Alde & Fridge

To those who,like us,have laid their vans up for the winter,don't forget to turn the fridge and Alde on  for 15 mins. or so using gas.

This will ensure that any spiders nests or other detritus blocking the jets is burned off and doesn't give any problems come spring.

Did ours yesterday.

If you look back on the blog there are instructions ( thoughtfully provided by David Mantell ) on how to make a cover for the Alde flue therefore keeping the nasties out.

Ian

Christmas

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all my readers and correspondents.

When I am writing this crap,sorry I mean thoughtful and insightful articles,it is difficult to appreciate that anyone out there ever reads them.

To all those that do,thank you and may your Aquroll never run out and your toilet cassette never need emptying.

Ian

Sat.Nav

Now before my latest missive I fully appreciate that many people have been using/doing this for years as I am a late adopter in most things but anyway I will plough on.

Recently my TomTom Go Live Camper and Caravan sat.nav died a death  and despite many attempts to resuscitate it,including ringing TomTom Customer services, it was eventually laid to rest.

I replaced it with a new TomTom Go Camper ( incidentally from Halfords who at the time of writing have reduced the price by £80 ) but have not got around to setting it up yet.

Typically I wished to use the sat.nav for a lengthy road trip and as I was without decided to investigate my Android smartphone.

Eventually I found the Google Driving app,set it up and my what a revelation,this is an excellent sat.nav with spoken guidance,rerouting and all the works and best of all it is free.

This is on an Android phone which is obviously Google orientated but I image Apple have something similar on the iPhone but I cannot confirm this.

If I didn't want a sat.nav which takes the caravan into consideration and avoid narrow lanes etc.I would stick with Google Driving,it is very good.

I can hear the "God I have been using it for years" from here but anyway I have broad shoulders.

Ian

For Sale : Sky Box

Not really caravan related,unless you want to use it in the van,but having just been upgraded to Sky Q I have a Sky HD+ box for sale.

Comes with the remote control and has a viewing card in it,not sure what this provides though.

£30

I think it really needs picking up rather than posted due to the electronics but if someone wants to take the risk be my guest and arrange for collection.

Location:- Wakefield,west Yorkshire.

Ian

Motor Mover & Doormat

In the guise of " something to do" whilst up at storage ( apart from continuing to fill a large puddle with nutty slack ) I decided to give the Reich movers a bit of a going over.

It was surprising how much gunk and crap had accumulated both on the housing and the rollers,anyway a good clean and debris removed from the rollers had them looking better.

As I was leaving the van I noticed that the doormat was looking a little worse for wear with all the tramping in of muck from the storage yard.

I decided to attempt to remove it,it was with some trepidation as my record of breaking things whilst in the act of removing stuff is renowned.

Anyway if you get a screwdriver or similar and prise up the plastic surround it becomes unclipped,be careful as it has all the hallmarks of " I am going to break and cost you money" written all over it so it is at your risk.

When the frame is removed it is a simple job to remove the mat for a good clean.

Reversal,as all the Haynes manuals used to say,is presumably the reverse of removal.

If you wish to remove the base there are four screws holding it down.

Ian

Wheels

Whilst the van wheels are off for the winter,replaced by winter wheels,I thought I would take the opportunity of giving them a bit of a spruce up.

First up was a good wash down,front and rear, followed by touching up and varnishing any scuffs and scrapes they had collected and checking for splits or cracking in the rubber of which there was none,perhaps the result of Bailey fitting good quality Michelin tyres.

Luckily I had some car paint and varnish which matched the colour of the alloys.

Incidentally,some people say that caravan wheels don't need balancing but I noticed there was a good deal of weight added to both wheels on the inner surface.

Then I treated them to two coats of Autoglym Wheel Protector in the hope they might stay clean a bit longer,then the tyres got two applications of Autoglym Tyre dressing which leaves a nice subdued sheen not like the "tyre black" stuff of Arthur Daley fame.

I was going to replace the Bailey logoed centre caps as they are a bit faded but Bailey say they aren't available any more.

There are larger ones for their motorhome range and other vans but not for the U3,if anyone knows where they are available let me know,they are 56mm diameter.

Finally a couple of new valve dust caps with the TPMS logo on and job done.

I was quite pleased with the results.

Ian

Driving Awareness Course

Not really caravan related apart from the fact that I was towing the van when I got caught speeding near Halifax on our last trip out.

Thirty six mph. in a thirty limit so to avoid points on my licence I opted for the speed awareness course.

