Novice.. in need!

[andyg]

Hi... this is my first excursion into this campervan site recommended by Mandy and Tim who we met at Guisborough in Cleveland. They have an identical Hi-Lo Citreon Berlinga Romahome. I bought mine on Ebay and drove it to Northumberland from Southampton - 600 miles! But... I can't find the winding up handle for lowering the static legs. I've looked everywhere and the previous owner never had cause to use it. The local camping store sold me one but the neck was too thick and wouldn't fit into my slot. Where can I buy a replacement handle anybody? And is it necessary to have the legs down?Thanks
AndyG

[gingertom]

Hi Andyg
I lost mine and bought one from camping shop. This was a little thick,at the neck
to go into the hole as well. I went to the local Garage and asked them to grind it down for me
to fit, Problem solved.
Best Wishes Gingertom

[roamerog]

Have you looked behind the passenger seat at the back of the under-seat battery compartment? There is a space large enough to hide such things, but it is difficult to access.

[dancer]

Hi Andy, this may be a silly question, have you asked the previous owner?
It is necessary to lower the legs when camping makes the van stable and level and stops any bouncing.

Dancer

[robin]

Jul 9, 2009 23:36:28 GMT dancer said:

It is necessary to lower the legs when camping makes the van stable and level and stops any bouncing.

Dancer

;D ;D

[alan]

The reason for lowering the stabilizing legs, is to save the rear shock absorbers from unnecessary wear, whilst parked up, and you are in and out.

[ant]

The stabilizers are indeed for both comfort and easing of suspension but there is a safety function that they play and that is earthing the vehicle when plugged into the mains. The N/S steady has an earth lead attached to it so if you use any kind of plate or board to put the steady onto it needs to have a nail or something that sticks though to make the earth. If you don't bother with the steadies at all, and many of you don't, just be aware when entering the vehicle that if you touch the cooker top while still standing on the ground and there is an earth leakage problem you will be the earthing route which may chang your hair style!
Ant

[Graham]

Jul 16, 2009 10:37:07 GMT ant said:

If you don't bother with the steadies at all, and many of you don't, just be aware when entering the vehicle that if you touch the cooker top while still standing on the ground and there is an earth leakage problem you will be the earthing route which may chang your hair style!
Ant

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[timeshift]

Is is OK to go quite high up on the steadies? For example if you're on a sloping site. And is it OK to be much higher on one than the other?

[jayjay]

Jul 25, 2009 19:39:29 GMT timeshift said:

Is is OK to go quite high up on the steadies? For example if you're on a sloping site. And is it OK to be much higher on one than the other?

No! The steadies on romahomes are just meant to stabilise as above, not to higher/level the 'van. It can do quite a lot of damage to the underside of your romahome if you do that.

They should be lowered just to ground level , don't try to use them to lift the van up, they don't work like caravan corner steadies. Basically you'd be lifting the body up off the wheels!

You need to get levelling blocks for the wheels - towsure do them.

I personally avoid sites which are extremely sloping for this very reason. ;D

[timeshift]

Thanks - guess I need to add levelling blocks to the long shopping list for the van. We tried sleeping on an only slightly sloping site last night and I was sliding off the bed all night.

[jayjay]

Jul 27, 2009 17:27:31 GMT timeshift said:

Thanks - guess I need to add levelling blocks to the long shopping list for the van. We tried sleeping on an only slightly sloping site last night and I was sliding off the bed all night.

Been there, done that! Best if you have the slope at the feet end - at least the blood doesn't rush to your head! I generally drive around (or back and forth on the site given) to see if I can get a level bit - somehow I know I'm relatively level before I get out of the cab, perhaps it's just practice!

A site I stayed over last year in the Lakes was described as 'gently sloping' but it was much more than that. I used my levellers on the back wheels and got it more or less level with those, but the back door was a long way from the step! Next time I come across that, I'm going to turn the 'van around and use the levellers on the front wheels, so there isn't that great big step out into space!

[timeshift]

Another daft question!

I have just bought a mosquito screen for the back door and I need to drill two holes for the screws. I have never drilled fibreglass before and I'm not sure how deep to do the holes - should they be the full length of the screws or just starter holes like you'd do with wood? I don't want it to crack, but I do want it to hold!

eee life is complicated

[ant]

Hi Timeshift.
You need to drill a hole for the entire screw length, the hole diametre must be the same as the solid shaft of the screw, in other words the bit that runs down the middle of the spiral part of the screw. When screwing the screw in put some vaseline on the tip and around the hole, then be bold when turning the screw and put enough pressure behind the driver so the screw is always moving forward. If you allow the screw to drag on the hole as it goes in you'll cause a chip to be released at the holes edge. If when you drill the hole you find the bit of GRP you've chosen to drill is quite thin, I like to use some sealant or resin to lubricate the screw, this will stop it working loose in time to come.
I hope this doesn't make a simple operation seem too spooky to attempt 'cause it isn't really.
Ant

[timeshift]

Thanks Ant - that's really helpful, not spooky at all. Novices need details!

[waverley]

Now this is a very basic question, but please bear in mind that not only am I a novice with the Romahome, my joints prohibit too much bending to investigate the underneath of the van.
I have the winding handle for the steadies but with my limitations I can't see where to put it!

[lizzie]

Hi
I have had two Romahomes. The first was a C15 Hitop and the winding handle engaged with a large nut underneath the rear overhang just above the steadying legs. On my Outlook there are two holes on each side of the back bumper. I put the socket end of the handle into the hole until it engages with the nut and then wind the leg down as usual. I too had to ask a Duo owner on the campsite I was staying for my first trip what the holes were for. Initially I thought they were some kind of drainage outlet! So never worry about asking what might appear simple questions.
Liz

[waverley]

Thanks Liz.
My van is a C15 Hytop.
As soon as I get a chance tomorrow I'll give it a try.
This forum is great - I don't feel stupid asking about what may seem obvious to seasoned "Romahomers"!
Gail

[andyg]

Thank you to all who took the trouble to reply to my request for information on Romahome 'legs' and my dilemma with finding a winding handle that would fit into the two holes either side of my bumper. I bought a standard handle but the 'end' was too thick to go through. I solved the problem by discovering that there was a green plastic collar aound the rim of each hole and that after much fiddling about underneath I managed to unscrew and remove both collars making the hole cavity wide enough... problem solved! I appreciate all the advice on the importance of lowering the legs. For most of you this would have been obvious but I did mention I was a novice didn't I?
Many thanks
AndyG