Dorset

So we packed most stuff Thursday and head out Friday early evening from South London. We were aiming to camp ‘wild’.

Assisted by closures of inconvenient sections of the M3, we arrived at our intended seaside car park around midnight. Put off by a large “No Overnight Stay” sign, numerous cars (some occupied) we head for plan B, a quiet parking spot with a view off a single track road. That was also occupied by two larger motorhomes, no space for us as well, so we continued upwards settling on the first available space where we wouldn’t be in the way. Whilst big enough it was far from level, and we leaked a fair bit of our water out of the overflow which froze into a sloping puddle. Next morning we awoke to find ourselves on top of a hill.. which was nice..

We extracted the boys from upstairs and had a cup of tea before packing up and heading down to Chesil Beach for breakfast. They were quite taken with the beautiful fine beach pebbles and I was surprised by the number of fisherfolk hunkered down – which explains many of the cars from the night before. Porridge and blue berries were consumed with coffee and hot chocolate

A lazy breakfast over, we moved on again to Lulworth Cove, arriving in time for lunch in the busy car park and then a gentle stroll across the headland and onto the beach.

Returning to the van with a couple of hours of daylight remaining and determined to get some use from our new National Trust membership, we head out once more, this time to Corfe Castle, an extraordinary ruin.

Leaving Corfe at dusk, after filling the loo flush tank from the stream, we head for a quiet disused quarry parking spot near Kimmeridge Bay and were relieved to find it empty. Over the night we acquired a number of neighbours with at least two other vans and several cars. The view was not too bad next morning, and again we had a quick cuppa and head down to the bay for a breakfast of pancakes

After an hour or so fossil hunting on the beach, it was time to head back to London, so we did.

The van was great, we’re starting to trust it mechanically and the now working Propex heating is a real plus. We’re learning to bicker less in a confined space and are establishing our routines, moving relatively easily from place to place with our own domestic infrastructure along for the ride. This made for a rich and enjoyably active weekend and not for the first time, a genuine sense of freedom. Just need to fix that sliding door…

Bodiam Castle

This weekend’s jaunt was to the Kent/East Sussex borders. A miserable forecast proved correct and as our reconditioned control module for the Propex heater hadn’t yet arrived, we packed an electric fan heater and found a hook up cable lying about the garage we’d pinched from my folks for French camping trips.

We now appear to have joined the National Trust and the boys enjoyed running around the castle, climbing the precipitous spiral stairs in the towers and spotting mason’s marks and generally clambering about  where they shouldn’t.

We dropped down to St Leonard’s for fish and chips on the sea front for dinner before returning to the Dogwood Cottage campsite for twilight rabbits, clear skies and stars, card games, rain and electric heating. Unsurprisingly we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

Next morning we attempted to visit the site of the Battle of Hastings, in the appropriately named town of Battle. Brandishing our new National Trust membership papers, we entered the impressive gift shop and were somewhat taken aback to find the site is in fact looked after by English Heritage; a mere £90 odd for a membership or £26 for family entry on the day plus parking… In the chilly sleet, a predominantly outdoor site seemed poor value so we trudged back to the van, extricated ourselves from the barrier controlled parking and head for home.

The van behaved impeccably, it didn’t even leak by the driver’s wheel arch.. although we detected a new squeak when cold which is hopefully not the first signs of the alternator bearings on their way out.

On our return, I re-fitted the Propex module which arrived on the Saturday morning just as we were leaving. After some faffing putting everything back together, including a bit of silicone sealant to the outlet flue, it fired up first time. We have proper heating! Credit to Propex for providing that rare thing: friendly, helpful, rapid and cheap service.

So only the hot water boiler to go to have us fully functioning again, which we are currently considering ditching completely to gain a bit more cupboard space.

 

Apprentice fixer

Today I persuaded my eldest (9) to help with a few bits and bobs.

First task, access the Propex heater to remove the 138cr module. Junior popped the plastic covers off to expose the screws and then removed them one by one

We then removed the unit for posting to Propex for their testing of the suspected fan controller.

Junior then replaced the screws

Next up to tackle the broken seat clips to the driver’s side sofa back. I had acquired some new ‘table’ hooks from Autosleeper and it was just a case of removing the old broken bits:

and screwing on the new hooks

which clip on to these:

We then glued the bed support batten I had destroyed in the Lakes back together with PVA. I’ll leave this to dry overnight and see what’s what tomorrow. I also replaced a missing screw from the fold out panels for the seat base.

