Hi, new boy here looking for some tech help please

[Dustydog]

One of the best changes recently in the mag is the addition of the technical how to do it articles.
So a sensible diyer should be able to do most things. After all how many times have we made repairs whilst on site?
Gas and electrics are not beyond a competent owner providing they know how to check joints , connections etc using the appropriate test kit. Eg gas leak detector spray or manenometer, earth leakage and polarity testers.
So we'll done PCv mag.Keep the diy articles flowing.
I do endorse the usual safety warnings if in doubt don't do it.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

I agree with Parksy's comments it is unlikely that any member asking a question would be a bodge merchant and would only ask for information. when they really cared for their van. but the constant dont do it yourself seek profession help must be very off putting, I sometimes wonder if this is the reason there are so many ask one question never to be heard from again members on the books. no idea how many there are must be a lot. it does seem though no offence to the Prof, that the practical has just about gone from caravaning.
edit. DD's comments accepted. although not common on the forum.
Parksy mentioned the popular retro vans, and this is good to see a resurected old van will give more pleasure to the owner than the run of the mill modern counter part, but who does these vans up enthuiastic diy owners or are they rebuilt in some workshop somewhere [unlikely due to the cost involved]. if the time ever comes when caravaning becomes a no go area for DIY that is the point where it becomes a rich mans hobby.

of course there is a place for the professional but there must also be a place for the DIY'er why pay someone £50 an hour to do something you can do for free makes no sense to me.

99% of 20+ year old cars are owned maintained and in many cases rebuild by the owner to a standard that is better than when new, does this mean they are all dangerous wrecks waiting to kill someone, of course not.
one more thing before I go. saw an occurance yesterday that although may be slightly off point was no less interesting, I took my car into the garage for the MOT while there waiting for it. I was watching this mechanic change a suspension lower linkage arm on a Jaguar from the viewing area, wow what a guy!! it was just like seeing a top flight engineer doing a pit stop in F1 20mins start to finish. air tools all the way, done and dusted. thats what we pay for efficiency and professionalism.
but wait !! what did I see. A dedicated top mechanic. or a guy doing a job in the shortest possible time to earn some time bonuses, did he renew the nylon one shot lock nuts! No, did he lube the joints and bolts, No, did he check the torque on the nuts, No, never got the wrench out of the tool box even for the wheel nuts, ummm makes you wonder. it is a case of perception you see.
oh and my car, passed again no advisories, like it did last year, and the one before that, and the one before that. yet it has never seen the inside of a garage, except for the yearly MOT.

 

[ProfJohnL]

For whatever reason it seems some contributors have the impression that I am against DIY. I will state categorically that is not the case. What I am against is incompetent DIY. and where that has legal implications it is important to say so. In such cases it is appropriate to refer the reader to professionals.

I agree those who are not interested in complying will just go ahead and bodge the job, but equally they are unlikely to be writing or reading the forum. But those who take the time to ask a question, there is a better chance they will take on board the information given.

There are plenty of jobs in a caravan that are not regulated, and wise readers will understand how that impacts with gas and electrics. Most jobs in caravan do not have anything to do with gas or electrics, but when they are involved it is in everyone's interest that these hazardous matters are handled properly, and when there are hints that the questioner is not doing it safely we should point it out.

DIY is a valid way to save money except when it done incorrectly or it is contrary to regulations and the law.

 

[Dustydog]

So my fellow forumites where does this leave PCv and Hay market?
Surely intelligent diy is okay?

 

[Parksy]

The clue is in the name DD, it's Practical Caravan.
I've always endorsed all aspects of caravan safety and I greatly admire the Prof and other long serving forum members who make valuable contributions to the sum total of forum know how.
I find it a bit disconcerting that the weight and majesty of the law is invoked because a new forum user wanted a bit of advice about sorting out an old style Zig charger though :dry:

 

[IBH]

Three pages on from the original query and the poor man is still no further on! For goodness sake stop arguing amongst yourselves trying to score brownie points. This forum is getting as bad as the Caravan Club forum. Is there anyone that can help with jetskiadam's problem?

