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Post by millard1399 on Jun 10, 2012 16:51:47 GMT 10
Ha, ha, ha, kylarama...you know me too well! ;D ;D BUT...just to make sure I didn't get caught up in another full-blown resto, I went straight to the Doctor's after we bought the van, and got a prescription for some "anti-dismantling tablets" to stop any urges I might get when I saw woodrot! Now I can look at water damage and think, "Yeah...whatever..." This is the extent of the water damage in the two rear wardrobes... But it's worse in the two footlocker cupboards that are beneath the wardrobes... And guess what?! When you shut the cupboard doors, you CAN'T see the damage!! That's MY kind of caravan! ;D ;D -------------------------------------------------------------- kiwijim, I'll keep these diesel heaters in mind, but I'm thinking they are a luxury for those with more dollars than we've got. A few years ago we discovered the benefits and convenience of "wheat bags" - those little pillows full of wheat. Pop 'em in the microwave for a minute or two, and they become a great little "hot water bottle" to keep the cold out. You can chuck 'em in the bed to warm the sheets up, or you can shove 'em down yer duds to keep your innards warm. Lots of options for how to use them, and cost about ten bucks each. ;D cheers, Al.
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Post by kiwijim on Jun 10, 2012 21:02:02 GMT 10
HMMMMMM, I wonder if the next set of pic's coming out of the East, will be of new corner panels being fitted. Any Bets Kylarama ? Yep, we discovered those little wheat pillows on our last trip away, They sure go poppin all over the Microwave, love the ones with the Butter inside, could eat them all night. ;D ;D ;D kiwijim ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2012 21:49:20 GMT 10
Hi Al, Too much 'weight'?
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Post by millard1399 on Jun 10, 2012 22:41:18 GMT 10
G'day wahroonga, I'm gonna ignore that comedian from WA and answer your question. ;D ;D Those stays are bent from the factory, as far as I could see when we dismantled them. If you look at the far side jack in the photo, you can see the forward half of the stay sticking above the leg frame, so it's bent in the same shape as well. I'll doublecheck them, now that you've posed the question, but I think they are definitely "as manufactured". I'll also check the two front ones while I'm at it. Never hurts to be familiar with all the bit and pieces on our vans, ay?! Thanks for raising the query. cheers, Al.
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Post by millard1399 on Jun 12, 2012 21:59:58 GMT 10
Had a frustrating day today. Today was the day to check the gas system in the van. Last week while I was at Bunnings, I came across a gas leak kit on clearance... I figured for a whole $1.50 it was worth grabbing, for when I checked the gas out. Which was today... Step 1: Turn the bottle valve on. Go try and light the stove. Nothing! Try and light the fridge. Nothing there either! Check both isolation valves in the cupboard. Yep, both handles in the right position. Check bottle. Empty! Check date on bottle. 08/2000. Out of date! Go get another bottle from the shed with some gas in it. Connect up. Retry stove. Nothing! Start checking every joint from the bottle, to see if gas is getting to that part. Use leak kit to check for bubbles. Get to T-junction under van, and start to loosen nut on one side. See water start to drip out of joint. Say what?!! Loosen nut completely and pull pipe away from junction. Watch half a cup of water flow out... Spend time trying to get all water out of pipe. Roll up tissues to a pointy end and stick into junction joint to soak up water. Keep getting out from under van as each rain shower hits (...bloody wet weather ). Put all joints back together and retest griller. Success!! ;D ;D ... Try fridge. #%$&*^!!!! Take vent cover off outside of van. Take cover off fridge gas burner. Get ready to check piezo ignition and burner. Pack up when torrential rain decides to fall. ...to be continued when rain stops (if it ever does )
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2012 7:31:41 GMT 10
It's amazes me how many little things have 'gone wrong' on a relatively new van. It was one that looked like you'd just 'hook 'n go'. Better add 'check that the gas and appliance actually work', on the van check list.
