Yes we realised that after we finished 🤣 it was very much a last minute idea to film on the day when it was raining in the van. I’ll pin your comment, for those not aware the seats in the rear were “sweating” from no ventilation under the foam, S&L designed a new base and added a heater duct to cure the problem.
We were glad to visit S&L at the show recently. They featured highly on our short list. Hopefully our van will be ready by Christmas! Watch this space 😂N&Nx
It doesn't seem like a year since you got Athena. I put up some "Don't bang your head" bunting above the cab - you wouldn't believe how many times it saved our heads.
Pleased you are still pleased which is always a good sign - I like the look of u shape lounge and am really tempted to go for that however, what’s working really well is having Roxy under the table I fixed to the back door and imagine then it would push her back into the walking place - decisions decisions. Have a lovely weekend and catch you soon - all the best, David & Rachel 👍
Unbolts your trailer board and rotate it 180° and then put your numberplate the right way all the bike racks come flat packed from the factory to be assembled before fitting. No need to mess about rewiring and changing lenses. Hope this is helpful the good work.
Where did that year go? Athena looks a lovely van and the most important thing is that she suits your needs. Our van is perfect for our needs at the moment. I managed to buy an awning at the show just waiting for it to arrive and that should be everything we need. (That of course is not true because there is always something new to buy!) Take care Gill
Time and tide wait for no man so they say…. Yep amazing how fast time goes now. As you say it’s whatever suits at the time, for now this is the best van for us. Hopefully your awning makes it better for you 👍 thanks as always for the support ❤️
Good to hear you are happy with your Van. Just a couple of personal views as observations. > Most CamperVan makers do not do an outside locker, that allows access to a storage compartment you could use for dirty & wet items, such as electric plug-in cable when on site, or water hose. Many open the back door with your type of Van, the issue here is in inclement weather, heat is lost and dampness and rain/snow enters. It is why we are having a box fitted to our back rear door on the outside. > I’m still personally not convinced with the roof/shelf over the cab seats, due to issue of head banging, when moving in/out. The open cab, with additional skylight for me trumps the little storage you gain. A personal preference choice, though with your height, I’m surprised you went for this type of roof/shelf over the cab! > When buying new from a manufacturer in UK, the Vans always come with summer tyres fitted (Same as buying a new car in UK). Other Countries, either allow consumer choice on tyres (Summer/All Season/Winter) or depending on date/time of year of pick-up, the appropriate tyres for that season and vehicle come fitted. In UK, why CamperVans don’t come with All Season is beyond me, but it is more to do with Tyre manufacturers and vehicle manufacturers manipulating the UK market place for most profit! Stay safe & hope your next 80+ day/nights away continues to be the pair of you living your dream. Thanks again for your openness and useful insights.
Obviously it’s all compromise but can’t argue your logic, tyres definitely don’t matter to me I’ve got sexy ones 🤣 thanks for watching and the comment 😊
A Yorkshire man belongs in a Yorkshire van. I read that in a fortune cookie. I really agree with others that Athena has the best layout. Heather mentions the cooking, and I remember your Christmas dinner, but can I ask how much actual cooking you do inside the van, versus cooking outside? Do you worry about condensation and smells when cooking inside?
We rarely cook outside. I think once this year! We cook inside all the time, it’s got an extractor fan we don’t really think about the future sale or anything like that, we just use it. In fact we’ve just bought an air fryer for this year’s Christmas 😋
@@RickandHeatherMay I ask what make of air fryer you purchased? I’m presuming it was a 12 volt…but maybe not? Love your relaxed yet thoughtful delivery of information
@jennydowdle9016 thank you 🙏 I’ll ask H to tell you about the fryer… it’s not 12v you’re never going to get anything hot enough with 12v is all I can say 👍
The shape of fiat better than other vans , for conversation to a camper, I'm buying a MAN van to convert only driven Audi's and vws I trust the German bace van , but that's my preference.
It is always Fiats fault. Even if it is not. 137 nights so far this year but I am retired and easily led astray LOL. Like the idea of the Diesel Combi just not the price LOL.
A question please regarding your last van the Elddis. I am thinking of buying one but need a bike rack on the back and not sure it wont end up over weight. Did you ever weigh the back axel with or without bikes on and all your luggage or as it came from factory. And did you notice and difference in van handling the xtra weight so far back?
Hi. I don’t think you’ll need to worry about the weights on an Elddis, from memory the payload was around 600kg and being 6m there is virtually no overhang on the rear axle, we certainly didn’t notice any difference in driving with or without bikes on the rear all be it that at the time we had lighter bikes they were still on a tow ball carrier. We never weighed that van at all no but I’m fairly certain we were pretty legal.
Nice! I'm always hitting the cab overhead lip too. You didn't mention the condensation under the bench seat + the S&L fix.
Yes we realised that after we finished 🤣 it was very much a last minute idea to film on the day when it was raining in the van.
I’ll pin your comment, for those not aware the seats in the rear were “sweating” from no ventilation under the foam, S&L designed a new base and added a heater duct to cure the problem.
I love your van from day 1 . The layout is perfect. If I was getting a van build myself. It would be exactly the same layout. Enjoy your travels.
Thanks 🙏 we love it too appreciate it 👍
We were glad to visit S&L at the show recently. They featured highly on our short list.
Hopefully our van will be ready by Christmas! Watch this space 😂N&Nx
But did you buy one?
@RickandHeather find out at 6pm.... ;)
@grapesodatravels IH RL600 then!
Can't believe its been a year !!! A great van 🙂
You should get one! 🤣
It doesn't seem like a year since you got Athena. I put up some "Don't bang your head" bunting above the cab - you wouldn't believe how many times it saved our heads.
