Mercedes vario 814 self build bus to FLT palace (2 Viewers)

[Northernraider]

Are you getting that oven? What model is it?

Cheers James

Its the ekol baked apple pie

"Ekol Apple Pie" https://applepiestove.com

 

[Northernraider]

I would spend a bit more and get one of the ring hoop ones, the basic one are a real pain, konig is a good brand but there are plenty more, the ring hoop ones have a steel flexibele ring which goes over and behind the rim, you then close the ring and wave the front chain through to tighten, you also have automatic tightening ones these days, but even with those I would recommend to drive a few hundred yards at slow speed and then get out and check if they haven’t loosened up. Another thing is if you are likely to be in a mountain environment and you get surprised by a snowstorm or drive into the snow line because you are gaining altitude , if you drive a fully loaded 7/8/9 metre MH I would always choose to have 4 chains on, 2 on driven axle and two on the front ( or rear un driven axle, nothing is as bad for your nerves as sliding down a mountain or backwards sliding whilst driving up a mountain, with a normal car two chains is adequate for most situations but something as large as a MH your better off having chains all around , I have collected raw milk for many years first in wagon and drag 44t and then articulated 44t in Germany and Luxemburg in all weathers and at remote farms, we always had proper winter tyres and snow Chains on all wheels , when I swapped Dairy they invested in automatic snow Chains, they are working at the touch of a button in the cabin, switch on, switch off, they are on a rotator system, short chains which are slung under the wheel, this system is also available for big vans like a MH if you have some spare cash behind the sofa , look it up on you tube it’s a real creative solution and no more sitting in the snow fighting your chains lol

Thats the type ive bought with the ring that goes around the rear rim of the wheel ...they actually seem pretty easy to fit ...i did it yesterday just to see how it went on ...the guy i bought them from used them once and that was that so picked up a bargain.

 

[Dutch 68]

Thats the type ive bought with the ring that goes around the rear rim of the wheel ...they actually seem pretty easy to fit ...i did it yesterday just to see how it went on ...the guy i bought them from used them once and that was that so picked up a bargain.

Yep, not to difficult when you take some time, but I assure you that the first time you need them for real it will be in a blizzard of snow, dark , - 10 , on a steep incline with idiot drivers sliding around to avoid you, so home practice is a wonderful thing, ( and so is forward planning , don’t wait too long, find a safe place to fit them if you can )

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

 

[Northernraider]

Yep, not to difficult when you take some time, but I assure you that the first time you need them for real it will be in a blizzard of snow, dark , - 10 , on a steep incline with idiot drivers sliding around to avoid you, so home practice is a wonderful thing, ( and so is forward planning , don’t wait too long, find a safe place to fit them if you can )

Im hoping that I won't actually need them ...but yeah i can imagine that fitting them in snow etc will not be fun

 

[Al n Val]

Thats the type ive bought with the ring that goes around the rear rim of the wheel ...they actually seem pretty easy to fit ...i did it yesterday just to see how it went on ...the guy i bought them from used them once and that was that so picked up a bargain.

may i ask what make/brand they are Tam and what price they were or how much should I be looking at.

BTW i’ll only be using them if necessary on a motorway from France to Spain

Al

 

[Northernraider]

may i ask what make/brand they are Tam and what price they were or how much should I be looking at.

BTW i’ll only be using them if necessary on a motorway from France to Spain

Al

The ones i got are husky sumex


Think they are about £35 new but i got these for £10

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

 

[Dutch 68]

 

[Jamesh]

Its the ekol baked apple pie

"Ekol Apple Pie" https://applepiestove.com

Better join that syndicate!!!

Cheers James

 

[Northernraider]

This is the chains i got

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

 

[tacr2man]

These are pretty good make tech wise also lightweight , no oven type IIRC but ok for stove top cooking various models

Oroqen Tent Wood Stove | Stainless Steel Stove for Hot Tent Camping

Oroqen Tent Wood Stove | Stainless Steel Stove for Hot Tent Camping

www.pomoly.com

 

[Northernraider]

For the battery experts ...where is the best place to store my 2 starter batteries for the vario over winter while im away? Theyve been disconnected for months while ive been doing the welding etc but they are still under the drivers seat and im concerned about them getting knackered over the winter. Am i better removing them and wrapping in a bkanket and storing in the caravan? Also am i better removing the caravan battery too when i go away and storing it inside?

 

[Jamesh]

Outbacker® 'Firebox' Portable Camping Bell Tent Stove Log Burner - Free Bag. 754680477903 | eBay

Outbacker® 'Firebox' Portable Wood Burning Tent Stove For Bell Tent. The most popular stove in the Outbacker stove range. Its solid construction makes the 'Firebox' very durable. We accept no responsibility for the use or misuse of the stove.

www.ebay.co.uk

How about an outbacker firebox if space is tight?

Cheers James

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

 

[Dutch 68]

For the battery experts ...where is the best place to store my 2 starter batteries for the vario over winter while im away? Theyve been disconnected for months while ive been doing the welding etc but they are still under the drivers seat and im concerned about them getting knackered over the winter. Am i better removing them and wrapping in a bkanket and storing in the caravan? Also am i better removing the caravan battery too when i go away and storing it inside?

Yes put them inside , out of the cold and on a trickle charger, it simulates being used, slowly discharge and charge ……

 

[Figaro]

It's the cold thats a killer for batteries, so keep them charged and toasty.
Can you put them in the house and ask your sister nicely if she can switch a charger on once a month ?

