driving the m/h in winter

[599]

hi guys . do you get that cold air swirling around your neck & the cab heater is on full but its still there . well that heater is designed to heat a van not a big box behind you as you all know . this is our second m/h i have fitted curtains at the back of the seats & when closed you cant have your heater on high or you will melt . we also close them stuck in traffic jam in the summer when the air con is on just like being in a fridge so works both ways . the pole was B&Q the curtain's from DUNELMS . we have alde heating but the boss doesn't like leaving the gas on while driving & we know some vans can run from the engine with the alde which is more safer

 

[Figaro]

Whatever works

 

[PaddyM]

Nice idea that , like it .

 

[maison]

That’s fine unless you need to use the cab seats.

We use the Remis windscreen blinds together with “silver screens” on the cab side windows. We also switch the cab air from fresh to recirculate to avoid drafts.

However, cab areas can be cold. When on EHU we use a portable fan heater and place it blowing into the cab seating area. On gas the Truma is fine but, if I am paying for EHU, I use the portable fan heater. (But, then again, I am a born Northerner).

 

[599]

That’s fine unless you need to use the cab seats.

We use the Remis windscreen blinds together with “silver screens” on the cab side windows. We also switch the cab air from fresh to recirculate to avoid drafts.

However, cab areas can be cold. When on EHU we use a portable fan heater and place it blowing into the cab seating area. On gas the Truma is fine but, if I am paying for EHU, I use the portable fan heater. (But, then again, I am a born Northerner).

hi sorry you misunderstood me its only for when you are driving we also have silver screens remis cab blinds if we are stopping the night say going over the French Spanish border or get caught out like we did for 5 days in our old m/h yes we close them then but we don't use the cab seats much being only 2 of us

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[poppycamper]

That’s fine unless you need to use the cab seats.

We use the Remis windscreen blinds together with “silver screens” on the cab side windows. We also switch the cab air from fresh to recirculate to avoid drafts.

However, cab areas can be cold. When on EHU we use a portable fan heater and place it blowing into the cab seating area. On gas the Truma is fine but, if I am paying for EHU, I use the portable fan heater. (But, then again, I am a born Northerner).

Think OP means whilst driving... not on site. Would be great if you could get cab aircon working on site.!
Edit Oki doki... too late again. Need to get sexy secretary to do my typing.

 

[Badknee]

We have curtains for when it’s hot in Spain so the cab air on works. If it’s cold in the hab area we run with the heating on till we’re warm enough.

 

[pappajohn]

My 2001 Kontiki had curtains behind the seats.
Curtain track fixed to the edge of the overcab bed
Really made a world of difference when both driving and on site.

 

[maison]

hi sorry you misunderstood me its only for when you are driving we also have silver screens remis cab blinds if we are stopping the night say going over the French Spanish border or get caught out like we did for 5 days in our old m/h yes we close them then but we don't use the cab seats much being only 2 of us

Sorry.

I obviously misunderstood.

 

[Southdowners]

Why not just keep the heating on?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[599]

Sorry.

I obviously misunderstood.

no worries do you like your swift ???

 

[Mikey RV]

I just leave my Alde heating on, not on gas. Arrive at destination with warm camper and a full tank of hot water.

 

[599]

hi guys . the boss put a track in the bedroom as well of our swift because unlike our autotrail tag which had the toilet door could separate the bedroom off from the front but if someone is still in bed you could pull a vertical blind across . so now him indoors can go while i am watching tv in bed & not have to see him its not a pretty vision i can tell you. but it all depends on your bathroom layout like ours to give you a separate shower & toilet you have to compromise

 

[599]

Why not just keep the heating on?

because the boss doesn't like driving with the gas on running the alde system if that's what you mean . if you mean the cab heating its not big enough to heat the m/h on its own to bigger space to warm up driving through France on our way to Spain

 

[martin2603]

Theresa lot to be said for Alde Heating with the heat exchangers. I did solve the cab cold area problem by placing additional insulation below the « soft area « behind the drivers and passenger seats. I have Alde Heating with the additional heat exchanger fans at the front end . No cold spots anymore!!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Masman]

Mine has the curtain fitted as standard.Have closed them when running the aircon has it works better.Dont have to worry about heating van as it comes with cab and hab heating that works off of engine.Van always toasty in winter.Most new vans don't have this.But thats probably down to cutting costs.

 

[bobandjanie]

Blimey it must be freezing in the back when you stop. Bob

 

[Simon Meadwell]

If you have crash sensor it’s perfectly safe to run heating off the gas whilst driving

 

[Lenny HB]

If the van is cold before we set off from home I run the hab heating for ½ hour then the cab heating can cope. If its really cold I run the hab heating while driving, I have the Secumotion regulator and anti-rupture pig tails so it's safe, I think I've only done once.

