Mystery things in our van

[chenderson1965]

Oil.

We are busy packing up a new van ready for our trip and have discovered a couple of mysterious bits.

The first is some sort of a pair of rails on the back of the door under the hob (see pic). It’s not that clear from the picture but the top rail has a groove underneath it on the bottom one has a groove in the top – it looks like something should possibly have slid into the gap but I don’t know what?

The second is a bag of red plastic widgets. They look like they might be related to the springs under the bed (shown in one of the pictures). Does anybody know what they are for?

Also, I’ve had it hooked up to the mains for 48 hours now and although I’m not sure as I can be that everything is switched off, when I checked the battery indicator on the vehicle control it sometimes shows a small current (less than 1Amp) being drawn from the batteries and sometimes shows a small amount of charge going into them (1 to 2 Amps). Is this normal or am I missing something which might be still switched on?

Finally, what do others do for a dustbin? There doesn’t seem to be an obvious place for one (apart from a tiny little thing in one of the drawers). In the past we managed with a plastic bag hanging off a door handle, but that doesn’t feel like a great solution for long-term living.

Thanks

Chris

 

[Poutie57]

The red pieces are for your bed springs they are for stiffening them, if you go on the Froli web page you should find instructions how to fit them but they relatively straightforward

 

[jongood]

Hi Chris the insert/ cover for the sink fits in the door slots.

Jon

 

[jongood]

We do manage with small bin and just empty it more often.

 

[Camping Gaza]

Do you have a solar panel or a battery to battery charger fitted? This could be the charge indicated and small discharge indicated. (solar charger)

Or is this happening with you off mains and your master switched off?

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[chenderson1965]

Hi Chris the insert/ cover for the sink fits in the door slots.

Jon

Aaaaahhhh. Thanks John. So it does!

 

[chenderson1965]

The red pieces are for your bed springs they are for stiffening them, if you go on the Froli web page you should find instructions how to fit them but they relatively straightforward

Got it. Thanks.

 

[Reallyretired]

Weve used a carrier bag for rubbish for years. Have tried various bins but always come back to the bags.

 

[chenderson1965]

Do you have a solar panel or a battery to battery charger fitted? This could be the charge indicated and small discharge indicated. (solar charger)

Or is this happening with you off mains and your master switched off?

Yes. We have solar. I understand why that would show a charging current (even if/especially if the mains isn’t connected). I don’t understand why that would show a discharging current from the batteries though?

 

[Snoopy]

Hi we have bin area in our storage underneath( inside cupboard) which I use for snacks. Got smal! Plastic bin on top, then the larger bin to our door works for us.'ll

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[Minxy]

I have a bin on the step next to the bed:

 

[Camping Gaza]

It has a heat sink on the rear of the solar charger and as I understand it, it will use a little power while its connected. but not much, just a working current. (mA)If its in the amps, then something else is using it. duff diodes in your panel? Who knows!

They do take a while to settle down when adjusting for current readings, so take a reading at night with nothing on (that's the van switched off not you naked) and see then

 

[Maria41]

Hi, new to this too. We have been on the road now for a month in the Balkans, and plan another 3 months until we get back to the uk briefly at the end of January.
We have converted a citroen Relay LwB using a converting company. I draw the plans so it suits us and we have exactly what we need. Including two 2 metres fixed bunk beds on one side and large fridge, shower/toilet and of course kitchen and oven.

For the bin we fitted super strong suction hooks ( from Amazon) in the bathroom and while we don’t need it we hang the bin bag there ( and the toiletry bag, dog stuff etc... must use that empty space somehow!)
We also glued hooks around the kitchen and other places in the van to hang stuff bags ( like bread bag). When cooking we hang the bin bag near the sink.
As the cabin in our van has handles above the two doors I also fitted an elastic (travel type) laundry line where we hang our travel towels ( microfibre) after a shower, they dry very fast there as the sun gets through the windshield.
Still discovering and coming up with ideas. Living space is tight as we don’t have swivel seats, we need those.
We don’t have an awning but got a Quest 4 pop up gazebo. It has been invaluable!
Cheers,

 

[Snoopy]

Oh, just asked carol, about quest lol up gazebo, you sound pleased with yours, something we hope to get for next year's travels.

 

[Mr Colpot]

If you have the control panel turned on it can draw a small charge.

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[Lenny HB]

I have a bin on the step next to the bed:

View attachment 331734

Put a foot wrong getting out of bed and get a foot covered in coffee grouts yuck.

 

[Lenny HB]

With control panel on up to ½ amp is a normal drain. Charging current up to 1 amp trickle charge is normal.

 

[Sus3v]

For waste,
We use food waste bags for food, and those big charity bags that keep appearing through the letter box asking for old clothes, etc. I leave the bags out for a couple of weeks then put them Moho for using as trash/recycling (inside out in case the charity collects my rubbish by mistake - lol)

 

[Potty]

We have a small swing top bin that lives in the shower (veg bags from French supermarkets fit as liners), a carrier bag on a hook by the door for recycling. The waste bin on the door holds dustpan and brushes

 

[Sus3v]

Oh - and a plastic cereal box box with a liner stored in the toilet - nice and narrow so we don’t trip over it or kick it about, and with a lid with a circular opening so the rubbish isn’t strewn when we do trip over it or kick it about ??

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[Hymer Life]

Yes. We have solar. I understand why that would show a charging current (even if/especially if the mains isn’t connected). I don’t understand why that would show a discharging current from the batteries though?

Is your inverter still switched on maybe? Even with no load switched on, the inverter itself will take a small current.

 

[Vipar]

Greetings Maria 41

 

[Minxy]

Put a foot wrong getting out of bed and get a foot covered in coffee grouts yuck.

Never had any issues with the bin being where it was as it was tucked under the end of the bed, it never ever got kicked accidentally (or on purpose!) plus we don't do 'real' coffee as it's way too messy and faffy ... give me my lovely 'packet' coffees any day!

 

[Lenny HB]

give me my lovely 'packet' coffees any day!

Yuck.

 

[Flook]

Lenny, remember, each to their own

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[Reallyretired]

Is your inverter still switched on maybe? Even with no load switched on, the inverter itself will take a small current.

They take a small current even if switched off unless, as I have, you put a isolating switch in the 12v supply to it. Mine is rated at 500A, probably higher than needed. I only isolate the inverter if storing the mh for a long period.