Now I have heard people denigrate these courses as a waste of time but I have to admit I found it very interesting and gave the opportunity to focus on your driving which I suppose is something we all take for granted.

I think it wouldn't do any harm for everyone to go on such a course every five years or so.

Yes it was £84 but £84 well spent as it turned out.

So if you are caught and given the opportunity of a course I suggest that you accept.

Ian

Winter Draws On.

Well as we had to cancel our holiday at Berwick CMC site this week due to my bad back going into overdrive we thought we may as well pack things up for winter as we are busy up to well into December and then it is of course the horror of Ch******s.

For the information of perhaps less experienced caravanners this is what I have done:

1. Water drained off using a Floe.
2.Wheels removed and replaced with winter wheels ( wheels now cleaned up and safely stored in our garage,tyres in very good nick I noted ).
3.All internal locker and cupboard doors left open to facilitate air circulation.
4.Toilet cassette removed,taken home and now full of cassette cleaner.
5.Locker,door and window seals treated with rubber lubricant.
6.All foodstuffs and liquids removed.
7.Check gas turned off.
8.All locks treated with lubricant.
9.Seat cushions and mattresses lifted so air can circulate.
10.Solar panel cleaned to make the most of any winter sunshine.
11.Battery swapped over for a fresh one ( not strictly necessary but as I have a second battery thought I might as well then I can put the removed one on the C-Tek at home ).
12. Wooden panel that covers the laundry basket in the wardrobe removed so air can circulate.
13.Taps left half-way and open so if there is a drop of water left in it's got somewhere to expand to.
14.Sink plugs left in to keep spiders out,waste pipe covers closed.
15.Handbrake left OFF ( It always is but I thought it worth mentioning ).
16.Jockey wheel removed and stored in van ( just the wheel not the whole caboodle ).

I am sure others can add to the list but the above should see you safely through winter,that is of course if you are not using it through winter and I know lots of people do.


As our van is in storage we are not able to keep an eye on it on a day to day basis so it has to be left in a safe winter state for the upcoming winter weather.

Hope this might have helped.

Ian

Anti-Rust Paper Again

Back in May I blogged about some anti-rust paper I had seen suggested to prevent the creeping brown slime affecting your towball.

Well I have to report,after exhaustive testing at our accredited laboratories,that it does indeed work.

We have a VW factory fitted set up that swings back into the bumper and even with a towball cover on got rusty after rain.

Put some of the paper inside the ball cover and not had rust since,can therefore recommend.

Ian

Chapel Lane & The NEC

Returned from two nights at Chapel Lane CMC site and a visit to the NEC Caravan & Motorhome Show.

Won't go into details of the site as we have been many times before,just to comment that I don't think some people deserve decent washrooms after seeing the state they leave them in,enough said.

Bailey had an enormous stand where we had a look at the new Pegasus Grande,personally I can't see what all the fuss is about regarding an 8' wide van,it's just more bulk to pull as far as I can see,but you pays your money etc.

Yes there is obviously more room inside but you pay for this in increased weight,other manufacturers seem to be joining in the party.

Last years must have was a centre washroom,this years seems to be the eight footers,wonder what next years will be.

There was a smattering of Unicorns but nothing particularly new.

Talking of next year it makes me wonder if motor homes will eventually overtake caravans in the outdoor recreation market,we were half way through the halls before we came across our first caravan,the range of motorhomes was astounding.

Talking of which,SWMBO had a good look round a selection of her hearts desire which is really a motorhome,I think it will have wait a bit.


Had a look at the Colapz stand who make collapsible buckets,watering cans and the like :-

Colapz

I had read they had a new form of waste water pipe which I had a look at.

The corrugated stuff really gets on my tits,it has a life of its own but this new system contracts and expands in one meter lengths and is stored in a small bag.

It is not on sale till next March I was told ( £20 ) and I can't find a link on the Colapz site to show it,the chap said it would be on next week.

Put me down for one.

To say we were not intending to buy much we left laden down with carrier bags.

I thought there were not that many people there but I thought that last year and when the figures were released there were record attendees so what do I know.

Anyway a thoroughly enjoyable day as usual with a free goody bag chucked in at the end,seven hours seemed to pass very quickly,I distantly remember seven hours at work.....................lifetime.


Ian

Fridge Vent Covers

When we came to set off from storage to Hebden Bridge I noticed one of our fridge winter vent covers was missing.

I always secure these properly so I doubt one has fallen off,I suspect one has been nicked but obviously can't prove anything.

Sourced a replacement and boy they are a barmy price for a piece of plastic.

