The resurrection of Doc, bringing a 20 year old neismann Bischoff Flair back to life after 12 years off road.

[Northernraider]

Indeed it will but those buyers are likely to be quite rare, I suspect most people looking to buy at the lower end of the market just want a cheap MH to try it out or for odd trips away more locally, not for long trips for months on end, thus may see the lithium as an expensive addition that their being asked to pay for which they don't need.

Possibly but there's plenty vans without it out there they can buy with lots of problems instead.

To be honest the condition its in now its worth 15k even without the lithium.

 

[Northernraider]

But in that price range I doubt if many prospective purchasers know what lithium is.

It's in the vanlifers price range .. and they all know what lithium is.


As I said several times if all the folk on here would remove it from their watch lists it would give a better indication of interest.

But the amount of watchers has actually increased since I asked folk to do that.

Never understood folk watching a classified advert . It doesn't have bids , its literally worse than watching paint dry

 

[Minxy]

In all honesty I can't see how this van can be more power hungry than the frankia I had year 1 ... it had 2 lead acid batteries In it and only 200watt solar through a cheap Chinese controller. I managed a year living in that.

I wasn't aware of you on the forum when you had the Frankia so no idea what it was like, what it had etc so am just basing my comments on the extra 'electric bling' in Doc compared to Moby!

Uncle Lenny HB managed In his last van for years with 2 gel batteries.

Yes but he doesn't live in it all year round nor have the amount of 'electric bling' you do (not sure if he's into fairy lights!). We can comfortably manage in our Carthago with 2 gel batteries and 100w solar for 2 months at a time, could easily do more but not practical for us to get away for longer.

And many others manage .. I don't sit with loads of lights on , I only have heating on if it's really cold, water heater only for a shower. To wash up etc I use cold water or boil a kettle. I'm not running air fryers, coffee machines or satellite TV, etc etc . I also spend most winters in warmer climates.

Whilst we may have some time when we're stuck inside due to bad weather etc (just as we were last month in Scotland ) we tend not to use much (if any) more power as we don't watch TV normally, but you being on your 'tod' need to do something to stop yourself going stir crazy.

In truth I prefer a 3 way fridge but yes I know a compressor fridge running of surplus electric is cost free.

I've already got lpg cylinders on board which are out of date but in perfect condition... I'll not be changing them till at least next year . If the generator works it will take off some of the pressure as the places I park it will be used when required .

I can't see how with a 3 way fridge how 300ah of lithium with 400watt of solar and a decent b2b won't be enough . But if it isn't then I'll possibly add more to it later.

I agree if you stick with a 3-way you shouldn't have any issues with that kit but I'm trying to think of the bigger picture about all your power needs and whether going over to more electric stuff including a compressor fridge would be more beneficial. One thing that would likely help with the decision is if the genny is usable or not, if yes then it could tip the decision in favour of more electric kit, if not then sticking with a 3-way might be better. Decisions, decisions!

 

[Lenny HB]

Uncle @Lenny HB managed In his last van for years with 2 gel batteries.

3 Actually.

 

[corconx]

Tam. I’ve just tried Autotrader and can’t find it. No make for Mobilvetta at all and putting in 16k to 18 k hasn’t brought it up. Wanted to see what you’d written because sometimes too much blurb puts people off it


Search on Google brought up Autotrader. Cheapest £22k

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[ManTheVan]

Might be worth asking Simon Select if he’d consider selling Moby for you? He’s a good man and not a million miles away from where you are now, based at Trago Mills near Newton Abbot.

 

[Minxy]

Possibly but there's plenty vans without it out there they can buy with lots of problems instead.

I agree, but I suspect most people buying at that end of the market are newbies who just want a cheaper van to 'test the water'.

To be honest the condition its in now its worth 15k even without the lithium.

I've just had a shuftie at your Ebay ad for the first time and made some observations which may or not be helping:

You don't mention 'motorhome' at all in the title which I think is vital, but have said 'quirky' and 'unique' which could be putting people of as they can be construed to mean someone's bodged and/or messed about with it.

In the text you've made a lot of mention of it being good for off-grid full-time living but again that could be a bit off-putting for those who don't want/need that especially if it makes them think it's had more wear than one that hasn't been lived in full-time.

I'd also put a bit of 'love' into the ad, eg a reliable and much loved MH etc, 'pimp the text' a bit to make it appeal to anyone just having a glance at the ad - it's good to list it's features but sometimes you need a bit of 'fluff' to entice them to read more and engage with Moby.

It's a shame you can't take more photos as some 'homely' touches would help too, cushions here and there, a table (does Moby have one now?), some bedding showing how snug and enticing it is etc, I'm all or stripping back to show things as they are but the odd bit of furnishing, scene setting, wouldn't go amiss ... you need to bring out your 'feminine' side!

And before you ask ... no I haven't 'watched' it so I'm not one of the naughty funsters who are!