 

[jetskiadam]

Three pages on from the original query and the poor man is still no further on! For goodness sake stop arguing amongst yourselves trying to score brownie points. This forum is getting as bad as the Caravan Club forum. Is there anyone that can help with jetskiadam's problem?

To be fair mate, while they've been busy arguing about it, I've been getting on with fixing it and it's finished....thanks though.

I think my tongue in cheek comment about electrics being a dark art gave the impression in my OP that I had no technical skills whatsoever, and since I have an old caravan that I wanted to do a DIY repair on, that therefore lead some to conclude that I was going to start farting around with gas, trying to detect leaks with a box of matches and a paraffin lamp. To be fair I kind of get the impression that this site is aimed at individuals fortunate enough to own much more modern caravans than I do, it appears that I also judged the book by it's cover...

 

[Parksy]

Three pages on from the original query and the poor man is still no further on! For goodness sake stop arguing amongst yourselves trying to score brownie points. This forum is getting as bad as the Caravan Club forum. Is there anyone that can help with jetskiadam's problem?

If any of us had a manual we would have mentioned it in the first place.
As it happens a forum discussion was and is taking place about if or when DIY enthusiasts need to get professional help.
If you don't like it, don't read it but don't try to tell us what we can and can't discuss because we don't need your permission, thanks all the same.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

Three pages on from the original query and the poor man is still no further on! For goodness sake stop arguing amongst yourselves trying to score brownie points. This forum is getting as bad as the Caravan Club forum. Is there anyone that can help with jetskiadam's problem?

hi IBH, it is not about scoring brownie points it is far more important than that it goes to the heart of what caravaning is about, or should I say what caravaning has become, once a thread is started sometimes it takes on a persona of it's own.
it is how forums work, coincidently Adam said he had fixed it and was happy with the results, on page two.

Adam, to be fair mate your right on all counts, it does seem that as soon as someone mentions DIY there is a sharp intake of breath, not just on your enquiry but just about every one that crops up, some one asks about a damp patch somewhere A reply comes about removing the internal fittings and then the alarm bells start ringing about removing gas fittings and having to have a specialist gas fitter to do it, happens every time mate even if there is no mention of gas. so don't worry about that, would not be so bad if it wasn't a load of male bovine manure. as there is nothing in the legislation to stop owners doing there own gas work, touring vans are exempt from the rules, same with the electrics new vans have to have certification on some legislation or other but old vans that never had it Nada. wire away.
bearing in mind the old elf and safety, so do it right no problem, for some this is not good enough though because most DIY'ers are inept and liable to bodge it, so it is much better to pay a fortune for some professional to do it for you so you don't blow up yourself and half of the village you live in :woohoo: :woohoo: checking for leaks with a match.

there are quite a few members with older vans and true while we do not hear from them that often they are there.
I suspect it is because they know what's what and carry on doing there own thing in their own way and not posting if they have a problem just sort it themselves and carry on.

true the vast majority of inquires are to do with new vans, so while the site is not aimed specifically at them it is the most discussed issues, it seems the more modern the van the more problems there are. in the old days [violin time] practical caravan was just that it covered the practical side of caravaning but as vans have got more sophisticated and the swathes of new legislation heaped on trailer towers [that is all a van is a habitable trailer] this is the topics most talked about, there is a place for the older caravan and the wreck that someone has bought to do up. you just have to look inside the book cover to find it.

 

[paws]

An excellent topic with much helpful information, is my view, so thanks to all the contributors.

It's a sobering thought that Noah's ark was built by an amateur, whilst it was the professionals who designed, built and navigated Titanic...

On that cheery but disturbing thought, I will wish you all
Happy Caravanning!
Regards
paws

 

[Sproket]

What a palava :lol:
While i was away i just fitted one of these to see just how much electricity is being pulled by having things plugged in and as it's visual it's also very informative 😉 as a example we had a fan switched on & the tv, the fridge was also on electric plus the charger will have been drawing a bit so it was showing around 260w, so when the halogen clicks on & off by 800w and the kettle switched on draws 800w as my mcb's are only 10amps ( 2300w ) we have to keep an eye on things so as not to trip them....

