Buying a Van Part 5

Improvements

1. Name Van: Chatham Completed 

2. Add towel/drying rails. Completed 

3. Design and fit cupboard shelving. Completed 

3a Modify shelf supports. Completed 

3b New Varnished shelving also see 34 Completed 

4. Fit rubber glove and tea towel holder. Completed 

5. Fit gas lighter holder.Completed 

6. Design and fit partitions under bed. Completed 

6b Move box retainer strip 5mm forward and added another Completed 

7. Replace halogens with LEDs. Completed 

8. Add shurflo accumulator to water system.Completed 

9. Soap dispenser in Bathroom (Fiamma) Completed 

10. Awning Light. Completed 

11. Extra mains sockets Completed 

12. Bed end cupholders Completed 

13. Job Deleted 

14. Hook for rubbish bag. Completed 

15. Make fitted cover for bench seat. Completed 

16. Get winter covers for fridge and grill. Completed 

17. Cut up carpet to retain some. Completed 

18. Wet clothes hooks over door Completed 

19. Fitted Kyocera 130W solar panel Completed 

19a Fitted Amperor Power Integrator Completed 

20. Fit two larger batteries Completed 

21. Fit Nasa BM1-C battery monitor. Completed 

22. Make EHU cable stowage. Completed 

22a New Strengthen cable supports Completed 

23. Sound insulation for water pump. Completed 

24. Improve run of pipes and cables. Completed 

25. Replace luminaire over cooker for LED type Completed 

26. Added Battery LED lights to door and rear locker Completed 

27. Added boot/shoe storage to underbed area Completed 

28. Added Thermowrap insulation to front grp moulding Completed 

29. Added mcb for battery charger Completed 

30. Added external dc socket for telescope electronics etc Completed 

31. Add red interior lighting (for night vision) Completed 

31a Remove 2D innards and replace with white and red LCD panels Completed 

32. Added fused supplementary dc distribution. Completed 

33. Add wardrobe catch clothes protection Completed 

33a New Fiddled with clothes protection now back to plan A Completed 

34. Added shelf in 'dog cupboard Completed 

34a Move shelf support 20mm aft Completed 

34b New Moved shelf support back to original position Completed 

34c New Varnished shelf Completed 

35. Transferred to pending 5

36. Add extra DC socket at floor level Completed 

37. Add light for driver's seat Completed 

38. Add Hooks and clips in Propane gas cupboard for 'gas' tools Completed 

39. Fit waste pipe for emptying waste tanks when no MH disposal point. Completed 

40. Clips for awning opener underbed Completed 

41. Headlamp diverters and vehicle spare lamp box Completed 

42. Make longer dc cable for telescope mount Completed 

43. Transferred to pending 7

44. Investigate child seat fitment. Completed 

44a Have firmer seat squab made Completed 

45. Fit new shower tap hoses and head. New one doesn't fit so Plan B

46. Fit Gaslow SS flexible pigtail Completed 

47. New Replace Grill with Cupboard Completed 

48. New Stowage for awning winder Completed 

49. New Retaining pin for door open catch Completed 

 

Snags

1. Replace curtain hooks. (poor quality) Completed 

2. Fix over bedhead shelf properly. Completed 

3. Seal side of worktop 

4. Get English language versions of some manuals. Asked Discover - no response, bought one from Ford the other from eBay Completed 

5. Fit new outside door clip Completed 

6. Investigate thin glass fibre Completed 

7. All sealant removed from roof seams, resealed with Körapur Marine. Completed 

8. Staple velcro for head rest. Completed 

9. Charger repair. Completed 

10. Check water pipe route and insulation near fridge. Completed 

11. Fix Fridge door lock Completed 

12. Move lower Table support to correct position. Completed 

13. Snag deleted 

14. Shower hose fouling rear of cupboard and other hoses, also leaking. Completed 

15. Shower door lower catch not operating. Completed 

15a New Catch failed again removed bottom part of catch Completed 

16. New 'O' rings and hose clips fitted to Truma water boiler Completed 

17. New lower Fridge vent replaced holding catch broken Completed 

18. Water pressure reducer fitted to Thetford flush Completed 

19. Remove mastic from inside water filler hose. Completed 

20. Get first service done. Completed 

21. Report change of ownership to Chausson. Completed 

22. Improve poor mounting of bench seat. See also 44a Completed 

23. New Add extra rivets to join at rear of cab doors Completed 

 

