david lloyd

Think your perception is spot on Rich. A clear example of how the Club could really benefit motorhomers in particular is to invest in creating an aire de service adjoining the sites just for nomadic motorhomers and even install LPG dispensing pumps (many sites already use bulk LPG to heat facilities) for those with bulk tanks. Even businesses like dealerships realise the business case for doing so. Instead, the Club has stopped stocking even bottled gas at many sites - this was a benefit organised and operated by the site wardens rather than the Club so I am unclear what the motivation for that was? Health and Safety? The aire proposal runs counter to their main objective of filling every available pitch with caravans or Motorhomes and charging as high a price as the market will stand. It seems though, that even this strategy may not be working for either of the main clubs. I received a code from CAMC for a free night stay if booked before 31 December last year so my four night stay at York is only £115 instead of a mighty £154. And, as I mention above the site is only half full. Both clubs are offering up to 40% discounts for things like midweek stays etc so why the sudden clamour to sell pitches? As you may gather, my personal view is running the enterprise as a business is nit working as well as running it as a club for members by members. David

Think I’ll just stick to what I’ve done for over 25 years and drain down between trips or, if the next trip is not too long away, leave a form of low heating in the MH. Never been tempted to put any form of chemicals in the fresh tank. David

Think you are absolutely right Rich - however, being a ‘Company Limited by Garantee’ is more to do with protecting the elected officers (directors) than being a ‘business’. As an example, my local model railway club was growing so fast that even with moderate (by most standards) commitment to outgoings such as rent, rates, utilities etc. it became necessary to register it as a ‘Company Limited by guarantee’ to ensure the volunteer, elected officers were not put in a compromising position should the Club fail in the future. if that were to happen the principle officers would only be liable for their initial £1 investment in the ‘company’. The Club remains in a healthy financial position despite its limited membership to the point where, since its registration with Companies House some 13 years ago, it has not been necessary to raise membership fees from the level set at that time. This is by no means an unusual way for membership clubs to operate and, in my opinion, remains the way the Caravan and Motorhome Club Ltd should be operating. David

Not sure if this is a sign of the times. Just arrived at York Rowntree Park site - visited many many times over the years winter and summer. It has certainly got more and more difficult to get a pitch here at any sort of short notice since Covid drove more people to access camping and caravanning so I was a little surprised that we could even get in when I booked just before New Year. The site is perhaps only 1/3rd full at 14.00 hours and for the first time ever I see a sign outside advising people arriving they can stay even longer as they still have pitches available. This is one of THE most popular sites in the network - time will tell if it does fill up during the week but, for now, it’s a rare sight to see so many empty pitches. David

I simply can’t agree. The CAMC is not a business and is not there to make profits. In its own words it is a club for members run by members and they are not ‘shareholders’ in the true sense of the word. I do agree that it should be run in a business like way and that is to oversee the operation in a way that maximises the benefit to members. My belief is that those managing the Club in a day to day basis probably see themselves as running a business but do not see the distinction. David

And apparently the Club were ‘honoured’ to sponsor an evening reception at the Senedd hosted by the Wales Tourism Alliance. Hope the food was nice. David

I’m not sure the decision makers at CAMC read any of the forums but, even if someone does, it may be a good idea to express a view directly to them as to the reasons why (especially since some of us have been members for a very long time) which should help to get this message across. Letters to the Chairman perhaps? David

Well I’ll be blowed. Did a trawl for motorhome insurance and top of the list was the Caravan and Motorhome Club! It is £80+ cheaper than my existing insurer and includes European cover which saves a further £90+. I am surprised. At the other end of the scale was another well known motorhome insurer we have used before the present one and it came back at £680 - a good £300 more than our present insurers new quote. It pays to shop around despite the hassle. David

Just had a call from my insurers checking all my details are unchanged from last year prior to renewal in February. The annual premium is up by £69 though nothing has changed other than I am now 70. However, he did ask if I wanted European cover included. We haven’t been back to Europe since December 2020 but are seriously thinking we should take the opportunity again so asked for that to included. He also asked if we would want European breakdown included too and, as the van is now 17 years old, I thought it prudent to request that also. He recalculated the premium adding £90+ for the European cover and a further £70+ for European breakdown cover which took me back a bit as my ordinary premium is not significantly different (apart from annual increases) to that we paid when we were travelling Europe. I mentioned this to the agent saying, at that time, a ‘green card’ was always included in the renewal and, in fact, so was European breakdown. On that basis it would appear that at the time of Brexit those two benefits were left out although there was no reduction in premiums and now they want an extra £160+ for a single European trip. I should say that the cover is for 9 months though. Looks like I’ll be hitting the keyboard over the next few days just to check if there is a better deal out there. David

with the greatest respect to Brian’s normal attention to detail I expect this is a typo and should read 2024. David

As you say it may not be coming in at the place it is showing up inside but, as you have a panel van conversion, it is less likely to be a roof leak and the first place to look would be the sealant around the outside of the rooflight itself. This takes all the sun/weather and can, over time, become brittle and break up. All it takes is for the sealant to shrink and lift a little for water to seep in. If it is the sealant this can be reseated but for a good job that will last would necessitate the rooflight being removed along with all the old sealant and then re sealed with the appropriate sealant. David

Yes but that’s a modern day interpretation of ‘Merry’ in the old context of Christmas it would be cheerful, good spirited Alan. But you are right about the New Year - certainly wish you and everyone else a Happy New Year. David

But even Scrooge had a change of heart - Merry Christmas John. David

I like humbugs…..