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Post by millard1399 on Jun 13, 2012 9:50:07 GMT 10
G'day wahroonga, Yep, it just shows how many things in old vans can "bite you in the bum". When we did the inspection on the van, it was hooked up to power in the seller's driveway, and the fridge was working ok on 240V. I must admit I didn't check the gas system during the inspection, but the stove looked to be in pretty good condition, so I took a punt on that side of things. It's still got me perplexed how half a cup of water found its way into the gas lines. The only thing I can think of is that the regulator might have been "flapping in the breeze" at the front of the van for a considerable time, and water has got into the pipework from that end. Maybe someone else knows of other possibilities. Once I check that the fridge works on gas ok, I'll disconnect the gas lines at the various joints and let each section dry out completely. We're still very happy with the van. It had "great bones" when we looked at it, and with the work I've done on it over the last four weeks, it now is as good as you'd ever want. We've spent about 2 grand all up, to get it all sorted out (including a year's rego and insurance), so I think we've ended up with a great van for a relatively good price. Plus, four weeks of work is heaps shorter than the sixteen months on the poptop. ;D By the way, the rear jack stays are factory design for sure. Both sides are exactly the same, and no sign of any metal deformation from excess weight. The two front ones are straight, but they are much shorter in length than the rear. cheers, Al.
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Post by millard1399 on Jun 13, 2012 17:31:46 GMT 10
Success!!! ;D ;D The rain stayed away long enough today to let me have another look at the fridge/gas problem. Turns out there was still water in the pipe on the fridge side of the T-junction under the van. Thought I'd got rid of it all yesterday, but not so. Cleaned it all out and fired up the fridge bewdifully! Phew!...what a relief that's sorted!! I'll leave the fridge running overnight, and check the thermometer reading inside it in the morning. Then I'll disconnect the pipes again and let them dry out thoroughly over a couple of days. When I put them all back together again, I can fit the new dual regulator onto the gas bottle bracket as well. Also put the new plastic inserts into the edge mouldings today... Looks heaps better than the old ones I took out, which were split in places due to 20 years of weathering... Got the electric brakes controller and installation kit delivered yesterday, but that's a job for another day. cheers, Al.
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Post by millard1399 on Jun 14, 2012 15:26:35 GMT 10
Ok, the fridge is good. ;D ;D Temperature on the floor of the fridge this morning was 10 degrees, with the thermostat set on 4. The freezer was "freezing"! Here's another project I worked on today while waiting for the sun to dry out the ground around the van... The towing mirrors I use for the Millard are great for the 6ft 6ins width of that van... But, they don't extend out far enough for the 7ft 6ins width of the Windsor. So rather than go buy new ones, I figured there must be a way of extending the old ones to suit. Here's what I ended up doing... Dismantle the old ones... Cut the mirror arms... Cut some aluminium angle to suit the longer length required... File the ali angle smooth at both ends; drill holes; insert screws... Fit short length of foam so screw heads don't chafe the car mirror plastic... Reassemble and fit to car... (Nice Millard in the background, ay?!! ) Cheap as chips way to do it!! cheers, Al.
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Post by bobt on Jun 14, 2012 22:33:27 GMT 10
Hey Al Love the extensions. Hope they work well for you. Gas and water, was that water a dirty colour? I get a build up of liquid in the gas pipes of my van, I found I had to blow air thru the pipes to clear it out nearly every 2 years, if I didn't my gas appliances would slowly become unusable. So I suspect that you are a victim of this too. Either that or it is a mexican idiosyncrasy. Gas comes out of the ground and has liquid in it, when it gets distributed it ends up in the lowest point of your caravan. I was chatting to a friend last night. (tks KJ I do have one) He is getting ready to go on a trip up the centre with a group of friends. He was tell me about all the mods he had to do to his motor home. The list went on and on.. Sounds a bit like a bloke in NSW, the only difference is.... the motor home is just 4 mths old... Really doesn't matter how old or young it is it will always be looking for that little touch up by its owner.. I take it you going to drag it around behind the mazda?