 

[mackeellan]

Tam. I’ve just tried Autotrader and can’t find it. No make for Mobilvetta at all and putting in 16k to 18 k hasn’t brought it up. Wanted to see what you’d written because sometimes too much blurb puts people off it


Search on Google brought up Autotrader. Cheapest £22k
View attachment 944219

I think it's on ebay, not autotrader

 

[Minxy]

@Tam. I’ve just tried Autotrader and can’t find it. No make for Mobilvetta at all and putting in 16k to 18 k hasn’t brought it up. Wanted to see what you’d written because sometimes too much blurb puts people off it


Search on Google brought up Autotrader. Cheapest £22k

I don't think he's put it on there yet.

 

[SaandCliffy]

I don’t know whether the windows are the same as on our 2007 Hymer, but when our windows are pushed out fully to the horizontal, they can fall out of the top track. Don’t ask me how I know!

Yep my old Adria Van was the same the windows slide into the top track

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[CAB96]

View attachment 944209View attachment 944210

I said it was a 4-dog sofa!

 

[WESTY66]

And then discover its not suitable sell it next year for a huge loss.

I've only driven the van twice lol and both times it's ran like a bag of shite. The engine needs attention as do the breaks lol.

I future proofed moby . Spent more money on it than I've ever spent improving a vehicle and can't get it sold

I get that Tam, BUT you’re not replacing stuff for the fun of it, you NEED to replace stuff anyhowyou simply offset a bit of the lithium costs with a way cheaper (than a 3 way) compressor fridge and bobs your uncle!
Yes sure you can get a used one maybe!! Maybe you will drop on a good one but that’s a far bigger gamble than you think and used might not last very long and let you down when it’s most inconvenient!!

Do a comparison with NEW bits
3 way fridge
2x 110 gels
Charger

Against

Compressor fridge
2x300ah lithium
Charger

Difference is not that much in the great scheme of things especially when you rely on it for day to day living!!

The mechanics on the van will easily be sorted

 

[WESTY66]

Everyone doesn't provide so much free advertising

There's 150+ people on this thread nearly every minute of the day. Many of them guests

Most of us here in the know have already used RogerIvy

I’ve got a 600ah system and all the victron inc multiplus fitted by them and it all works flawlessly

 

[Flairy]

Tan I’m on my second Dometic fridge paid over £2000 for it and don’t trust it in warm weather eg 28+it ends up at+10or more,our friend with a thetford compressor never has a problem even in +30 if I could afford it I buy one and buy one for youand your Flair.

 

[1967bowesj]

It's in the vanlifers price range .. and they all know what lithium is.


As I said several times if all the folk on here would remove it from their watch lists it would give a better indication of interest.

But the amount of watchers has actually increased since I asked folk to do that.

Never understood folk watching a classified advert . It doesn't have bids , its literally worse than watching paint dry

Most are watching it to see if it ends then message seller thinking they have a bargaining point if they desp to sell

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[chaser]

Tan I’m on my second Dometic fridge paid over £2000 for it and don’t trust it in warm weather eg 28+it ends up at+10or more,our friend with a thetford compressor never has a problem even in +30 if I could afford it I buy one and buy one for youand your Flair.

I have said all this before on other threads but for what it's worth, we have a compressor fridge, not a large one , I think it's 90 LTRs or whatever the numbers mean but anyway it's perfectly big enough for us two but all we have to power it is two 100 a lead acid batterys and two hundred watts of solar , we never get anywhere near running out of battery without any ehu .
By about 10 in the morning the batteries will be full.

 

[Manic]

Re Toby, I put this on your other thread but will put it here too

I know you don’t do Facebook but would it be worth it to sell Moby, give another selling option.
You could even get somebody to list it for you

 

[Northernraider]

Re Toby, I put this on your other thread but will put it here too

I know you don’t do Facebook but would it be worth it to sell Moby, give another selling option.
You could even get somebody to list it for you

If someone wants to list it on Facebook for me with my contact number then yes that would be helpful. But I don't want to join Facebook again

 

[Northernraider]

Most are watching it to see if it ends then message seller thinking they have a bargaining point if they desp to sell

They're on to a bummer there then lol.

I'm happy to leave it sitting till next spring just incase I change my mind

 

[Northernraider]

Tan I’m on my second Dometic fridge paid over £2000 for it and don’t trust it in warm weather eg 28+it ends up at+10or more,our friend with a thetford compressor never has a problem even in +30 if I could afford it I buy one and buy one for youand your Flair.

Yes the 3 way fridges can be a pain in warmer climates I know.


Achhhh I don't know, my head is nipping with all the van stuff going round and round in it

If I knew an exact figure I'd need to spend to sort my electrics out and a fridge it would help immensely, but I don't and it just ends up with more and more add ons .and before I know it I've spent twice what I thought it would cost.

It becomes overwhelming

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[Northernraider]

I get that Tam, BUT you’re not replacing stuff for the fun of it, you NEED to replace stuff anyhowyou simply offset a bit of the lithium costs with a way cheaper (than a 3 way) compressor fridge and bobs your uncle!
Yes sure you can get a used one maybe!! Maybe you will drop on a good one but that’s a far bigger gamble than you think and used might not last very long and let you down when it’s most inconvenient!!

Do a comparison with NEW bits
3 way fridge
2x 110 gels
Charger

Against

Compressor fridge
2x300ah lithium
Charger

Difference is not that much in the great scheme of things especially when you rely on it for day to day living!!

