New to Motorhoming as well as a new member

[frendlered]

I was so impressed with wild camping, i think i am going to find it so useful.

If there is anyone near Dumfries or even Lochfoot, i could do with anyone who will be able to give me some pointers when when Motorhome arrives next week.

If someone feels they would like to call me to offer any advice, please let me know - i need all the help i can get

 

[yorkslass]

Hi, welcome

 

[Boris7]

Welcome.

You'll do just fine, if you have an issue or don’t understand something then just ask on here.

But remember, avoid advise from Rob on Monday mornings (he’s great the rest of the week)

Its important to avoid not asking and making a mistake that costs you time or money.

 

[Pauljenny]

Welcome..
Wise move to join this lot.

I'm a miserable old pessimist.

The van picture looks lovely.
But a van, that age, could have quite a " History".
During Covid, many novices were stampeded into buying any van.... And living the dream.
That's a combination for disaster.
How many owners had it had, and what recent changes .?
Check MOT history,

If you've any doubts....
Bite the bullet and reject the van.
The most unscrupulous car dealers are often selling motorhomes, now.
Hope you get lucky.
Regards, Paul.

 

[Robmac]

Welcome along.

It's worth videoing on your phone when at handover all the systems are demonstrated. Saves a bit of head scratching later on.

 

[Robmac]

Also, check everywhere you can for signs of damp, especially in the overcab and around any roof fittings. If you can get hold of a damp metre all the better.

I'm sure it will be fine but be thorough. Looks a nice van.

 

[Wully]

Welcome along looks a a nice van. We all probably had the same niggles. experience comes with use so get out in it as much as you can.It’s great down your neck of the woods for wilding spots try come to one of the meets there’s one in lochore near Kelty in fife April that a great way to break the ice and make friends.

 

[frendlered]

Wow, thanks for all the great advice, amazing

it's all a worry buying one isn't it - i did pay for a full vehicle search, its seems reasonable, but i would love your feedback - can i upload it here?
I bought it from Northern Motorhome buyers - do you know them?
Great idea i will video the demo when i pick it up
it's meant to have a habitation makeover and new MOT when i get it
this is my Mootorhome history attached - hope its ok showing it here!
I also put a budget aside to get it all checked over again, even after the new MOT, so its tip top from the start

 

[trevskoda]

Take a person with you to look over it, if ok go a head, do remember to ask here about solar and mppt regulators to charge batteries when wilding, best to upgrade to 2 batts if possible and 200w of panels, forgot Hi and welcome from Glengormley Co Antrim.

 

[frendlered]

Take a person with you to look over it, if ok go a head, do remember to ask here about solar and mppt regulators to charge batteries when wilding, best to upgrade to 2 batts if possible and 200w of panels, forgot Hi and welcome from Glengormley Co Antrim.

I can get hold of really good Lithium 200ah batteries quite cheap £380 - are these a better solution to store power?

 

[trevskoda]

I can get hold of really good Lithium 200ah batteries quite cheap £380 - are these a better solution to store power?

They are good but the van sys may have to be upgraded, better to go lead carbon at 14.4v charge rate and a votronic 250 regulator as it will also trickle charge the starter battery.

 

[frendlered]

They are good but the van sys may have to be upgraded, better to go lead carbon at 14.4v charge rate and a votronic 250 regulator as it will also trickle charge the starter battery.

I think the first thing i do is upgrade this particularly, I have some health problems with a tremor that makes any detail work very difficult, what kind of specialist do i have to go to to get this done properly? - or would a tech savvy friend be able to help me do this? At the moment there is a very old lead acid battery under one of the seats. I am not so keen on campsites, so want to spend a lot of time in friendly farmers fields etc (with permission of course)

 

[frendlered]

Welcome..
Wise move to join this lot.

I'm a miserable old pessimist.

The van picture looks lovely.
But a van, that age, could have quite a " History".
During Covid, many novices were stampeded into buying any van.... And living the dream.
That's a combination for disaster.
How many owners had it had, and what recent changes .?
Check MOT history,

If you've any doubts....
Bite the bullet and reject the van.
The most unscrupulous car dealers are often selling motorhomes, now.
Hope you get lucky.
Regards, Paul.

Here is the history Paul - what do you think?

 

[Boris7]

Battery/solar is very subjective if you want to stay off grid (and therefore off campsites) dont think you need to go massive lithium and massive solar.

A basic habitation battery with little solar will be fine, if your travelling each day and thefore the engine is charging the batteries.

But if your looking to stay off grid and not travel too much you’ll need to think about battery/solar mix.

I have loads of solar (450watts mono crystal) and 400ah batteries along with a 3kw inbuilt inverter, an additional 160 watt fold out mono crystal panel and an EcoFlow, then a build in petrol generator, but that’s because I spend a lot of time stationary at race circuits with no EHU (often 5 days at a time) and a woman who simply goes’t understand that that it’s not like being at home (not all women are like this) and often in less sunny moths.

You‘ll most likely find that 100watts of solar, and 100ah battery will be ample.

 

[barryd]

Welcome to the forum. I think the biggest thing as already pointed out is to make sure you get an independent hab / damp check. Especially on an older van. The detailed check PDF does not show any of the habitation checks. As its from a dealer you will have course have rights and a warranty but its really important especially on older vans.

Im sure you will have a lot of fun in it though and there is lots of useful advice on offer here.

 

[wildebus]

Welcome along looks a a nice van. We all probably had the same niggles. experience comes with use so get out in it as much as you can.It’s great down your neck of the woods for wilding spots try come to one of the meets there’s one in lochore near Kelty in fife April that a great way to break the ice and make friends.

I would agree with all the above

 

[trevskoda]

I think the first thing i do is upgrade this particularly, I have some health problems with a tremor that makes any detail work very difficult, what kind of specialist do i have to go to to get this done properly? - or would a tech savvy friend be able to help me do this? At the moment there is a very old lead acid battery under one of the seats. I am not so keen on campsites, so want to spend a lot of time in friendly farmers fields etc (with permission of course)

If you are near wildebus on here, he does this kind of work and knows much more than others, helped me with my compressor fridge data before I fitted it.
Also with his teck stuff on solar which I followed and did.
Fitting a panel on the roof is the hard bit, wiring up a mppt regulator is simple, just a good set of spectacles is required LOL.

 

[wildebus]

If you are near wildebus on here, he does this kind of work and knows much more than others, helped me with my compressor fridge data before I fitted it.
Also with his teck stuff on solar which I followed and did.
Fitting a panel on the roof is the hard bit, wiring up a mppt regulator is simple, just a good set of spectacles is required LOL.

Whilst happy to suggest, advise, whatever, I no longer get on top of roofs or crawl under vans getting too old for that nonsense now

 

[TJBi]

I can get hold of really good Lithium 200ah batteries quite cheap £380 - are these a better solution to store power?

Quite possibly, but may require upgrading of charging, etc. Best to have some idea as to what you will be using habitation battery/ies for and likely consumption, then ask on here, with info as to current charging arrangements and any changes that you might envisage. Wildebus is the expert and can provide excellent advice.

 

[frendlered]

my intention is to move around off-grid and avoid campsites as much as p[ossible, only to spend the occassional night if necessary to water up etc
I like the idea of a solar system.
I am 67 with some health issues (most of my lung is missing to be honest after having TB in Indonesia in 2016)
so i will need to find someone to help me set this up properly and possibly get someone to checkover everything else like and leaks condensation issues. i know that the toilet door no longer was a good fit, but that is being done, but i am worried that this is a sign of damp
Can anyone suggest where i can get these checks done - I am near Dumfries