If asked Tayna may recommend a battery that they receive most profit on but I have bought my leisure and engine batteries from them over recent years using advice from this forum. my motorhome solar regulator only charges the leisure side, the 240v charger can be switched at the control panel to charge the engine battery as an option but I am seriously considering fitting a battery master rather than change the regulator David.

Hi Lenard, in addition to the larger ah size you need to try and get a better CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) rating. I have just replaced my starter battery (an older vehicle than yours but still likely to be the same 019 size) and bought a Yuasa 5000 Silver EFB (code HSB019) which is 100ah and has a CCA of 900A. David

In 25 years of motorhoming (often with UK built Motorhomes with underslung tanks) I have never used potable antifreeze just drained everything down and, in recent years, blown down the sink taps to remove any remaining water or taken it for a short run with all the taps/drains open. David

Ok, so where was I? Ah, yes, Peugeot first diagnosed a failed battery which I changed last December - the Yuasa Silver 5000 I took off is still holding a steady 12.5v in my workshop having been charged twice. On the second visit earlier this year they tested the (fairly new) battery and pronounced that it was ‘good’ and suggested I continue trying it and come back to them if the starting problem persists…. Instead I took it to an auto electricians who tried a few different tests and again confirmed the battery was fine but noted that there was no electrical draw with the ignition first turned on to indicate the glow plugs were working so perhaps needed new glow plugs - alanB kindly pointed out to me that this particular engine does not use glow plugs but rather a flame starter device in the manifold which only operates below 0 degrees. Thanks Alan. But they also noted that the starter motor drew more power on startup than they would have expected (they believed this was perhaps due to the glow plugs not working) and ruled out other possible causes. As alanB had pointed out that there were no glow plugs my instinct was to follow other contributors and replace the starter motor. This was done this week and………blimey, what a difference. It starts like I would expect it to start - like a new vehicle, fist turnover. It’s great. It’s been a long journey and I have learned a lot about my motorhome - things that qualified technicians (used to working on more modern vehicles) didn’t know. I am grateful to all who have taken an interest and offered advice and relieved the problem seems to have been finally resolved. David

It does if it’s a tow car. David

Thanks for the information Alan - it’s all very clear now. This is a photo of the flame starter and solenoid on my engine. I doubt the temperature has been as low as -0 for the flame starter to operate so that should explain why the technician didn’t see any voltage drop upon ignition on - surprised he didn’t realise the difference in starter heat up v glow plugs. So until we get such cold weather I’m not going to be able to reliably check if it is working correctly but, in any case, that still leaves the sluggish starting first thing when temps are low (but not freezing) and several contributors (including snail above) seemed to have resolved that by replacing the starter motor. I may just do that for peace of mind and wait to see how the flame starter works once it gets colder. I do want to thank everyone for their interest and participation it has helped me understand this issue much more than previously. I will of course, update everyone once a new starter motor is fitted. David

Aye, old school Keith but a lovely driving vehicle all the same - love it but just want it to be right. Alan - I note from the link you posted it says with this type of flame starter to NOT wait for the glow plug light to go out before starting the engine - which I have been doing. Further down it also says that this type of flame device is found on the 8140.43 engine with Bosch fuel pump injection but the writer is not sure if it is the same device on the later 8140.43s common rail engine. I can check my engine tomorrow but wondered if you knew whether this type of flame starter would have the same effect if it failed? David

Keith, the technician did concede that it was difficult to tell if the fairly warm conditions at the moment would mean the glow plugs to operate but he also went on to say that in any event he would have expected to see some sort of current drop as soon as the ignition is switched on. But yes I guess if there is a temperature sensor having some sort of input on whether the glow plugs come on then it’s another possible cause. David

Hmmm, does my 2006 (X244) Boxer have an ambient temperature display on the dash? I don’t recall that it does Keith. David

A further update. The auto electricians had the MH for much of today and I had explained the past history and information. The technician initially said he couldn’t really fault it but did divulge two possible causes for the poor starting in cold weather conditions. The battery again tested good but he felt the starter motor was pulling more power than he would have expected yet remained within acceptable limits. I had mentioned that the glow plug light only remains on for a couple of seconds, even in cold conditions. His findings showed that when the ignition was switched on there was no significant current draw which he would expect to see with the glow plug operating. There was also some smoke on startup that was attributed to unburnt fuel. So, no definitive answer but his working hypothesis was that the glow plugs are not working and, in turn, this is placing an extra burden on the starter motor when the engine is really cold. His advice was to have whoever does my mechanicals fit new glow plugs as a first step, see if that cures the problem and, if necessary, then replace the starter. Once again, this company also declined payment for the diagnostic work undertaken as they had not 100% solved the issue. David

At 13.8v I would be surprised if it was voltage drop purely from the supply. When they did my diagnostic test he did say there had to be a voltage of above 10.5 (I think) but mine was dropping to something like 8v at the heater control. The battery still read 12.5+ at the terminals but, as I mentioned, it was a faulty connector block interrupting the supply. David