Rascal

[marc4242]

I had interesting hour or two this afternoon looking at the inside of the Romahome on my Rascal in detail for the first time.

In the underseat area towards the back, by the cooker, there's some cicuit breakers. There's 3 of them, 5, 10 and 40A. The last of these has some green showing. Is it meant to be like that? On the opposite side there's a bunch of parallel wires under the seat by the fridge, what are they?

[marc4242]

... another thing, I'm not quite sure how the double bed makes up. The table forms the main link, but are there other parts?

[Graham]

If its like all the other Romahomes I have seen the seats make up the bed, the seat cushions rest in the gangway area on two or three wooden slats that slot into notches in the fibre glass seat base then the back cushions slide down each side to complete the double bed.

The table doesn't make up the bed. Unless yours has been modified in some way.

Graham

[jayjay]

Apr 20, 2008 9:01:49 GMT Graham said:

If its like all the other Romahomes I have seen the seats make up the bed, the seat cushions rest in the gangway area on two or three wooden slats that slot into notches in the fibre glass seat base then the back cushions slide down each side to complete the double bed.

The table doesn't make up the bed. Unless yours has been modified in some way.

Graham

That's the way my double goes up Graham. A roll of wooden slats, then the seat and back cushions fit flat on top. I don't use mine as a double bed though, I just use the table on top of the base at the head end, so my pillows don't fall off and keep it as two singles.

If the roll didn't come with your camper Marc (could be hiding under the seat storage somewhere?), I'd suggest cutting two more table sized pieces of plywood that you can store underneath the seats in the daytime, and just lay out lengthways across the middle of the two singles, together with the table, to make a double. See if the underseat storage lids are big enough, then you can use them as a guide to size. They would have to be stored underneath the seats in the daytime, so only make them as big as you have to.

Not sure if plywood boards would move in the night, you'd just have to try and see. I know the table in mine doesn't move as it's quite heavy.

Can't help you with the wires, mine aren't standard I don't think. I have some inside the cupboard under the sink, which lead to the back lights, and in the underseat area next to the sink are some more, which lead to the leisure battery and the relay switch.

Everything seems to work ok!

I could take some photos of mine if it would help, let me know.

[marc4242]

Thanks Jayjay, I don't remember seeing a roll of anything anywhere. I'll have a fiddle at the weekend.

On a different subject, I have a route 2000 catalytic heater, do you have one, and if so where is it mounted?

[marc4242]

Those of us with Rascals, can you tell me what it is that's behind the nearside rear small side fibre door, it looks like some kind of power connector?

[jayjay]

Hi Marc!

These rascal based romahomes all seem to be different!

In my nearside rear locker, I have a water pump to the sink, which is wired into the nearside locker where the leisure battery is. I have a huge container and a whale submersible (I think) that is connected up and there's a switch on the outside of the locker to switch it off and on when required.

[marc4242]

What's a whale submersible? How can a whale be non submersible? Yes, they do all seem different, my water container is in the *front* nearside underseat and I don't think it takes more than mm say 10-20 gallons.

Well, I spent another 4-5hrs poking around, next step is to fire up all gas appliances and see what happens (do you not have a Route 2000 heater?) and start hoovering and cleaning. Then, a ..... *trip*!!

[jayjay]

Apr 28, 2008 11:20:15 GMT marc4242 said:

What's a whale submersible? How can a whale be non submersible? Yes, they do all seem different, my water container is in the *front* nearside underseat and I don't think it takes more than mm say 10-20 gallons.

Well, I spent another 4-5hrs poking around, next step is to fire up all gas appliances and see what happens (do you not have a Route 2000 heater?) and start hoovering and cleaning. Then, a ..... *trip*!!

No I don't have a route 2000 heater!

HOw strange these romahomes are! Do you have a sort of pump that fits into the water container neck (sort of screws on) and switches on near the sink and pumps the water through? Mine holds about 20 gallons but sits under the sink in the locker there at the back door.

Take care to sterilize all - the container, the pipes and the sink end. I fill my container up with Milton sterilizing tabs (to the brim) and leave for a few hours, then pump through the pipes and leave a bit, then again. Then I empty what's left out and refill with clean water and repeat the process to flush out the sterilizer.