Accidents

1. New Hit parked car extensive damage to fairing and underskirt on one side Completed by Highbridge Caravans 

2. New Hit gate post damage to rear corner vertical aluminium extrusion Completed by Highbridge Caravans 

 

Pending

1. See 10 

2. See 44a 

3. Deleted 

4. See 39 

5. Investigate dog restraint cage. This is now tied in with child seat and child's sleeping arrangements. The fitment of a child seat will prevent the use of restraint harness which only one dog will tolerate anyway. The child's bed can be formed from the lowered table which is also the dogs travel area a net wall of mesh might also prevent child falling from bed. 

6. Fit TV We have managed for 2 years without a TV since fitting the solar panel on the previous van in Feb 2009. I can see where an aerial might easily be mounted, accessed from the heki rooflight and can see a suitable site for my small flatscreen TV. Its not a priority for us though. 

7. Investigate move of Webasto Thermostat Well it does work after a fashion where it is, so might just put up with it being not a very precise controller of temperature. 

8. See 47

13 Jan 2012

Well the van is back from the menders (Highbridge Caravans - very good firm to deal with) The total bill shared between the insurers and me was around £2.6k. Between August, when a moments inattention and some poor parking did most of the damage, and getting it repaired just now I pranged it again.

Would you believe it the other incident was less than 10 yards from the first. We don't go down the narrow road any more so visiting the grandchildren involves a three point turn. I clipped a gatepost and the corner aluminium extrusion did what it was there for and protected the corner of the van. 

I usually have someone back me up but Doreen was keeping a space for me in the only place I could get the van in. 

I now realise how difficult it is to judge distance to the rear. The cabs rear view mirrors are original ford transit equipment and don't stick out far enough to get an angle to the back of the van so there is no depth perception

 

13th Jan 2012

Someone asked a question about the rattle which is covered later and seat swivelling problems, See snag 23

Sorry that I missed this back in November but to answer your question. If you open either cab door and look at where the plastic body meets the back of the door frame you will see some plastic rivets. If they haven't put enough rivets in then there is enough movement to rattle in the wind. 

I have no problem with swivelling the seats.

16th Jan 2012

Remember this .... 

... well I didn't...... the awning winder still propped up without clips hundreds of miles later.

Right lets get on with the roundup of snags

1. Replace curtain hooks. (poor quality) Completed 

2. Fix over bedhead shelf properly. Completed 

Proper size screws in original holes

3. Seal side of worktop No Photo

Clearly it should be sealed but actually no water gets down there so still not motivated to get the sealant gun out. 

4. Get English language versions of some manuals. Asked Discover - no response, bought one from Ford the other from eBay Completed 

5. Fit new outside door clip Completed 

It got broken again a few months after fitting a new one so read on below where I finally get around to fixing it properly. 

6. Investigate thin glass fibre Completed

 You can see daylight shining in places but its stood up well to some knocks so living with it 

7. All sealant removed from roof seams, resealed with Körapur Marine. Completed 

I guess this is a rtecurring job just done again in 2014

8. Staple velcro for head rest. Completed 

It was starting to peel off

9. Charger repair. Completed No photo see part 2

10. Check water pipe route and insulation near fridge. Completed 

No real improvement necessary just realigned hose

11. Fix Fridge door lock Completed 

From correspondance this is a common failure on this Dometic RM7371L, I mended mine but spares on eBay or Leisure spares

12. Move lower Table support to correct position. Completed

 The table had obviously never tried out as a bed base. I moved it 1cm forward to ease table past bench seat.

