Decided to buy one last toy, hopefully will see me out.  

Was going to stick to my rear end tent but found these old bones weren't too happy climbing in and out of it, albeit very handy!

This has a home made conversion, fridge, microwave, house battery, sink, beds and porta potti if needed.  Not everything, but suits my needs and the price was right, High Top, LWB, 2.4 Diesel, 6 speed manual with 75,000 on the clock.  And I can stand up in it fully and no roof to raise, need to hook up or legs to put down etc. Applicances and bench at a nice height so no leaning down etc.  Has a towbar as well and TV brackets and antenna.

See pic's.  PS:  Thanks to everyone who supplied me with feedback on these vans, got it today!

Thanks msg, got a huge learning curve to do, not to mention driving it!   Went to reverse just after I got it and couldn't get it into reverse gear, looked at the manual for it but it was not the right instruction, so had to ring the dealer who told me it had a lift up slide on the gear stick to put it in reverse, just looks like a rubber ring.....Duh !!!   Live and learn  

vk6tnc wrote:
The professional driver will also know you are about to turn right if your wipers are on when it's not raining !!!!

---

 .......unless they are behind you, lol !

I read somewhere that vehicles designed for Europe have the tyres scrubbing out if not re-adjusted for Australian/Brit roads, as they are set for the camber for driving on the right side of the road, not the left!

GaryKelly wrote:

---

Very noice, Vic. You must be tickled pink. Is that you in the reflection of someone taking a pic? You look very professional hehe. Anyway, enjoy your new accommodation, and I'm glad you sorted out reverse.

---

 If you mean the old fart in the microwave reflection, yes that is me.....you can see SWMBO's head poking in the side door in one shot too.  

Thanks Gerty, a bit daunting at the moment, got to make sure I don't run under anything with that high roof!!!

(blow, there goes the Macka's and Hungry Jack's drive throughs among others...)

Duh wrote:

---

GaryKelly wrote:

---

Very noice, Vic. You must be tickled pink. Is that you in the reflection of someone taking a pic? You look very professional hehe. Anyway, enjoy your new accommodation, and I'm glad you sorted out reverse.

---

 If you mean the old fart in the microwave reflection, yes that is me.....you can see SWMBO's head poking in the side door in one shot too.  

---

And here I was thinking you were cooking wombat stew Duh. Silly me.

Nothing more I can add that I haven't already said elsewhere mate?

Oh, is there a "Hers" on the horizon?

Dougwe wrote:

---

Oh, is there a "Hers" on the horizon?

---

 Pic. No5 Doug.  In the side doorway.

Cheers,

Sheba.

No Hers Doug, but in regards to the Wombat stew, getting ready for a local Wombat hunt, we had a GN called Gubby came this way with his shotgun to do a Wombat hunt but haven't heard from him since......Wombat is very quiet on that one, I suspect some foul (fowl) play....ooops I mean Wombat mischief.... 

Congratulations Vic. It looks great. I hope you have many years of enjoyment.

Duh wrote:

---

Thanks Gerty, a bit daunting at the moment, got to make sure I don't run under anything with that high roof!!!

 

---

 Mount an aerial or fibreglass fishing rod blank on the front bumper, then cut to a length a little higher than the roof of the van.

Works like cats whiskers.....

Thanks Janette, getting ready for a trial run when I can.

Thanks Chris, sounds like that would save a lot of grief!!

Thanks John, I was a bit surprised at the insurance premium, I suppose that was because of the motorhome category (fixed contents etc inside).   SGIO first said it was $800 plus, but when I said my other driver was SWMBO they dropped it to $600 plus because "female drivers are safer than males drivers and have less accidents".  

Anyone in CMCA and know what their insurance company rates are? (might have to join if it is worth it, membership is only $40 pa after initial joining cost ($60 I think which includes first years membership, and of course 12 magazines per year) .

Sheba wrote:

http://www.puretyre.co.uk/ford-tyre-pressures 
 

---

 Thanks Sheba, I had looked that one up, but for my tyre size 215/75R16C only shows 2006 models, see below from the link;

 The pressures for my 2008 model,  55 psi in front and 68 psi in the rear, are what is shown both on the vehicle plate and also in the manual for my vehicle.   Seemed a bit high to me, I just wondered what pressures others with similar type motorhomes (eg; Iveco, Fiat, Merc etc) were using.   

Vic,

My Hiace is under $450 through the CMCA insurer and has some great coverage with breakdown etc.

Duh wrote:

---

Thanks John, I was a bit surprised at the insurance premium, I suppose that was because of the motorhome category (fixed contents etc inside).   SGIO first said it was $800 plus, but when I said my other driver was SWMBO they dropped it to $600 plus because "female drivers are safer than males drivers and have less accidents".  

Anyone in CMCA and know what their insurance company rates are? (might have to join if it is worth it, membership is only $40 pa after initial joining cost ($60 I think which includes first years membership, and of course 12 magazines per year) .

