F A O Ducatobuild

pappajohn

Guest
hi dougie.
just had a look on your website. it looks like you put your heart into this homebuild!!!
a point about the seizing brakes. try removing the rear drums and cleaning them out cos it sounds like they are full of brake dust and crap. when this gets wet it dries like concrete and will really stick the drum to the shoes. also scrape off any rust around the edge of the drum.
dont know if yours has rear drum or disc brakes but the discs normally have an integral drum for the handbrake. if it was used daily you wouldn't have a problem but condensation ect will play hell when its stood
you cant always rely on the garage actually doing the jobs they say they do on a full service. they have been known to cut corners in the name of profit especially if there a sod to do!!!!!:eek:
 
Thanks for that, took the wheel off battered it with a hammer and have started running it daily, which until another garage n=may be found to work on the oily bits will have to do, it is however operating quietly and safely for now.
I have found a problem at least locally to me in that it is not a car or van classed vehicle being an ex minibus as such it has a different MOT to go through a class 7 i beleive correct me if im wrong but according to my local Mot station they can not to it which is the same as most repairs they wont touch coz they cant get it on their ramps etc due to the size and height of it which in the long run i'm sure will also casue me no end of problems.
For now
Dougie
 
hi dougie,
sorry for late reply.
you will have to find a garage thats geared up to larger vehicles. i'll check with my bro as he's an MOT tester but i think any garage that mots cars can do it if its under 3.5 ton GVW and has motorcaravan on the log book making it non-HGV class BUT its the access problem. not many rural garages have the height so you will have to go further afield.
.

john.
 
We havent as yet gotten around to changing the log book to a motorcaravan as were not entirely sure that it is one ?
As you might of gathered from my personal web site that the entire rear bed units come clean out so as i am able to use it still as a van technically it allows almost the same space as would be found in an escort sized van only vertically which we have found very helpful recently to move a fridge freezer about but i want to retain that flexibility in it for just such a use,[you see we are not all loaded and can afford a whole array of vehicles lol ].
Anyway it does still have a semi fitted cooker,fridge etc and totally fitted middle units power supplies and the likes but is it still a motorcaravan/home from point of view of the reg doc and if so pressumably i should be looking at urgently changing both the reg doc and the insurance on it should i not as it is now starting to be used more and more now,[which at least has stopped the brake seizure problem], but don't quite know if it would be totally legal classed as a van still ? if we were to be involved in an accident etc.
Any thoughts on the matter would be appriciated.
Slanj
Dougie
 
hi dougie,
from what i beleive it must have a bed, cupboard/wardrobe and a water supply to be classed as a motorhome for insurance. click on this link to view a previous post of mine http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=17057#post17057
which will tell you more.
if you dont tell DVLA of the convertion you will have to insure it as a van which could cause problems if you make a claim and its got furniture built in. you'll pay a damned sight more for commercial insurance as well!!!!!
i asked my bro about mot and he says its a class4 which means any mot garage can test it if they have enough room. the wheels MUST fit on the lift between the platform end stops and no overhang over the sides of the platforms and must be capable of being lifted to the full extent of the lift. if they cant get it high enough they cant do it. plus if its just high enough but no more clearance they cant jack up the front or rear to do suspended tests. ie steering and suspension joints ect.
i asked him about my kontiki (3.85ton) and he said only one garage in scarborough with the ability to do it but he said take it to the ministry test station as they are worse than useless(ministry) and you get to apply brakes, switch lights ect as they are short staffed BUT you get to pay full whack for the test.

john
 
Last edited:
pappajohn said:
hi dougie,
from what i beleive it must have a bed, cupboard/wardrobe and a water supply to be classed as a motorhome for insurance. click on this link to view a previous post of mine http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=17057#post17057
which will tell you more.
if you dont tell DVLA of the convertion you will have to insure it as a van which could cause problems if you make a claim and its got furniture built in. you'll pay a damned sight more for commercial insurance as well!!!!!
i asked my bro about mot and he says its a class4 which means any mot garage can test it if they have enough room. the wheels MUST fit on the lift between the platform end stops and no overhang over the sides of the platforms and must be capable of being lifted to the full extent of the lift. if they cant get it high enough they cant do it. plus if its just high enough but no more clearance they cant jack up the front or rear to do suspended tests. ie steering and suspension joints ect.
i asked him about my kontiki (3.85ton) and he said only one garage in scarborough with the ability to do it but he said take it to the ministry test station as they are worse than useless(ministry) and you get to apply brakes, switch lights ect as they are short staffed BUT you get to pay full whack for the test.

john
Click to expand...
my elderly swift capri only just fits on from a width point of view but if ducatobuilds is based on the pannel van it should fit no problem most ramps have the same width normally its only a matter of weight and headroom
 
walkers said:
my elderly swift capri only just fits on from a width point of view but if ducatobuilds is based on the pannel van it should fit no problem most ramps have the same width normally its only a matter of weight and headroom
Click to expand...

my fault for not thinking at the time. forgot it is a panel van convertion :eek: :eek:
height shouldn't be a problem as, i think, he mentioned a sunroof as a roof vent into the tin roof so sounds standard height.
john.
 
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