Early Risers.

[peanuts]

morning all another fine summers day here on the edge of the pennines lots of liquid sunshine wide awake at 1.30 am thanks to the looney kitten having a mad hour grrr so exhausted but hey life goes on 

nothing planned today time to relax 

well that didnt last long dragged into manchester by her indoors to "look for that lens you wanted " returned home with boots shoes and fancy corset for her wallet  £300 lighter and you have guessed it no lens why do i keep falling for it ?

[Donw]

That's why we had ours re-plated to 3850kg when we bought it new. Being a largish motorhome, the payload with an MLTP of 3500kg would have been minimal. We certainly don't run around with full water and waste tanks and only fill up with diesel before leaving Ireland for the UK. 

 

In the UK there is a change in the driving classes at 3500Kg under that it is class B over that is class C when I get to seventy (coming fast) if I wish to retain the class C I have to have medical checks. Those youngsters no longer get class C with the ordinary driving test and would have to take another test. 

Don

[45156]

Not sure if this has already been mentioned but if the weight goes above 3500kg you cannot legally drive it in the UK. Although you can hire a 7.5 ton furniture van and drive it on a car license. I hope this is true because I did it once. I can always plead insanity.

Many with large exhibition layouts do hire 7.5 tonners, as the layout with lighting rigs, stock boxes etc will not fit anything smaller.

 

However, I am barred from this as is at least one other RMWebber to my knowledge, as my diabetes is treated by insuin, and my licence is now on a three year/no minibus/no LGVs restriction.

 

And on that happy note, I leave my fellow ERs for tonight.

Edited July 29, 2016 by 45156

[Donw]

I have ever just checked my licence online and I can drive class C1e, (between 3500 and 7500kg )vehicles. I only ever took a standard car test. It was a long time ago though .

 

Tony C1E means vehicles between 3500 and 7500 plus a trailer over 750 Kg I think the historic entitlement would limit you to a total over about 8500 Kg whereas those who have passed a C1+E test are allowed a total mass of 12Kg.

You are probably also allowed to drive a minibus (but not for hire or reward) with or without a trailer. I think we were all allowed to keep these rights as it would have been too much trouble to find out who had actually used them. At work I was handed the keys to a 7500 Kg lorry with a trailer attached with no questions asked. A bit of a change from the small car and vans I was used to.

Don

[Tony_S]

Tony C1E means vehicles between 3500 and 7500 plus a trailer over 750 Kg I think the historic entitlement would limit you to a total over about 8500 Kg whereas those who have passed a C1+E test are allowed a total mass of 12Kg.

You are probably also allowed to drive a minibus (but not for hire or reward) with or without a trailer. I think we were all allowed to keep these rights as it would have been too much trouble to find out who had actually used them. At work I was handed the keys to a 7500 Kg lorry with a trailer attached with no questions asked. A bit of a change from the small car and vans I was used to.

Don

Yes the minibus thing is on my licence too, as you say not for hire or reward. As well as the licence requirement when Aditi and I worked in schools and colleges one had to satisfy your education authority that you were safe to drive a minibus . When I worked as an advisory teacher there was a single decker bus that that had the seats removed and then converted to a mobile technology classroom. If you had a car licence and had satisfied the local authority examiner (at the refuse lorry depot! ) one could drive it about. I declined, lots of people loved driving it though. Edited July 29, 2016 by Tony_S

[Killybegs]

In the UK there is a change in the driving classes at 3500Kg under that it is class B over that is class C when I get to seventy (coming fast) if I wish to retain the class C I have to have medical checks. Those youngsters no longer get class C with the ordinary driving test and would have to take another test. 

Don

 

In Ireland I have to have a medical for Class C whatever my age. All drivers have to have a medical when they reach 70 and thereafter every three years. Consequently it shouldn't affect my Irish driving licence. I will certainly find out in four weeks time when I reach the magic age!

