Maintenance
Lining the inside of your motorhome
I am converting a panel van into a campervan and I am having trouble sticking the leather cloth to the metal sides of the interior. I used a super spray adhesive purchased from a carpet shop but the leather cloth just pells itself from the walls when the van gets hot. Can you recommend a suitable adhesive for this task?
P Carter, Luton, Bedforshire
See the answer..
Answer
JOHN SAYS
I'm puzzled by your choice of 'leather cloth' for lining a van conversion. It is important to insulate the interior panels of vans in order to prevent cold surfaces, which can stream with condensation, keep out the intense heat of the sun and prevent heat loss in winter. To account for this, it is normal to apply some kind of insulating material if you want to use a van as a habitation vehicle and various ways of doing this are described in my Haynes book, Build Your Own Motorcaravan.
If you don't want to spend time lining the interior with foam or constructing a framework to accept quilting insulant the next strategy is to fix a special lining material. It looks a bit like ribbed carpet but is much lighter and more flexible.
Noting where you live, I suggest you contact Graham at www.middlesexmotorcaravans.co.uk
For advice and supply of adhesive. Apart from the delays caused by road works on the M1 near Hemel Hempstead, it wouldn't take you long to drive from Luton to the factory at 22 Station Parade, Whitchurch Lane, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 6RW. However, please telephone first on 020 8952 4045.
Fitting Remis cab blinds
I read a feature once about fitting Remis cab blinds. I may be wrong but I seem to remember that these blinds were available for the early Peugeot Boxer cabs (1999). If this is the case could you tell me who might stock such blinds near me? For your information my motorhome is an Elddis Autostratus LS SE 1999 2.5TD on a Peugeot Boxer, with rear lounge. Overall I am very happy with it, although when I go to shows I always find a few more favourites to add to my wish-list.
Mr George Hill, Ashford, Middlesex
See the answer..
Answer
JOHN SAYS
You are in luck George, coincidentally I was invited to install the first prototype Remis cab blinds when they were imported into the UK around six years ago. I fitted these into the cab of my 1999 Fiat Ducato (which should be the same as your Peugeot Boxer) and I've found them a very useful addition ever since. Of course, the latest versions are an improvement on these ones, especially in the way the concertina blind now moves in a horizontal rather then vertical plane, but sadly they're only suitable for more recent cabs.
As a point of interest, I've had to stabilise the frames on my side windows by using a thin beading of Sikaflex-512 caravan sealant (available from all good camping stores). Slamming the door over a period of years caused the self-tapping fixings to keep shaking loose and the sealant has cured this.
Anyway, I'm sure those products are still available and any good dealer should know how to obtain stock. The Remis UK importer is based in Chippenham, Wiltshire although you could always seek guidance from the German manufacturer. The staff I've dealt are very helpful and they all speak good English (tel; 00 49 221 788 800, www.remis.de and remis@remis.de).
If you have problems finding these blinds, there's also a Seitz roller blind, which was designed for Fiat/Peugeot screens and you can find it as part of the Dometic product range (tel; 01582 494111, www.dometic.com). However, unfortunately there isn't a Seitz product to close off the cab's side windows.
Getting started
I have taken delivery of a 2005 Auto-Trail Apache and I would like some help in operating the gas and electrics. Could you offer any advice on how to do this or suggest where I could get more information?
Robin Wickens, by email
See the answer..
Answer
DAVID SAYS
You do not say from whom you bought the Apache, but any reputable dealer should have spent time with you on collection to show you how all the systems work. If this did not happen, or if you purchased privately I suggest that you make an appointment with your nearest franchised Auto-Trail dealer and ask them to talk you through things. Addresses are all on the website www.auto-trail.co.uk or you can call them on 01472 571000. They are a good bunch of guys, who will want to see that you are happy with your new Auto-Trail.