We had a foam strip in Pearl, must sort some for Athena, yep time is flying by.
Pleased you are still pleased which is always a good sign - I like the look of u shape lounge and am really tempted to go for that however, what’s working really well is having Roxy under the table I fixed to the back door and imagine then it would push her back into the walking place - decisions decisions.
Have a lovely weekend and catch you soon - all the best, David & Rachel 👍
We definitely don’t miss the back end of the Cv20 but totally get your point 👍 see you in December
Great van, that extra 36cm seems to make a lot of difference internally 🙂
It’s crazy how much different it feels and works for us over a 6m van, not looking forward to the price hike on the ferry though 🤣
Unbolts your trailer board and rotate it 180° and then put your numberplate the right way all the bike racks come flat packed from the factory to be assembled before fitting. No need to mess about rewiring and changing lenses. Hope this is helpful the good work.
The indicators will flash opposite tho……
@ fair comment thinking before putting the clutch in 🤭
In fairness Heather asked me why I wasn’t doing that too so you’re in good company 🤣
Good to hear you’re still happy with it, in spite of some annoying issues. Happy Halloween 🎃 👍😊💕🤗
It’s definitely the best van we’ve ever had 👍 soon be Christmas 🤣
Where did that year go? Athena looks a lovely van and the most important thing is that she suits your needs. Our van is perfect for our needs at the moment. I managed to buy an awning at the show just waiting for it to arrive and that should be everything we need. (That of course is not true because there is always something new to buy!) Take care Gill
Time and tide wait for no man so they say…. Yep amazing how fast time goes now. As you say it’s whatever suits at the time, for now this is the best van for us. Hopefully your awning makes it better for you 👍 thanks as always for the support ❤️
Good to hear you are happy with your Van. Just a couple of personal views as observations.
> Most CamperVan makers do not do an outside locker, that allows access to a storage compartment you could use for dirty & wet items, such as electric plug-in cable when on site, or water hose. Many open the back door with your type of Van, the issue here is in inclement weather, heat is lost and dampness and rain/snow enters. It is why we are having a box fitted to our back rear door on the outside.
> I’m still personally not convinced with the roof/shelf over the cab seats, due to issue of head banging, when moving in/out. The open cab, with additional skylight for me trumps the little storage you gain. A personal preference choice, though with your height, I’m surprised you went for this type of roof/shelf over the cab!
> When buying new from a manufacturer in UK, the Vans always come with summer tyres fitted (Same as buying a new car in UK). Other Countries, either allow consumer choice on tyres (Summer/All Season/Winter) or depending on date/time of year of pick-up, the appropriate tyres for that season and vehicle come fitted. In UK, why CamperVans don’t come with All Season is beyond me, but it is more to do with Tyre manufacturers and vehicle manufacturers manipulating the UK market place for most profit!
Stay safe & hope your next 80+ day/nights away continues to be the pair of you living your dream. Thanks again for your openness and useful insights.
Obviously it’s all compromise but can’t argue your logic, tyres definitely don’t matter to me I’ve got sexy ones 🤣 thanks for watching and the comment 😊
Can I ask where you purchased the throws from as the other half loves them. Thanks for the videos
They were off Amazon (isn’t everything?) I’ll ask Heather to try and find a link for you 👌
@ Thank you.👍
Sorry for the delay.
I had forgotten
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0CHM944C4?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
A Yorkshire man belongs in a Yorkshire van.
I read that in a fortune cookie.
I really agree with others that Athena has the best layout.
Heather mentions the cooking, and I remember your Christmas dinner, but can I ask how much actual cooking you do inside the van, versus cooking outside?
Do you worry about condensation and smells when cooking inside?
We rarely cook outside. I think once this year! We cook inside all the time, it’s got an extractor fan we don’t really think about the future sale or anything like that, we just use it. In fact we’ve just bought an air fryer for this year’s Christmas 😋
@RickandHeather Oh I thought your outdoors grill thingy was a regular companion.
It’s always in the back but rarely used 😂
@@RickandHeatherMay I ask what make of air fryer you purchased? I’m presuming it was a 12 volt…but maybe not?
Love your relaxed yet thoughtful delivery of information
@jennydowdle9016 thank you 🙏 I’ll ask H to tell you about the fryer… it’s not 12v you’re never going to get anything hot enough with 12v is all I can say 👍
The shape of fiat better than other vans , for conversation to a camper, I'm buying a MAN van to convert only driven Audi's and vws I trust the German bace van , but that's my preference.
I think the MAN is just a rebadge of a VW Crafter isn’t it?
just looking at the pictogram on the dash- is it saying that the off side only is out?
Yes although both work
It is always Fiats fault. Even if it is not. 137 nights so far this year but I am retired and easily led astray LOL. Like the idea of the Diesel Combi just not the price LOL.
When we retire we will never be home lol. Yeah it’s not cheap to go diesel is it?
A question please regarding your last van the Elddis. I am thinking of buying one but need a bike rack on the back and not sure it wont end up over weight. Did you ever weigh the back axel with or without bikes on and all your luggage or as it came from factory. And did you notice and difference in van handling the xtra weight so far back?
Hi.
I don’t think you’ll need to worry about the weights on an Elddis, from memory the payload was around 600kg and being 6m there is virtually no overhang on the rear axle, we certainly didn’t notice any difference in driving with or without bikes on the rear all be it that at the time we had lighter bikes they were still on a tow ball carrier. We never weighed that van at all no but I’m fairly certain we were pretty legal.