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Post by millard1399 on Jun 14, 2012 23:19:41 GMT 10
G'day bobt, It'll be the towcar for the short term...for short trips. I may have an opportunity to buy my older brother's Prado when he sorts a few things out with his business (he's retiring and in the early stages of selling up). His cars have always been the sort you wish you could get your hands on as a second-hand vehicle. Fussier about looking after them than most people. Won't know whether it's a possible deal until later in the year. If it doesn't happen, we'll be looking at other options. Have been reading up on the Hyundai Santa Fe / Kia Sorento 2.2L diesel cars. Seem to get good opinions in motoring reviews. Good for 2000kgs towing in auto version. New Santa Fe model hitting the market at the end of this year, so run-out deals might be available beforehand. But yep, we're gonna have to suffer with the ol' Mazda in the "short term". No worries though...the Big Trip won't be happening this year anyway. cheers, Al.
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Post by kiwijim on Jun 15, 2012 5:44:24 GMT 10
Howdy Guys, Just hanging on by the finger nails here in the West, "Flamin Wind", downed power lines every-where, bucket loads of rain, Trees all over the roads, Roofs flying every-which-a-way, Well that's what it's been like for the last couple of days any-way. Now that things have settled down ( for the time being ) back to Al's tread. The biggest problem we had while dealing in the Caravan Business, was the problem of water in the gas lines, this water can turn to a thick sludge very quickly and as a result, block gas jets on all appliances, plus, if left uncleaned will seal off all gas flow in a short period. The new type of double headed Gas Regulator, is very susceptible to blockage from sludge, there must have been hundreds we changed in a matter of months because they stopped working very quickly. I would suggest to anyone who buys a caravan, the very first thing to do is, disconnect the gas line at the bottle, and at all appliances, then use a good powerful compressor and blow out all lines, just be sure to cover the out-let end of the pipe with rag, this will stop sludge flying all over the place and there could well be plenty. kiwijim
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Post by millard1399 on Jun 15, 2012 8:39:08 GMT 10
After bobt's comment about it happening in his van, I did a google search to see how common the problem was. Couldn't find the problem being discussed on any of the caravan forums. Hmmm...wonder how many other caravan owners out there have got water in the gas lines? Or is it just bobt and me? Maybe it's just a Windsor thing? cheers, Al.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2012 17:37:22 GMT 10
Hi Al, often condensation happens in gas lines,due to the plastic screw on caps on the regulator.They become brittle and let moisture in.Has happened on a few vans I have bought over the years. Cheers hughdeani
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Post by millard1399 on Jul 10, 2012 14:59:37 GMT 10
G'day All, Thought I might update this thread. Been working on and off in the cold, wet winter weather. Starting from the front of the van, I've wired up the car for a Tekonsha Primus IQ electric brakes controller. Didn't have any bits left over when I put all the trim back on the inside of the car, so I thought that was a bonus. ;D A longer bracket was welded to the towbar to allow the tow plug and a separate anderson plug for the brakes to be fitted... Two separate plugs now at the van coupling... All new 6mm auto cable was installed for the electric brakes. All joints soldered and heat shrinked, and then covered with some cheap pressure cable I got from a clearance sale at Bunnings. The 6mm cable is heaps thicker than the "figure-8" bedlamp cable that was used originally ... A new double regulator for the gas bottle... I replaced the rusty old annexe roller at the top of the door... ...and I fashioned some door bumpers out of rubber door stoppers, to stop the door clanging against the roll-out awning arms... Inside the van there was a key holder above the door. Over the years, the dangling keys had scratched a lot of the paper-faced pattern off the plywood, so I cut up a piece of ply and stained/estapol'ed it to cover the unsightly area... The "Boss" weaved some magic with her sewing machine, and new curtains were installed all round... I cut up the famous two-step timber steps I'd made for the Millard. Now it is just the lower step, which by a stroke of good fortune fits neatly into the footwell in the van when travelling... New galvanised chain was fitted to the mudflaps to replace the rusty old "chandelier" chain that was there... A