Van of enormous power Mk 4

[Joeboy]

Strange how we collect stuff over the years. Managed a few body repair and paint jobs on the van today with stuff collecting dust for decades. Even found and repaired a couple of missing door/cupboard locks (30 of in van). Pulled moisture level down to 44% too and the burst window repair is holding.



I've still to investigate the water side of the van but I fired up the water pump and it ran up. Hopefully all will be well. It appears I have bought a van that has been only a little abused overall but in general well looked after.

Bumper repair went well.




As did the racing stripes repair from some random, never to be known about collision. I reckon thats the one that did the big side window.whatever it was, it was blue.



I did a load of work to a van (Transit mk2 83) when I was a lad. Funnily enough, my hands remember exactly what to do. It's very nice and just a little bit nostalgic.

[Moxi]

It’s not taken long to pull it down to 44% that’s got to be a good sign for overall water tightness. It’s really starting to look good after such a short time.

Moxi

[Joeboy]

It’s not taken long to pull it down to 44% that’s got to be a good sign for overall water tightness. It’s really starting to look good after such a short time.

Moxi

Thank you Moxi, that is very nice of you to say, how's the big blow?

There is something about the habitation unit, rounded, no angle shape that gently whispers martini, 70's rally cars to me. Might just be my imagination but every time I do a repair and my eye can flow without snagging just a little more, I see it. SWMBO gave me some fairy lights to set up in the van, then she had a bit of a meltdown over the dust caused by the ashp install.

Repaired window, I am so very happy about the outcome. I'd have said 60/40 against going in.

[Moxi]

It’s just a standard howler at the minute thanks we were a bit bent into the wind crossing the lane but it’s not at staggering level yet.

Southerly direction at the minute too so the new panels are in the firing line but doing well.

It starts to swing around to a NW direction around midnight and at 5am we hit the low seventies for a few hours then before dropping back to the sixties until 2am Sunday

Moxi

[Joeboy]

It’s just a standard howler at the minute thanks we were a bit bent into the wind crossing the lane but it’s not at staggering level yet.

Southerly direction at the minute too so the new panels are in the firing line but doing well.

It starts to swing around to a NW direction around midnight and at 5am we hit the low seventies for a few hours then before dropping back to the sixties until 2am Sunday

Moxi

Clucking bell man! Be safe.

[spread-tee]

That looks like a similar coach build to our caravan Joe, does it have a carver heater unit sat on the floor?, we were sat in our 'van one evening with a bottle and a game of cards and when I went out for a pee was most surprised to find it had dropped down to -5 or something outside, most cosy inside.
Not sure what to do with our 'van to be honest, might even end up scrapping it sadly, not much call for big old 6 berth twin wheelers anymore.

Desp

[Krill]

What's the model Desp? 6 berth twin wheelers fill a niche so there are people who look for them used. I had a stint as a kid cleaning them.

[Joeboy]

That looks like a similar coach build to our caravan Joe, does it have a carver heater unit sat on the floor?, we were sat in our 'van one evening with a bottle and a game of cards and when I went out for a pee was most surprised to find it had dropped down to -5 or something outside, most cosy inside.
Not sure what to do with our 'van to be honest, might even end up scrapping it sadly, not much call for big old 6 berth twin wheelers anymore.

Desp

I did something similar tonight, had the heater on 2kW setting and stepped outside. Brrh! I'm fancying Braemar over or around New Year. Me n No1 son if he's game. The unit in the van is replacement over original and it's marked as Ultraheat. Has Whale controller with thermostat control and runs at 500/1000/2000W load. It has a gas side too but I've not tried it yet.

I'll be honest, if I had a 6 berth and space... I'd carport it,solar the port and slap a covered walkway in if needed. Voila Airbnb or your chill.space.

[spread-tee]

What's the model Desp? 6 berth twin wheelers fill a niche so there are people who look for them used. I had a stint as a kid cleaning them.

Hi Krill,

It's an Abbey Spectrum 6 berth built in 1999 I think, we inherited it from Mrs Desps aunt after her Uncle passed away. Pretty nice machine to be honest but at the moment we pay 500 a year for storage on the Island and don't really use it enough to justify the costs. Shame to see it sitting there idle

Desp

[Krill]

If it's still road worthy (and mostly intact) someone will want that if your selling it at a price to "get rid" of it: farmers who house temporary labourers etc. I know a farmer who has a couple of vans and statics for that purpose. The prices for used caravans shot up in Covid and didn't really fall. I remember "bucket row", 10 to 20 year old, small two berth vans that where being sold for up to 2 grand, and that is 20 years ago. A 6 berth van of that age was rated higher, and got placed, well, not front and centre but still prominently.

I'd make enquiries with dealers on a sale or return basis, that way you don't even need to pay storage. Get it out soon and you could have it in place for the January sales that most dealers have.

Of course, that's if you want to sell it, you sound ambivalent. But storage costs aren't going away are they...