I then attempted to install a 12v computer fan to replace the seized extract fan. This ended up with me blowing a fuse in the Zig unit through carelessness with exposed wires. A quick trip to Halfords ensued for a replacement 5A fuse but despite trying various combinations of connecting the 3 fan wires to the 2 supply wires we couldn’t get it going. There is 12v arriving at the supply but I’ve a sneaky suspicion I may have fried the new fan motor by connecting it up incorrectly at the outset – more research required on this one…

So having failed on the extract fan (bacon frying on hold for now) we did what all good workmen do when faced with adversity.

Pity about the shaky photo, it was a bit gloomy this afternoon. At least we had a comfy sofa, now with a non disappearing seat back..

Next up was under the bonnet for electrics, with no pics as my assistant had decided he’d had enough and disappeared inside. Having recommissioned my multi-meter with new and very pointy probes and a fresh 9v battery, I tackled the non charging auxiliary battery. A bit of poking about in the wiring loom testing for continuity identified a dodgy fuse holder from the main battery feed. A little emery paper action and a squeeze of pliers and it went back together happily, giving a positive beep on the meter. I fired up the engine and measured 14.7v across the both batteries. Yay! Charging appears to be back in order.

So I decided to swap back the ‘original’ leisure battery instead of the spare starter battery I had temporarily fitted as an auxiliary. I connected it up and fired up the engine  and there were some ominous clicks from under the bonnet and the leisure battery was now measuring -13v across the terminals. In a not uncommon moment of stupidity I had connected it the wrong way around! Another trip to the fortunately nearby Halfords followed to pick up some spare 30A fuses and after a bit a fettling, all now appears to work as it should (although I’ve not tested the fridge which was working), which is good as the next stop was going to be the relays, one of which appears to have Araldite holding a connection on. Quite pleased to not have to mess with that for the moment as I can’t find my wire crimper and crimp bits.

With it all going reasonably to plan and progress being made, naturally the van decided to kick back and on activation from inside, the sliding door lock disappeared into the door panel. The latch still opens from the inside but I can no longer unlock it with the key from outside. At least it seems secure; one for another day.

 

 

Progress

The passenger side Bosch front fog light was broken when we picked the van up. It was still working but probably not for long given its exposure to the elements. I happened upon a pair of very similar used ones on a popular auction site, took a punt and got them delivered. The package was waiting in the rain in the drive for me on our return home..

Look pretty similar

At first I got no lights at all, a quick scrub of contacts with emery paper and sorted:

The glass pattern doesn’t quite match the other side but that’s ok, the remaining glass, reflector and body is in the garage as a spare.

In other news, the bee sting aerial arrived and was fitted. It works. Unfortunately I found out today that the diaphragm for the water heater is no longer available so I need to scour the net for the last remaining NOS or used bits. I also spoke with Propex and they think it is the control module causing the issue so this weekend that will be removed and sent to them for testing.

 

First Proper Trip

 

Just back from our four night post Christmas trip to the Lake District to meet friends for New Year. The Lakes were beautiful as ever, despite the heavy weather. We took in Windermere (Low Wray campsite), Wastwater (stayed at Wasdale Head on the green), Loweswater, Crummock Water and Buttermere, and Coniston Water.

We didn’t need the heater, although the cab heating got good use drying wet clothes on the road. We are well used to winter tent camping so layered up when it got a bit frosty, still an occasional blast of hot air would be nice at either end of the day. The plan is to dismantle the heater and send it to Propex at some point.

The leisure battery is defiantly refusing to charge properly. It appears to be gaining enough each day after a run to suggest something is getting through as we could always run a light or two although by the third day, the water pump was too much. As it happened this wasn’t a major problem but it needs sorting. Auto electrics are a bit of a mystery to me so its going to be a learning curve..

Hot water wasn’t required beyond making hot drinks on the hob.

The van didn’t miss a beat, we trundled along the motorway at around 55mph and managed to take in the passes at Honister, Wrynose and Hardknott. The 1 in 3 hairpins were exciting in first gear and things rattling and sliding about in the back. We were grateful to avoid a hill start at such a gradient; a cool head and a fair bit of patience with the gearchange were required. I confess there was a small celebration at the summit of each pass. My calculations are still suggesting mid twenties mpg, I must be really slow.

Aside from a lot of petrol, Rudolph only needed a precautionary half litre oil top up; getting the cap off the oil ‘orifice’ took a bit of head scratching. A bit of WD40 seems to have rejuvenated the driver’s door lock.

We are getting to grips with actually living in the van, setting stuff up and managing four pairs of muddy footwear, wet coats and kids who don’t want to go outside. I did break the front support for the middle section of double bed, another thing on the list..

A successful trip and a great start to 2017.