13. Snag deleted 

14. Shower hose fouling rear of cupboard and other hoses, also leaking. Completed 

15. Shower door lower catch not operating. Completed 

15a New Catch failed again removed bottom part of catch Completed 

16. New 'O' rings and hose clips fitted to Truma water boiler Completed 

17. New lower Fridge vent replaced holding catch broken Completed 

18. Water pressure reducer fitted to Thetford flush Completed 

19. Remove mastic from inside water filler hose. Completed 

As well as the residual dirt that can bee seen from both ends, there was a large gobbet of mastic dangling in the hose.

20. Get first service done. Completed 

21. Report change of ownership to Chausson. Completed 

22. Improve poor mounting of bench seat. See also 44a Completed

The whole weight of the bench seat depending on two small bits of beading held on with tiny screws. Beefed up fittings.

 

23. New Add extra rivets to join at rear of cab doors Completed

The symptoms of this lack of fixings was a vibration or fluttering mainly on the passengers side. The diagnosis and solution was pointed out by another Chaussson owner.

 

 

19th Jan 2012

I've just come up with a simple fix that would help many Chausson owners.

The side door has a hold open catch which isn't up to the job if its a bit windy which can be a problem when you want to hold the door open in Summer. 

I bought an extra long 3mm stainless steel split pin from a chandlery and drilled a hole through the catch when it was holding the door open. 

I next drilled a 3mm hole in the body of the van nearby to house the split pin when not in use. 

A refinement might be to add piece of nylon cord to prevent the pin going missing, but its such a snug fit I'm not sure I'm going to bother

I will dip the pin in vaseline from time to time to prevent water ingress in the housing hole. Still didn't address the failur problem.

 

19th Jan 2012

There were more queries and possible solutions to the retaining clip problem.

Which would fail if you forgot to take the pin out?..almost certainly the catch itself ..... its the second one I've fitted and when I looked at the split pin photo I can see that this one is cracked in the same place already. Using an R PinI thought of that and for many it would be the ideal solution but the catch is too high on the Chausson for anything fiddily

 

26th Jan 2012

When loading the van last night I was filling a low down cupboard with beer and other heavy items when for the first time it struck me that my gas manifold and some gas pipes are mounted on the forward inside of that cupboard. 

All the gas pipes are steel brake pipes rather than copper but having beer bottles banging on them might disturb the joint at the manifold and beer bottles on steel might also be one of extra noises from that cupboard. So what I propose is three lightweight wooden battens to protect the pipes and my beer  like this:

 

However by 2014 I still haven't fitted them

 

3rd Apr 2012

Someone wondered if I had any more mods

 

Well as it happens..... 

I only have room for one gas bottle in the gas compartment 11kg propane. So I carry a camping gaz 907 that can temporarily feed the van if I run out at night or away from a flogas dealer and to power a small bbq. I've stuck a gas label on my rear locker door ages ago and fitted a cylinder base mounting point but have been meaning to make a gas drop vent. Well yesterday I fitted one and gas proofed the joints in the rear locker. Note this is just for the unlikely event of gas leaking from the cylinder when securely closed. 

The place chosen misses the waste water tank and chassis members and because a steel framed chair is stored over the top of it cannot be blocked by any miscellaneous items I put in the locker.

 

6th Apr 2012

Here we are in April and not much new is happening by way of mods and improvements but here is the updated list which was falling behind reality

 

We are continuing to get good use out of our motorhome. In 2011 we got 95 nights away. So far this year we have been away 16 nights with our earliest ever trip out (in any van) at the end of January. By the beginning of June the total should be up to about 60 with Dutch and Irish ferries all booked. 