[peanuts]

be very carefull with what constiututes "hire or reward "  as dvsa are making rumblings along the lines of recieve any kind of prize money or sponsorship  for the chosen activity the vehicle is supporting eg motorsports showjumping will constitute reward and will require driver to undergo cpc and owner hold an operating licence .they are looking for someone to make a test case out of 

[AndyID]

Matthew said he was pursued round Cork by a couple of missionaries, one from the US and one Australian.

 

No doubt wearing pith helmets, or maybe they were just taking the pith.

[Tony_S]

No doubt wearing pith helmets, or maybe they were just taking the pith.

They had smart suits and asked him for his email address so he gave them one, but it won't work. Matthew went to bible study group for a year with a friend at university who was worried about being drawn into a cult. Matthew is apparently immune.

Tony

[The Stationmaster]

Mike,

 

Aldi are advertising 2 step step/stools which might stop the call outs you keep getting.

 

 

We already have something similar thanks - it's as near to the kitchen window as I am.  

[AndyID]

 #2 son comes home from his well deserved holiday with the family in Skeg Vegas tomorrow.

 

I've been to Lost Wages, Nevada many times over the years but there is little point in going there since they built a bloomin' great casino ten miles down the road. When we came here twenty years ago it was a little bingo hall with a few slot machines.

 

I don't gamble, but the restaurants are excellent, and they do get some good artists from time-to-time.

[Donw]

be very carefull with what constiututes "hire or reward "  as dvsa are making rumblings along the lines of recieve any kind of prize money or sponsorship  for the chosen activity the vehicle is supporting eg motorsports showjumping will constitute reward and will require driver to undergo cpc and owner hold an operating licence .they are looking for someone to make a test case out of 

 

That could affect Teachers as they are paid a salary rather than an hourly rate (marking is usually done outside school hours) so there could be an argument that out of school trips for kids is part of the job.

Don

[trisonic]

More music......

 

One of my favorite Springsteen songs off “Darkness on the Edge of Town”

 

Beautiful music at odds with the subject matter of the song. It works because we tend to enjoy “bittersweet”, I think.

 

 

Enjoy.

 

Best, Pete.

Edited July 29, 2016 by trisonic

[Tony_S]

That could affect Teachers as they are paid a salary rather than an hourly rate (marking is usually done outside school hours) so there could be an argument that out of school trips for kids is part of the job.

Don

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/494266/Driving_school_minibuses_and_advice_for_schools_and_local_authorities.pdf

[PhilJ W]

Phil, do not fit anything to the rear panel until you are certain that it has hard points behind it to accept bolts and screws. If the manufacturers already had a place for the spare wheel it seems unlikely that they would expect anyone to mount it on the back panel. Hard points for fitting bike racks may be either side of centre, which is where you want to fix the wheel. Worthwhile checking these things before you start drilling. The manufacturers do a great job squeezing a quart into a pint pot but one thing about motorhomes and caravans is that every owner would do something different to the internal layout in the light of experience. Other than that I hope you have a great time with the MH. 

There is a frame available that bolts onto the chassis that can hold a bike rack/spare wheel/towbar, alternatively I have seen the spare mounted on the front but I'm a bit wary about that because it interups the airflow of the radiator. There is also a side locker that could hold a spare if the ZIG unit and caravan battery could be moved elsewhere.

 

Morning all,

 

Phil - if it's the chassis I'm thinking it is and it's had a heavy body you will no doubt be paying special attention to the clutch and gearbox.  We had one of those chassis on a minibus fleet I used to have the dubious pleasure of managing and while the usage was rather difference from a campervan it was not very good at standing up to intensive use by sometimes less than 'caring and skilful' drivers - in fact it seemed to spend more time off the road than on and invariably it was clutch and gearbox troubles.

 

Its one of the last Bedford CF2's with the 2 litre Opel 'high cam' engine, but suprisingly it only has the four speed gearbox with a high rear axle ratio, a reasonable speed until it meets any incline, one of the reasons I do not want to place the spare in front. I am looking into fitting a more powerful engine, there are a couple of vauxhall engines that are almost 'bolt in' but this of course would affect the insurance.

