Minxy
LIFE MEMBER
- Aug 22, 2007
- 32,623
- 66,460
- Funster No
- 149
- MH
- Carthago Compactline
- Exp
- Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
Thought I'd put a posting on about our new pride and joy. 
Well, we picked it up last Monday from Highbridge Caravans near Burton on Sea, Somerset, some 250 miles from us (cracking deal hence the travelling). :thumb:
Then we spent a few days in the area to make sure it was okay before going to the Peterborough show for a few days with the Funsters at our first gathering with them. :Cool:
At Highrbridge, the technician chap, Phil, moved our solar panel across as well as the 2nd leisure battery, and had already installed the 'free' Status 530 aerial in the wardrobe, doing an extremely need job as he'd had to cut through the top shelf to get enough length for the pole. Plus he also offered to put the bike rack on for us that we took - the Chausson already had the brackets fitted so it was a matter of hooking on the rack and drilling the holes once the correct length was ascertained, so quite easy fortunately.
It took ages to move our stuff from the Rimor to the Chausson, then off to our CL to turf it all out again and sort it properly! Hubby had already bought some replacement LED bulbs so he set to changing all of those and I attacked the memory foam mattress topper with some scissors as the bed has a taper to it (the Rimor's didn't have). One problem that became obvious on the first use of the toilet with the heating on was 'cooked leg' syndrome, the heater vent being immediately beside your right thigh!!! We've since sorted that by putting a different vent outlet on so it can be closed off.
We had an awning put on at Peterborough by the Johns Cross lads which was a very good price (with the 5% discount too!
). They did a marvelous job as it wasn't easy - they had to cut away part of the decorative trim to do it.
Made a very professional job of it though (despite reservations at first!).
We took to the new MH immediately, as if we'd always had it, no settling in problems at all (once I remembered where the dog food was!). Hubby says it drives really well although a little heavier on the steering, but no surprise at it's a front wheel drive (our Rimor was a rear wheel drive). I haven't had the chance to get behind the wheel yet (couldn't prise hubby away from it!), but will do this weekend hopefully.
The diesel heating is very good and it is easier to keep a constant temperature than the Truma gas boiler/heater. The van also felt warmer overnight as I think the insulation is better too.
The only MH 'problem' we seem to be having is with the Smev grill which likes to 'worry' the bread rather than toast ... will give it a few more goes to see if it gets any better. If anyone else has one of these, I'd be grateful to know if they're all like this or if we are unlucky.
There is a problem we seem to be causing ourselves though which is forgetting that we have a smaller fridge ... we stocked up in a supermarket and then realised it was going to be 'difficult' to get it all in there!!! We managed ... just. :Blush:
We've also found an 'added extra' which we spotted danging under the van yesterday - it's got trailer electrics installed! It was a standard item on the base vehicle before conversion so if we ever want to tow it'll be a simple task of putting on a bar/ball and off we go as the chassis comes right to the back!
We're getting a spare wheel (can't be doing with gunge and compressors) - £90 for a new wheel and tyre off a 'damaged writeoff' new Transit with delivery mileage only (late last year).
If anyone has a Ford and wants to know their base vehicle spec/details, then have a look at the follwing site - do the enquiry using your vehicle's VIN number as the registration number search often doesn't work.
http://www.etis.ford.com/vehicleRegSelector.do
Below is what I found out about mine.
Well, we picked it up last Monday from Highbridge Caravans near Burton on Sea, Somerset, some 250 miles from us (cracking deal hence the travelling). :thumb:
Then we spent a few days in the area to make sure it was okay before going to the Peterborough show for a few days with the Funsters at our first gathering with them. :Cool:
At Highrbridge, the technician chap, Phil, moved our solar panel across as well as the 2nd leisure battery, and had already installed the 'free' Status 530 aerial in the wardrobe, doing an extremely need job as he'd had to cut through the top shelf to get enough length for the pole. Plus he also offered to put the bike rack on for us that we took - the Chausson already had the brackets fitted so it was a matter of hooking on the rack and drilling the holes once the correct length was ascertained, so quite easy fortunately.
It took ages to move our stuff from the Rimor to the Chausson, then off to our CL to turf it all out again and sort it properly! Hubby had already bought some replacement LED bulbs so he set to changing all of those and I attacked the memory foam mattress topper with some scissors as the bed has a taper to it (the Rimor's didn't have). One problem that became obvious on the first use of the toilet with the heating on was 'cooked leg' syndrome, the heater vent being immediately beside your right thigh!!! We've since sorted that by putting a different vent outlet on so it can be closed off.
We had an awning put on at Peterborough by the Johns Cross lads which was a very good price (with the 5% discount too!
). They did a marvelous job as it wasn't easy - they had to cut away part of the decorative trim to do it. Made a very professional job of it though (despite reservations at first!).We took to the new MH immediately, as if we'd always had it, no settling in problems at all (once I remembered where the dog food was!). Hubby says it drives really well although a little heavier on the steering, but no surprise at it's a front wheel drive (our Rimor was a rear wheel drive). I haven't had the chance to get behind the wheel yet (couldn't prise hubby away from it!), but will do this weekend hopefully.
The diesel heating is very good and it is easier to keep a constant temperature than the Truma gas boiler/heater. The van also felt warmer overnight as I think the insulation is better too.
The only MH 'problem' we seem to be having is with the Smev grill which likes to 'worry' the bread rather than toast ... will give it a few more goes to see if it gets any better. If anyone else has one of these, I'd be grateful to know if they're all like this or if we are unlucky.
There is a problem we seem to be causing ourselves though which is forgetting that we have a smaller fridge ... we stocked up in a supermarket and then realised it was going to be 'difficult' to get it all in there!!! We managed ... just. :Blush:
We've also found an 'added extra' which we spotted danging under the van yesterday - it's got trailer electrics installed! It was a standard item on the base vehicle before conversion so if we ever want to tow it'll be a simple task of putting on a bar/ball and off we go as the chassis comes right to the back!
We're getting a spare wheel (can't be doing with gunge and compressors) - £90 for a new wheel and tyre off a 'damaged writeoff' new Transit with delivery mileage only (late last year).
If anyone has a Ford and wants to know their base vehicle spec/details, then have a look at the follwing site - do the enquiry using your vehicle's VIN number as the registration number search often doesn't work.
http://www.etis.ford.com/vehicleRegSelector.do
Below is what I found out about mine.
Pleased to hear you like it so much - it's one of the vans at the top of my shortlist, so will be keeping an eye out to hear how you go on.