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Hi Jennifer, can't help you but was wondering if you were back from your travels, and if so how things went?

Ali xx

Hi Ali, yes we got back on Monday afternoon after a smooth crossing from Rotterdam to Hull and an uneventful drive north.  DD had a special dinner prepared, which was nice, and had also done some hoovering, but alas no dusting!  So we have 3+ months of dust!  Not a pretty sight!

The trip was excellent, lots of lovely scenery, good memories, and even some good weather now and again.  I really was reluctant to come home!

We have driven 8777 miles according to OH, although not all with the van behind.  The car was great, no hill was too steep!  The van held up pretty well too. 

We ended up in a pothole on one site and the mover was dislodged, so that took a couple of hours to fix.

  On another an overhanging branch squidged a bit of the awning rail and disturbed the Status, so OH had to borrow a ladder and seal it all up temporarily.  It is going to our dealer this Monday to get a new rail and all resealed, but I doubt it will be worth making an insurance claim.

We also managed to burn out the water pump, luckily we had 2 spares.

And 2 weeks before we got back the 240v side of the fridge gave up.

And we had to get a new jockey wheel as the old one broke.(£42 in Norway)   The new one is a bit bigger so hangs lower, so it then got damaged on a speed hump!  So once OH hammered it straight again we decided to remove it while en route.

And a nasty bus smashed one of our towing mirrors by driving over the centre line, so we only had one mirror for the final 3 weeks.  He came within inches of ripping the side off the van, you can imagine OH had a few choice words to say!  I just closed my eyes and prayed!

Apart from that everything was fine!

Once we get everything on the van back in working order we will probably try to sell it as we really want that new fixed bed model!  We are looking at the new Sterling Elite Searcher, trying to decide if we like the silver side panels!

Saw you had a bit of a scare with your Dad, glad to hear all ended well.

Did you have a good summer?

Now..............about that Alde Heating..............anyone??????

I'll reply by email tomorrow Jennifer!

Ali xx

Thanks for that info Gary.

Hi Jennifer. We have a Fleetwood Heritage (new this summer) with the Alde system. It is brilliant! The whole van is lovely and cosy. You can set the heating just like your central heating programmer at home. To come on when you want and literally by  the degree! ie 23 degrees!!

On our last van without Alde system, we had a twin axle with the usual heater and blown air. It was a 2004 van. We found it difficult to get warm air to be back of van in the winter. (the blown air pipes run outside under the van!!  ) It was cold by the time it got to the back.

The Alde system really is good. The two single beds in the back have radiators underneath them and the front parrallel seats also have one underneath each side. The bathroom has a heated towel rail and the wardrobe is heated too! All the windows near the radiators and the front ones have a vent on the interior wall that directs heat to them and so far seems to keep there clear.

The digital control panel takes a bit of sussing, but once sorted its good! 12lts of hot water and a quick heat facility. I seem to remember that you can have a full 6kw of heat if you use gas and electric. (could be wrong).

We van all year round, so you can see why I think its so good. I havent yet found anything i can fault with the system.

Hope this is of some help.

Kev.

Well if your excited, then you know whats gonna happen on Monday then.............

Better take the cheque book.

digressing a bit, but how are you getting on with the xc90? I had one when they first came out and loved it. Kept it for two years and sold it to a mate. Still enjoy driving it whenever I get a chance. The seats were like armchairs. So comfortable!

The XC90 has been excellent, we have the new diesel engine 187bhp so it pulls very well.  Our present van is only 1300kg, the new one will be over 1800kg, so we waited until they brought out the more powerful version.  Got it 1st March and have now done 11000 miles.  I only insured it for 12000 miles per year, so it looks like I will need to contact the insurers!  Not that we will be making such long trips every year.

The seats are indeed very comfortable, and the load space good.  We still have our old 940 in the garage, we were going to sell it, but have now decided to get it back on the road as OH is probably going to be doing some work for his former employer now and again..........got to pay for that new van somehow!!!

we have it in our new buccaneer caravel ..superb ..you can programme it to come on when your out to get back too ..cosy ...roasting hot in the bedroom one cold morning we woke up ...in a word ...nice ..the  electric or gas function you can decide on suitable to your situation ..but so far have not used it on gas ..

just noticed this is a very old thread ..but hey ho ..lol