I saw Ian's video and did the same ,in a previous van, the waste pipes regularly split, over winter, so I have a added pipe insulation around those pipes as well to be sure

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

Good idea on the pipe insulation 👍

Looks like there's a thread on the heater element external part (where the wires plug into). Should be possible to fit a plastic male to female adapter on that and then screw in a plastic cable gland which would waterproof the connection to the heater.

It boggles my mind Rick; you spent £50,000 on this vehicle only to find out you have to spend more money 💷, and time, because it was bodged. Those connectors should have been sealed, with rubber caps for protection from road spray, debris, etc. You did an excellent job fixing the undercarriage, especially with the "winter blankets".

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

It’s not bodged so much as built to a price. In a few weeks you’ll see a new van we love but it’s £65.000!

@frothe42

2 жыл бұрын

@@RickandHeather I feel this should have been built better despite it being entry level. £65,000! At least it isn't £125,000!!! Cannot wait to see that van!

Watched this when it first came out, forgot to comment. I emulated all your tips and even some more, van is insulated OTT now in every available space and infra red thermometer showed me the massive fifference it makes. Bored now as nothing else to do in van until I run my SLA's down and get a LiFePO4 battery, not happening as the buggers bounce back every time.

@RickandHeather

7 ай бұрын

You’re forgiven 👍

Top job. Well done. Thanks for the shout out big fella!👍

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

No problem I’ve also linked your video in the description and I’ve added your channel to our home page 👍

@TravellingfromScratch

2 жыл бұрын

@@RickandHeather Thanks Rick. Top man. 👍

Very interesting, thanks. I must look tomorrow on my Elddis

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

Good luck 👍

Elddis should hold their head in shame. Our Elddis 155 Supreme has this so called winterised pack. As an ex plumber I find it all pathetic. We went to Glenmore this winter and everything that could freeze - did. None of the underslung pipes are insulated. The main water and waste tanks are laughable with their thin bubble wrap. First to freeze was the grey waste tap. I poured hot water on it only to find that the pipe to the tank water frozen solid. Then the waste pipes froze. They hold water underneath in a downwards bend and this freezes. Then it stopped pumping water out of the cold water tank. Something was frozen underneath but I couldn't get to it. We went about 4 days with bottled water and emptying bowls of water into our waste water tank with wheels. Even the water in this was going solid. The temperature was mainly around - 1 or 2 degrees below so it wasn't really desperately cold. Good video.

@RickandHeather

Жыл бұрын

Yep in cold weather we leave the waste tap open into a bucket so it doesn’t freeze, we also don’t fill the fresh tank and just use Jerry cans. I’ve insulated and done a bit but yeah it’s poor….

Hi there I'm a shipboard electronics technician and if you wrap any of your exposed wires with a layer of vulcanizing tape a layer of electrical tape and a layer of 3M Scotchkote Electrical Varnish those wires will be untouchable for the next 5 years at least. If you cant find vucanizing tape do 3 or 4 layers of electrical tape.

@RickandHeather

Ай бұрын

Thanks, van now sold 👍

Watched you video a couple of days ago and checked under my van "Elddis Accordo" on a Boxer chassis and found exactly the same issue! I have got some tape and also I will attend to the tank heater connectors at the same time. Really informative video, thanks for sharing

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks you’re welcome it’s nice to hear it’s helpful 🖤🏴‍☠️

@oldenglishe43

2 жыл бұрын

@@RickandHeather I am also going to change the insulation on both drain down pipes as they have not been finished off that good. My van is based on the Elddis Accordo but is the Marquis Majestic version 2021 model, so to see the tape falling off at this stage does mean that I will have to check underneath the van at regular intervals. Regards Vic

brilliant video rick and certainly gave me an excuse now to get underneath and see what’s going on with mine , very informative and helpful 👍

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

I made this a few weeks ago as a throwaway filler video, done more views in 24h than most of my videos do in a week 😂

@TheFrenchiesMotorhomechannel

2 жыл бұрын

@@RickandHeather yes the good ol how to’s rarely fail 👍

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

Van reviews are my favourites to do, I could do that all day 👍

@TheFrenchiesMotorhomechannel

2 жыл бұрын

@@RickandHeather same here , easy edit if any , 10 mins work and decent views

That was very interesting, thank you. I’m not very good at this techi stuff, but I’m going to try and have a look under my van - hope I don’t get any sleepless nights!

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

At least if people aren’t capable of looking they can at least be aware and possibly have a friend look for them. Hopefully yours is 👍 thanks for watching and commenting

Very practical video and great view under the van, I think it’s a great job to get onto before those terminals corrode and the jacket tape starts to come away. On the ever growing to-do list 😀. I think I might bob some pipe insulation on while I’m on too. Those ramps look super helpful too. Thank you - David 👍

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks David 👍

Hey up Rick. Obviously not having any of this fitted to our selfbuild, it does make me question the engineering and long-term maintenance requirements for some of these new vans. Luckily, you're practically minded and capable of maintaining/modifying your van, however, I wonder how many people are out there oblivious to what's going on under their vans. Great practical video mate and it will help others. Brilliant job. Hope you're well, catch up soon.