 

Improvements

1. Name Van: Chatham Completed 

2. Add towel/drying rails. Completed 

3. Design and fit cupboard shelving. Completed 

3a Modify shelf supports. Completed 

3b New Varnished shelving also see 34 Completed 

4. Fit rubber glove and tea towel holder. Completed 

5. Fit gas lighter holder.Completed 

6. Design and fit partitions under bed. Completed 

6b Move box retainer strip 5mm forward and added another Completed 

7. Replace halogens with LEDs. Completed 

8. Add shurflo accumulator to water system.Completed 

9. Soap dispenser in Bathroom (Fiamma) Completed 

10. Awning Light. Completed 

11. Extra mains sockets Completed 

12. Bed end cupholders Completed 

13. Job Deleted 

14. Hook for rubbish bag. Completed 

15. Make fitted cover for bench seat. Completed 

16. Get winter covers for fridge and grill. Completed 

17. Cut up carpet to retain some. Completed 

18. Wet clothes hooks over door Completed 

19. Fitted Kyocera 130W solar panel Completed 

19a Fitted Amperor Power Integrator Completed 

20. Fit two larger batteries Completed 

21. Fit Nasa BM1-C battery monitor. Completed 

22. Make EHU cable stowage. Completed 

22a Strengthened EHU cable supports Completed 

23. Sound insulation for water pump. Completed 

24. Improve run of pipes and cables. Completed 

25. Replace luminaire over cooker for LED type Completed 

26. Added Battery LED lights to door and rear locker Completed 

27. Added boot/shoe storage to underbed area Completed 

28. Added Thermowrap insulation to front grp moulding Completed 

29. Added mcb for battery charger Completed 

30. Added external dc socket for telescope electronics etc Completed 

31. Add red interior lighting (for night vision) Completed 

31a Remove 2D innards and replace with white and red LCD panels Completed 

32. Added fused supplementary dc distribution. Completed 

33. Add wardrobe catch clothes protection Completed 

33a Fiddled with clothes protection now back to plan A Completed 

34. Added shelf in 'dog cupboard Completed 

34a Move shelf support 20mm aft Completed 

34b Moved shelf support back to original position Completed 

34c [Varnished shelf Completed 

35. Transferred to pending 5

36. Add extra DC socket at floor level Completed 

37. Add light for driver's seat Completed 

38. Add Hooks and clips in Propane gas cupboard for 'gas' tools Completed 

39. Fit waste pipe for emptying waste tanks when no MH disposal point. Completed 

40. Clips for awning opener underbed Completed 

41. Headlamp diverters and vehicle spare lamp box Completed 

42. Make longer dc cable for telescope mount Completed 

43. Transferred to pending 7

44. Investigate child seat fitment. Completed 

44a Have firmer seat squab made Completed 

45. Fit new shower tap hoses and head. New one doesn't fit so Plan B

46. Fit Gaslow SS flexible pigtail Completed 

47. Replace Grill with Cupboard Completed 

48. Stowage for awning winder Completed 

49. Retaining pin for door open catch Completed 

50. New protection strips for gas pipes to be fitted. 

51. New Retention and gas drop vent for storage of 907 cylinder. Completed

 

Snags

1. Replace curtain hooks. (poor quality) Completed

2. Fix over bedhead shelf properly. Completed 

3. Seal side of worktop 

4. Get English language versions of some manuals. Asked Discover - no response, bought one from Ford the other from eBay Completed 

5. Fit new outside door clip Completed 

6. Investigate thin glass fibre Completed 

7. All sealant removed from roof seams, resealed with Körapur Marine. Completed 

8. Staple velcro for head rest. Completed 

9. Charger repair. Completed 

10. Check water pipe route and insulation near fridge. Completed 

11. Fix Fridge door lock Completed 

12. Move lower Table support to correct position. Completed 

13. Snag deleted 

14. Shower hose fouling rear of cupboard and other hoses, also leaking. Completed 

15. Shower door lower catch not operating. Completed 

15a Catch failed again removed bottom part of catch Completed 

16. 'O' rings and hose clips fitted to Truma water boiler Completed 

17. Lower Fridge vent replaced holding catch broken Completed 

18. Water pressure reducer fitted to Thetford flush Completed 

19. Remove mastic from inside water filler hose. Completed 

20. Get first service done. Completed 

21. Report change of ownership to Chausson. Completed 

22. Improve poor mounting of bench seat. See also 44a Completed 

23. Add extra rivets to join at rear of cab doors Completed 

 