Oh and my van ain't new it's 15 year old :lol:

 

[IBH]

Three pages on from the original query and the poor man is still no further on! For goodness sake stop arguing amongst yourselves trying to score brownie points. This forum is getting as bad as the Caravan Club forum. Is there anyone that can help with jetskiadam's problem?

If any of us had a manual we would have mentioned it in the first place.
As it happens a forum discussion was and is taking place about if or when DIY enthusiasts need to get professional help.
If you don't like it, don't read it but don't try to tell us what we can and can't discuss because we don't need your permission, thanks all the same.

And you are a Moderator with that attitude! You will be pleased to know I will not comment on anything else. I thought this forum was better than the Caravan Club, but I was obviously wrong!

 

[Dustydog]

Three pages on from the original query and the poor man is still no further on! For goodness sake stop arguing amongst yourselves trying to score brownie points. This forum is getting as bad as the Caravan Club forum. Is there anyone that can help with jetskiadam's problem?

If any of us had a manual we would have mentioned it in the first place.
As it happens a forum discussion was and is taking place about if or when DIY enthusiasts need to get professional help.
If you don't like it, don't read it but don't try to tell us what we can and can't discuss because we don't need your permission, thanks all the same.

And you are a Moderator with that attitude! You will be pleased to know I will not comment on anything else. I thought this forum was better than the Caravan Club, but I was obviously wrong!

IBH my boy.
How so wrong you are in your perception.
This Forum has survived in various guises over many years. The technical input from members is second to none.Have a read of the technical and other areas and you will learn .Yes we joust.Yes some of us can be precocious.Yes some maybe pre occupied with health and safety . Yes we will disagree but at the end of the day if we have collectively helped a fellow forum rite to solve his problem then we have achieved the forum objective.
I use the Caravan Club a lot and find the posts on there just as helpful.
Do we think you have the wrong end of the stick ? YES!
BUT. We will all still welcome your constructive input if it helps a fellow forumite solve their problem 🙂

 

[Parksy]

Three pages on from the original query and the poor man is still no further on! For goodness sake stop arguing amongst yourselves trying to score brownie points. This forum is getting as bad as the Caravan Club forum. Is there anyone that can help with jetskiadam's problem?

If any of us had a manual we would have mentioned it in the first place.
As it happens a forum discussion was and is taking place about if or when DIY enthusiasts need to get professional help.
If you don't like it, don't read it but don't try to tell us what we can and can't discuss because we don't need your permission, thanks all the same.

And you are a Moderator with that attitude! You will be pleased to know I will not comment on anything else. I thought this forum was better than the Caravan Club, but I was obviously wrong!

My 'attitude' as you describe it stemmed directly from your own.
Moderator or not, don't expect me to remain meekly passive when someone who hasn't been a forum member for long enough to know what it's about starts telling us what we can and can't discuss and making comparisons which are not based on any depth of experience.
You are quite welcome either to comment or not, to but if you decide to criticise or to rebuke people and to criticise the forum with your comments then you should expect similar in return.

 

[IBH]

I am sorry that I have had the audacity to question your manner on here, you being a moderator and me being a mere member! I find this clique thing annoying and not helpful to people who are genuinely looking for advice and all you can do is "Joust" with one another about H&S. If you notice the contributor has sorted his problem out, without your help. And please don't patronise! It is not becoming. I am not looking for confrontation.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

I am sorry that I have had the audacity to question your manner on here, .......... I am not looking for confrontation.

Isn't that exactly what you ARE doing?

 

[Parksy]

If you're not looking for confrontation don't submit confrontational comments but if you do then don't expect me to roll over and not reply in kind.

 

[limecc]

I'm not taking any sides here but congrats to Parksy for not over-moderating. Any frank discussion about the mods on thesnookerforum.com or candlepowerforums.com for example would have you banned for life.

 

[Parksy]

It's only a storm in a teacup and nothing for me to get excited about but thanks for your comment :lol:
I hope that the O/P enjoys his newly electrified caravan and will ask on here if he encounters any other issues with it 🙂

 

[Damian]

The problem with advising folk on tech matters is that no one except the questioner knows what capabilities the questioner has, so to err on the side of caution is sensible.

If the basics of what is allowed and what is not are made as clear as can be, then it at least gives the ground rules for whatever is intended to be done and the questioner then has an informed choice, to go ahead themselves, or get someone else in to do the work.

