Rather a good result at the British Grand Prix and two happy campers also.

Delighted with our purchase for the most part & impressed with all our 420 offers. Loved it in fact. We made my bunk bigger at bed time and I thought it extremely comfortable.

If some kind souls could offer a few tips we would be very grateful.

Lighting

We appear to only have four 12v lights, two strips,one each end and two spots above the bunks. Not a problem on the Silverstone weekend as no hook up.

Any opinions on fitting mains lights or adding extra 12v's even if LED's and if so how to proceed on making it a little brighter.

Water

Seemed strange only having the small under sink water container, whilst normal camping would mean the water use would be minimal, just making a brew as ablutions and showering & washing up using on-site facilities are used, has anyone retro fitted a whale? Was it actually worth it? Just asking as suspect we can adapt and the aquaroll is quite bulky.

Table

During transit where does it go? 😂 Assuming in the up right position.
Used to little cupboards for it to slide into or a popper thing in the wardrobe at least.

Did miss the little lounge drawers and flip over/slide out table. Do they get retro fitted or maybe a smaller table is available?

Pop top

Is it possible to insulate the canvas portion to keep a bit of warmth in and protect these arthritic bones or is it fire on low all night on cold damp nights? Or small oil filled radiator perhaps? Reason for asking is two little white furry dogs will not be happy and will creep into sleeping bags to keep warm given half the chance.

Motor mover

We've got just over 100 meters from the road to our back garden down a narrow Victorian terrace type back Lane with two turns which is uneven and unpaved. (We have a semi D bungalow with a decent sized garden) (my reversing is ok but not that good)

For a triple disabled old codger this is almost to much and her ladyship is moaning like billyoh tonight.

I believe it has to be Reich mover due to the brackets but they appear to do three models of varying age and ability.

Which one do I get and any recommendations from where? Midlands motor movers will fit the top of the range one at home for just over a bag of sand? (£1149)

Roll on September and Honfleur here we come.

All the best

Rob

If you're cold at night, pull down the pop top. It doesn't have to be up!

Quote: eribaMotters wrote in post #2

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Rob,

Lighting
You should be able to swap over your halogen bulbs for LED's, but do not buy cheap. These should run brighter so possibly no need for extra lights. They also use 1/8th of the current so your battery if off grid will last a long time. You can splice into the lighting circuit if you wish and install extra lights. I've used these people for 12v stuff and found them very helpful https://clearcutconversions.co.uk/produc...s/12v-lighting/

Colin

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Insulation of Pop Top. I bought some curtain insulating lining (metallic colour on one side) and cut it to measure same as the mosquito net around the
pop top. I sewed Velcro around the top (same as one a top of net not sure if it was loop or hooks) Then just replace net with
insulation.

On our 420 (sadly now in Eriba heaven) the large table stowed under the rear bench (on the door side of the van). There was a specific bracket thing in there to hold it in place, failing that I don't know.

I made a poptop thermal liner from insulation roll from Aldi. It just tucks into place.

g25p1950-Poptop-blind.html

I purchased a “thermal jacket” cost £199 fir my 420GT and requires dealer to install brackets into the roof. Jacket comes in 2 pieces for easier installation. Expensive but a really successful solution which not only improves the internal van temperature but also makes the van darker at night and reduces external noise. Good quality product. Great solution.

Very easy you take out the halogen bulbs and replace with leds the only one that I can't change is the bathroom light in my Triton as I can't get the lights out .

I also have replaced all the halogen lights with leds, in our 420 but would welcome advice on safely changing the bathroom light, although it is fantastically bright and does not get a lot of use.

Lights - I agree with others, just replace the bulbs following the advice of previous posts.
Insulation - interested in posted responses, we tried closing pop top vents in combination with oil filled radiator but suffered with condensation on the metal pop top surround. Settled on opening vents just enough to form a bird beak with heater. No condensation.
Water - we had a 540 with plug in pump and aqua roll, worked ok but there is a risk of freezing in cold water although you can get a jacket. Now have an onboard water tank under the bed but don’t like to fill and travel as the weight is toward the back. We use an aqua roll to fetch water on arrival and separate 12v pump and pipe to transfer into the on board tank. Subsequent top ups with watering can or refill aquaroll and repeat.