Dave Newell LVS

E

EllF

Joined
Sep 13, 2017
Posts
131
Likes collected
80
Location
Staffordshire Moorlands
Funster No
50,493
MH
Rapido Fiat MWB
We own a Fiat Ducato MWB Rapido motorhome owned it for 8 years it’s been brilliant.

About 7 years ago we had Dunlop Airbags fitted on the rear by Dave Newell LVS Telford.
Recently the van seemed to be crashing a bit on the rear so we thought we would visit Dave and see if he could find anything wrong with the airbags or suspension.

After giving the van a good going over and taking it out for a test ride for about 15minutes he couldn’t find anything wrong. We asked how much we owed him he said no charge!
Amazing to find such an honest person these days.

Funnily enough when driving away we both thought the drive was better then we realised the road surface in Telford are much better than the roads around our home.
 
i purchased a gas pipe from Dave as we were starting a trip and he fitted with no charge. A real diamond.
 
He’s been looking after my vans for nearly 20 years and I trust him with my life 😀

He tells it as it is which some people don’t want to hear but he is usually right.

If you can’t get to him in person (Telford, Shropshire), there is a lot of good advice on his YouTube channel.

 
I have not had any dealings with Diamond Dave for several years as we live too far away but on the three occasions he had any dealings with us, he lived up to his reputation. I have also attended some of his talks at Motorhome Shows where his knowledge and experiences were well worth hearing. I think he may still be an adviser on 3M's magazine.
 
I must have been unlucky. He fitted an underslung gas tank to our motorhome. The fixing bolts protruded below the chassis by 20-30mm which would scrape on speed humps and the like.
I had to rework the fixings.
I wasn't happy with the work but I didn't notify him about my dissatisfaction.
As previously noted, I found him grumpy.
 
Gellyneck said:
Does he still do free pass entry to Blists Hill?
If so, good place to spend the few hours whilst he's doing it. (y)

www.ironbridge.org.uk

Blists Hill Victorian Town - Ironbridge Valley of Invention

Step back and experience the sights, sounds and smells of Victorian life
www.ironbridge.org.uk www.ironbridge.org.uk
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Not sure. I've been round Blists Hill more times with the kids than I care to remember! In fact, I had a very interesting day there once - remember "The Victorian Pharmacy" on the BBC, a spin off from "The Victorian Farm"? It was filmed at Blists Hill, the baby being weighed in the Pharmacy was my youngest son, the new mum being given Victorian baby advice to by Ruth Goodman was Mrs F. We have a video of youngest son in his lacy Victorian baby gown in the programme, just to embarrass him in years to come (he's now a teenager!)

For anyone thinking of visiting the area, you could easily spend 3 days going round all the Ironbridge Gorge museums, it's a lovely place. Much Wenlock, Shrewsbury, Stokesay Castle, Ludlow - more things in the area worth a visit, lots of good walking too if that is your thing as well. Shropshire is a bit of a forgotten gem.

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EllF said:
Funnily enough when driving away we both thought the drive was better then we realised the road surface in Telford are much better than the roads around our home.
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Blimey, your roads must be worse than Belgium! :LOL:

As a resident I can report the roads are not great but are at least better than Staffordshire!
 
franknjan said:
I must have been unlucky. He fitted an underslung gas tank to our motorhome. The fixing bolts protruded below the chassis by 20-30mm which would scrape on speed humps and the like.
I had to rework the fixings.
I wasn't happy with the work but I didn't notify him about my dissatisfaction.
As previously noted, I found him grumpy.
Click to expand...
I had a similar experience some years ago. He installed a satellite system for me, which never worked properly. The workmanship was very poor. For example, he told me that the cables would be run in trunking on the roof. When I got the 'van back, however, they were held by an ugly lump of Sikaflex. He also made a total pig's ear of installing a 12v socket inside the 'van.
He didn't take well to criticism, and in the end I sorted out the problems myself.
 