Going rate is about £24 plus P&P but I did see them at £53 ( for one ) God help us,anyway managed to win two on E Bay for the same price so I will have a spare seller said they had only been used for ten days before she swapped her van and they wouldn't fit the new one.

Ian

Hebden Bridge

We have just had four nights at the delightful Hebden Bridge CMC site which is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

I have always overlooked this site previously as it does not have a washblock and I presumed SWMBO wouldn't like it as she loves her showers and "facilities".

Anyway she agreed to give it a try and all went swimmingly,apart from being caught "mid deed " when the flush water and the toilet roll both ran out at the same time.

I am so glad the Mk.3 Cadiz has a bathroom window unlike the Mk.4.

The site is situated just off Cragg Vale in Calderdale ( the longest continuous ascent at 5.5 miles in England ),it is nearer Mytholmroyd than Hebden Bridge but I image the latter sounds a bit more bohemian especially if you are a Guardian reader,social worker or a member of the Jeremy Corbyn fan club..

The Cadiz was on its best behaviour,the shower,which we have only used a couple of times previously,was excellent.

If you are thinking of visiting the site do bear in mind that there are extensive flood defence works in the Calder Valley for twenty months from last May so traffic hold-ups are a fact of life at present but as a local told me "It's better than the alternative".

Added to this I noticed that Yorkshire Water are doing some water main work on Cragg Vale Rd. for the next ten weeks so that will be a joy.

A couple of Mk.3 Unicorns on site but no sign of a Mk.4,I do wonder if Bailey will have a U4 facelift before it is due as I don't think it is selling too well,only my thoughts.

Perhaps an eight foot wide Unicorn to follow on from the Pegasus Grande which appears to be this years fad to succeed the centre washroom trend of last year.

Ian

Pegasus Grande

The eight feet wide Pegasus Grande has just been launched by Bailey :-

Bailey Pegasus Grande.

As far as the Rimini goes ( the only one I have looked at ),Bailey have retained the no-window washroom which is a turn off for me and seems prevalent across the range.

I like a bit of air around.

Ian

York Beechwood Grange

Four nights at York Beechwood Grange under our belts now that it has reopened after extensive work.

A new replacement shower block has been reconstructed along with various improvements around the site.

It all looked very good to me but I got the impression that the wardens weren't too keen on some bits.

One grievance was that for a newly built washblock,no service toilet ( for when the main ones are being cleaned ) has been provided,the disabled toilet has to be used,also the pot washup must have the noisiest ceiling fan ever created.

I would have thought some serviced pitches would have been installed but evidently there was some problem with planning permission.

As has become normal now,the Cadiz soldiers on unperturbed ( I may regret those words one day ).


One addition to our Isabella fleet was a side

 to our Eclipse canopy.

This kept the wind and rain at bay and can be recommended.

One word though,if buying it to attach to an Eclipse which is affixed to  the side of the van as opposed to the front of an awning,then a triangular adaptor piece is needed as can be seen from the picture to make up for the increase in height from the awning to the van.

As is usual the Isabella instructions regarding pitching were as clear as mud,but a bit of perseverance won through in the end.


We were due to visit Durham Grange in a couple of days but as 60mph winds are forecast we have decided to abandon it,better safe than sorry.

Ian

New Phoenix

Called in at YC Leisure this afternoon and had a first look around the new Bailey Phoenix,their new "entry level" van,although I read somewhere they don't like to refer to it as that.

Bailey don't seem to have much long term success with their base van models.

They have had the Olympus,Orion and Pursuit none of which has set the world alight in what must be a difficult market as I imagine most starting out in caravanning buy a good second hand van to set them off to see if they like it.

If they do after a couple of years they may buy a new van but don't want a base model rather,as far as Bailey goes,a Pegasus or a Unicorn.

They didn't have a "Cadiz equivalent" in stock,only double fixed bed models and a two berth "make up bed every night" version.

It appears a perfectly competent van but it carries over from the Unicorn 4 the lack of a washroom window which does nothing for me,but at least it didn't have the awful salad-bowl bathroom sink.


Like the U4 it feels much flimsier than the U3,the locker doors feel much thinner.

One thing I have to say is that the front bench seat cushions feel much firmer than those abominations in the U3,how they will perform over time though may be another question.

I have difficulty in seeing how Bailey will fit the Pegasus into the line up as the Phoenix is not that much cheaper,and also in specification,from a Unicorn.

There is no ATC as standard and a value pack is available as a an extra comprising of cushions and bathroom carpet,I think.

Heating is Truma blown air rather than Alde.