The mechanics on the van will easily be sorted

I binned the gel idea last week , I'm definitely fitting lithium , I had accepted the fact I'd need at least 300ah and knew that was going to cost me around £700 and then solar panel , solar charger and b2b ...plus cables I figured around £1500 in total

But now I'm being told 300ah won't be enough , so my brain hurts Ade.

 

[Northernraider]

I said it was a 4-dog sofa!

Yeah and the punchline is I just bought them all new beds and they're all on the bloody sofa

 

[Flairy]

If you had loads of money none of this would worry you,I know how you feel

 

[Shrimp]

Fridge….again!
What’s against having an engineer look at the 3 way? It may turn out it can be fixed and cheaper/less hassle than any other soloution.
Wait until you’ve seen the Fridge today, it might just make your mind up for you.

 

[Dolmen]

I binned the gel idea last week , I'm definitely fitting lithium , I had accepted the fact I'd need at least 300ah and knew that was going to cost me around £700 and then solar panel , solar charger and b2b ...plus cables I figured around £1500 in total

But now I'm being told 300ah won't be enough , so my brain hurts Ade.

You are getting too much advise from such disparate sources, some who know what they are talking about and some who just mean well. You need to start shutting down (imho) and just listening to, and seeking advise from a trusted few, just smiffy, Lenny and only a few others and then put it out to the wider audience when you have a specific question. You can leave the blog running to update all the well wishers and it will give your head two minutes to focus on the way ahead. Give yourself, or your head at least, a break.

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[MichaelT]

Some real life usage. We've just got back from 9 days running a THS so not moving to let B2B charge batteries. We have 400w solar and 480a lithium (actual capacity 510a). We do use an air fryer, coffee machine, slow cooker and remoska as we don't have an oven but obviously not all day or all at the same time.

My inverter powers all sockets and as a quirk of carthago the fridge when inverter is on so if I'm using say slow cooker for any length of time I turn it to gas.

Anyway with the 9 days away with some sun some cloud and it being August we got down to 53% battery a couple of days managing to charge up to around 65 to 70% most days, that was using kettle for tea at breakfast (900w), coffee machine at 10.30 then cooking something for dinner using one of our appliances then evening just the one led strip for lights, tv and usual pump and hot water (on 24 hours) for showers etc.

For Our trip to Spain I've just ordered a portable panel but not sure if I really will need it as now have 50a B2B and we generally move every day or so but not far but as it will be winter we won't get much overhead sun and or course it could be cloudy.

 

[Northernraider]

If you had loads of money none of this would worry you,I know how you feel

Yes

If I had an income it wouldn't worry me so much either.

 

[gus-lopez]

Tan I’m on my second Dometic fridge paid over £2000 for it and don’t trust it in warm weather eg 28+it ends up at+10or more,our friend with a thetford compressor never has a problem even in +30 if I could afford it I buy one and buy one for youand your Flair.

This Tam. Even with my basic fridge I never have confidence that it will perform well . I would be even worse than you at considering a second hand one albeit supposedly in excellent working condition .It would have to be cheap enough to be 'throwaway' for me.
Here in spain, you can still buy gas fridges. It stems from when you could always get gas but no one had electric.

but all we have to power it is two 100 a lead acid batterys and two hundred watts of solar , we never get anywhere near running out of battery without any ehu .
By about 10 in the morning the batteries will be full.

This gives me confidence that if I change to a compressor my existing set up will cope.

 

[Scotch mist]

It's in the vanlifers price range .. and they all know what lithium is.


As I said several times if all the folk on here would remove it from their watch lists it would give a better indication of interest.

But the amount of watchers has actually increased since I asked folk to do that.

Never understood folk watching a classified advert . It doesn't have bids , its literally worse than watching paint dry

Don’t take this the wrong way but it’s your life & your van so it’s a big thing to you , BUT not to everyone , the watchers are likely to be genuine watches & not funsters , especially as you have asked any funsters who was watching to stop

BUT of the 100 plus watchers there will only be a few that MAYBE POSSIBLY interested in buying , same will apply to Facebook , nearly all time wasters BUT it only takes one genuine punter

 

[Northernraider]

You are getting too much advise from such disparate sources, some who know what they are talking about and some who just mean well. You need to start shutting down (imho) and just listening to, and seeking advise from a trusted few, just smiffy, Lenny and only a few others and then put it out to the wider audience when you have a specific question. You can leave the blog running to update all the well wishers and it will give your head two minutes to focus on the way ahead. Give yourself, or your head at least, a break.

Yes that is part of the problem and I know people mean we'll but it just becomes too much and I lose the will to live

Same with moby ...he's advertised , he's Miles away and I'm busy with this van at present to be bothered with it.

So for now I'm trying to put him at the back of my mind while I sort this one out.

I'm not putting it with agents , brokers etc etc because in truth it's not my first rodeo , I've sold hundreds of vehicles in my lifetime and it will sell in its own time when the right buyer comes along . If not then I'm happy for it to sit there for now.

This van is my priority as its my home and I need it liveable without relying on Just smiffy for electricity etc

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