replacement rope track was fitted to the side of the van at the rear. The old one had apparently been ripped off in a storm a couple of years ago... I made a "design improvement" at the rear of the van. Rainwater running down the back of the van had a tendency to deflect towards the lights when it reached the bend in the rear cladding... That to me seemed a bit dumb, considering there were wire holes behind the lights. We don't want water getting into these holes, right?, so I had a think about how to overcome that. I bought some curved aluminium moulding, and fitted it up under the bend in the cladding... My logic says that the rainwater should now be deflected away from the lights. It's supposed to rain for the next couple of days, so I'll be able to check out whether I've done the right thing or not. The van is now finally able to "hit the road". The Boss wants a laminex splashback around the kitchen area, so I've still got to do that at some stage, and I've bought LED replacement lights for the marker and clearance lights on the van, and I have to fit those at some stage as well. It's a real pain trying to retrofit these lights when there's no earth wire available at each light. We're doing a "test trip" in a couple of weekends, to see how it all goes. cheers, Al.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2012 18:29:46 GMT 10
Hello Al, You realise, of course, that you shouldn't be welding to a towar that has been certified to suit your vehicle Looking at your photos, might I suggest a little dab of Mastic in the corners of your edge moulding to guarantee a water-tight seal - top idea with the water deflector Re the water in your gas lines - I have been told by a registered gas installer that it is advisable to dry out the pigtail connector every time you change gas bottles to get rid of moisture and "oily" residue. Regards, Chris
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Post by millard1399 on Jul 10, 2012 20:24:36 GMT 10
G'day Chris, Did I say "welded"?? Erk...I meant glued. Yep, that's right...glued! Thanks for the tip on the pig-tail. It seems the rest of the gas pipes should be checked on some sort of regular basis as well. (Hmmm...wonder what the pipes under the Millard are like, now that it's been two years since the resto was completed?) I'll also put a dab of sealant where you've suggested. cheers, Al.
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Post by bobt on Jul 10, 2012 21:06:13 GMT 10
geez al, if it was my house hold it would have been out and about for its first run by now.. hell you've had it for weeks now.. I reckon moving into a new van is worse then moving house. look forward to hearing about its first trip bobt
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2012 19:42:52 GMT 10
Hot glue guns are wonderful inventions !!!!!!
Chris
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Post by millard1399 on Jul 22, 2012 21:28:43 GMT 10
G'day All, We've just had a 3-day trip to test out the work done on the van so far, and to see what else needed attention. We only went about 200kms from home, but it was enough to tell us the Mazda Tribute is nowhere near gutsy enough to tow the van. Any reasonable hill saw it struggle, so its days are numbered in our household. The van itself performed well, apart from a tendency to fishtail at speeds above 90kph. I'm going to do some investigation into weights and weight distribution to try and understand what the sway is being caused by. We stayed at a caravan park on a headland on the Central Coast north of Sydney, and were buffeted by gusty winds the whole time we were there. Here is a shot of the beach down below where we were parked... ...and here is a shot of the beach on the second day, when the skies were greyer and the wind even more gusty... One thing we learnt is that the roll-out awnings are only good for fairly calm weather. As soon as the wind gets up to 25kph or more, these things clang and clatter and make a real racket. There were 3 of us with them and we all decided it would be better to roll the awning up rather than have them flapping and rattling in the wind like they were doing. Here's a photo of the Windsor van set up (with ferocious guard dog in attendance )... There were well over 100 vans from the 1970s being used around the park for permanent and holiday living. I saw at least three of the rounded bum Viscounts that we were looking for before we got the Windsor. I took a photo of this particular rounded-bum Viscount that had been raised up high on blocks (maybe scared of floods??)... As a result of the trip away, I've got another list of things that need tweaking, or a bit of attention, in the Windsor. Nothing major, just things that will improve our enjoyment during future trips. cheers, Al.