All in all it appears a decent van,if rather expensive.

The one we looked at was just short of £20K.

Whether it will be around in three years time we will have to see.

Ian

Scarborough West Ayton

Just had four nights at the CMC site at West Ayton Scarborough.

Lovely well looked after site although the toilet blocks could do with a facelift.

Usually take the grandkids every year and they seem to enjoy it.

The site seemed unusually quiet for a week in August with many empty pitches,but then again the CMC have taken over a site at Cayton Bay so perhaps this is showing as less bookings for West Ayton.

Nothing to report on the Cadiz front apart from oiling the hinges on the bathroom door, though I did notice that the Unicorn 4 has been out a year now but there seems to be few of them on sites but there seems to be plenty of 3's,personally give me a 3 any day over a 4.

Ian

Magnum Eclipse Canopy

The Magnum Eclipse canopy that was for sale has now been sold.

Ian

Poolsbrook

Just had five very pleasant nights at Poolsbrook CMC site near Chesterfield.

Been a few times before so won't dwell on the site but discovered by talking to someone on our storage that there was a pleasant walk of about six and a half miles down the Chesterfield canal into Chesterfield itself,did the walk and they weren't wrong,well worth a look.

Just as an aside,why do some people think it is OK to use your pitch as a thoroughfare ?

The only minor problem on the Cadiz front was I discovered the front centre panel was loose on one side adjacent to the A frame.

It was strange as there did not appear to be any method of securing it but on the other side there was a screw holding it together.

The artisan craftsmen of Bailey either forgot the screw or held it with a blob of sealant which had dried out.

Anyway it was an easy fix by drilling a small hole and inserting a screw,drill thoughtfully provided by Mr.Roscoe.

Ian

New Bailey Phoenix

For those that aren't aware,Bailey has dumped the Pursuit for 2019 and produced a new range entitled the Phoenix.

Bailey Phoenix

I have not seen one in the flesh yet only the pictures that are on the Bailey website but first impressions are that the Bailey line up seems to becoming homogenised or "samey" for want of better words.

The new van looks perfectly satisfactory but looks very much like the Pegasus and the Unicorn with the differences down to bits of add-on kit like ATC and washroom carpets.

The main difference is that the Phoenix comes with Truma heating whereas the Unicorn has the Alde.

Looking at the photos,one thing I wish they would address and haven't is the front slide out table not being level with the front chest when pulled out,not a massive problem but one I find annoying and it appears it has been carried over to the Phoenix.

Bailey don't seem to shy away from scrapping a line of vans that don't seem to be selling well as the Pursuit seemingly wasn't.

I recall the Orion being launched in a blaze of glory and a fanfare of trumpets yet in three years it was gone,the Orion Evo ( remember that ) only lasted a year.

I would think part of the problem may lie in the fact that people when starting caravanning tend to go for a cheap second hand model,use it for a few years and are then ready to move up a notch to the Pegasus or even Unicorn,if buying Bailey, giving the base model a miss altogether.

Lets see how it goes.

Ian

Excellent Service From Whale

A couple of days ago I posted on Caravan Talk that the Whale external pump plug kept slowly sliding out of the Whale socket.

Not a major problem as I nudge it back in when passing but anyway,

Had a reply post from Whale asking me to send my phone number and they would be in touch.

They rang today and suggested that the "O" rings may need changing and would put two in the post.

Excellent customer service from Whale.

Ian

Hawes CMC Site

We have just enjoyed four nights at Hawes CMC site in the Yorkshire Dales a lovely well kept site up to the usual standards of the CMC.

If you like cheese a visit to the Wensleydale Creamery is recommended where you can stuff your face with free cheese till you are sick.

Those who follow my Twitter feed will be aware that both SWMBO and I had had a touch of the threepennys whilst we were there but thankfully all resolved now.

Also the day before we set off I blew the jockey wheel tyre up,they do go off with a bit of a bang it has to be said,luckily I had a spare jockey wheel.

Apart from tightening a loose furniture screw all was well with the Cadiz but the mains inlet cover has broken a hinge so that needs replacing at some point,not urgent though.

Ian

Toilet Repairs

Just came across these Thetford toilet repair instructions which may be useful to somebody :-

Thetford Repair.

Ian

Cadac

For a good while SWMBO has been hankering after a Cadac,personally I can't do with this mania for barbecuing,cooking is what ovens and kitchens are for,but anyway a "happy wife is a happy life"as they say so eventually I purchased a Cadac Safari Chef Lite.