Rest assured, I have spoken to Auto-Trail, and although 2005 handbooks are no longer readily available, they promise me that your enquiry will be routed to someone who will be able to help you resolve your problems as quickly as possible.
Solving gas problems
I have had to arrange for the replacement of a bulkhead fixed Truma gas regulator due to blockage. The replacement has been placed as high as possible, but the new position still does not place the regulator above the top of the bottle as the locker size limits the position.
On checking my freestanding propane regulator I note that it delivers gas at 37mbars. Can you confirm that, as the fixed regulator delivers at 30mbars, it is safe to fix the 37mbars regulator to the cylinder and then the hose to the fixed regulator so that any oily liquid blockage will be intercepted? Also, my cylinder is refillable and I have noticed at petrol stations that there is a choice of Autogas or propane liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). What is the difference and can I use either?
Ernest Di Rollo, Hale, Altrincham
See the answer..
Answer
JOHN SAYS
It is disappointing to hear that your repositioned regulator is still situated lower than the gas cylinder's outlet. However, you must not try to overcome gas blockage conditions by creating a mixture of different types of regulator. One answer would be to get a dealer to change the 30mbar wall-mounted regulator for a 30mbar regulator designed for direct cylinder mounting. One of these was fitted on a Calor propane cylinder installed in a Dethleffs Esprit RT6844 coachbuilt that we tested and reviewed in June 2006.
A second strategy that eliminates any possibility of rubberised hose plasticiser upsetting a wall-mounted 30mbar regulator is to fit one of Gaslow's stainless steel coupling pipes (as seen in October's Motor Caravan). These are semi-flexible and comprise convoluted steel tubing covered with a steel braided sheath. As regards your question about Autogas, I checked this with the national trade association concerned with LPG. The adviser that assisted confirmed my understanding that Autogas with a capital 'A' is the trade name of one of several propane distributors selling LPG at automotive filling stations. Just as Hoover once became an unofficial generic term for vacuum cleaners, it would appear that the word autogas has gained a similar status.
Waste water container
I am trying to locate a particular wastewater container called 'Waste Water Kanister' that I saw in a catalogue in 2004. I contacted the company selling these but they no longer stock this item. Our van has a very low drainpipe and at seven inches tall this item would be ideal for us. Do you know where I can obtain a similar item?
Allan Smith, by email
See the answer..
Answer
MIKE SAYS
After an exhaustive search I'm afraid I can't find any reference to a 'Waste Water Kanister'. I assume it's a German make as kanister is German for canister.
Throughout my years as an avid motor caavanner I've collected a rather good collection of waste containers and after an enjoyable hour spent polishing (and measuring) my collection I can't find any which are slim enough for your needs – seven inches is very little room.
My suggestion is to attach a length of convoluted hose to the outlet and run this to a fairly low line waste tank like the Aquaroll Wastemaster, which comes in 38 or 30 litres.
See www.aquaroll.com for more details. Of course you'll have a small 'U' bend so you won't drain your system completely of water but the small amount the 'U' bend will trap shouldn't be a major problem.
Radial ply tyres
In a previous item you suggested improving road holding on a 1960s Bedford by fitting radial ply tyres. A friend of mine that used to run these vans tells me that this will lead to extra wear and tear on the steering, as they were designed for cross-ply tyres. Is this true?
David Goode, by e-mail
See the answer..
Answer
ALLAN SAYS
Your friend is quite correct, as I think I made clear, but modern driving conditions call for updated vehicles. If the Bedford CA was being used as a commercial vehicle covering tens of thousand miles a year on daily deliveries, this would be a problem, but in my experience, most of these historic vehicles travel two or three thousand miles each year, so the increased strain will not be a problem.
If the tyres are kept at the correct pressure, and the steering is greased every three thousand miles as advised in the handbook, the safety advantage far outweighs any extra wear and tear. In the same way, these vehicles never needed the fitting of a brake servo, but in the year 2007 it is a worthy modification.