I must admit to going the cautious route as I have seen some quite alarming "home fixes" which have been potential death traps, on the other hand I have seen some absolutely wonderful DIY work which would put a lot of "professionals" to shame.

As quite a lot of caravan work involves both gas and electric it seems sensible to cover both at the same time as far as H&S etc are concerned.

I do agree that H&S has become the monster it was never intended to be, and it is quoted at what seems every turn, but at the end of the day it IS the health and safety of fellow caravanners which is important, not just the person wanting to do the work on his van , but also other site users.

 

[BFSOAB69]

Jetskiadam

Can I ask where you got your answer to your questions from in the end please. I have a leak in my caravan which I want to fix and I expect it is from the awning rails. Trouble is after reading your post and all the backwards and forwards you got I dont want to go through the same problem.

I cannot see that I would have anything to do with the electrics and gas but I dont think I want to bother trying, nor do I want to sign up to every caravan site just to find the same issues.

Thank you in advance for you reply

Someone that wants to fix their caravan for family holidays

Three pages on from the original query and the poor man is still no further on! For goodness sake stop arguing amongst yourselves trying to score brownie points. This forum is getting as bad as the Caravan Club forum. Is there anyone that can help with jetskiadam's problem?

To be fair mate, while they've been busy arguing about it, I've been getting on with fixing it and it's finished....thanks though.

I think my tongue in cheek comment about electrics being a dark art gave the impression in my OP that I had no technical skills whatsoever, and since I have an old caravan that I wanted to do a DIY repair on, that therefore lead some to conclude that I was going to start farting around with gas, trying to detect leaks with a box of matches and a paraffin lamp. To be fair I kind of get the impression that this site is aimed at individuals fortunate enough to own much more modern caravans than I do, it appears that I also judged the book by it's cover...

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello BFSOAB69

If you use the search tab at the top you may find useful postings on the subject of waning rail leaks etc.

One of the potential issues with leaks in caravans, they're a bit like flat roofs, the evidence you find of a leak may be some distance from the point where the water is actually getting in.

If you have spongy floors or walls, again the symptom you find often belies the full extent of any damage, so don't under estimate the problem.

The biggest headache is you cannot actually assess the extent of any damage until you start to expose it.

Best of luck.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi BFSOAB69.
have to agree with the prof, on this one. :cheer:
there is a couple of things one might not expect, a leak may or may not be from where you think it is, and once it has leaked, the damp will still be there doing damage until it completely dries out, if it's stuck inside the walls with little ventilation the time span can be considerable.

I will tell you a little story of damp, I had a Fleetwood that was a few years old, it showed all the hallmarks of leaking windows, damp sill and spongy wallboards under the windows, so one weekend I decided to remove the windows and reseal them, [first mistake] as it removed what waterproofing there was on the outside.
took all the first day to get the screws out as they were rusted in, removed the windows and found the the frame rotten, so the windows could not go back in,
had to do the window frame, so out came the front bunks and front wall boards, once out I found the wood above the window was soaked [so it was not the window leaking] must be the front join from roof to front panel.
as the front section was curved the front roof lining had to be taken out, [end of weekend] taped some plastic over the window opening till next weekend.
next weekend it rained all day saturday, in way this was a good thing as I could see water running down the roof panel on the inside, I took off the front roof section, and the top rail was wet through ah it must be the front rail. no it cant be because the water was further back, took out the next roof section, still wet, took down all the roof sections in the van.
then I found the leak :lol: it was the roof light that was leaking.
further back it was dry, the van had a sloping roof from back to front so all the water ran forwards from the roof light, down the front of the van.
the roof light had to come out [with rusty screws of course] and a new one fitted, once I had repaired the frame, and fitted the new light, I could not do anything until the frame of the van dried out took 4 weeks without front windows.
in all a two month job to complete most of the front fame had to be replaced all the wall boards and ceiling and part of the front floor, all through a leaking roof light that was far away from the signs of damp around the front windows.
water can travel a long way if left unchecked, but without stripping the whole lot one never really knows where it is getting in,, just my experience but not uncommon with damp issues..