I must admit it is a neat piece of kit,it doesn't come with the gas tube though and if connecting to the BBQ point on the Cadiz you will need a quick release connection like this:-

They are three pounds or so off E-Bay.

I am sure when we bought the van there was one provided in the little gas tap locker but naturally I can't find it now.

If you are thinking of purchasing the Cadac the cheapest I could find was Go Outdoors at £90,if you are a member of the CC&C you can get an extra 10% off but of course I didn't find out about this till later.

Anyway will give it a try on our next trip.

Ian

The Firs and Additions

Came back yesterday from five days at The Firs CMC site near Belper in Derbyshire.

We have been before but just to reiterate that this is a cracking little site,spotless with very friendly wardens,the glorious weather helped of course.

Even got the satellite dish up and running.

( Incidentally I recently read of an easier way to set it up to get Astra 2.
 When you get it set up with the dish pointing south turn it as far east as it will go then slowly bring it back and Astra 2 is the first satellite you should hit as there are various others up there to confuse things ).


Nearby is the Tramway Museum and Heage Windmill both worth a visit.

Nothing of note Cadiz wise but here are a couple of recent additions to my caravan gizmo's.

Decided to equip the Avtex TV with an Avtex soundbar which projects the sound forward as the Avtex like all slimline TV's these days has the speakers at the rear.

It fits with the provided bracket to the bottom of the TV using the holes where a stand would fit.

Works very well plus we also use it on the TV at home in between trips.



To keep the Aquaroll water clean and just as important the van pipework free of biofilm I have,since we started caravanning,used Elsil.

Nothing wrong with Elsil at all but I get through a fair few bottles a year at about £7-£8 a time so it works out quite expensive over the year plus you have to remember to add it.

Decided to go down the route of an Aquaroll Filter which is not a filter as such but uses silver ions to do much the same as the Elsil does.

Just drop it in the Aquaroll and it does its wonders for a whole season.

If purchasing try E-Bay first as mine was £21 wheras on the Aquaroll site they are £39.

Ian

Isabella Magnum Eclipse Sun Shade Reduction

Due to  there being no response I am reducing the price of my Isabella Eclipse Sun Shade from £150 to £130.

Same applies to transportation if necessary,buyer collects or arranges collection.

Ian

Isabella : A1

As per my previous posting I sent the Eclipse sun shade off to Isabella for repair on Monday about 2pm.

Got a call yesterday morning ( Tuesday ) to say the work was completed.

Arrived back today ( Wednesday ) at 11:30pm,damaged pole replaced as well.

That is what I call good service and all for a very reasonable price.

Excellent Isabella.

Ian

Berwick Seaview and Storm Hector

Just had four nights at Berwick Seaview CMC site in Northumberland.

Been before so won't dwell on the site except to say there was once again a fair smattering of Unicorn 3's there,they still seem very popular.

All OK with the Cadiz,just had to reglue a seal on the front  side locker.

Whilst there we encountered Storm Hector during which very strong winds were forecast for about twenty four hours.

On arrival I had put up our Isabella Eclipse sun shade with six guys and three Isabella Stormband storm guys in preparation.

Right on cue during the evening the winds increased but despite the canvas flapping about the framework never moved.

This was the story overnight and during the next morning,canvas flapping but no frame movememt at all.

About 12:15 we decided to go for a walk into Berwick,returning about 5pm.

Arrived back at the van and yes you've guessed it the Eclipse had gone.

Evidently it had come loose only about half an hour after we left and our neighbours had kindly dismantled it before it did too much damage.

The problem it turned out was that two of the guy attachments had pulled out and the canvas was ready to take off.

In all not too much damage,a few scratches to the van and windows which I managed to polish out and the Eclipse is going back to Isabella tomorrow to be repaired.

Why do things happen as soon as you turn your back ?

Anyway a bit of a lesson learned and we were more fortunate than another couple of people on the site one of whom literally had his awning torn to shreds and another where it went over the roof.

Ian

Durham Grange

Returned yesterday from a five day solo trip to the CMC site at Durham Grange.

SWMBO is visiting her sister in Greece so a bit of peace and quiet.

Nothing to say about the site,visited many times but just to mention that I wish people would keep control of their yappy little dogs,it was like a bad day at Crufts.

As has been the norm for a good while now the Cadiz proved no problem.

The new lights certainly impressed:-

I am starting to come to the conclusion that we have a good van here as apart from the roof leak,which is standard for Mk 3's I think and a replacement ATC bulb we have had nothing wrong with it.

Certainly on Caravan Talk there are some horrific tales of faulty vans although there has been much less about Bailey recently I notice,perhaps they have turned a corner.

