Points in common with Pollensas
Following my review (October '06 issue) of the first year of my ownership of 'Fenland Drifter' – our own 2003
Auto-Sleeper Pollensa on Ford Transit 2.4 125PS Duratorq
– several readers who own similar models contacted me about some queries.
I wrote a personal reply to every correspondent but the topics covered will be of interest to fellow owners, so here is a précis of my replies.
Can I fit a new leisure battery?
My additional leisure battery was fitted last summer by Dave Newell Leisure Vehicle Services (at the same time as we had a rear-vision camera and monitor fitted).
Locker space is at a premium in any compact coachbuilt. Sometimes a compromise between accessibility and maintaining underseat stowage space has to be found.
I figured that the easiest place to mount it in post-2000 Ford Transit-based examples such as my Pollensa would be in the rearward-facing dinette seat box adjacent to the Truma Combi boiler. Here, it would be easy to check the electrolyte level. The downside would be that I would lose precious storage space – and that space in particular is perfect for my small gas-powered barbecue.
So, after careful thought I decided to have it mounted in the cab passenger seat box. And yes, the seat swivel does make it a pain in the proverbial to check the electrolyte. However, as this is only on my maintenance schedule for attention every four months, I reckon that a few moments spent undoing the bottom swivel plate with a ratchet driver and star bit is a small price to pay for preserving that precious underseat storage.
You may disagree, and folk such as Dave Newell will mount an additional leisure battery anywhere, within reason. Maintenance-free (sealed for life) batteries are,
of course, another possibility though they seem to be less popular than they once were. Bear in mind that to minimise charge loss in the connecting wires, it should be mounted
as close to the original leisure battery as possible, which itself should be as close to the alternator as is practicable.
It can be a do-it-yourself job, provided that heavy duty cabling is used and that the extra battery is securely fixed. However, as always, if in doubt take it to a motorhome electrics specialist.
Trouble with that spare wheel?
Several readers had problems getting the rear wheel out from the wheel arch. Fortunately, all except two of them were rotating the tyres at home
(to even up the wear rather than changing a punctured tyre by the roadside).
One of the first things I do when I get a new `van is to attempt to change a front and a rear wheel. Although universally categorised as 'barking' by my neighbours (who watch such antics with a wry smile of indulgence), it is a really useful thing to do, mainly because it will reveal whether a roadside wheel change is possible using the equipment supplied.
In the case of Fenland Drifter, the standard Ford Transit jack is not sufficient to change a rear wheel: not because it won't go high enough but because the job requires two jacks in order to lift the body and then allow the axle to drop, to give sufficient clearance to remove the wheel. I carry an additional hydraulic jack and a large block of wood for just such an emergency but favour calling out the breakdown services operated by my motoring club.
That said, your saviour with a flashing orange beacon will be less than amused if they find that your spare wheel is unserviceable. Of course, you check the pressure regularly, but can it actually be fitted?
If, like me, you have alloy wheels on your pride and joy, then it is more than likely that different nuts are needed to attach the steel spare. Our alloys have a chamfered nut, whereas the original Ford spare requires nuts with a flat shoulder larger than the locating hole.
It was a good job I did
that dry run (whatever the neighbours thought) otherwise I would have looked a proper prawn without the right nuts (…cue Graham Norton!).
Several correspondents found the spare wheel too weighty to retrieve unaided. I'm not surprised – those wide 16in wheels and fat Continental tyres are heavy! Some continued by asking about the aerosol can of sealant now supplied instead of a spare wheel, on some cars and light commercials. My personal opinion is that these cans would be as much good as a chocolate fireguard. All of my (fortunately rare) blow-outs have been cause by sharp pieces of metal tearing the tyre, which has put it beyond any help that a squirty can might provide.
If it is thought pointless to carry a spare wheel, I'd make sure the vehicle had Tyron bands fitted (website www.tyron.com) – many say that every vehicle should be fitted with them. Leaving the spare wheel at home wouldn't be
a course of action I would recommend, though I'm aware that some people do so.
The full ramblings can be found in the February 07 issue of Practical Motorhome
Happy motorhoming!
Jack Bancroft |