---

 I just paid $615 for a 1998 Mercedes Sprinter MH through Ken Tame

Thanks Janette, maybe the larger (Merc's/Transits etc) have a higher rate than High Ace type vans?  Maybe because of Shower and toilet if fitted or rear airconditioning?

Thanks Judy, yours and Janette's feedback is very much appreciated.   I have the higher RAC membership for mine that gives a good deal for breakdowns, hire cars and accomodation etc, so hopefully I can remain with what I have.

I saw these little round things on my rear bumper and thought they might have bee for fitting reverse sensors as they appeared blank.

However when I had someone walk behind me when in reverse gear they went off, so please to say I have that option already fitted, not sure if I would go to a reversing camera though but it would be handy.

I have to get used to the extra length, I clipped the kerb a couple of times going around corners, not swinging wide enough, a bit longer than the LWB Hi Ace.

Could I ask what tyre pressure you put in your tyres please Judy, mine has 55 psi in front and 68 psi in the rear, seems extremely high to me.   A couple of servo's I've been in won't blow tyres up (those set the pressure auto ones) over 50, so will have to find one with the manual hand held tyre thingo.....

Thanks John,

I have 69 psi written on my tyres, so I guess that is what they should have all round.

I am having trouble though finding a servo with an air supply that can give me higher inflation, most are those dial in the pressure types that only seem to go to 50psi some even less (45 psi).  It seems that unless I have my own tyre compressor I will need to find a servo that has air pumps for trucks.

For Avan camper trailer users, the Avans have very low air pressures recommended and from experience and the experience of many others over time I found that the tyres need to be inflated much higher than what is on the trailer plate and in their manual.  I think from memory the Aliner models were 29 psi, I used to put 35 psi in mine and the stood the test of time on an around Australia trip. A friend who kept theirs at the 29 psi had their tyres blowing out and shredding twice during their around Oz trip, despite my suggestion to pump their tyres up to 35 psi.

I may add that most of the Avan Club members I encountered during my time in the club ignored the 29 psi recommended for Aliners and I assume whatever was recommended for the other models. I suspect that the lower pressures were to avoid vibration damage during the 12 months warranty period, but that is just my thoughts on the matter. 

http://www.puretyre.co.uk/ford-tyre-pressures

msg wrote:

---

They seem a bit high to me too Vic.

I think someone posted tyre pressure chart just recently.

Isn't there a recommended pressure on the plate in the front cabin somewhere? Sorry can't go to have a look ATM.

---

 They are the pressures shown on the plate in the front door jamb, tyre size is 215/75R16C (the C stands for commercial).

Hi Vic ..

As you know I travel in a Fiat Ducato and tow a trailer behind it .. Now, I don't go by what the manuals or anything like that says !

I take my advice from what is written on the tyre as to what I should be doing .. For your info I use a (cold) pressure of 75 PSI on all 4 wheels. The trailer I run at a (cold) 34 PSI.

Any variation that I make away from the recommended psi value written on the tyre, is due to my own vehicle (and trailer) loadings .. Many people will tend to run tyres much flatter

than what is required because it provides a smoother ride .. only to find out later that they are also possibly wearing out the tyres at a greater rate than they hoped for !

If your ride is more uncomfortable with the recommended inflation levels, then maybe one should consider doing something about that problem from a suspension (modification) point of view.

Different tyre brands could also cause you to experience different rideabiliy in your vehicle .. tread patterns and ply ratings all have differing effects on each vehicle. You can have two identicle vehicles

except for tyres which have been fitted according to their needs .. ie .. one could be an enclosed fridge truck and the other used as an ice-cream vendor (Mr Whippy) .. one has little loading but the other

has a much heavier loading ..

Very much a personal thing and any changes you make from the norm should be small changes .. so that you're able to more easily identify what effect your corrections have made ..

Just my two bobs worth Vic and it works for me ..

cheers

Jon

Thanks Lance, max is written on my car tyres, but not on these, just the letters AT and psi, I'm wondering if it is because they are commercial tyres (number ends with a C) and they assume you would normally being carrying a commercial load???  It does have max in front of the vehicle loading though.   I'm not sure what AT means in front of the psi though???? 

Because of all the weight in the back of a motorhome, I guess you could say it is loaded all the time (talking about fixed stuff, not to mention the usual bit and pieces we carry.)

Take your point though.

Edit Update.  Got my old ARB compressor out and combined with a slide out pencil gauge managed to get my tyres inflated to a happy medium.   

Duh wrote:

I am having trouble though finding a servo with an air supply that can give me higher inflation, most are those dial in the pressure types that only seem to go to 50psi some even less (45 psi).  It seems that unless I have my own tyre compressor I will need to find a servo that has air pumps for trucks ..

---

Yes Vic ..

for this very reason I also purchased my own small/portable yet hvy duty compressor and (in my case) added extra length to the battery connections which enable me to do all tyres, including the trailer from the one point.

My earlier and cheaper configurations of air pumps simply didn't last much longer than 12 months, so its worth paying the extra pennies (if you can afford it) to do the same .. but not cheap .. around the $400.00 mark ..

Jon