 

[Dutch 68]

Google optimate battery conditioner/trickle charger

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

 

[Northernraider]

Yes put them inside , out of the cold and on a trickle charger, it simulates being used, slowly discharge and charge ……

It's the cold thats a killer for batteries, so keep them charged and toasty.
Can you put them in the house and ask your sister nicely if she can switch a charger on once a month ?

Can't put them in the house unfortunately and can't leave the caravan plugged in either. So won't be able to trickle charge them ...but figured if i at least charge them all before i go then leave them all inside the caravan wrapped up from the cold that they should survive a bit better.

 

[Jamesh]

It's the cold thats a killer for batteries, so keep them charged and toasty.
Can you put them in the house and ask your sister nicely if she can switch a charger on once a month ?

How about a small solar panel?

 

[Dutch 68]

Can't put them in the house unfortunately and can't leave the caravan plugged in either. So won't be able to trickle charge them ...but figured if i at least charge them all before i go then leave them all inside the caravan wrapped up from the cold that they should survive a bit better.

Is there a funster in the Area willing to have them in a cosy garage on a trickle charger for you?

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

 

[Phill D]

For the battery experts ...where is the best place to store my 2 starter batteries for the vario over winter while im away? Theyve been disconnected for months while ive been doing the welding etc but they are still under the drivers seat and im concerned about them getting knackered over the winter. Am i better removing them and wrapping in a bkanket and storing in the caravan? Also am i better removing the caravan battery too when i go away and storing it inside?

What ever you do and there is great advice from others but, keep them off the concrete floor.
Concrete is a killer

 

[Northernraider]

Bloody rain is back im hoping it clears up this afternoon so i can carry on with these panels ... tomorrow looks ok but i had hoped to have the welds finished and ground down today so i could prime the panels tomorrow and paint on friday when iveco is in getting cambelt done.

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

Build yourself another tent?

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

 

[Lenny HB]

Aye but at least £400 a set compared to £10 for the chains

There is a difference between snow chains & paper chains Tam

I bought cheap ones and they were over a hundred quid. Also have winter tyres.

 

[Armytwowheels]

Im hoping that I won't actually need them ...but yeah i can imagine that fitting them in snow etc will not be fun

We actively seek out the snow for skiing and have only need chains twice in the last 6 years. Both times in resort and not to get there in the first place. Practice putting them on with warm gloves on as that is what you will need if you have to use them. We keep an old pair of ski gloves in with the chains so no searching around when the time comes. Also something to kneel on too.

If you are going near an area that needs them, there is usually signs telling you to pull off and fit chains, sometimes police directing you too. Even in the height of winter the authorities in the Alps and Pyrenees are pretty good at clearing the roads, it is just the huge dumps of snow over night that catch them out.

 

[Northernraider]

Build yourself another tent?

I cant as its on the other side and i dont have the wall to use for support.

Forecast says its meant to clear up this afternoon so heres hoping

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

 

[Northernraider]

There is a difference between snow chains & paper chains Tam

I bought cheap ones and they were over a hundred quid. Also have winter tyres.

They look alright to be honest not sure how much they were new...but they look pretty sturdy with decent fastenings. ... . And they are only to cover my ass if i get stopped lol

Im hoping not to use them ....im going away to avoid that weather lol

 

[Northernraider]

We actively seek out the snow for skiing and have only need chains twice in the last 6 years. Both times in resort and not to get there in the first place. Practice putting them on with warm gloves on as that is what you will need if you have to use them. We keep an old pair of ski gloves in with the chains so no searching around when the time comes. Also something to kneel on too.

If you are going near an area that needs them, there is usually signs telling you to pull off and fit chains, sometimes police directing you too. Even in the height of winter the authorities in the Alps and Pyrenees are pretty good at clearing the roads, it is just the huge dumps of snow over night that catch them out.

Im hoping that will be the case. Had i been keeping this van id have fitted good winter tyres ...just being a tight wad so the chains were just to cover me with the law just in case.

 

[gpat]

There is a difference between snow chains & paper chains Tam

I bought cheap ones and they were over a hundred quid. Also have winter tyres.

£17.99 on flea bay. They might be useless but does the law specify they have to work. I guess if they were useless and you were stuck blocking the traffic and the snow ploughs the gendarmes wouldn't be happy.

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

 

[Lenny HB]

£17.99 on flea bay. They might be useless but does the law specify they have to work. I guess if they were useless and you were stuck blocking the traffic and the snow ploughs the gendarmes wouldn't be happy.

Probably only suitable for light cars if they are not going to do the job no point having them.

 

[Lenny HB]

They look alright to be honest not sure how much they were new...but they look pretty sturdy with decent fastenings. ... . And they are only to cover my ass if i get stopped lol

Im hoping not to use them ....im going away to avoid that weather lol

You did t say they were s/h.

 

[gpat]

You did t say they were s/h.

Ha Ha. They are likely to be s/h for a tenner. The ones I had we bought in Annecy from a French version of halford's. They were €50 back in 2005. That would make them about €100 now.

They did the job on a citroen c5 hire car but they wouldn't have been up to the job of a 5t motorhome that's for sure.

The point being though, regardless of how s**t they are, are they legally compliant or would you get done for not having suitable chains if you caused a hold up. I suspect the latter

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