When I came back from Wolverley, I emptied all the water out completely and dried everything, including the pump bit, which you have to shake around a bit to get every spot of water out, then leave to dry. (note don't turn the pump on when not immersed in water). If completely dry, no nasties can breed anywhere. When off camping again, I'll refill and pump just clean water through for a bit, then refill again with drinking water.

Good luck with the appliances! My fridge works on gas and/or 9v. Works great on gas, but don't try out the 9v option unless you are driving somewhere as it will drain your main battery in around half an hour and you'll need a jump start. They don't work well on 12v, just keep it as cold as it is when you start out. I cool mine down with ice packs (for coolboxes and bags) and just stick the food in (leaving room for the air to circulate) then switch on the gas when I get where I'm going. It works well that way, I've never used the 9v option to keep it cool, although I know it works - in fact, I've taped it up so that it can't get switched on by accident.

Took me ages to switch it on on the gas - you have to look down the spyhole (at bottom) right to the back of the fridge to see the spark, whilst holding in the knob on the highest setting and pressing. Keep holding it in until the flame stays on, it takes a few moments to heat up the thermocoupler before you can let go and then it stays on.

Gas jets should work with a blue flame, not yellow. My cooker is as old as the hills, certainly looks to be the original. I took it to pieces and soaked the bits in hot water with detergent and scrubbed the little jets with a wire brush, then dried and put it all back. Works great now! I also used washing up liquid on all the joints to gas pipes to make sure there were no leaks. If there are, the liquid will produce bubbles and you'll need to get new jointy things or replace pipes. But best to be safe not sorry!

Hope this helps, good luck with it all!

[kriss63]

Thanks Jayjay for that..... I have just put sterlizer tabs in the water tank and left for half an hour then drained could not get all the water out, no drain thing and did not have no spare pipe to suck it out ..... not sure if that would work anyway..... but the tabs did say that the water was safe to drink in 20mins.... i only want the water for washing pots and us and teeth... have a separate tub for water..... but if i boil the water should it be ok.... dont want too many tubs..... hope this makes sense.....

[jayjay]

Apr 29, 2008 21:32:34 GMT kriss63 said:

Thanks Jayjay for that..... i only want the water for washing pots and us and teeth... have a separate tub for water..... but if i boil the water should it be ok.... dont want too many tubs..... hope this makes sense.....

Kriss, do you have a locker then with an on-board water tank? Mine is a kind of jerry can type thing, which you can detach and remove for filling. When I want to drain it I just take it out and upend it, then leave to air dry.

My parents also have an onboard tank (their 'van is a huge coach build thing). They sterlize the water in it, but use a separate water carrier for drinking water and just use the tank water for such as you describe. Seems like hard work to me!

My parents use a couple of those big 4litre juice containers for drinking water. Ok when you have the room to store them, methinks!

I was thinking of getting one of these:

www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/Detail.asp?ProductID=1465

Cheap enough, I'm hoping they have them at the nearest camping shop though as buying something online through this place is £5.00 postage, which makes it dear! Saw a few ppl with these at Wolverley and thought they looked just the job!

[kriss63]

its onboard under the seat on the passenger side... not looked close enought to see how it comes out - but i have seen that the pump attatches to it... so not bothered with tackling that one yet..... at the mo looking for good tent pegs, chair/lounger, groundsheet, tv/dvd combo, radio, step, grill pan something to hang coats on...... and I think then i may have got all the stuff I need... oh and a sharp knife.....

Looking for better idea to hold the awning close to the camper..... thinking of getting some velcro.... but will put it up a few more times - you never know we may get better at it..

[glenw]

Apr 30, 2008 22:08:53 GMT kriss63 said:

its onboard under the seat on the passenger side... not looked close enought to see how it comes out - but i have seen that the pump attatches to it... so not bothered with tackling that one yet..... at the mo looking for good tent pegs, chair/lounger, groundsheet, tv/dvd combo, radio, step, grill pan something to hang coats on...... and I think then i may have got all the stuff I need... oh and a sharp knife.....

