatrat
A.k.a.: steve
Fahrvergnugen
REALLY!
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| posted on May 23rd, 2003 at 04:00 PM |
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I'll just do that
Cheers, Steve :thumb
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