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Subject Topic: Hobby 560- pitfalls
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Personnewbie56
via mobile 15/5/2021 at 10:01am
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Hi all, thinking of changing my Fleetwood van which I’ve owned for about 15 years. And I would like to add fairly problem free. Looking to buy a secondhand caravan with a fixed bed. Been looking at Hobby 560. If I bought one I would need to have a chat with the caravan storage to see if the extra width with cause a problem. No oven just a hob. No 12volt system( I don’t think so). What other down sides do I need to think about. Thanks. PS looking at 10 year old van.


PersonMonty15
15/5/2021 at 10:27am
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Not sure you are at too much risk with a 10 year old Hobby, but Hobby vans are a favourite of a certain 'travelling community' who are well documented for stealing them! That has a knock on effect that I believe some insurers will not cover them, and some sites will not accept them. Now that is hearsay and I can't personally verify it, BUT certainly, on the high security storage site I use, 'that community' went to extreme lengths to steal a fairly mundane Hobby van out of the near 500 other vans stored there! There were newer, more valuable vans a plenty of other makes, but they had only one target as they came prepared with spare parts to fit that van to replace what they damaged in overcoming security devices! There were 3 other Hobby vans stolen on the same night in the general area!

When I was looking to buy a van a few years back, I was made aware by several authoritative sources who warned of the above average theft risk of a Hobby. Real shame because they are quite nice quality vans.


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Personnewbie56
via mobile 15/5/2021 at 11:12am
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I did read somewhere that someone had bought a brand new one and new gear to go with it. It was taken from storage within a week of buying it. It does surprise me that more aren't taken from sites.


Personbilly
15/5/2021 at 12:14pm
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It may have just a 12v transformer to give you 12v as well as 240v when plugged into ehu. If you did want to fit a battery as well then if existing transformer is not a transformer/charger then you can take out transformer & replace with a transformer/charger unit cost around £100 plus fitting cost.

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Personnewbie56
via mobile 15/5/2021 at 12:30pm
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I'm trying to think what I would need 12v for, motor mover?


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Personsaxo1
15/5/2021 at 12:42pm
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You would need 12V If you fit a mover but you don't need to change the existing, you could just use a separate charger to charge a battery if you only need it for the mover.
saxo1


Personbilly
via mobile 15/5/2021 at 1:08pm
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You have 12v anyway to work interior lights water pump & toilet pump but if you are only ever plugged into ehu then you would only need a battery for a mover.


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PersonMonty15
15/5/2021 at 1:18pm
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Quote: Originally posted by newbie56 on 15/5/2021
I'm trying to think what I would need 12v for, motor mover?


Usually the 12v system powers lights, water pump, toilet flush, fridge control circuits (even when running on 240v EHU or Gas), fans and controls for heating system, and of course Motor Mover if you have it.

In fact most modern vans are mostly 12v powered, with 240v EHU used to keep 12v leisure battery charged. Some things are of course 240v like mains power sockets, microwaves, electric water heater/space heater and fridge when set to EHU power option.

Older vans can have a mix of mains and 12v lighting.


PersonColin21
15/5/2021 at 1:25pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 15/5/2021
Quote: Originally posted by newbie56 on 15/5/2021
I'm trying to think what I would need 12v for, motor mover?


Usually the 12v system powers lights, water pump, toilet flush, fridge control circuits (even when running on 240v EHU or Gas), fans and controls for heating system, and of course Motor Mover if you have it.

In fact most modern vans are mostly 12v powered, with 240v EHU used to keep 12v leisure battery charged. Some things are of course 240v like mains power sockets, microwaves, electric water heater/space heater and fridge when set to EHU power option.

Older vans can have a mix of mains and 12v lighting.


I think the changeover must have been around 1990 as my Elddis Wisp (1992) is only 12 volt lighting, but my previous van a 1988 Elddis Tornado was a mix of mains and 12 volt lighting.


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Colin


Personnewbie56
via mobile 15/5/2021 at 1:46pm
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Hence the question about the German made hobby. What would they not have that are expected with a British van. I would assume that motor movers with these heavy vans would be catered for by manufacturers. What else am I not aware of?


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Personbilly
via mobile 15/5/2021 at 2:32pm
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Most current caravans UK or foreign built have transformer/chargers that supply 12v when plugged into ehu & can be used with or without a battery. So if a battery is needed then one can be fitted.

Older German caravans often had just transformers fitted with transformer/charger & battery available as option.

This is not a big issue for the op. If he wants to buy the Hobby then he needs to ascertain if just a transformer is fitted. If that is the case & he wants a mover fitted then he will have to have a transformer/charger & battery fitted. Any caravan workshop can do the job or a competent diyer.

Apart from that little different from a UK van except it may not have an oven & it may not have any damp.

Post last edited on 15/05/2021 14:39:10

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PersonColin21
15/5/2021 at 3:28pm
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Just out of interest Billy, when you say just fitted with a transformer, would that actually be a transformer/rectifier? If it is just a transformer, surely it would supply 12 volts AC? Ok for incandescent lighting but no good for anything else. I know nothing about current or foreign vans, the ones I have had recently have always had a charger and battery. Our older ones had gas lights and a hand-pump for water.


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Colin


Personsaxo1
15/5/2021 at 4:00pm
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I had a battery fitted and a combined charger 12V/20A power transformer fitted to my Burstner,It cost nearly £700,Had I thought about it I could have fitted a battery and smart charger just for the motor mover for app £130 that was all I ever needed a battery for as we always were on EHU.
I know people will say if the power goes off you won't have any lighting etc but in 15 years we never experienced a power cut in 15 years 8 weeks each year in France!
My burstner never had gas water heating only 230V,that was an extra, it never had any 230V lights,but as Billy said it never had any damp either!
saxo1


PersonPixie_Hez
15/5/2021 at 4:58pm
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I read on another forum about a couple who bought a Hobby and then couldn’t get insurance from their usual insurers or from most others. They ended up having to pay a fortune for insurance as hardly any insurance companies would cover it. I would definitely check that out before you make a decision.

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Pixie


Personnewbie56
via mobile 15/5/2021 at 5:07pm
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I’ve read about being hard to insure, but then actual hobby owners have said they don’t have a problem.


Personbilly
via mobile 15/5/2021 at 5:40pm
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Get insurance quotes before you buy. Find out what sort of security is required. Certainly large late model German caravans are a target for thieves as are large late model UK caravans. Older caravans less so.

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