Perhaps I shouldn't have said the above,tempting fate and all that.

The new canopy was definitely an asset,saves putting the Magnum up for a short trip and chairs etc. can be left outside with no fear of getting wet,wish I had purchased one before really.

Ian

Ecliose Magnum Sun Shade

Just a reminder that my Isabella Magnum Eclipse sun shade is still for sale.

( Bear in mind that if fitting onto an awning it is a MAGNUM canopy ).

Also fits direct to the van.

£150.

Buyer arranges collection/delivery if necessary.

Ian

Eclipse Canopy Again

Have tried out the replacement G19 size Isabella Eclipse sun canopy and it fits much better than the G20.

Old G20 Canopy

New G19 Canopy

So if you are in the market for one it is a G19 that you need.

Whether this sizing applies if you are fitting a full size awning I don't know,it may pay to check.

Ian

Lights For Sale

As mentioned previously I have had the corner spots changed for the U4 ones.

If anyone wants to buy a U3 spot then they are on sale for a fiver plus £2 postage or you can collect them for £5.

Ian

Service

The Cadiz underwent its yearly service today by my mobile man,very pleased to find there was no hint of damp at all,dry as the proverbial bone.

Also had the fridge serviced as it hasn't been touched for three years so thought I might as well.

The new Bailey spotlights/USB's were also fitted to the four corners,looks very good.

Heres to another year of trouble free caravanning or perhaps I shouldn't have said that.

Ian

Teeside Barnard Castle

Returned yesterday from four nights at the CMC site at Barnard Castle.

This site is a credit to the CMC,it is so clean neat and tidy.

One thing it has which other sites could do well to follow is a drying room,saves messing with washing lines and wet clothes.

Needless to say I had taken the rotary washing line.

The Cadiz was perfect from start to finish,it was in good company as there were five others on site,all Mk.3's.

Even got the satellite dish up and running,couldn't find "Say Yes To The Dress" for SMWBO though,she was less amused when I managed to locate Babenation.

Just awaiting for the Isabella canopy to be swapped for a smaller size but the principle of the thing is very good,somewhere to sit outside even if it rains,excellent.

Watching other caravanners,one thing always surprises me.

Why pay extra for a serviced pitch and then not use the services you have paid for,have seen it on a lot of sites and this was no exception,the site was not full so there were plenty of standard pitches available.

Nowt' so queer as folk as they say.

Ian

Eclipse Canopy Update

Isabella have agreed to swap the G20 ( 1050cm ) Eclipse sun canopy for a G19 ( 1025cm ) one so we will see how that fits.

They also said that if it doesn't fit they will send someone out to have a look at the van.

Isabella are a very good firm to deal with.

Will post a further update when I have installed the replacement one.

Ian

Isabella Eclipse Sun Canopy

We have recently purchased an Isabella Eclipse full length sun canopy to fit directly to the van.

Having checked the size with Isabella ( 1050 cm G20 ) there is a possibility this may be the wrong size.

Have been in contact with Isabella/dealer awaiting the outcome so if you are considering purchasing one for your Cadiz perhaps you may want to wait a bit.

I will update the blog as to the outcome.

Ian

Anti Rust Corrosion Paper

Although we have a retractable VW towball on the Alltrack it still gets rusty between use despite having an Al-KO tow ball cover in situ.

Up until now I have applied grease to the ball which I then clean off prior to use.

A poster on CT suggested a seemingly good idea and that is the wrap the ball in anti-corrosion paper,something that up till now I have not heard of,prior to fitting the cap.

This stuff is as cheap as chips on Amazon :-

Amazon

Anyway I have sent for some and will keep you all posted on how it goes,a lot less fiddly and cleaner than grease,hopefully.

Ian

Calor Lite

As most caravanners will by now know,Calor are phasing out Calor Lite gas cylinders due to,I believe,quality control problems.

There is supposedly a new lightweight cylinder due out sometime this year.

There have been postings on Caravan Talk about people not being able to get their hands on replacement Lites but I had to replace a cylinder yesterday in Castleford (Davison & Robinson on Aire St. if anyone needs to know ) who appeared to have a number of Lites available so they are out there if anyone needs one.

Ian

Price Increase,Get Your Skates On.

Spoke the the CMC today about my insurance renewal,they had quoted the price of a replacement Cadiz at £24,244.

I pointed out that on the Bailey site they were priced at £23,699.

I was told that the higher price is what they are shortly going to be.

