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Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- The Urban Fringe
The Campervan Thread
- Thread starter Drago
- Start date
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derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
Few more bits done, fitted new radio with sat nav, and reverse camera, half the ceiling up, and rear windows in, a bit more done on electrics.
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
Ceiling fixed
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
A bit more done.
OP
OP
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- The Urban Fringe
He ain't hanging about!
Will be servicing mine this morning.
Will be servicing mine this morning.
chriswoody
Legendary Member
- Location
- Northern Germany
So I'm freshly back from a wonderful few weeks with the family and the campervan in Albania. What a stunning country, amazing landscapes, friendly people and small, cheap campsites where you could just rock up and there would be free pitches available.
Invariably though, with a nearly thirty year old van, we had a few small issues, chief amongst them was the fresh water pump packing up in the middle of the trip. Not a major issue because we only ever used the system for cooking water or washing hands, not drinking. Now I'm used to parts becoming scarcer and pricier as the years go by and with trepidation for the potential expense ahead, I opened up the fresh water tank to see what pump was in there.
I was more than pleasantly surprised to find after a quick internet search that it was actually a common pump and available to buy immediately in our local big camping store for €16 . Now in the manner of these jobs it quickly escalated! I noticed the inside of the tank was not looking great despite have run some cleaner through it a few months back. I also realised the whole system was approaching thirty years old, so I also decided to replace all of the pipes whilst I was there. Removing the tank from the van was fairly simple affair, a few bolts and out it came. We soon had in in the garden and gave it a good scrub.
The problem I now had was the main feed pipe. It leaves the tank, crosses the floor and then goes into the compartment under the fridge before traveling behind the fridge and the kitchen and onto the sink. My first plan to just attach the new to old and pull it through, quickly failed when I discovered that Westfalia had screwed the pipe to the back of the kitchen unit and the only way to remove it was to remove the entire kitchen unit. Luckily though the cooker is removable, so with a bit of wiggling I was able to thread the new past the old one and ram my hands down the back of the unit to feed it through.
I trimmed the old one down and left a big chunk of it permanently sitting behind the unit, it's causing no bother there. So with all the panels screwed back together we have a completely clean and mostly new fresh water system in the van and all for not much money, really pleased with that.
Invariably though, with a nearly thirty year old van, we had a few small issues, chief amongst them was the fresh water pump packing up in the middle of the trip. Not a major issue because we only ever used the system for cooking water or washing hands, not drinking. Now I'm used to parts becoming scarcer and pricier as the years go by and with trepidation for the potential expense ahead, I opened up the fresh water tank to see what pump was in there.
I was more than pleasantly surprised to find after a quick internet search that it was actually a common pump and available to buy immediately in our local big camping store for €16 . Now in the manner of these jobs it quickly escalated! I noticed the inside of the tank was not looking great despite have run some cleaner through it a few months back. I also realised the whole system was approaching thirty years old, so I also decided to replace all of the pipes whilst I was there. Removing the tank from the van was fairly simple affair, a few bolts and out it came. We soon had in in the garden and gave it a good scrub.
The problem I now had was the main feed pipe. It leaves the tank, crosses the floor and then goes into the compartment under the fridge before traveling behind the fridge and the kitchen and onto the sink. My first plan to just attach the new to old and pull it through, quickly failed when I discovered that Westfalia had screwed the pipe to the back of the kitchen unit and the only way to remove it was to remove the entire kitchen unit. Luckily though the cooker is removable, so with a bit of wiggling I was able to thread the new past the old one and ram my hands down the back of the unit to feed it through.
I trimmed the old one down and left a big chunk of it permanently sitting behind the unit, it's causing no bother there. So with all the panels screwed back together we have a completely clean and mostly new fresh water system in the van and all for not much money, really pleased with that.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
At least you don't have to rush when on holiday. Dangerous those camping shops, did you manage not to come away with half the store ?
chriswoody
Legendary Member
- Location
- Northern Germany
It was a very dangerous shop, we spent a long time in there. The good thing though is after 11 years of owning the van we have our camping set up pretty dialled. Even more so, given we have two teenage children and a dog all crammed into a T4 California!
So often we look at something, think, oh that would be nice and then go, but where would we put it? So we still managed to buy a few odds and ends though that we hadn't planned on.
So often we look at something, think, oh that would be nice and then go, but where would we put it? So we still managed to buy a few odds and ends though that we hadn't planned on.
OP
OP
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- The Urban Fringe
I've booked 4 days at Buxton Camping and Motorhome Club site the last week of October, just me and my boy Bruce. Absolutely cant wait!
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
A little bit more done.
OP
OP
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- The Urban Fringe
Looking very good! That'll be ready for next yeats CC old gits campervan treffen.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Just done two nights in the van. Upped the solar with an additional portable panel, and it managed fine, given the second day was cloudy. Kept the electric coolbox running - next upgrade, and only if the cool box dies, will be a compressor cool box - far more energy efficient.
As it was a family site, the LED 'eyes' were fitted. Went down well with fellow campers. Managed to pack a lot less this time, so our packing efficiency is getting better.
Picked up a cheap 'net' that is an exact fit for the tailgate opening - for keeping the bugs out. Just attach it with a few magnets. Tested this weekend in prep for camping in Scotland in two weeks - means if it's 'warm' we can have the tailgate window open slightly without worry of vampire bugs getting in for a feast.
Tested out a new bug zapper/light for the awning - that works and zapped a few midges/mossies that got into the awning. I also tested a USB powered 'mosquito' repellent gadget - uses the little 'tablets' - same sort of thing you take abroad, but USB rather than mains - ran that off a battery pack as we sat outside in the evening - kept a few buzzies away once we turned it on. We tend to camp on the coast, so it's usually windy and bugs aren't much of an issue, but best be prepared for Scotland and Forest/Loch campsites.
As it was a family site, the LED 'eyes' were fitted. Went down well with fellow campers. Managed to pack a lot less this time, so our packing efficiency is getting better.
Picked up a cheap 'net' that is an exact fit for the tailgate opening - for keeping the bugs out. Just attach it with a few magnets. Tested this weekend in prep for camping in Scotland in two weeks - means if it's 'warm' we can have the tailgate window open slightly without worry of vampire bugs getting in for a feast.
Tested out a new bug zapper/light for the awning - that works and zapped a few midges/mossies that got into the awning. I also tested a USB powered 'mosquito' repellent gadget - uses the little 'tablets' - same sort of thing you take abroad, but USB rather than mains - ran that off a battery pack as we sat outside in the evening - kept a few buzzies away once we turned it on. We tend to camp on the coast, so it's usually windy and bugs aren't much of an issue, but best be prepared for Scotland and Forest/Loch campsites.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Any more updates @derrick ? Exciting this is you know !
Only a week until our next trip to Scotland. Five nights in the van at two Lochs (Lomond and Morlich), then upto see my cousin in Laide (probably in a spare room hopefully) then Dundee in a hotel, and then the mean streets of Glasgow in a hotel. The important bit was finding a secure car park for the van. Whilst MrsF has an event on in the evening, I think I'll have a wander to see if I can stumble across "The Batman 2" film crews as they are in Glasgow until late September.
Only a week until our next trip to Scotland. Five nights in the van at two Lochs (Lomond and Morlich), then upto see my cousin in Laide (probably in a spare room hopefully) then Dundee in a hotel, and then the mean streets of Glasgow in a hotel. The important bit was finding a secure car park for the van. Whilst MrsF has an event on in the evening, I think I'll have a wander to see if I can stumble across "The Batman 2" film crews as they are in Glasgow until late September.