 

[Southdowners]

because the boss doesn't like driving with the gas on running the alde system if that's what you mean . if you mean the cab heating its not big enough to heat the m/h on its own to bigger space to warm up driving through France on our way to Spain

You don’t need to have the gas on.

Try the following… On the control panel change the gas selector to off, turn the temp up and then whilst driving the system heat the hab area and generste a tank of hot water.

We never turn the gas supply off as, in the event of an accident or hitting a large hole in the road (as we found out!), the gas will shut off automatically.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[maison]

no worries do you like your swift ???

Yes we do.

I admit that, contrary to the popular view, we have liked the Swift’s that we have owned.

We chose this for its layout. Twin permanent beds in a 6.5m compact width body length. We have had everything from 7.3m Coachbuilt to 5.99m PVC but this is the one that suits us best and we intend it to be a “keeper”.

It is very comfortable and has as many bells and whistles on it as we want. The size means that we can go almost anywhere we like but it still feels light and airy inside. Everything has worked as it should and the only problems we have had in 7.5k miles are:-

A surround trim on one roof vent was not properly secured on delivery. Rectified by the Dealer as soon as we spotted it.

Delivery was delayed by four days when the PDI showed a pin hole leak in the fresh water tank. A new tank was fitted during the delay period and full marks to the Dealer (West Country Motorhomes) for a thorough PDI.

We currently have one outstanding issue with the FIAT base. The smart alternator initially charges the vehicle battery on start up but, after it has fully charged the battery and shut off, it does not restart the charge cycle so the vehicle battery loses charge. This is being addressed by FIAT on 24th January. The solar panel and battery master means that we are able to use the m/h in the meantime.

A long answer to your question but it is “warts and all”. So, yes, we are very happy with it. Especially so as our previous motorhome, (not a Swift), had so many faults from new that we only kept it 14 months before trading it in.

 

[Janine]

Nice idea but how would I see through my rear-view mirror?

 

[L' Hobo]

hi guys . do you get that cold air swirling around your neck & the cab heater is on full but its still there . well that heater is designed to heat a van not a big box behind you as you all know . this is our second m/h i have fitted curtains at the back of the seats & when closed you cant have your heater on high or you will melt . we also close them stuck in traffic jam in the summer when the air con is on just like being in a fridge so works both ways . the pole was B&Q the curtain's from DUNELMS . we have alde heating but the boss doesn't like leaving the gas on while driving & we know some vans can run from the engine with the alde which is more safer

There is a insulated curtains that is fitted to my Murvi Morello, perhaps you, or others, might have a look at their website and enquire from them?

 

[funflair]

You don’t need to have the gas on.

Try the following… On the control panel change the gas selector to off, turn the temp up and then whilst driving the system heat the hab area and generste a tank of hot water.

We never turn the gas supply off as, in the event of an accident or hitting a large hole in the road (as we found out!), the gas will shut off automatically.

I think we need to add to this that you need the "heat exchanger" option on your van for this to work and I understand that not all Alde installations have this,

599 the "heat exchanger" is a series of plates pressed into a block, hot water from the engine circulates through one set of plates separated by another set of plates with Alde heating circuit fluid passing through so when the Alde pump is on the Alde system gets warm without the boiler or any gas, you need the option though

 

[jezport]

The main area of drafts is from the cab air inlets. Putting a long silver screen on solves this.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[L' Hobo]

The main area of drafts is from the cab air inlets. Putting a long silver screen on solves this.

Not when their driving surely?

 

[599]

There is a insulated curtains that is fitted to my Murvi Morello, perhaps you, or others, might have a look at their website and enquire from them?

thanks but we are ok with mine they are also insulated & this is the second m/h i fitted this type & we had her 10 years

 

[599]

Blimey it must be freezing in the back when you stop. Bob

hi its our 13th year of using this system so got the tea shirt for that the last half hour we put the cab heater on full & open the curtains

 

[599]

I think we need to add to this that you need the "heat exchanger" option on your van for this to work and I understand that not all Alde installations have this,

599 the "heat exchanger" is a series of plates pressed into a block, hot water from the engine circulates through one set of plates separated by another set of plates with Alde heating circuit fluid passing through so when the Alde pump is on the Alde system gets warm without the boiler or any gas, you need the option though

yes we know about heat exchangers we had similar on our autotrail merc sprint shift 5 cylinder it also heated the engine up quicker but autotrail found that using merc's was expensive after all it was £ 55000 back in 2004 with all the bell's . i often wonder where she is now

 

[599]

Not when their driving surely?

that made me laugh its good to have a bit of banter nice one l'hobo

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}