So if you are thinking about a U4 and you want to save £545 pounds then get your order in ASAP.

Incidentally the price of CMC insurance has remained remarkably stable probably due to them bringing it in-house.

Increased my cover from £26,500 to £28,000 ( inc. equipment ) and it came out as only £1 dearer than last year.

Ian

Attention Those With VW Tow Cars

This is just a heads up for those,like us ,who have a VW tow car and have had the NOx service action ( EA 189 ) done.

There have been some reports of problems with EGR valves subsequent to having the correction done.

Now this may be coincidental or a problem stemming from the upgrade,who knows.

If however you are suffering EGR,fuel injection or emission problems after the fix then within 24 months of having the work done and at less than 160,000 miles VW "would consider the complaint very carefully and if such a complaint was established to have arisen as a result  of the technical measures then VW will act responsibly and swiftly in line with its goodwill policy as supplemented in the annex (?) to respond to the consumers reasonable concerns."

All this is laid out in the letter that drivers will have received from VW,however my neighbour falls into this category and I had forgotten about it ( luckily we have had no problem as yet ).

He has booked his Golf into the dealers who seem aware of the problem so no grief as yet.

Ian 

U4 To U3 Light Swap On The Cheap

Anyone who is contemplating swapping the reading lights in the Unicorn 3 for those with a USB socket from the Unicporn 4 may be interested to know that the new lights are available from the Caravan Accessory Shop for roughly £12 cheaper than from Bailey:-

Caravan Accesory Shop Lights

Bailey Lights

Naturally I have already bought mine...................................................from Bailey.


Ian

Another "Must Not Miss" For Sale Item

I have for sale an Isabella Eclipse Magnum sun shade,like this one :-

Eclipse Magnum

It will fit onto the front of an Isabella Magnum awning or,as we have used it,direct to the side of the van.

Very good condition,comes with the canopy itself,two FixOns,Carbon X poles, F-Links ( for attaching it to the awning front ),screwdriver ( for tightening the F Links ),three Isabella storm guys,three large plastic pegs and a grey standard issue drawstring Isabella bag to put it all in.

Here is a video of it in action :-

Eclipse Magnum Installation

All this for the amazing price of £150,yes that's right £150.

Collection from Wakefield,West Yorkshire is of course free,if you require it to be posted then the buyer arranges collection,payment by cash or Paypal preferred.

Would make an ideal birthday present for the wife,she might think she is getting an expensive dress or shoes but watch her eyes widen when the Eclipse is opened on birthday morning.

Ian

Durham Grange

Just returned from five nights at Durham Grange CMC site.

It was originally to have been Hawes CMC site but heavy snow was forecast for there and as the approach is via narrowish lanes we decided to swap venue.

Mind you we had our fair share of bad weather in Durham but fortunately no lying snow.

When we arrived it was like a Unicorn 3  convention,there were eleven on site including ours,just goes to show how popular these vans were.

Incidentally was talking to a chap on an adjacent pitch who had a Unicorn 4,he told me that to get a TV bracket fitted to it was over £100,and that is just for one,if you want another for the bedroom side of the fridge it is of course double that.
Not so easy to fit yourself evidently as you have to drill at precise points according to a template to fit the bracket.
Why Bailey scrapped the fitting in the U3 I don't know,great bit of kit IMHO.

Anyway,well pleased with the Cadiz on our first trip of the season,nil to report all systems functional.

With reference to my previous post regarding collapsed axles David Mantell,one of my correspondents,suggested that perhaps it would be best to measure clearance when the van was loaded.

Had a go at this whilst we were out and all appears to be in order fortunately.

Ian

Collapsed Axles

There has been a fair bit of discussion on Caravan Talk,Bailey Owners Club and probably other forums regarding "collapsed" axles on Mk 3 Unicorns and I think others from the Bailey range.

I am not going to go into great detail as it tends to become a bit technical and I am no expert on the matter,I put up this post so as to make owners aware and anyone who wants to take it further can do so at their leisure.

The top and bottom of it appears to be that the axle appears to settle too much on the rubber supporting bushes so that the top of the tyre rubs against the top of the wheelbox when the van is loaded thereby creating a hole for water and damp.

At first Bailey appeared to blame it on overloading but both they and Al-Ko appear to have come round to the view that there is a problem and have started replacing affected axles.

The clearance from the top of the tyre and the wheelbox should be 25mm,here is a guide to measurement :-

As I say people have been going into it much deeper than this but this is the nub of it.

I have measured our clearance and it seems to be OK,from what has been said there was a bad batch of axles,hopefully ours,and yours,isn't one of them.

