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| Before... |
Swanepoel told Wheels he had been after the caravan for several years, but the late owner — a Mr Richmond who was also a collector of classic wheels — did not want to sell.
After the owner’s death, the new owner of the property was keen to get rid of the unsightly wagon in
his backyard and Swanepoel clinched the deal.
his backyard and Swanepoel clinched the deal.
The caravan had to be lifted over the wall. “I have to specially thank Hennie Schoeman from Schoeman Crane Hire and his crew for helping to lift the caravan from the a backyard and move it to my worskshop,” said Swanepoel.
He said the old hut on wheels was mainly crafted out of Oregon pine wood and metal, with Chandler wooden spoke wheels that had been hollowed to the core by termites.
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| Finding specialist who can remake these old wooden wheels is a challenge/ |
Finding specialists to craft the wooden wheels to restore the mobile home to its original state is the next big challenge, Swanepoel said.
The wooden wheels show the wagon was built in an era when horse-drawn carriages were still in use in South Africa, which dates the caravan to the early 1900s.
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| The interior is quite austere by traditional Gypsy standards. |
No decorations
The caravan’s profile is loosely based on what the nomadic Romani, or Gypsies, called a ledge wagon, although without shorter roof overhangs than the original wagons typically sported.
Swanepoel has to date restored the wagon to the final paint layers and window frames. Benches line the interior of the wagon, with glass windows and raised shelving on both side of the door.
Unlike the typical gypsy caravans in Europe, the backyard find in Maritzburg was not richly decorated, and the Swanepoels chose to keep it that way.
They can only speculated whether it was a holiday home or a mobile hut for someone in the past.
Looking back at the history of the Union and later the Republic of South Africa, the probable uses range from a weekend fishing hut, to a cosy home for a prospector.
Swanepoel said he does not plan to sell the wagon, intending to use it as advertising or park it as a quirky quick food stall at events.
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| More before... |
TINY HOUSE MOVEMENT
Wheels recently reported on the tiny house movement in Europe and northern America.
Swanepoel agreed that young South Africans can find a lot of financial and lifestyle benefits by creating their own homes on wheels, Gypsy style.
“Building a little home on a two- or single-axle trailer is providing young people overseas with an affordable accommodation that moves where they do and shows their style wherever they park,” he said.
These tiny homes can be mini abodes with two floors, a shower, toilet and kitchen, plus beds for at least two people.
Swanepoel said he would be happy to help any young person in Pietermaritzburg who wants to start the tiny home movement in KwaZulu-Natal.
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| After. |
• Contact Gerrie Swanepoel by e-mail at caravanmanpmb@gmail.com.
