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Post by Mustang on Oct 9, 2016 18:37:59 GMT 10
Last week we visited Lake Barambah & Mingo Xing in our Modern (Her trip) We lost the air con at one venue (while on power) while setting up the satellite dish the telly expired (6mths old) along with the Sat finder. Then while off power we lost all charging from the solar panels, on the way home the car didn't charge either??? The makers have been good to date, all the many previous problems we have had have been third party supplied products. But now we are out of all warranties, the air con/ TV people offer 12 months warranty only??? That's rubbish!!! Any caravan maker could leap the cue by offering a five year warranty on everything, even at some extra cost? ( A successful car dealer here offers 7 year guarantees on $40K vehicles) Rant over  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2016 19:08:21 GMT 10
Last week we visited Lake Barambah & Mingo Xing in our Modern (Her trip) We lost the air con at one venue (while on power) while setting up the satellite dish the telly expired (6mths old) along with the Sat finder. Then while off power we lost all charging from the solar panels, on the way home the car didn't charge either??? The makers have been good to date, all the many previous problems we have had have been third party supplied products. But now we are out of all warranties, the air con/ TV people offer 12 months warranty only??? That's rubbish!!! Any caravan maker could leap the cue by offering a five year warranty on everything, even at some extra cost? ( A successful car dealer here offers 7 year guarantees on $40K vehicles) Rant over Makes a VV look good hey  no A/C no sat dish no solar and the vintage car has a good old dynamo/generator aaahhh the good old days whe we could fix stuff with a hammer a shifter and gaffer tape   |
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Post by bobt on Oct 10, 2016 17:21:18 GMT 10
I would be having chats with the suppliers. Not unreasonable to expect some of these products to last longer than 12 months.. Have a look at www.accc.gov.au/As for extended warranties, you must read the fine print carefully. |
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Post by tasmillard on Oct 11, 2016 9:25:15 GMT 10
Makes a VV look good hey no A/C no sat dish no solar and the vintage car has a good old dynamo/generator aaahhh the good old days whe we could fix stuff with a hammer a shifter and gaffer tape I completely agree. Keep things as simple as possible where you can. Mind you, sounds like Murphy took a trip with them... |
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Post by Mustang on Oct 24, 2016 21:24:52 GMT 10
Update:The air con bill is $820. The van now resides with the electrical tech that has done a lot of work for us over the years, he is talking of major rewiring & alterations to put things right. ( how did I know this was going to be the result) $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ The TV was repaired under warranty by Coast to Coast, excellent service. Sat Finder was ok all along, just the wrong connection from the outside of the van. Spent the weekend in Vincent again with ZERO problems 
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2016 6:30:56 GMT 10
Update:The air con bill is $820. The van now resides with the electrical tech that has done a lot of work for us over the years, he is talking of major rewiring & alterations to put things right. ( how did I know this was going to be the result) $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ The TV was repaired under warranty by Coast to Coast, excellent service. Sat Finder was ok all along, just the wrong connection from the outside of the van. Spent the weekend in Vincent again with ZERO problems Starts to make the 'Stang/Vincent combo look good huh ? but then it would "Shine" in any company  Btw although we were not going to name the van but it has been suggested that we call it "Grace" or The 4th Grace maybe Grace the 4th re the Zephyr/Consul/Zodiac reference of the 3 graces www.flickr.com/photos/36844288@N00/4272876036 |
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Post by Mustang on Oct 25, 2016 7:01:03 GMT 10
I like the name Grace, very deserving.
I have several names for the Ultimate.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2016 7:57:41 GMT 10
I like the name Grace, very deserving. I have several names for the Ultimate. Mmmmm I am guessing none ar printable |
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Post by atefooterz on Oct 31, 2016 13:43:17 GMT 10
My up close with the Ultimate Naughtylass, in Radelaide, almost confirmed what i dislike about modern cars being at the mercy of electrics long term. If you are in a new and replace every few years situation things have never been better. The secondhand and long term issues however are bleak and expensive! I bought a "cheap" modern passenger van and soon was too scared to open a window as it may never go back up again, headlight trim adjusters became flakey and the cabin air and temp mix controls did not work, previously those trusty linkages would at least change defrost windscreen to cabin airflow. The cost to sort the at that time known issues was quoted at similar to what i paid for the thing but may go higher depending on what they found = sold it and re vamped my 1985 van. One day that electronic pop top does not go up or down then things become nasty. |
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Post by Mustang on Nov 1, 2016 17:14:51 GMT 10
This unit was faaarrrr from "cheap".