Visiting hi this week with my fridge problem
 
I've never had any problems with Dave, have always been happy with the standard of work hence why I continue to use him, and I doubt anyone knows Ducato's better than he does. He's never done any installation work on my van but has done plenty of routine servicing, was very helpful one year with getting a brake problem sorted quickly to get it through the MOT and he's freely given me advice when I've been doing an installation. Yes, he and his wife are quite direct / blunt, but I like that - I also appreciate that not everyone does.
 
On my advice, friends of mine took their old but new-to-them van to Dave for a service. He told them it needed a lot of welding. They got the hump and vowed never to return.

A year down the line, it failed its MOT because it needed a lot of welding and has done most years since.

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Never used Diamond Dave but his videos are spot on
 
Well, Dave and Jackie have just saved me some money.....

I couldn't remember when I last had the cambelt done, no sticker under the bonnet, last paperwork was 7 years ago, so with covid and lockdown and all the rest of it I thought I'd forgotten it and it was overdue - yikes! - so booked in tomorrow for hab & base service, MOT and cambelt.

Got a phone call from Jackie just now - "We did the cambelt on your van in 2020, it's not due yet!". Numpty here has clearly had a senior moment, forgotten he had it done and has failed to find the service receipt.......

Very thorough I think of Jackie to check, and very honest to tell me!
 
Feltwell said:
I've never had any problems with Dave, have always been happy with the standard of work hence why I continue to use him, and I doubt anyone knows Ducato's better than he does. He's never done any installation work on my van but has done plenty of routine servicing, was very helpful one year with getting a brake problem sorted quickly to get it through the MOT and he's freely given me advice when I've been doing an installation. Yes, he and his wife are quite direct / blunt, but I like that - I also appreciate that not everyone does.
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Perhaps being blunt and to the point is a Telford trait. Was quoted on my work appraisement more than once - 'Doesn't suffer fools lightly, sometimes not at all'.

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Janine said:
They are very fair.

I remember a Funster taking his new-to-him van there for cruise control to be fitted.

Dave took one look and told him he already had it and proceeded to show him how to use it. No charge 😂
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I had a customer complaint that mirror covers I sent them didn't fit. So I asked him to send me a picture of his mirrors, as people often get long and short arm confused - and he sent me a picture of his mirrors, which already had covers fitted :LOL:
 
rod_vw said:
Perhaps being blunt and to the point is a Telford trait. Was quoted on my work appraisement more than once - 'Doesn't suffer fools lightly, sometimes not at all'.
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Have you got your new van yet Rod?
 
Feltwell said:
Have you got your new van yet Rod?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately no, it's still in the converter's. I'm hoping to have it back before the end of the month.

Work has been very slow for various reasons not all together the converter's fault. I'll report when we've had it out for a trial run. Much to his dismay I told him when he started that it wouldn't be right, I know only too well that a customer designed bespoke conversion needs more than the 'prototype' to get it right but I'm running out of years to do that I am afraid. The VW T4s, T5s & T6 have been ongoing design tweaks over five conversions of my own!
 
rod_vw said:
Unfortunately no, it's still in the converter's. I'm hoping to have it back before the end of the month.

Work has been very slow for various reasons not all together the converter's fault. I'll report when we've had it out for a trial run. Much to his dismay I told him when he started that it wouldn't be right, I know only too well that a customer designed bespoke conversion needs more than the 'prototype' to get it right but I'm running out of years to do that I am afraid. The VW T4s, T5s & T6 have been ongoing design tweaks over five conversions of my own!
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Let me know when you've got it, would love to have an admire!
 
First met Dave when he helped me out with a "failed" boiler whilst on a show rally. Replaced a missing nut and basically no charge. Since then I used to take my van to him for anything; he fitted rear suspension, Gaslow and a second battery as well as habitation and vehicle servicing plus cambelt change for a number of years. Always found him and Jackie very helpful and friendly, although I know he can come across as a bit reticent until you know him.

I only stopped using him when Covid started and the 400 mile round trip was becoming too much. I'd never have any hesitation in recommending him.

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