jgra1 blog

[CitroJim]

John, that's brilliant news

That's fairly made my day and Christmas I'm delighted!

[Stickyfinger]

Brill

[jgra1]

thanks all

[jgra1]

went out shopping in the sales this week

Monday was Wales and home to Kent, for some newer style (ish) caravan windows, although I was already in Oxford but still a journey!

Tuesday was a 1 hour round trip to a breaker for a second drivers seat base (this fits the passenger side and the seatbelt socket is swappable, and then allows removal of the twin van seat - I hope)

Wednesday, back to breaker for 2 rear van doors, in the wrong colour but better condition and with (covered by something) glass in them. I also grabbed a very heavy full length old school roof rack and 6 feet, think an African or Indian bus with loads on the roof! seems a good idea for a van conversion if carrying not often used and bulky items) - it weighs around 40 KG I would guess !

Thursday, a trip to the local breaker!!, for a good find at the end of Wednesday, 2 front seats in cloth, from an 807? which swivel..

Then, home and all the way to Malcolms (Citronut RIP) old stomping ground of St Leonards, for an old fridge, a sink, hob, and an expensive but useful roll out canopy/awning..

The poor X7 has done admirably, and was a real pleasure this evening on the difficult roads winding through Kent.. really appreciated her..

Tomorrow I am not going anyway that I cant walk to !

J

[elma]

Sounds like you'll have quite the motorhome when your finished. Your little shopping trip brings back fond memories for me of a similar project.

[jgra1]

thanks James
the fridge works! - on lowest setting I managed -8C on 240V and it got back down to -5 or so on 12V! haven't tried it on gas yet but very happy with that..
I tried the hob and had yellow flames, so removed and cleaned and got cobwebs out of the manifolds and that is great with blue flames now..
the awning though is not a model for this type of van.. the method of securing it doesn't work with such a minimal roof line (sliding door takes most of the side of the van - vertically) and even if I had the right type it may need the roof bar fixings, which I may use on for the roof rack..)
I could fathom a way of fitting it, or fit it to the 'wrong' side.. don't know yet..

I grabbed a loo today, and some other bits and bobs including an undeslung LPG tank - this is quite big, maybe 70/80 L - and its got me thinking about using it to heat air and water and not the Eberspacher units I had.. the gas will last a fairly long time if I am off-grid so may as well use it..

Carver system maybe... but I need to look into it more as I am starting from zero..

the Matrix has gone for sure, just at the same time as the rad, after the new coolant .. maybe tomorrow I can remove it to replace..
J

[elma]

I'd suggest the Erberspacher would be better for heating the air. Gas will make a lot of moisture and you won't be as safe if you want the heater on whilst asleep. I'd fit both myself because something always breaks at the worst possible time.

[CitroJim]

John, excellent! It's really coming along a treat... Best to look at the blown-air heating and water heating systems fitted to touring caravans for your best solutions to your heating needs.

Don't forget to cut out some low-level vents in the motor-home to allow any LPG to escape safely. it's heavier than air and will tend to accumulate at low points in the 'van and whilst not poisonous it could have quite devastating consequences in other ways!

[jgra1]

thanks chaps.. I like the idea of both systems being fitted.. and it strikes me the eber would be ideal for air but due to the way it works it would be more of a pain for water as it would need a hot water tank ..whereas gas could heat on demand.. although I think in caravans the water is still stored in a tank during heating... will let you know..

with both. if I was off grid and the gas ran out I could still heat the air using diesel and if the diesel ran out I could still cook..

ultimately if none of the ebers I bought work anyway that makes things easier
the old caravan down the field may throw up some bits..it has a flat panel 240v heater which could be useful on sites.. for overnight heat

[elma]

My caravan is fitted with a gas water heater, it heats on demand through a heat exchanger. It's effective but when outdoors gets cold the flow rate is poor. Eberspacher, Webasto etc are blooming amazing as air heaters, I've not tried the water heating versions yet. They are really easy to service if you get the basic kit and know the little tricks. You may find a few seized fans on your purchases. Just soak them in oil and then they will work better than new after a couple of days. Obviously fit the service kit as well, everything for them is cheap, if you find shops after big money for service parts look elsewhere.

[jgra1]

thanks James.. a spanner in the works is a water-heating Eber, with 2 heat exchangers (think radiators with fans) will also heat the van.. that is a nice system!

as an aside, for fun today I thought I would tackle my first ever matrix lol..

I have some pics but it takes a while to get them online and link them so,..

the matrix is out! a new one bought for £55 .. waiting a day or three now for delivery..

whilst poking about, I noticed both the brake and clutch pedals have switches.... I am not sure where the cruise stalk goes, but looking at the stalks taken off the crippled column, there is a possible area for them.. almost like it could have been designed for something..

Just had a quick look on the bay and 100 - 300 for cruise, not the £20 I paid for the C5 to have a stalk... will dig more, a nice addition to this vehicle though if I can figure out how..

e.g.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plug-in-Elect ... XQC-tTBqTe

[elma]

Vans quite often get made out of the parts bin for cars using over ordered or no longer used parts. You may find a better price if you are able to work out which car Peugeot pinched that stalk from, it could well be a Fiat one so look around.

[jgra1]

thanks James will look at some point..

whilst the dash is off I wanted to paint it [the dash] dark , very dark blue,. but time isn't on my side, and the matrix may arrive tomorrow (snow providing) so I may have to stick the 'vanplastic' grey thing back in lol.. I haven't ever painted a dash and cant afford days of time really.. such a shame whilst its all in pieces..
I did buy a 12/240V Avtex tv earlier this week from Andover, with a failed DVD player.. tonight I dismantled, and cleaned the lens for fun.. and no joy.
then by a chance I accidentally hooked the the laser ribbon out wile reassembling .. then I had a thought.. maybe it had already worked loose? (I was being carful reassembling) so to cut a long story short, the DvD player works now! what a lovely fix - it also has a USB, HDMI, line out etc, so will be a very light useful feature if I find myself in Western Scotland / Croatia - with rain and fancy a movie or music or piccies etc.. its about 30W, which is probably ok for the odd eves.. think it an 18./5" LED..

the caravan windows look ok - not amazing but not bad.. (after deciding layout, and dismantling them from their frame, I taped and propped them roughly in place) , if anything the van lets them down, its almost matt now with years of no care.. anyway, they have moz nets, blinds, and are double glazed.. will be ok..

Gas supply.. thoughts anyone? I wanted underslung LPG but the tank I grabbed turned out to be 100L lol. the handbrake (rear half) and exhaust (front half) - of chassis - mess that up !

[CitroJim]

Gas supply.. thoughts anyone? I wanted underslung LPG but the tank I grabbed turned out to be 100L lol. the handbrake (rear half) and exhaust (front half) - of chassis - mess that up !

Lots of regulations around that John, regarding ventilation mainly...

Possibly best to go for a gas locker containing a pair of 13 or 19Kg Calor propane cylinders with automatic switch-over...

[jgra1]

yes think you are right jim.. have mostly decided this .. I could add some pipework in case I did want to underslung later I guess..