OUR NEW TO US MOTORHOME!

[Mtbcol]

Hello friends. I can now excitedly tell you we pick up our new to us motorhome next Tuesday. It's a 2007 Burstner Solano T615. Which is 99% perfect for our requirements (only very small compromises needed) it's on a Fiat Ducato chassis and is in extremely good condition and it's previous 2 owners have looked after it very well and spared no expense it seems. If anyone has any useful information or hints and tips on this model it would be appreciated. We've had and used our self build transit camper since 2018, but are new to motorhomes, so be gentle

 

[Bouydog]

I have the same model and year Solano owned it for two years and we are very happy with it. I have carried out a few modifications to it and we quite happily spend as long as we like off grid with no problems.
Feel free to ask away I am happy to help if I can.

 

[Mtbcol]

Brilliant! Would love to know your off grid set up as it sounds good. In our self built Campervan we have 330ah of leisure batteries, 330w of solar, and a 50 b2b. We run our 240 volt fridge off of a 2000w inverter. Plus some other associated bits. There's only one leisure battery in the SOLANO and a 130 w solar panel at the moment We'll be changing a lot, including the current 3 way fridge to either 12v compressor or 240v compressor fridge freezer.

 

[trevskoda]

Hi and the best with new van, have you thought about solar and lithum batteries plus contoller & pos refillable gas bottles, handy if going wild camping and not being robbed on campsites.

 

[Bouydog]

Your self build has pretty much the same as we have in our Solano.
360w solar 300ah Fogstar drift victron smart mppt and Orion 50a b2b with 2000w inverter. To house the new electrics I removed the auxiliary heater fitted under the table and built an electric cupboard in its place. The heater started leaking coolant after a couple of months of ownership while we were in Spain prior to that I hadn’t realised it was part of the engine heating system until we started getting pink puddles on the floor.
I fitted two 11kg refillable fibre gas bottles bit of a squeeze in the locker but they are in.
Removed the gas oven and fitted a combi microwave, the fridge freezer is the original 3 way that I will probably replace if and when it stops working but in fairness considering its age it works remarkably well as long as the burner and flue are cleaned regularly as it spends most of the time on gas.
I also changed all of the under cupboard lights for dimmable led units, added some lights and usb sockets. And that’s the story so far.

 

[Bouydog]

Electrics cupboard housing battery inverter and all associated controllers fuses etc.

 

[Mtbcol]

Your self build has pretty much the same as we have in our Solano.
360w solar 300ah Fogstar drift victron smart mppt and Orion 50a b2b with 2000w inverter. To house the new electrics I removed the auxiliary heater fitted under the table and built an electric cupboard in its place. The heater started leaking coolant after a couple of months of ownership while we were in Spain prior to that I hadn’t realised it was part of the engine heating system until we started getting pink puddles on the floor.
I fitted two 11kg refillable fibre gas bottles bit of a squeeze in the locker but they are in.
Removed the gas oven and fitted a combi microwave, the fridge freezer is the original 3 way that I will probably replace if and when it stops working but in fairness considering its age it works remarkably well as long as the burner and flue are cleaned regularly as it spends most of the time on gas.
I also changed all of the under cupboard lights for dimmable led units, added some lights and usb sockets. And that’s the story so far.

That's great, thank you. I think we'll have to keep our lead acid batteries for a while longer as we've obviously had a big spend on the van purchase, but we will definitely be going lithium as soon as possible. We don't pick her up until next Tuesday, and I haven't looked on the roof yet, is there plenty of room for big solar panels or did you use a few smaller ones? Interesting about the heater under the table, I took didn't realise it was connected to the engine heating system. We'll keep our eyes open for pink puddles.That's a great electrical cupboard you've made are you a carpenter by trade? If you've got time at some stage I'd like to see some photos of how you've organised everything inside. Thanks again, and I'll probably have some more questions once we get ours

 

[Mtbcol]

Forgot to say

That's great, thank you. I think we'll have to keep our lead acid batteries for a while longer as we've obviously had a big spend on the van purchase, but we will definitely be going lithium as soon as possible. We don't pick her up until next Tuesday, and I haven't looked on the roof yet, is there plenty of room for big solar panels or did you use a few smaller ones? Interesting about the heater under the table, I took didn't realise it was connected to the engine heating system. We'll keep our eyes open for pink puddles.That's a great electrical cupboard you've made are you a carpenter by trade? If you've got time at some stage I'd like to see some photos of how you've organised everything inside. Thanks again, and I'll probably have some more questions once we get ours

Forgot to say my first job will be swapping the ecoflow alternator charger (we also have 2 delta 2's) from our camper to our motorhome which I think the hardest bit will be running the cables from the starter battery, which I assume is under a panel in the passenger footwell, to the habitation area. We are also going to get a Disklok as extra securit. I don't suppose you have one and know the steering wheel size by any chance? I'd like to get one to put straight on.

 

[Mtbcol]

Hi and the best with new van, have you thought about solar and lithum batteries plus contoller & pos refillable gas bottles, handy if going wild camping and not being robbed on campsites.

Thanks Trev. We've got most of that already in our self build camper that I'll probably be putting in the Burstner, but will be upgrading at the same time

 

[Bouydog]

There isn’t masses of room on the roof we have 3 X 120w panels. The cabling from the start battery I ran under the floor and up through the hole left by removing the pipes supplying the auxiliary heater. I will take some pics of the electrics, not particularly pretty but safe and works well

 

[Bouydog]

No I can’t claim to be a carpenter just a have a goer I don’t have a disc lock I use the bar through the wheel type. Hope it goes well for you on Tuesday.