Accidents

1. Hit parked car extensive damage to fairing and underskirt on one side Completed by Highbridge Caravans 

2. Hit gate post damage to rear corner vertical aluminium extrusion Completed by Highbridge Caravans 

 

Pending

1. See 10 

2. See 44a 

3. Deleted 

4. See 39 

5. Investigate dog restraint cage. This is now tied in with child seat and child's sleeping arrangements. The fitment of a child seat will prevent the use of restraint harness which only one dog will tolerate anyway. The child's bed can be formed from the lowered table which is also the dogs travel area a net wall of mesh might also prevent child falling from bed. 

6. Fit TV We have managed for 2 years without a TV since fitting the solar panel on the previous van in Feb 2009. I can see where an aerial might easily be mounted, accessed from the heki rooflight and can see a suitable site for my small flatscreen TV. Its not a priority for us though New I have bought a suitable aerial!. 

7. Investigate move of Webasto Thermostat Well it does work after a fashion where it is, so might just put up with it being not a very precise controller of temperature. 

8. See 47 

 

..... and I have been promising to show my improved cable stowage See 22 and 22a but keep forgetting so here it is: 

 

 

If your walls are made of expanded polystyrene and thin ply then any fixture needs load-spreading and glue to supplement any screws used.

 

12th Apr 2012

 

Now I have another problem to solve and I guess have discovered something new. 

The awning is not locking home properly. It is staying closed and I'm able to travel with it but if travelling at night I am going to put an extra long tywrap around it as a safeguard until I can fix it or have it fixed. 

What I have I discoved. 

Three things 

 

One it's not a new awning it has more wear in it than my previous one. 

 

Two those red tell tale markers don't indicate "Locked" just that it is closed. 

 

Three I don't understand exactly how the awning works 

 

Now waiting for someone to give me the answers. Found out that Fiamma make an awning repair kit for awnings that don't stay housed but its basically some tape which by increasing the radius of the side that stays out makes the awning close correctly. I used Gaffer tape.

 

31st May 2012

We've sprung a leak from the roof well done Wicklow rain. 

Sealed with gaffer tape at the moment be back at home after the weekend.

It stayed on until 2013 when it was replaced by some white gaffer tape

 

31st Aug 2012

A make do and mend session today. 

I have some smeg grommets for the hob pan rest to fit, the old ones are hard and one completely broken. I also have two grommets for the glass lids. 

I am returning to the door retaining catch. The second one has broken but I have been able to see how it gradually fails. The striker bends the catch and a crack starts from a corner. The catch opens up a little and this allows the striker to move further into the catch and eventually it starts hitting the central web. This rapidly extends the crack. The trick is not to let the crack start and I think I have found a way. I have tried it for a month or so on the broken catch and I am now ready to fit it to a new catch. Two thin brass bolts will stop the catch moving apart further than it should. 

 

I will post pictures by Monday. 

Oops it is 6th Jul 2014 and I haven't taken the photos until now, neither have I replaced the catch. Well that tells me that my modification works but you can see where the brass bolts have bent. 

 

Well I am no longer on MHF forum, about then the  the thread was somewhat hijacked and at some point all the photos I had placed on MHF albums were lost so this blog which referenced them was ruined. 

So this is a convenient point to begin Part 6 which will be all new stuff and organised differently from parts 1 to 5 which covered the first 22 months of ownership.

franksblog.webnode.com/other-writing/buying-a-van-part-6-/