I found another leak this week. This time it was down to a small crack in the skylight cover and when the rain came during the week it resulted in a couple of drips on the carpet. I wonder if the hairline crack has been letting water into my caravan all winter? I cant say that I’ve noticed a massive puddle on the carpet, so if it did I think I’ve been lucky enough to get away with it.
This week I sent hubby up onto the roof of the caravan to mend the crack in the skylight cover. I didn’t want to have to spend out money on a new cover if it was possible to fix it, so we’ve tried using a squirt of silicone around the edge and over the crack. This will mean that the skylight can no longer open, but I never actually popped it up in the past because I was worried that bugs might get in and fall onto my head! At the moment, the silicone seems to have stopped the dripping and the odd shower that we’ve had since has not seeped inside the caravan.
I therefore decided to hang a lampshade cover that I picked up at the carboot sale over the opening to the skylight in order to create the effect of a chandelier. The lampshade is made from baby blue felt hanging from a metal loop so I have tied the loop to the handles of the skylight and now the light shines through the skylight and illuminates the ‘chandelier’. Because the design is made from soft felt I don’t end up banging my head on it but it does feel tickly when I accidently brush into it!
See more of my caravan project posts by clicking here and please send me details of your own camper makeovers to [email protected] or tweet me @Cassiefairy – I’d love to see what you’ve been up to! And you really should check out Lisa Mora’s book Vintage Caravan Style
And don’t forget to enter my giveaway to win the current issue of Vintage Caravan Magazine – there are plenty of ways to enter on my blog (here’s the link to the blog post & entry form) and on Twitter before the competition closes on the 20th June 2014!
6 responses
Hi Chris, glad to hear you’re getting on well with your caravan project! wow, Tin Can Rallys sound fun – I’ll definitely be looking into that! A vent cover sounds like a great idea and I’ve never heard of it before so I think that might be the solution to my drippy roof vent! Thanks! 🙂
Hi Cassie … sure I’ll send a pic of unit when we’re all organized .. just finishing up last window screening & trim.
Really is fun re-doing these vintage trailers — do you have Tin Can Rally’s over there? When you have a spare moment to check them out – the rigs are awesome! I plan to camp at one Stateside next year.
We are long time campers so please bear with me … just a thought re the roof vent & I do love your creative shade of stars … have you given a Vent Cover any thought?
It keeps the rain out so the roof vent can be open all the time. I’m sure you get hot muggy days too & it’s sure nice to have vent open. Any RV Dealer Supplier sells them & they’re not pricey.
Don’t know how bad mosquitos can be your way but netting folded a couple of times & stretched to fit the vent opening will work.
Have to say I giggled when I saw your post on the Bourjois makeup … I grew up in Reading & Whitley where the Bourjois Factory was – the area smelt of Evening in Paris …. a flash of many years past for sure!
Cheers! – Chris
Hi Chris, thanks for getting in touch 🙂 You’re right, my caravan is an Alpine Sprite and it’s very much a work in progress! My front window is just clear glass, with no cover or shade but I’m thinking about blanking it off so that I have more space for storage 🙂 It would be great to see photos of your renovation one day!
August 14 – 2014
Hi from Ontario Canada!
Very nice unit! We’ve seen some amazing retro work pics found online.
Guessing yours is an Alpine Sprite? We’ve just refurbished a ’74 Alpine sprite 12′ & now ready to use it next week.
Our question: the front window – was there ever a protective shade or cover for the glass? Does anyone out there know?
We’ve not seen any pics indicating there was – ours had a broken window from stone hitting it so we’ve replaced it with tinted plexiglass.
In time we will figure out a hard cover for it but maybe someone has seen or also created a cover.
Good luck with the reno’s everyone & happy camping – Cheers!
Chris
Hi Ian, thanks so much! Wow your children will love having a caravan playroom! I got the window trim from eBay & just needed to measure the depth of the window to get the right one 🙂 The paint is Dulux, mixed up from their paint chart for exterior woodwork/metalwork which I painted on to the caravan with a roller. Hope this helps, let me know if you need any more info and I’d love to see a photo of your caravan project 🙂
Hi Cassie
I love what you’ve done with the caravan! Its looks amazing! I have just been given an alpine sprite, the same model and want to turn it into a play room for my children. The caravan has already been completely ripped out and is a “blank canvas”. Can I ask what paint and colour you used on the outside and also where or how you got the replacement trim for the windows.
Thanks Ian