airwave
Free Member
What an interesting thread , so i'm not the only one .
I don't think it's any secret i'm doing some quite major work on my own , dare i say it Hymer 584 . It a year 2000 , and generally considered the better built of the series .
The van is quite solid structurally , with solid wood being extensively used . Yet the doors are actually quite flimsy , and i suspect the work surfaces and table are actually hollow . But frankly mechanically it's not quite upto the same standard , and electrically certainly not !
It's built on a 230l ducato . Now it's generally considered within mechanical circles , that the Italians don't do electrics , well i have to add nether do the Germans . I've found numerous bodges on my van electrically , and due to their functions can only conclude they were performed during the conversion . I've found several scotch clips , which are often the source of their own problems , front fog light relay earthed in the engine bay , actually passing a dashboard earth in the process , and probably the worst , a join onto the alternator d+ wire , which was actually damaging the original wire . I've removed a good portion of them , though i do have the front fog switch scotch clips to remove . Another pet hate is the over length cables behind the bumper , where no actual extension is required . The side repeater will join to the original vehicle electrics , yet a 500mm twin tail extension has been added to allow the front indicator to join the circuit .
The front panel is a poorly moulded fibreglass part , that would have being scrapped by many boat yards . There are many sharp edges within the engine compartment , with raw glass sticking out to catch the unwary hand . It's also generally poorly faired around bonnet access . The front bumper airflow access looks as though it was cut out by a 10 year old . Fog light adjustment is carried out with washers , and i've found cables trapped , and crushed within the front indicator assembly . Another possible failure point !
My van is actually quite low mileage , less than 50k , and i think this is the reason many of these faults have not come to light . But for a luxury vehicle costing summit like 70 grand new (at the time) , i think it actually rather poor . God help anyone with a newer van , though a PVC would likely be a safer purchase .
The same can also be said of boats , i think it's just the way it is . I may purchase another boat next year , but should that happen it will be an older boat were they are generally heavier built . My mentor at the time , sold his 20 ft Kingfisher center broader and looked over a Jaguar 27 . He commented at the time that lying on your berth watching the waves through the hull was a bit unnerving , and not for him . He eventually brought a Macwester 26 . My boats hull was close on three quarters of an inch thick , with heavy plywood bulkheads , and she was considered a fast cruiser/racer .
I don't think it's any secret i'm doing some quite major work on my own , dare i say it Hymer 584 . It a year 2000 , and generally considered the better built of the series .
The van is quite solid structurally , with solid wood being extensively used . Yet the doors are actually quite flimsy , and i suspect the work surfaces and table are actually hollow . But frankly mechanically it's not quite upto the same standard , and electrically certainly not !
It's built on a 230l ducato . Now it's generally considered within mechanical circles , that the Italians don't do electrics , well i have to add nether do the Germans . I've found numerous bodges on my van electrically , and due to their functions can only conclude they were performed during the conversion . I've found several scotch clips , which are often the source of their own problems , front fog light relay earthed in the engine bay , actually passing a dashboard earth in the process , and probably the worst , a join onto the alternator d+ wire , which was actually damaging the original wire . I've removed a good portion of them , though i do have the front fog switch scotch clips to remove . Another pet hate is the over length cables behind the bumper , where no actual extension is required . The side repeater will join to the original vehicle electrics , yet a 500mm twin tail extension has been added to allow the front indicator to join the circuit .
The front panel is a poorly moulded fibreglass part , that would have being scrapped by many boat yards . There are many sharp edges within the engine compartment , with raw glass sticking out to catch the unwary hand . It's also generally poorly faired around bonnet access . The front bumper airflow access looks as though it was cut out by a 10 year old . Fog light adjustment is carried out with washers , and i've found cables trapped , and crushed within the front indicator assembly . Another possible failure point !
My van is actually quite low mileage , less than 50k , and i think this is the reason many of these faults have not come to light . But for a luxury vehicle costing summit like 70 grand new (at the time) , i think it actually rather poor . God help anyone with a newer van , though a PVC would likely be a safer purchase .
The same can also be said of boats , i think it's just the way it is . I may purchase another boat next year , but should that happen it will be an older boat were they are generally heavier built . My mentor at the time , sold his 20 ft Kingfisher center broader and looked over a Jaguar 27 . He commented at the time that lying on your berth watching the waves through the hull was a bit unnerving , and not for him . He eventually brought a Macwester 26 . My boats hull was close on three quarters of an inch thick , with heavy plywood bulkheads , and she was considered a fast cruiser/racer .
As told to me by a proud owner