Why does something always break

[Calamaster]

I have a 2006 Autotrail Cheyene 696 SE and everytime we go out 'something' breaks! I mean it's just Us and the Hound but as soon as we arrive at Destination A.. I start the 'fix list'....
This time it was Truma Heater Fan Motor. The thing works but not efficiently enough I deduced. On 1000W (can be 2000W) and 5 (top) fan speed it works and blows hot air. This was obviously not enough as the the heat from the element was greater than the fan could disipate. Thus the fan motor got hot and 'Seized' / 'stopped' resulting in alarming 'FIRE' type smells.
I dismantled the whole thing and cleaned everything up. I suspected the Motor bushes were knackered but without an Angle Grinder I could not get into the inner workings of the motor itself.
Reassembled, I tried various differing settings of Heat and Fan power to see if at least we would not freeze to death that night....

Alas, nothing worked... order a new one £85.. online despite frost bitten fingers.

Luckily, our Yorkshire Terrier disipates heat very well and thus confined within bedspace and Duvet we were saved from certain death.

Back home.... await new Motor and hope...

That was the ONLY item on my list of 'to fix' which is wonderful...... Oh please see other post about Tyre Pressure Monitors that was the other 'Fix'.

 

[Jim]

For many people these things come in threes; but for some it seems to be Nines! Hopefully you are due a snag free break soon

 

[KiwiKampers]

It’s true, there is always something that needs fixing when you go away in your motorhome and when you are separated from all the tools in your shed/garage. Incidentally, it applies to any make of MH, not just Autotrail - before anyone makes any smart remarks!

 

[WillH]

Part of the joy of motorhomes, always a repair or a tweak.

 

[mitzimad]

its a man thing most of us have our homes in reasonable order so we go out and buy some thing to fix

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[davidbaldam]

We always find something needs fixing, sometimes small, sometimes large.

 

[Zains Pops]

i usually come home with a list of necessary fixes required. I work through them ready for the next trip.
it’s probably a bloke thing, and depends if you are ‘fixer’.

 

[Boris7]

I’m relatively new to Motorhomes but I’ve a close friend with decades of experience and he tells me that every time you get home you have a new fix list, so far it seems he’s right.

 

[Snoopy]

Same here, thAnkfully only little things..( Fingers crossed stay that way)

 

[Jake vE]

Sounds about right, we were away in the hymer this weekend and whilst staring at the taps wondering why the water pressure was so bad could hear a dripping noise.....went outside and saw water pouring out the garage. Turns out the hose off the water tank had come off and was just pumping water all over the tank and through the lockers!
Thankfully I've never had great trust in any vehicle so always carry a substantial tool kit and spares with me to deal with the surprises wherever we go!
In terms of fix list, its like whats been mentioned above, check off items before you go and add items whilst you're away!

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[Larrynwin]

A few weeks back on way home took a right hand turn and bang, top drawer in sink unit flew open, no damage but it had an inch or so of water in the bottom , cleared it and dried it on the spot to avoid soaking into plywood drawer.
The cause was a push fit pipe fitting on the sink waste had come adrift, pushed on firmly and now sorted.
Luckily the drawer is so well made it didn’t even leak into the one below and the structure is not affected, needed adjustment on the runner to ensure catch locates better, sorted.

 

[nicholsong]

I must say I do not recognise the problemm posited in this thread. Not had many breaks en route.

Geoff

 

[Pelirocco]

We always find something needs fixing, sometimes small, sometimes large.

Alas in our case plenty of things to fix in the house ,but somehow fixing or adding bits to MH is more important lol

 

[Calamaster]

Thanks for all your comments. I am glad I am not alone!!
As a Mechanic / DIYER / Electrician I have an extensive set of tools in the Garage. The only thing I miss is the big V Twin Air compressor at home.... but having such in the back of Moho would probably tip it back on it's BUTT!!!

 

[Nasher]

I've not had that many things go wrong and am competent enough & have enough tools to fix most things

But what do people without the aptitude to fix things do when things go wrong?

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[Calamaster]

I've not had that many thing go wrong and am competent enough & have enough tools to fix most things

But what do people without the aptitude to fix things do when things go wrong?

Call the AA?

 

[Wagoneer]

Things also happen mysteriously when the MoHo is parked on the driveway. Sunday morning found the big wingmirror glass in a thousand pieces on the driveway. It had somehow become detached from the back-plate Still, just as well it didn't come off whilst travelling !!!

 

[ctc]

I've not had that many things go wrong and am competent enough & have enough tools to fix most things

But what do people without the aptitude to fix things do when things go wrong?