Most manufacturers will quote the Mass in running order and the MLTP which is the maximum you are leagally allowed for the vehicles and contents. There should be a plate on the vehicle with the weights. The difference should be the payload how much stuff you can carry. However it is important to understand what is included in the mass in running order. Whether it includes a full water tank, the driver the gas bottles etc. Often people load them up with awnings, loungers, etc. The other thing to watch is where people have added things, An extended tow bar carrying bikes may be such a case. It can be that several bikes on the back can overload the rear axle even if within the MTLP. You can take a reasonable load but you cannot take it all. With Caravans there is similarly a maximum weight. I have seen people arrive on site park a caravan then erect a large awning and proceed to bring tables chairs cupboards beds and so on out of the van and into the awning. Such a load might be over the allowance for the van and can also be a problem in transit if it can move about.

In your case why is the LPG tank not replacing the fuel tank or do you want to retain dual capability?

Some motor homes have LPG tanks for cooking and heating these replace the calour gas bottles.

 

Don 

I want to retain dual capability, but thats given me an idea, fit the LPG tank in place of the spare, the existing calor gas bottle compartment which is adjacent to the locker with the battery becomes free leaving space for the spare tire. The weight I will have to check as I will be 70 in a couple of years but I'm pretty sure its within the 3500 KG limit.

 

I have ever just checked my licence online and I can drive class C1e, (between 3500 and 7500kg )vehicles. I only ever took a standard car test. It was a long time ago though .

Anyone who passed their test more than about 20 years ago should be able to drive vehicles up to 7500kg and 17 seats unless they are restricted for medical reasons. I have up until recently driven a 17 seater minibus and the only reason I no longer do so is that the people who loan the minibus impose an upper age limit of 65. Incidently the caravan is about 5 metres (16 feet) long and will just fit on my drive which is 5.5 metres long.

[AndyID]

WOT A SCORCHER!

 

Too hot to do anything constructive at the moment (at least that's my excuse.) 34C at the moment and likely to go a few degrees higher. Fortunately it was only 16C last night so it's a comfortable 24C downstairs. Must remember to keep my fluid intake up.

[PhilJ W]

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/494266/Driving_school_minibuses_and_advice_for_schools_and_local_authorities.pdf

I had to take a test when the legislation was changed as I sometimes drove one of my employers vehicles. This was despite my doing so only once a year or less.

[andyram]

Evening all I hope today finds you well. The sun is setting upon our time here in Somerset and, although the weather has been changeable, it has been a very enjoyable week. I would certainly recommend our cottage at Old Holcombe Water Farm as being a peaceful location with clean, well stocked accommodation.

Our final full day has seen us visit a local cider barn, the Doniford Farm park and then Minehead again in order to allow Amber on the beach. Sadly there was no more steam action as time prevented us from another ride on the West Somerset. We did have lunch in the turntable cafe and I watched 53808 come off shed to couple onto its stock ahead of an early afternoon service. I also picked up a few more bits and pieces from the gift shop.

The evening ended up back at the Raliegh Cross Inn again, however this was not the best experience. Tonight they had launched a new menu which seems to have much less choice. The children's menu is very sparse. We ordered three meals - Sarah and I had ordered the same dish (salmon fish cakes) whilst Amber had the only dish on the menu she would eat. Twenty minutes later her dish arrived on its own. After another ten minutes of waiting we challenged a member of staff to ask where our meals were. She came back to say that the till had only sent through the child's dish. Luckily I had our receipt to prove our purchase. She then came back to state that they only had one portion of salmon fish cakes so would we like to order a second dish. I chose a simple haddock and chips. Ten minutes later, whilst I was at the toilet, a member of bar staff turned up at our table and asked Sarah to pay the 45p additional cost of my replacement meal. Naturally we refused. The meals finally arrived with a mumbled apology. I won't be recommending them!

 

Home tomorrow, and hopefully more steam at the Ruddington show on Sunday.

