First year with van

Nearly a year of owning our Warwick XL. Not used the van since mid October last year, so really looking forward to our first trip next week. Whilst getting everything ship shape I started to consider what we could do without and lessons learnt. First things to come out was the passenger and drivers arm rest. This has made it so much easier to move between the cab and the habitation area. Next was to take the curtains out. We have only used the cassette blinds. We did try the curtains once but found they dont hang nice after being restrained by the tie backs. They do add a bit class to the back of the van, but they had to go. The large table we haven't used and felt it was unlikely to get much use, so out it went. I did buy a leg to put on the small table so we can use it outside. In the rear lounge, out went all the cushions, 6 in total.When making up the beds you have to find somewhere to stow them. We got 2 pillows and covered them in fabric and at night we slip over a pillow case.  This means our pillows can be used during the daytime as cushions and pillows at night.  Out went those crystal glasses. I know they do add a bit of class when entertaining but out they go. Well that's it for now. If anyone has got any suggestion of what else could be added to the list of things not needed I would be glade to hear.

Blimey you've been busy :)

The novelty of the crystal glasses hasn't worn off on mine yet, neither has the coffee machine attached to the worktop.  They may, in time, have to go. But for now I'm enjoying them!

Interesting you mention removing the arm rests, there was me thinking how daft it was to only have one! Why not fit one on each side!  Don't suppose you want to sell them do you?

Agreed about the curtains, they're very decorative but completely non-functional :)

That is why I bought another armrest to add to passenger seat to make an armchair when swivelled, used it this week, brilliant, drivers doesn`t swivelled so left the one on.

I like the crystal wine glasses, curtains / cushions make it homely to my mind, pillows I have made covers in the same material as the new upholstery. so use them in the day as well. just remove covers for night time. saves on storage as well. ETTO

My van's a year old this week and was in today for its first habitation check and after emptying it at the weekend, I'm going to be frugal when I reload it tomorrow.

The large table, crystal glasses, AS bedding, sink drainer, Whale filler & melamine dinner service etc, all came out a year ago and have been carefully stored since.

My curtains are staying though, as I prefer the look, even though they never get closed.

Regarding the arm rests, being solo, I've often considered removing the one from the passenger side and seeing if I can get it to fit the driver's seat.

In addition to the glasses, crockery, drainer, seat ends etc mentioned above we removed the small table and the huge leg that goes with it in the wardrobe. We have a small flat- folding table that can be used inside and out and travels strapped behind the passenger seat.

Removing it meant we could fix 3 shelves in the recess at the back of the wardrobe. We use these for folding cagoules and shoes. To avoid any chance of them falling onto the fuse box underneath I fixed an old plastic coated fridge shelf at the back of the wardrobe.

Our pillows and fleecy slankets are folded up in cushion covers as well.

Our fairford is new from Nov . Used quite a lot now since end December , and it doubles as Car. Out came all the infill cushions for front bed. If needed we use as a single , which is a good size without the need for extra cushions. We kept some AS cushions in rear lounge though, easy enough to store in place of bedding when it’s being used. Out came the crystal glasses too, but we put in box of mixed ikea wine glasses....cheap to replace if broken.

In winter it’s cosy to draw the curtains at night, so we will keep them.

The dishes drainer will come out. We use sink with basin to keep fruit in whilst moving so no where to store the sink thingy. Will however keep the plastic storable drainer.

Haven’t used the whale hose or filling thing, but maybe if I learn how it works we will keep it lol.

Removal of the cab seat arm rests was the first thing we did (before 1st trip) The X290 cab is just not wide enough unless you are built like a stick insect

I agree with most of the items you have removed. What about the draft strip thingy that covers the rear doors? We only use our van for days out at home and always head for the sunny South of France. Therefore I have not removed the armrests as they come in handy as we always use the boring toll roads, just to get south and for me it makes getting there quicker and less hassle.  Well that's what I do.
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Richard

I like the draught thingy. It’s useful as it is a bit more draughty without, though we are still getting a little water ingress through the doors so maybe it’s just us. Seals were fixed but leaked again so back to Peugeot this week grrrrrr

Lorfal wrote:I like the draught thingy. It’s useful as it is a bit more draughty without, though we are still getting a little water ingress through the doors so maybe it’s just us. Seals were fixed but leaked again so back to Peugeot this week grrrrrr

Could be very useful as I see you are up North. As I say in my case South of France only.

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Richard

rgermain wrote:

Could be very useful as I see you are up North. As I say in my case South of France only.

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Richard

What do you do in winter when the Mistral blows over 50 mph, right from the bitterly cold Alps ?

daisy mae wrote:That is why I bought another armrest to add to passenger seat to make an armchair when swivelled, used it this week, brilliant, drivers doesn`t swivelled so left the one on.

I like the crystal wine glasses, curtains / cushions make it homely to my mind, pillows I have made covers in the same material as the new upholstery. so use them in the day as well. just remove covers for night time. saves on storage as well. ETTO

Where did you buy the extra front seat arm rest from please?  It is one thing we miss on the Kingham we have.  

I thought the omission of the armrest was because the seats are fitted with lumbar support knobs.  Do they still allow an armrest to be fitted?

Thanks

You may need to have bracket welded on for the extra armrest,.

I did, but it is a Ford so  do not know whether other marques are already fitted with a bracket. I bought cab seats from eBay just to get the armrest, nothing ventured nothing gained so they say, Ford armrests are like hens teeth.

Just found this online:

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Quote:

Quilter wrote:

rgermain wrote:

Could be very useful as I see you are up North. As I say in my case South of France only.

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Richard

What do you do in winter when the Mistral blows over 50 mph, right from the bitterly cold Alps ?

I stay at home in front of the wood burner. I am one of the strange Motorhomers who never feel the need to get away except in May and September, big garden etc. and I get home sick after 4 weeks. Do go to the local beach at Hayling for fish and chips most months.

Mind you the Mistral wind does blow a bit in St Remy, but is nice and warm even doing the last dog walk at 11.30pm. My Windsurfers were made by Mistral, I now know how they got their name.
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Richard ( softy from down south)

Armrests came out as soon as we took delivery.

What I can't work out is why our Symbol has 2 table legs. Even if you take both tables you can only use one table at a time.

J

I think the rear door strip adds a bit of quality to the interior and less like a white van.  Cant understand why other manufacturers havnt latched on

could be a number of reasons....
perhaps the Ducatos don't let the draught in?
same (similar) van, better factory (or converter) QC?
I've never seen anything similar on (say) Adria, Malibu, La Strada, Hymer etc and these are all quality vans...perhaps not needed?
as you say, I'm sure it would have been copied if it was felt that it was required..
...perhaps even different levels of insulation....I've seen what goes into a Malibu (Carthago) van and it looks rather more substantial and comprehensive than what I've seen in 'some other vans'....

Bristol170kj... Got our extra armrest fitted here. Nice chap and a reasonable price. 2nd armrest the work is done by Mr Tony Sugg trading as Wyvern Seating based at  Shepton Mallett  Tel: 0[url=tel:7973759593]7973 759593[/url] . Are you aware that fitting the 2nd armrest involves losing the adjustable lumbar support although we find that this does not affect the comfort of the seat. The fitting of the armrests usually takes a good 2 hours 

Thankyou, i'll look into that next week.

I had two armrests and lumber support in my T4.