Hello From The Extra High Roof Pvc !! (1 Viewer)

[RidersofRohan]

Hi,
Decided to subscribe after looking into this and a few other forums.
We had a Ducato converted by Dalesman at Skipton N Yorks and took delivery at Christmas, ours is the extra high roof which has meant we have been able to have a higher floor and put our water tank mid floor like some of the posher ones. It is 2011 and had 29000 miles on it.
We are completely new to this. My wife had a back operation in 2013 and we found our usual holiday flights to far off places were too difficult and being based in an hotel too limiting (unless we hired a car). So after a few trips away in England and Scotland decided to take the plunge with a motorhome.
We had great help from Ian at Dalesman in designing the van to our perceived needs and feel very pleased with it after "long weekend trips" to York, Peak District, Wrexham, Anglesey and Keswick; roughly one trip per month since we got it. Great fun and really learning from it on how to get the best out of it for us.

 

[hilldweller]

Excellent, all positive. A nice change from all the disaster posts.

Next, head for mainland Europe the real home of motorhoming.

 

[sdc77]

Sounds like you're having a great time.. Welcome

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[Hollyberry]

Hi and

 

[DBK]

Yes, Welcome! Sounds a well designed PVC.

 

[Minxy]

Welcome to the mad house

I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say ... show us some photos of yjour van!

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[Ralph-n-Bev]

Hello , were owners of a PVC too. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Cat53]

Hello RidersofRohan.....obvious Lord of The Ring fans. Agree with Minxygirl, pics would be great.

 

[Terry]

Hi and welcome
terry

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[RidersofRohan]

Apologies but I've no idea how to put photos into a post.

RidersofRohan is a title I use in various places because I used to work for a bus company called Yorkshire Rider and now own a Rohan shop, odd combination I know.

 

[RidersofRohan]

Oh yes I've found the help bit.

 

[RidersofRohan]

Another one

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[Wildman]

looks tidy, welcome to the forum.

 

[Baycott]

Nice looking van
Welcome from East Sussex

 

[gus-lopez]

Hi & welcome Looks very nice.

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[TUCANO]

Neat van, welcome from a dark and damp Yorkshire

 

[Baldeagle7470]

Hi and a big welcome from
Van looks lovely and could be our next type!

 

[wizzer59]

Hi and welcome, van looks fab

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[yellabellyex]

Apologies but I've no idea how to put photos into a post.

RidersofRohan is a title I use in various places because I used to work for a bus company called Yorkshire Rider and now own a Rohan shop, odd combination I know.

Welcome; what's so odd? Your decision to have a shop selling the best outdoor gear is clearly a sign of good taste; sounds like your van is working out too,
regards
alan b

 

[jollyrodger]

Looks good
Welcome from Devon

 

[mitzimad]

looks nice out of interest is it still plated at 3.5 tonnes and if yes whats the payload? was considering this size for our next venture

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[RidersofRohan]

yes still at 3.5t.
Loaded for a trip with full water and fuel tanks etc it had 170kg spare which wasn't enough for me, wife and dog (its a big dog). I was expecting 150kg better than that.
Had to make the choice wife or water.
After some deliberation water is easier to come by, new wives can be tricky I'm told.
I went to a local farm who I have known a long time, they are into waste management (burying rubbish in their fields) so have a weighbridge they let me use and this isn't a criticism but I am thinking of going to the council one. When I arrived two of the lads were having a bacon butty by the weighbridge. Now the portacabin that controls it is rather odd in that it does not overlook the weighbridge so each time for each axle i had to go into the office to say press the button for a reading. It was afterwards when I calculated it I started wondering if each time I went into the office the lads stood on the weighbridge for a laugh, as 150kg would be about right for the two of them.
So I will recheck it soon and come back with a definitive figure. I'd be happy with 300kg loaded less the 3 of us, giving about 80kg for extras. ie about 220kg for us (it is a really heavy dog).

 

[Momo]

Hi RidersofRohan and welcome to the Fun!

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Hello again, Ralph has yet to weigh ours. He thinks he's going to up plate it ( think he said that ) anyway, as it also has its benefits . He's not 50 till next year. So his age don't be a problem.
I can imagine the lads stepping on the weigh plates too ! Haha

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[RidersofRohan]

looks nice out of interest is it still plated at 3.5 tonnes and if yes whats the payload? was considering this size for our next venture

Had it weighed at the Council weighbridge = 3260kg
This had a half tank of fuel and 3/4 tank of water plus 6 litres of drinking water and bits and bobs, tinned food etc.
So we have 240kg for ourselves, clothing, and fresh food and not forgetting the dog. So we can't add anything to it now, we are just on the margin, or bite the bullet and go for 3850kg.
Only weight saving I can think of is change wheels to alloys, does anyone know what that saving would be? I don't want to jettison the spare wheel.

 

[mitzimad]

weight diffence between steels and alloys is usually around the 2 to 4 kilos mark per wheel

 

[RidersofRohan]

weight diffence between steels and alloys is usually around the 2 to 4 kilos mark per wheel

Thanks not really worth the expense.
Its frustrating really. It's ok as it is I think we can manage but we were thinking about improvements all of which add weight, we are C1 qualified but my son has borrowed it for Silverstone this year and wants to do so again and isn't c1. It is a "Maxi" so would easily upgarde to 3850kg and we could add the bits we were thinking about.
It's £1k to get through the C1 test so that's not an option either.

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[knokinonabit]

Welcome to the forum

I would love a PVC but SWMBO says that they are "just vans".
I have told her that the front bit of ours is "just a van" with another bit stuck on the back.
It looks great and I want one, so I have tried to get onto the Dalesman site, but it looks as though there is a problem with it.
Perhaps you could give them a friendly call and let them know

 

[RidersofRohan]

Try the facebook site
https://www.facebook.com/dalesman.conversions

 

[knokinonabit]

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