Ian

Photo's

Just a reminder for any new readers,if you click on my photo's they come up full screen in glorious Technicolour for your delight and delectation.

Ian

Strip Replacement

As appears to be usual on the Unicorn 3 range the white strips front and rear which cover the gap between the caravan bodywork and the front bumpers were beginning to look a bit grim.

Replacement strips are available from the Bailey Parts ( Prima Leisure ) site at a cost of about a fiver ( Part Number :- 1132588 ) for a 2.5m length,you will need two one for the back and one for the front.

However before you dash off to increase the contents of Mr.Bailey's pockets,wait awhile.

This is the state they were in prior to removal,I started at the rear first:-

Unfortunately the side sections appear to be well fixed to the van so I left them alone and just  concentrated on the long centre section,this applied to both back and front:-

The centre section pulls out easily enough leaving a small gap that had its fair share of gunge,crud and crap in it which I removed with an old credit card and wiped it clean with a cloth.

Now comes the money saving bit,when they are removed it leaves a small gap which doesn't look too bad without the strip.

I fact if I was doing it again I would be tempted to just leave it but as I had the strips I ploughed on.

The new strip is fiddly to apply and would have been easier in warmer weather but had it sorted eventually :-

That was the back done so it was on to the front,pulled the centre strip out and once again it was concealing a dung heap.

Now after much trying we couldn't get the front seal to fit properly for some reason so left it without the strip which I may try reapplying in warmer weather but actually it looks OK without in my opinion :-

/

So to sum up the strips look a bit of a mess as were so removing/replacing them is a good idea and it looks a lot cleaner without them,whether you bother with new ones is of course a personal decision but it does look OK without and after all the strips are only "decorative" and don't provide any waterproofing so it is up to you.

The basic design is a bit of an abortion really and I note they have gone on the U4 to be replaced by a smooth front one of the few things I like about the U4.

Ian

Air To Spare Offer

I have been sent this e-mail by David the proprietor of Air to Spare :

Good evening folks,
 
I thought I’d let you know that I’m having a sale at the moment, I’ve reduced the price of each Air to Spare by 40%.

If you fancy one (or more!) then please use the link I posted in the blog to my eBay page.

Many thanks.

David 

( This is not a recommendation for Air to Spare and no money has changed hands I am just reproducing the mail for anyone who is interested ).

Ian 

Air To Spare Contd ( Again )

I have receved an e-mail from the proprietor of Air To Spare which I reproduce below :-

Good afternoon folks,
 
Air to Spare is absolutely still trading following a change of ownership; I’m David, the new owner.

The technical issues with the website will be resolved soon but meanwhile please use our eBay outlet David has linked to above and save yourself the P&P costs.

The intention was always to create a product that was better that the competition both in terms of quality of components and the length of available hose and that is what we’ve achieved.

The most recent batch of Air to Spares was posted last weekend and a huge thank you goes out from me to all of our customers.

If you have any questions you can contact me via eBay messaging or at douglasd2@sky.com

Many thanks. 

Ian

Air To Spare Contd.

David Mantell hs finally got to the bottom of the Air To Spare problems in the following e-mail :-

 

Further to the Air-to-Spare website problem (apparently it will be corrected very soon), David Mantell has found exactly the same item is available on ebay  - but cheaper as it is p&p free on ebay!! - see:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222847239968?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

This looks to be an incredibly useful item which makes it easy to check and adjust the caravans spare tyre from the comfort of side of the caravan (The spare is rather too easy to forget as it is tucked under the caravan and not easy to reach).

 

Many Thanks David.

 

Ian

 

 

Air To Spare

As can be seen in the Comments section below the Air To Spare link leads nowehere.

Thanks to ne of my correspondents for pointing it out,it was OK when I posted it.

Ian

A Couple More Winter Tasks

Went up to the van today for my weekly visit and to undertake one or two minor jobs that may prompt newer caravanners not to forget them.

First I checked the air in the spare wheel which is easy to forget,it needed quite a bit putting in so that got done.

Incidentally I have one of these permanently connected to the spare which makes checking the pressure a doddle:

Air To Spare

Have one on the car as well,saves humping the spare wheel out to check the pressure.

Secondly I checked for damp underneath around the perimeter with my cheapo damp meter and fortunately all was within normal limits..........................phew.

Thirdly,ran the Alde and the fridge on gas for a short while to clear the jets of any spiders webs etc.

 Finally as it was a sunny day I gave the van a good airing,nothing appears damp so heres looking forward to the new season.

Ian