Looking for better idea to hold the awning close to the camper..... thinking of getting some velcro.... but will put it up a few more times - you never know we may get better at it..

kriss - towsure are pretty good for most of the things you list as 'need', seem to be cheaper than ccc's too. We bought a folding steel step and pegs from there. also, a few delta pegs (online) are worth getting. we got a tv/dvd from ebay, see jayjay's post.

what awning have you got? a few on here, us included, have the movelite and so far we've found that a few extra guy ropes pulling the awning towards the front of the van holds it in place ok. As for a ground sheet, we have some cheapish foam large floor tiles. they are bit bulkier than a groundsheet but are more comfortable too!

[kriss63]

Hi Glenw this is our awning, but does not fit too good around the sides, i think this is due to it being for perhaps a sliding door.... so hoping to modernise it by adding more material around the edges so they fit comfier around the sides......
www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/Detail.asp?ProductID=748
going to towsure at the weekend to get a few bits.....
How do you find the dvd player reception ok ?..... just found them on ebay ....

the foam tiles look good, do you use a ground sheet too ?

[glenw]

our awning isn't a superb fit, it has elastic that can be tightened once in place but really did need the extra guy ropes. next time your away, if you see any little campervans with awnings, especially if its one like yours, be nosey and ask how it fits etc. most people are more than happy to help!

The tv/dvd works well, tried it at the meet at Wolverley. couldn't get digital tv but the analogue was ok. Think everyone had the same problem, Martin had a freestanding outside aerial and still couldn't get digital I don't think.

Tried it in Barkers pool in Sheffield city centre the other night and picked up over 60 tv channels and 20 radio channels. ( don't ask why I was in Barkers pool at night!!!)

We did put a ground sheet under the foam tiles, but found that when it rained, the water sat between the 2, so we're going to try without the groundsheet next time!

good luck at towsure, they have a clearance section in a small room near the tills - we found our bargain awning in there, be sure to look!!

[marc4242]

We progressed a bit further at the weekend, cleaned all the interior and left it with a tray of lavendar and incense in it. I also figured out how to deploy the bed. Well actually that's not quite true, I asked the previous owner!

The table forms the upper body central support between the 2 bunks and 'the piece of wood' (about 2"*2"*10") goes into a notch in the fibre glass back towards the rear.

[kriss63]

Been shopping and got a step, a grill pan, good tent pegs, awning pegs, and a folding chair for me and hubby also some softtex- Towsure did not have much in, they must have had a rush on... the little area near the checkouts is now an awning display area..... no bargains

Sold Sooty today (Suzuki Romahome) Looking forward to picking our other one up tomorrow, a C15 - Hubby needed more leg room....

[marc4242]

Hi Kris, where did you get the step and what is softtex?

May 7, 2008 21:58:15 GMT kriss63 said:

Been shopping and got a step, a grill pan, good tent pegs, awning pegs, and a folding chair for me and hubby also some softtex- Towsure did not have much in, they must have had a rush on... the little area near the checkouts is now an awning display area..... no bargains

Sold Sooty today (Suzuki Romahome) Looking forward to picking our other one up tomorrow, a C15 - Hubby needed more leg room....

[glenw]

no bargain corner at towsure any more? I'm going to complain to the management!!! Glad you managed to get a few things sorted though. well done on selling Sooty too, hope the new C15 is what you need. The buying process might have to start all over again!!

Will The awning you had fit the new C15 better do you think?

[kriss63]

We brought the C15 home and Steve says it fits him better than the Suzuki - I saved all the stuff from sooty..... its amazing how much stuff has come out of it.... I'm sure i will fit in the c15. I hope the awning will fit a bit better going away this weekend so will be able to try it..

I got the step from a camping shop at attercliffe
www.gasandhireltd.com/index.php?app=gbu0&ns=catshow&ref=campingequipment

The step was 14.99 i think, very sturdy, not folding,
Softex, the ultimate caravan and camping accessory apparently- its a breathable ground sheet ...... it was 8.50 per metre at towsure it was 9.50 per metre...