Edited July 29, 2016 by andyram

[petethemole]

Pete, you've prompted an evening of The Boss on YouTube. Mostly numbers suggested by the Black Wolf (like the dog but more cuddly on a good day) that's lurking around these days.

 

Harking back to various elements of the travelling community, I've encountered a number of the 'New Age' variety. Most were/are lovely people and they know the proper function of a spade (and a twig to mark foul ground).

 

Yesterday and today saw me finally install W10 on my laptop and this PC. I haven't bothered with Martyn's laptop as he mainly uses it for games, Skype and YouTube; also he's staying at his mate's, with the laptop, so it missed the deadline. Mrs mole is in Germany so won't be lurking about to spend time with us while using my PC to do Facebook so I've got the house to myself. Loud music, cider, no Facebook and no Dave repeats on TV. I've now got The Boss live at Madison Square Garden from earlier this year, all 3 hours of it.

 

I need to take some meds, so have a good evening/night/new day.

 

Pete

[JohnDMJ]

Good evening all!

 

Another successful round trip to work, shops, pub and home completed!

 

In my experience there are 3 types of Chinooks. The noisy oversized military things that pass overhead on a daily basis, AndyId's style of chinook that is best grilled over cedar with some lemon and dill, and a warm wind that comes off the mountains delivering a break from the prairie winter and causing migraines to many. Which leads me to my bugbear of the day. Its a First Nations word and is correctly pronounced shin-ook, not chin-ook. Just like Spokane is pronounced can and not kane. (that is a long story and the city name was misspelt when it was incorporated according to legend)

 

Please don't get me started on pronunciation! My biggest bugbear is the word 'caisson', a water filled tank or barrage. The OED and, indeed, all associated with dockyards, etc. pronounce it 'Kasoon'. To hear the late Fred D and others referring to, for example, the Falkirk wheel, etc. as kaysoons sets my hairs on edge!

 

Good night all!

Edited July 29, 2016 by JohnDMJ

[New Haven Neil]

Busy day - it's transport week on Fraggle Rock, and we agreed with IoM Railways to take a Groudle engine to Douglas station tomorrow.  Originally it was going to be Richard's Bagnall replica 'Annie' but the boiler isn't quite finished, so John agreed for the Steamplex to go.

 

This resulted in a very scary afternoon....

 

We towed her up to the Headland with the diesel...

 

 

...and...OMG!

 

 

Safely on the truck

 

 

'Landing' in Douglas station - they have laid a third rail to 2 foot gauge for us, and 19" for the Laxey Mines loco on the next road.

 

[Happy Hippo]

. Took two hours longer than planned due to problems on the M5 after a god run cross country from Banbury.

 

I hope you weren't in the same position as Tony's Matthew?

[Happy Hippo]

Good evening all!

 

Another successful round trip to work, shops, pub and home completed!

 

 

Please don't get me started on pronunciation! My biggest bugbear is the word 'caisson', a water filled tank or barrage. The OED and, indeed, all associated with dockyards, etc. pronounce it 'Kasoon'. To hear the late Fred D and others referring to, for example, the Falkirk wheel, etc. as kaysoons sets my hairs on edge!

 

Good night all!

Oh Arkansas!

[roundhouse]

All set up at the Barnstaple show.

 

Taken one of our operators around Barnstaple to show him some of the lovely buildings such as the pannier Market , remains of the L & B Pilton yard the Barum berewery pub on Pilton, past Rolle Quay, (the pub and the quay itself) then past Town station.

 

A long day hence an earlier finish.

 

Looking forward to tomorrow's show

[edcayton]

More music......

 

One of my favorite Springsteen songs off “Darkness on the Edge of Town”

 

Beautiful music at odds with the subject matter of the song. It works because we tend to enjoy “bittersweet”, I think.

 

 

Enjoy.

 

Best, Pete.

 

Thanks Pete, that was lovely. Very Jackson Browne-ish. Do you have Bruce's original version of Across the Border?

 

Ed