The makers have offered no solutions, the lack of care we have been offered as 10 year customers, has been short of devastating.
The forum now knows about this brand, so the word will soon spread.
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Post by atefooterz on Nov 2, 2016 7:23:09 GMT 10
Sad to hear that as i do like the concept. The culture danger is what has allowed me a pennyless millionaire sport lifestyle for a few decades. Owners with cash buy the latest, folks with skills are required to race them and we have fun winning. These 1/2 millon upwards toys are always sold within 2-3 years. Owners by being brave get a great entry price so do not suffer too much of that brand new walk out the show room loss, with a great win record can sometimes break even. The relevant part is the constant updating required as all the electronics and sails need replacing every 5-10 years ( 1-3 years to win). So the focus is always about the next model. Much like cars that are designed around a 3 year warranty and maybe 10 years max lifespan, pre crusher as the repair cost exceeds buying a new replacement at change over rate.
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Post by Mustang on Dec 24, 2016 14:56:57 GMT 10
UPDATE: Dec 2016
The air Con part was supplied by Dometic no charge (Value $480.00) at the insistence of the repairer, his labour $280.00.
The bubbling solar panels are still working, for now, the Redarc DC $620.00 was at fault (part Warranty pending) labour $600.00 Inc other relays & wiring.
Two new Lead Crystal batteries $1100.00.
During all this the Victron battery management was wrongly re-connected causing strange readouts, this was corrected by U-tube & my son in law electrician.
We are away to the Elvis Festival on the 7th Jan without a powered site, so this will be a good test for everything, hopefully this is the end of the electrical problems.
Shes only 2 1/2..............................?
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Post by atefooterz on Dec 24, 2016 16:55:13 GMT 10
Hope it all settles down and behaves now!
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Post by Mustang on Dec 27, 2016 7:41:40 GMT 10
We have it parked 3/4 under the shed carport with the fridge running & the batteries are maintaining around 13v, although the battery management suggests they are only 86% charged. I want to be hard on the system to see how the batteries handle a load. The days here have been cloudy over the test period, so all is responding well.
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Post by Mustang on Jan 5, 2017 9:28:25 GMT 10
Hope it all settles down and behaves now! While preparing the van for our trip, I switched the air con on, NOTHING aahhh. Turned out to be a temperature sensor. Due to the wiring cassette becoming stuck, (didn't clip into place with the last repair) the whole unit had to come off the roof to access the part, only $88.00 this time for two hours work. |
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Post by doublechevron on Jan 5, 2017 14:14:26 GMT 10
If you ever buy another modern 'van .... Take a look at the Bailey range of caravans. bolted together at the corners... massively strong. Proper wiring harnesses you can access ( they have a wiring channel down the inside of the caravan). If you look at the modern Baileys there beautifully built..... Now look at what has been fitted in Australia. Climb up and look on the roof. Everything fitted in the UK is bloody lovely... seated down into nice layer of sealer and cleaned. Now look at the aussie fitted A/C and aerials.... Bloody disgusting... about 17 tubes of silicon just pumped every bloody where ( they no doubt cross there fingers at the same time and hope it doesn't leak). The roll out awning. Rather than running it around the built in rail... they get a massive drill bit and just ram it into the built in sail rail to allow easier access. Basically the aussie fitted stuff is appalling... Just like an Aussie 'vans.
