New Dimension

[Audrey]

Hi there - we have a new Dimension, only 2 weeks old now, and are thrilled with it except for two or three niggles.

1) The tables are really pretty unusable as they are very unstable. The first morning I managed to spill my coffee at breakfast and since then haven't dared to put a glass of wine down on one!

2) The small roof vent (over the kitchen area) really rattles when we're travelling. We never had any rattles on our previous Autosleeper, which had two similar vents.

3) The fold-up worktop also rattles when travelling.

So the question is - are these things that no-one else has found, or are they (unacceptably for us) normal for this vehicle?

As I say, we love everything else about the van, and just want to get it perfect for us.

Audrey

[viv]

Our Outlook was second hand and the onlhy problem we have found so far is that there is a squeak when we are driving along My husband is convinced it is one of the seats creaking so nothing to worry about. Our table is an oblong one and has legs which fold up on a kind of spring catch and it is fine not sure if yours is the same. I think others have more experience of thesse vehicles so I will leave it to them to advise you.
regards
Viv

[wendy]

Hello Audrey from a fellow Dimension owner. We've had ours just over a year and are really pleased with it.

Tables: We abandoned the tables that were supplied as being too big and we now use a smaller one and a tripod base. This means that we can position the table wherever we want and use it outside as well.

Roof vent: We've not noticed the roof vent rattling.

The fold-up worktop: This did seem a bit rattly, but if we make sure that the catch is pulled back and fastened in its notches (hope that makes sense) it seems to be OK.

Don't know if this helps at all, but ask away if you want to know anything else. Pauline and Graham should be home soon and they may have some helpful hints.

Wendy

[Pauline]

We can vouch for Wendy and John's table being very good - John should perhaps go into production!

1. We find that the table is fairly stable once you are sitting at it but woe betide if you kick the centre leg as you sit down - plenty of spilled wine before we learned to hold the glass up BEFORE sitting down! They seem to be far too wide to sit at in total comfort and do they need to be so heavy? We find it very hard to put the table or tables back into the storage from inside the van because of their weight, we usually go outside and put them in through the back door which is OK except when it's cold and raining!

2.No problems with the roof vent for us.

3. Are you travelling with the worktop in the 'down' position or 'up'? I don't think it's meant to be in the up position during a journey and when in the down position it should fasten with a magnetic catch. We don't get any rattles with ours but have never left it up on a journey.

Hope that helps.

[wendy]

I did mean to say that the lift-up worktop travels in the 'down' position attached by it's magnetic catch.

Wendy

[Audrey]

Thanks Wendy and Pauline, for your help.

Pauline's comments on the table were exactly what we felt - too big and heavy, and very unstable. The tables would have been much better an inch or two narrower. We're thinking of ways to improve things by strengthening the lift-up part of the floor that they're mounted on. Maybe having a lighter, wooden table-top. Will report back on the progress.

The fold-up worktop, as you say, is held down by a magnetic catch and it seems to be the magnets being loose that are letting the worktop rattle. Will try replacing the catch with another which has the magnet held firmly.

The roof vent we think must be faulty and needs replacing by the dealer. Any excuse for another trip away!

Thanks again, Audrey

[Pauline]

Good idea to go back with the roof vent and get it sorted, it doesn't sound like it's normal.

Which dealer did you use, if you don't mind me asking?

We've had most of our vans from Freeborns in Southampton.

[Audrey]

We got it from Freeborn. Had a good day out on the Isle of Wight with a factory tour and afternoon in Cowes during Cowes week the day before we collected it.

Audrey

[Pauline]

audrey said:

We got it from Freeborn. Had a good day out on the Isle of Wight with a factory tour and afternoon in Cowes during Cowes week the day before we collected it.

Audrey

We did the factory tour several years ago, it was really interesting. Freeborns also put us up in a local hotel for the night.

They did a similar thing when we went down to sort out the purchase of our Dimension last year, they put us up in a local B&B to save us having to travel down and back in one day. It's a nice touch to look after customers that way.

[Pauline]

How are you getting on with your Dimension Audrey?

I just wondered how you were finding the bed making, it took us a while to remember the sequence of what to do when, but now have it off to a fine art!

[Audrey]

We're getting on fine, Pauline.

I don't have any problem watching Tony make up the bed!! Actually I usually disappear into the bathroom (or should I say "shower room"?) and generally get myself ready for bed whilst keeping out of the way. Apart from the odd helpful remark, of course.

But seriously, we've had no problems with it at all once we mastered which way round the covers go. We use an opened out sleeping bag in a duvet cover underneath as a bottom sheet and the same on top. That makes it easier to wash the bedding rather than having to wash sleeping bags.

We're working on the table - and think we might have a solution - we'll post some pictures if it works as well as we hope.

Audrey

[wendy]

We'll be interested to see your table solution, although we are quite happy with our set up now.

We have an 'everyman for himself' approach to bed-making as we prefer the single beds. Easier to get out in the night if necessary.

Glad that you are enjoying your Dimension and hope to meet up sometime.

[Pauline]

audrey said:

We're getting on fine, Pauline.

I don't have any problem watching Tony make up the bed!! Actually I usually disappear into the bathroom (or should I say "shower room"?) and generally get myself ready for bed whilst keeping out of the way. Apart from the odd helpful remark, of course.

Nice one!!

audrey said:

But seriously, we've had no problems with it at all once we mastered which way round the covers go. We use an opened out sleeping bag in a duvet cover underneath as a bottom sheet and the same on top. That makes it easier to wash the bedding rather than having to wash sleeping bags.

It's interesting to hear what bedding other use.

We use single fitted sheets over the infill cushions, they are a bit big but it save having spare sheet hanging down as you can't really tuck the excess in.

I do miss being able to snuggle up in the middle of the bed (stealing body heat is my winter pastime ;D) but if you try that in the Dimension then your pillows disappear off down into the kitchen!!!

[Audrey]

admin said:

I do miss being able to snuggle up in the middle of the bed (stealing body heat is my winter pastime ;D) but if you try that in the Dimension then your pillows disappear off down into the kitchen!!!

I can understand what you mean about the pillows, but we haven't had that problem so far.

You could always try some non-slip matting underneath them (or velcro).

Audrey