Same as me, completely bugger it then find someone to do it properly.

 

[Odd-no-more]

I have a file on my phone for repairs/ improvements and at the end of every trip it normally has at least 2 items. I still have to fit the 12 volt lamps in with the existing 230 volt fittings as I like the position of the lights and want to use them off grid as well.

 

[Nasher]

I have a file on my phone for repairs/ improvements and at the end of every trip it normally has at least 2 items. I still have to fit the 12 volt lamps in with the existing 230 volt fittings as I like the position of the lights and want to use them off grid as well.

When I first got my van I did the same thing, mainly for improvements/enhancements, after a couple of trips the items on the list became so trivial that I gave up on it

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[Northernraider]

You should try fulltiming then ....i think theres not a week goes past without having to fix something.

 

[pelican]

I've not had that many things go wrong and am competent enough & have enough tools to fix most things

But what do people without the aptitude to fix things do when things go wrong?

They shout WARRANTY

 

[bigwood]

Our Rienza being an older motorhome we should be prepared for things breaking some times but it’s always when we least want it.
I the midst of packing for our couple of days away I put the milk in the tray in the fridge door. The moulding holding the tray in has been super glued back on once before. It gave way again today. Considering it’s supposed to take the weight of the milk bottle and the fruit juice it a very thin moulding.
After a bit of sussing time I managed to fasten the moulded bit and the tray back on the end of the fridge door with a couple of small brass nuts and bolts. We will have to undo the screws to lift the tray out but it’s not often we do that being able to clean it in situ. Possibly Brunel would be proud of the repair but it’s better than changing the door.

 

[Calamaster]

New Truma Heater Blower Motor arrived and installed.... SORTED! Bye Bye Squeaky Noises all night.
Twas £85 though. 10 mins to fit if anyone wants to know.

 

[maison]

We had a Swift Select PVC that blew fuses whenever we tried to run the heating on 230v. After replacing three, supplied by the dealer, only to have them blow immediately we knew we were in trouble.

When on a site in Dumfries and it blew again I looked for a replacement. There were no motorhome/caravan dealers nearby so I tried a local, small independent electrical shop. I gave him a failed fuse and asked if he could “provide a 10 ampe fuse like this” . The owner took the fuse away and came back saying, “I thought you asked for a 10 amp fuse, this is a 1 amp” . (I think that was the rating, although I am sure others on the Forum will know the right answer).

Apparently the two fuses have similar colour bands for identification. We had no problems after that.

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[nicholsong]

We had a Swift Select PVC that blew fuses whenever we tried to run the heating on 230v. After replacing three, supplied by the dealer, only to have them blow immediately we knew we were in trouble.

When on a site in Dumfries and it blew again I looked for a replacement. There were no motorhome/caravan dealers nearby so I tried a local, small independent electrical shop. I gave him a failed fuse and asked if he could “provide a 10 ampe fuse like this” . The owner took the fuse away and came back saying, “I thought you asked for a 10 amp fuse, this is a 1 amp” . (I think that was the rating, although I am sure others on the Forum will know the right answer).

Apparently the two fuses have similar colour bands for identification. We had no problems after that.

Fuses usually have the rating in numbers too. I hope you put the dealer right, and he replaced your fuses with 10amp.

 

[maison]

Fuses usually have the rating in numbers too. I hope you put the dealer right, and he replaced your fuses with 10amp.

Yes, I did, and so did they.

I must say that the fuses had the same three colour bands, but in different order, as far as I remember. The fuse rating was stamped on the end cap of the glass fuse. The independent electrical supplier had to use a magnifying glass to show me the rating.

I rang the dealer and they posted me two spare fuses to my next site............just in case.

 

[gus-lopez]

Apparently the two fuses have similar colour bands for identification.

You get the same problem with some blade fuses in that the colour is the same but amps are different. You always have to check the rating printed on them now.

 

[maison]

You get the same problem with some blade fuses in that the colour is the same but amps are different. You always have to check the rating printed on them now.

I agree. But I can read the rating on blade fuses.

The rating was tiny, embossed on one of the metal end caps of a glass fuse. When I took it back to the dealer they had to use a magnifying glass to read it, as did the independent guy.

No complaints about the way the dealer dealt with it. Full apology and a free supply of six fuses. However, as they were the correct ones the next owner inherited five spare fuses!

 

[Jaws]

It is not so much a fix list I put together but more a mod list
There always seems to be something I want to change / modify / upgrade or add !

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