seeya,
Shane L.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 19:04:19 GMT 10
If you ever buy another modern 'van .... Take a look at the Bailey range of caravans. bolted together at the corners... massively strong. Proper wiring harnesses you can access ( they have a wiring channel down the inside of the caravan). If you look at the modern Baileys there beautifully built..... Now look at what has been fitted in Australia. Climb up and look on the roof. Everything fitted in the UK is bloody lovely... seated down into nice layer of sealer and cleaned. Now look at the aussie fitted A/C and aerials.... Bloody disgusting... about 17 tubes of silicon just pumped every bloody where ( they no doubt cross there fingers at the same time and hope it doesn't leak). The roll out awning. Rather than running it around the built in rail... they get a massive drill bit and just ram it into the built in sail rail to allow easier access. Basically the aussie fitted stuff is appalling... Just like an Aussie 'vans. seeya, Shane L. Gee Shane Aussie vans are no good  obviously from your ride choices our cars are no good Citroens must be better Is anything made here worthwhile buying or using ? |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 19:10:34 GMT 10
BTW we have an Australian built sunliner motorhome 240,000km no leaks no breakages and it has done the Birdsville , Strzelecki and Oodnadatta tracks also the great Central Road plus a few other supposed 4wd tracks all with no damage or leaks not even a loose screw of broken catch I have seen a few pommy and european vans and motorhomes that have been wrecked just on tar Oh I also have a 48 yr old Viscount made here that also does not leak even when cleaned with a gurnie |
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Post by doublechevron on Jan 6, 2017 10:27:42 GMT 10
BTW we have an Australian built sunliner motorhome 240,000km no leaks no breakages and it has done the Birdsville , Strzelecki and Oodnadatta tracks also the great Central Road plus a few other supposed 4wd tracks all with no damage or leaks not even a loose screw of broken catch I have seen a few pommy and european vans and motorhomes that have been wrecked just on tar Oh I also have a 48 yr old Viscount made here that also does not leak even when cleaned with a gurnie I go out of my way to buy Australia stuff..... But the majority of caravans made out here are just appalling .... Have a look at the Rogues gallery over on the caravaners forum. I had the wall cladding off a well know highly thought of aussie 'van recently. it was only 4 years old from memory. Nothing was sealed, it was already rotting around the wheel arches (the decorative trims are just screwed over the top of the timber and not sealed). All of the wiring was a hideous mess of cables strung through poorly hacked into framing with no support at all.... All of the 12 volt wiring ........... WAS ONLY TWISTED TOGETHER. So when it shakes apart it'll drop to the bottom of the wall where it can't be access without removing all of the caravans cladding. The "insulation" ... bloody hilarious and pathetic. Such a lovely looking caravan on the outside... such a poorly built piece of junk underneath. My parents have bought a new Bailey a couple of years back. My father spoke to the person/manager of them in Australia. They have done huge testing of them... which is unheard of for any caravan in Australia. he saw pictures of the caravans they hammered over the car proving grounds. Some of the furniture fell out and was displaced. So they fixed anythign that failed. Have a look at the Bailey factory tours. It's not a stapled together pile of matchsticks like aussie vans. They have the hugely thick composite floor, thick sandwich panel walls and roof. The furnture all locks in over the walls and the roof is bolted in together making one seriously tough box. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBrXICtUq0gWould you do this on any assie 'van. Climb up and look at the roofs of a lot of aussie 'vans. It's collapsing in under the weight of the A/C unit... and isn't crowned at all so water doesn't pool. You certainly would never walk or stand on one. Bailey in Austrlia is now making them on local heavy chassis so they "look" australian too. seeya, Shane L. |
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Post by Mustang on Feb 7, 2017 18:44:42 GMT 10
Well the Elvis Parkes Festival has been done over....a fabulous event, the 40+ degree temperatures took out the Sirocco fan in the S**tbox. So we are still to leave home & return from a trip without a breakdown!! Nothing available in Parkes so we ventured to Blue Sky Camping at Forbes, for a replacement fan. This fan worked OK until we got home, then it expired?  Are we lucky or what??? The suppliers "Outdoor Connection" were fantastic with a replacement, had a rep deliver, remember that brand & buy with confidence, amazing service. Shes only 2 1/2 |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2017 18:51:56 GMT 10
Wow thats bad luck with the caraframo fan we have 2 in the motorhome and not any trouble for 10 years so maybe we have been lucky
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Post by Mustang on Feb 7, 2017 19:39:39 GMT 10
Wow thats bad luck with the caraframo fan we have 2 in the motorhome and not any trouble for 10 years so maybe we have been lucky Try four hard drive "CRASHES" in the last 10 years!!! we have back ups on our backups !!!!! and i'm riding a pushy on the roads? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2017 19:45:55 GMT 10
Wow thats bad luck with the caraframo fan we have 2 in the motorhome and not any trouble for 10 years so maybe we have been lucky Try four hard drive "CRASHES" in the last 10 years!!! we have back ups on our backups !!!!! and i'm riding a pushy on the roads? Geez with your luck I hope Colleen is on the pill |
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no A/C no sat dish no solar and the vintage car has a good old dynamo/generator aaahhh the good old days whe we could fix stuff with a hammer a shifter and gaffer tape 
obviously from your ride choices our cars are no good Citroens must be better 
Are we lucky or what???