 

[trevskoda]

Forgot to say

Forgot to say my first job will be swapping the ecoflow alternator charger (we also have 2 delta 2's) from our camper to our motorhome which I think the hardest bit will be running the cables from the starter battery, which I assume is under a panel in the passenger footwell, to the habitation area. We are also going to get a Disklok as extra securit. I don't suppose you have one and know the steering wheel size by any chance? I'd like to get one to put straight on.

Pedal lock is much better, i made my own after looking at ones on ebay.

 

[Mtbcol]

There isn’t masses of room on the roof we have 3 X 120w panels. The cabling from the start battery I ran under the floor and up through the hole left by removing the pipes supplying the auxiliary heater. I will take some pics of the electrics, not particularly pretty but safe and works well

Ahh, ok I would like to have got a bit more solar than we have at the moment but seems like there may not be room. Thank you, some pictures would be great. Not too worried about pretty but safe is essential .

 

[Mtbcol]

No I can’t claim to be a carpenter just a have a goer I don’t have a disc lock I use the bar through the wheel type. Hope it goes well for you on Tuesday.

Looks good though . Yes, same as me. Thank you we are VERY excited

 

[Mtbcol]

Pedal lock is much better, i made my own after looking at ones on ebay.View attachment 146844View attachment 146845View attachment 146846View attachment 146847

That looks great trev, and very sturdy. Wish I had a welder....not that I'd know how to use it. We will be having a pedal lock (any recommendations anyone ?) and a host of other anti scrote devices to put them off. We've sunk all our savings and then some into our purchase and want to keep it!

 

[Robmac]

That looks great trev, and very sturdy. Wish I had a welder....not that I'd know how to use it. We will be having a pedal lock (any recommendations anyone ?) and a host of other anti scrote devices to put them off. We've sunk all our savings and then some into our purchase and want to keep it!

I have one of these;

PedalBox

www.tvl-ltd.co.uk

Easy enough to use and seems sturdy, although the price seems to have rocketed since I bought mine!

Milenco do them cheaper but I have no experience of them;

Boost Your Vehicle Security with Milenco's High-Quality BC Locks

Invest in peace of mind with Milenco's range of BC Locks for caravans and motorhomes. High-quality, reliable, and designed for ultimate protection.

www.milenco-outlet.co.uk

We use a Disklok as well and hopefully having both might deter a would be thief. Unfortunately if they are determined enough they will use an angle grinder and they don't care if you come out and challenge them these days, they know the Police won't come out.

 

[Bouydog]

Inside the cupboard the 300ah Fogstar is behind the inverter it wouldn’t fit in the original battery locker that is now used for outside storage. Obviously space is an issue here and cramming it all in was a bit of a game but it is all secure and out of sight.

All of the cabling either comes up through the floor or runs up behind the panel to the right of the table covering the cab to body join. Where I have mounted the inverter remote switch and usb sockets

The table forms the lid for the cupboard with a gap for airflow.

 

[Mtbcol]

I have one of these;

PedalBox

www.tvl-ltd.co.uk

Easy enough to use and seems sturdy, although the price seems to have rocketed since I bought mine!

Milenco do them cheaper but I have no experience of them;

Boost Your Vehicle Security with Milenco's High-Quality BC Locks

Invest in peace of mind with Milenco's range of BC Locks for caravans and motorhomes. High-quality, reliable, and designed for ultimate protection.

www.milenco-outlet.co.uk

We use a Disklok as well and hopefully having both might deter a would be thief. Unfortunately if they are determined enough they will use an angle grinder and they don't care if you come out and challenge them these days, they know the Police won't come out.

Thanks Robmac. We have the pedal box on our transit at the moment. It looks like they could be adjustable with that bolted metal piece at the back. Maybe I can "adapt" it to fit the Fiat . Agreed, if they want it they'll get it, but the more we put on the more they MIGHT be put off. As far as challenging them goes these days I think I'd only go as far as telling them to "go away" (using slightly different spellings) as you never know what reaction you may get from them, and obviously only reasonable force is allowable

 

[Mtbcol]

View attachment 146852View attachment 146853
Inside the cupboard the 300ah Fogstar is behind the inverter it wouldn’t fit in the original battery locker that is now used for outside storage. Obviously space is an issue here and cramming it all in was a bit of a game but it is all secure and out of sight.

All of the cabling either comes up through the floor or runs up behind the panel to the right of the table covering the cab to body join. Where I have mounted the inverter remote switch and usb sockets
View attachment 146854
The table forms the lid for the cupboard with a gap for airflow.

Thats a lovely neat and tidy installation, thank you for those photos, and the idea. Can't wait to get started on ours. I'm off outside now to remove the ecoflow alternator charger from the Transit. This is a great group and has a mine if information. That you all for your help past, present.....and future .

 

[Robmac]

Thanks Robmac. We have the pedal box on our transit at the moment. It looks like they could be adjustable with that bolted metal piece at the back. Maybe I can "adapt" it to fit the Fiat . Agreed, if they want it they'll get it, but the more we put on the more they MIGHT be put off. As far as challenging them goes these days I think I'd only go as far as telling them to "go away" (using slightly different spellings) as you never know what reaction you may get from them, and obviously only reasonable force is allowable

It happened to my mates neighbour. They were attacking his work van with an angle grinder and he went out to challenge them, there were 3 big blokes and they told him to "go back in and 'phone the Police, or stay out here and get badly hurt".

He went back in and 'phoned the Police, they never came out and all he could do was watch from the window as they stole all of his tools.