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

Hey Tony, this is the 1st where I’ve had under slung tanks, great storage in the van but obviously as you say you gotta keep an eye on stuff under it...Like you I wonder how many non practical people get by, looking on forums there’s a lot who don’t know stuff but hopefully this helps someone, we’re looking forward to seeing France through you now Wales is over.... cheers both 👍

Try and clean the terminals with a nail file, good luck, keep us updated

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

Cheers will do👍

That was some good advise, I am going to wrap my waste tank as that external. My fresh is internal both my tanks are not heated.

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

The bonus of internal is less risk but lack of space I guess, I’m surprised the waste tank is heated really because you could just leave the tap open to a bucket and if you’re running waste into it then it’s usually warm

@suzybeetravels

2 жыл бұрын

@@RickandHeather yes they do take up alot of room but it is handy to fill a drum and empty into tank. Thats all i ever do is leave a bucket under the tap as it saves the tank smelling.

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

I’m the same with my waste 👍

Great video as always Rick

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks buddy 👍

Nicely explained and repaired Rick. Think I need to get under mine and do the same. The Elddis job isn’t the best is it. Thanks for that 🙏👍🧙‍♂️

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

Have a think about putting some pipe lagging on the actual water pipe from tank to tap, it’s a part that obviously isn’t frost proofed 👍 gotta do ours.

Putting your Waste Hose into some boiling water or almost will soften up the end enough to fit it onto the tap! Cutting it will only cause the leaks you now have! Sadly anything under these vans are done on the cheap and NOT very well, not good enough considering how much they cost new! Caravans are the same!

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

I did try boiling water 1st, I only cut a tiny bit, now I’ve beaded silicone on it and tightened the jubilee clip really well it’s leak free.

could you use the under tray of a spaceship civic perhaps to add an eztra layer of protection?

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

Spaceship 🚀? I guess if you were doing some extremely cold camping you could do a bit more to protect it maybe?

Great vlog thanks, quick question, I’m 6’3” & am struggling to find a campervan with long enough beds, just wondered how you managed? 😎

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

I’m 6ft4 that’s why we had the CV20 as I can sleep length ways rather than across 👍

@steveweaver3020

2 жыл бұрын

Oh that’s great thanks, cos when I checked the bed length it said the length was 6’2” 👍

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

@@steveweaver3020 probably is but who actually lies dead straight?

Hi Rick, did you buy the sticky tape from Amazon if so how much and do you hVe the link buddy, steve

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

I had it ages from when I had my VW t2 I can’t remember but I’m fairly sure a Google of adhesive foil tape will find it?

Hmmm, so the manufacturer's idea of winterising is a single layer of bubble wrap taped on? That seems a little disappointing 😞

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

And tank heaters….. but agreed it’s not brilliant. Don’t forget the boiler is underneath as well, can only assume frost protection there is keep it on?

@ttxela

2 жыл бұрын

@@RickandHeather Everything is internal in our van except the waste tank, and I've replaced that with a plastic drum as the galv one had rotted away. No insulation to speak of but no issues so far with winter camping. If it splits another one is £4 on ebay :)

Are they C.A.K tanks? They look similar to them.

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

I have no idea sorry!

Thats quite shocking really.... I've noticed with a lot of new "stuff" over the years has dropped in quality.... Its as though nobody takes any pride in there work anymore.

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

Pile ‘em high sell ‘em cheap.... everything is built to a budget on this van, not a criticism from me because I know if you buy something at entry level money you have to keep on top of it. 👍

@leelee1973la

2 жыл бұрын

@@RickandHeather Indeed.... im sad to say that's the way it is today... Although even on higher end stuff, there's still so much shoddy workmanship.

@RickandHeather

2 жыл бұрын

This van was “only” 45k I’m sure 65k ones are as bad sometimes! As I said I’m not slating this van but I’m afraid like you say companies have less pride these days.

@leelee1973la

2 жыл бұрын

"Only 45k" 🤣 I'd want it gold plated for that much 😁 Its the same with wobbleboxes... We were looking the some new ones a couple of years ago... Just to see what we couldn't afford and I was stunned by the fit and finish and the cheapness of the materials in some that cost well over 20k...😲 Obviously we decided to hang onto our 30 odd year old ABI Viceroy for a few more years yet... Although most of the workmanship in that wobblebox is my own 🤣 I've been lucky this year.... Ive only had to repair the floor structure and fix a few water ingress issues 🤣🤣