New Tyres

This is a post I did back in January but just noticed I posted it to the wrong blog so here it is :-

Over the years I hsve never been impressed by the reputation of Kwik Fit, not I hasten to add from any personal experience, but from what I have read in various forums etc.

Our Cadiz tyres are approaching eight years old so well in need of new rubber,sad really as they are barely worn.

Fortunately the wheels are off the van for the winter and stored in our garsge. 

After the  local Kwik-Fit depot fitted me a new valve core to the car spare tyre in about a minute and didn't charge me when Halfords wanted me to book it in for the next day and would have probably charged I decided to give Kwik-Fit Mobile a try for some new tyres. 

The depots can't do wheels with Tyron Bands on as they are not trained to do so and haven't got the equipment needed.

Couldn't get any like for like Michelin replacements so plumped for some Hankooks instead. 

Actually I wonder if top brand tyres are worth it for the low mileages caravans do. 

Managed to get two Hankooks, balancing, replacement of the  TPMS sensors ( had purchased the sensors from Prima Leisure a while ago), Tyron Band refitting and disposal of the old tyres all for about £165 which I thought was reasonable.

After a phone call to book the fitting ( you can't do it on line), it was arranged for today and all went smoothly. 

Cheerful chap, arrived on schedule and job done in about an hour and a quarter. 

So all in all can recommend Kwik Fit Mobile if you want some new tyres.

Ian

CMC Ludham Bridge

Coming to the end of an eleven night stay at the above which is a lovely site, one we have visited many times before, in a lovely area especially as we have had very good weather.

The site is nowhere near full, in fact the whole area is pretty quiet which surprised me with it being Easter week.

As blogged previously the ATC light is now sorted, the tripping MCB for the Alde boiler has been diagnosed by Alde as a failing MCB which will be replaced by my service man when the van is serviced in a couple of weeks or so. 

Also having a new water inlet fitted as the original has seen better days

After talking to the chap on the next pitch who had a new Swift  I wonder when the UK caravan industry will begin to turn out reliably defect free vans? 

He had had warranty problems as so many vans, of all makes seem to have.

This often seems to be backed up by a shoddy dealer response.

With some new vans costing £30k upwards this should not be occurring.

Perhaps a case for, as far as dealers go,proper franchised dealers like the car industry.

Anyway food for thought.

Ian

Al-ko ATC Light

If anyone remembered in my last post I mentioned that the ATC light had ceased to function.

Anyway bought another and replaced it. 

Easy enough job, pull the plug apart under the hitch fairing, cut away the plethora of cable ties, undo the two screws holding the plate on the fairing, undo the small nut holding the light to the plate and pull the old light out. 

Refiiting, as they say in Haynes manuals, is the reversal of removal. 

This job would have been a whole lot easier if I hadn't put the old one back and amazingly it still didn't work. 

All sorted now.

A word about purchasing a replacement. 

I got one for £20 off E Bay with free postage.

Al-ko wanted an eye watering £62 for the same thing, oh with free postage.

Ian 

CMC Poolsbrook

Away on our third outing of the year at the above site near Staveley in Derbyshire. 

Boy was it windy on our second day and raining as well, was glad we left the Eclipse canopy at home this time. 

The two problems that occurred during our last trip the faulty mini Heki above the sink and the faulty Alde sensor, have both been rectified.

Sorting the Heki out is a right Chinese puzzle don't know even now how I sorted it. 

The only odd thing this trip was the Alde boiler tripped the circuit breaker for some unknown reason, been OK since being reset.

I have learnt one thing though, the chap next door in a Unicorn 4 had a caravan tech out as his water flow was very slow.

Turned out it was the filters in the taps that were blocked. 

I didn't know but you can screw the end off the kitchen tap and and a plastic filter lies within. 

He had two fine mesh ones but ours has a rather coarser plastic one which is perhaps just as well.

The bathroom tap looks like it needs a spanner to remove so left that alone.

Every days a school day in the world of caravanning.

Ian 

CMC Knaresborough

We are at present having a few nights on the above site on the outskirts of Knaresborough but not far from Harrogate and York. 

It is a lovely site but with a couple of changes could be improved 

Firstly the site shop has nothing at all on its shelves at all apart from some toilet fluid and a solitary hook up cable. 

There are no local shops anywhere so a few caravanning and food essentials wouldn't have gone amiss,other CMC sites seem to manage it. 

Secondly the site has a Wanderer  bar and restaurant but any passing wanderer should carefully check the opening times which are very idiosyncratic. 

I could understand restricted opening in the depths of winter but the site is very nearly full.

I would have thought it could be open say 9 to 5 daily for tea, coffee and light snacks.

I was looking forward to a daily breakfast but it's not to be. 

On the Cadiz front we have had a couple of small problems. 

The mini Heki above the sink has loose cords again, and this is a replacement. 

Can't get it off to fix it at the moment so will leave it till we get home. 

Secondly the Alde remote room sensor which I fitted a few years ago is massively under reading. 

Contacted Alde who suggested resetting the panel but that didn't work so it looks like a new sensor, which is now on order at a ridiculous price for P&P may I add. 

The Avtex TV is also in a local shop for repair as it is playing up when used on satellite. 

Luckily we have a spare as SWMBO was starting to sweat a bit,personally I was looking forward to not having to suffer the dreadful Good Morning Britain and the even worse Masterchef. 

At least the weather is glorious for a change right till we go home, it's not a bad life really.

Ian

Tip

This is a tip I have blatantly stolen from this months Practical Caravan and concerns an easy way to clean the hitch pads.

First remove the plastic security ball from the hitch. 

Put  piece of thin cloth round the ball and spray with brake cleaner. 

Insert the ball back into the hitch and close the black lever only not the large handle. 

( My cloth was a bit thick so the handle wouldn't close but it still worked).

Twist the ball backwards and forwards to clean the pads.

It really works!!

Ian

CMC York Beechwood Grange

Well the season has started for us as we are on our first trip to the above site one of our favourites.

Surprisingly I haven't forgotten anything and all has worked with no problems touch wood.

Well not quite. 

I think the Avtex tv is playing up when using satellite. 

We could only get BBC 1 and 2 plus Channel 4,ITV was sound but no picture. 

Will try it at home and if still the same will contact Avtex. 

Had a trip out to a funeral yesterday, one of SWMBO'S friends, which was a first, and hopefully the last, for a caravan holiday.

The site is far from full, Easter is probably the starting point although it is late this year. 

Anyway it is my birthday on Sunday, another year slips by, oh well. 

Ian