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Post by bobt on Jul 23, 2012 22:18:55 GMT 10
Hello millard1399 How nice it is to see some photos of one out and about, even if it is only out the back door and around the corner. Nice bit of scenery. Must be a large park if they have that many on site vans. Love the ferocious guard dog, just the thing to have when you’re out and about, looks like it would do a sterling job protecting your property. Bit of a bummer the Mazda being a little light on for giddy up and go. You could always put a super charger on it. Fine tuning, well I am still doing that and I have been caravanning for a looong time. Always seem to find something new to add or change. Have a list that I am slowly working my way through. Hopefully it will be done before we take off on our lengthy trip next year. If you want some tips on what caused the swaying well I can give ya my two bobs worth. Sounds like your gunna need to do another trip round the corner to test out your mods. And then ya best report back on what you discovered. bobt
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2012 8:27:32 GMT 10
Good to see the first trip under your belt Al, hopefully the "tweak" list isn't too long and doesn't keep getting longer
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Post by millard1399 on Aug 3, 2012 16:01:33 GMT 10
G'day All, Here's another one of those stories you hear about stuff being cheaper to buy overseas than it is here in Australia... During our recent test run, we discovered one of the rafter arms on the roll-out awning had a broken slider... When we came back home, I checked our local internet suppliers, and a new slider was $44.66 on special, or up around $50 from another supplier. That made me hyperventilate a bit, so I hunted around the world to see who else sold the part. I found an ebayer in the USA who sold the genuine part, and who would ship worldwide. His price? About ten bucks. Yep, $10. Needless to say, I took advantage of the deal, and bought two of them - one to keep as a spare. This is what the new one looks like, compared to the broken old one... All up, it cost me $34 to buy two of the sliders, and have them posted to me here in Oz. The package took one week to arrive. Compare that with the cost of buying two locally and having them posted to home. 2 x $44.66 plus $8 postage. Total: about $98. I don't mind supporting Oz businesses, but when it comes to a difference of $64, my wallet does the choosing. The only downside to the story is that I fitted the new part ok, but I broke the plastic locking handle in the process... Now I understand that they only need to be fingertip tight rather than forearm tight like I've been doing. So, it's off to my favourite USA seller again for a couple of replacements (one for a spare, of course ) cheers, Al.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2012 7:27:08 GMT 10
Yes Al, i agree, the internet has been a revolution for a lot of us wanting to purchase something at the right price not over inflated. i am torn as well about buying from local australian producers but just about everthing i buy i look on the net first to get a price, take into account the postage and go from there. Sorry about the lower case (i) but as hard as i try the i key on my laptap is buggered. (Might look for another one on the net.!)
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Post by millard1399 on Aug 6, 2012 21:12:59 GMT 10
G'day All, I emptied the van out and took it over the weighbridge today. The rego papers say 1000kgs tare, but the weighbridge said 1190kgs (...because of the roll-out awning, plus rear bumper and spare tyre, etc).
When I came back home today, I checked the ball weight on the van as it was: 74kgs. That's nowhere near being 10%, and explains why the van had a tendency to fishtail during our recent trip. So I've been fiddling with removing and adding things to see how I can get the ball weight up to 120kgs. I found it's not all that easy to add stuff to increase the ball weight in big jumps (you'll remember your high school lessons on fulcrums and balances). I added a 20kg gas bottle on the front drawbar, and only increased the actual ball weight by about 12kgs. I then removed the 22kg spare wheel from the rear bumper, and the ball weight increased by only 16kgs. When you are trying to bump it up by a total of 45kgs, t'aint all that easy.
Tomorrow I'll continue experimenting, and also weighing all the stuff that was in the van before it goes back in. That'll give me an idea of what the ATM is likely to be.
cheers, Al.
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