A few months back, we managed to get our hands on a 1990 Pilote R800S and are very excited to share a piece of Pilote History with our customers. It's currently being displayed on our yard. Feel free to pop in and have a look at the detailed craftsmanship and get nostalgic about the good old times.
Whether you are looking to park up your RV for the whole winter or just for an extended period when you are unable to use it, we have put together this simple guide and checklist to help you with the process. Batteries Battery life will depend on how you use and maintain your system
Tip: If the vehicle remains immobilised for a long period, regularly check the battery charge and recharge when necessary. How to recharge? To recharge the battery, connect the vehicle to the 230 V mains supply for 24 to 48 hours. Charging times may vary depending on how flat the battery is, should the battery be almost dead flat, charge times could be up to 48 hours.
Tip: Make sure you check if the battery charger is a constant voltage charger or a smart charger! Smart Charger – once the battery is fully charged the system automatically shuts down and charging stops. Constant Voltage Charge – will continue to charge the battery at 13.5V until the 240 V power is disconnected. Should you leave the 240V power plugged in for extended periods of time with no draw coming off the battery you will damage the battery.
Please follow the instructions below when operating gas
Should you have activated the pressure sensitive ball bearing, you will need to turn off the gas bottle, turn off all components and wait five minutes. Then slowly turn the gas bottle back on. Some operating systems and components may need resetting. You will need to refer to your manuals or contact your supplier for assistance.
Tip: Remember to refill the fresh water tank with good water to 1/4 - 1/2 full after following the instructions above. Grey Water Tank There are several products designed to assist with cleaning grey water tanks and water pipes. We recommend to use a product called Elemonate. You simply place one Elemonate tablet over each plug hole in your RV and run the tap until the tablet is dissolved. Ensure the grey water tank remains full for est. 20 minutes prior to emptying it. Tip: Toilet Chemical, Bleach or Baking Soda can also be used as an alternative. Please note depending on where you are discharging your grey water you may need to be mindful of the products you use. Toilet If you have a flush water holding tank, ensure you never run the tank dry. Ensure you are using a toilet chemical suitable for flush tanks to assist in keeping your pump lubricated. Tip: Aqua Chem Pink is a good product for this purpose.
Cassette and Toilet maintenance Ensure you lubricate the seal on the underside of the toilet bowl.
Tip: you need a silicone grease for the application.
Tip: Rubber gloves are recommended for this job. Whilst in storage, we recommend leaving the blade open to prevent damage to the blade and to loosen the cap of the pour out spout, which will ventilate the waste-holding tank. By leaving the blade open, you prevent the blade seal from drying out. Boiler/Water Heater
Depending on your system you may have a quick release valve as part of the boiler set up. If you do, it is essential, you check the valve prior to lighting your boiler for testing or your first time bringing the RV out of hibernation. Check valve is in correct position. Tip: If the valve has activated during hibernation mode and the hot water cylinder is empty, turn the valve back into place and set. Turn the tap to hot and turn it on. This will ensure the hot water tank starts to refill. Once the water runs freely you know the cylinder is full and you are able to turn the boiler on. If the boiler has not been running for several weeks or months you may need to try lighting it multiple times before it will light. Do not panic this will be down to the fact there is a lack of gas in the line. Exterior
I decided to slow cook a wild pig on the spit on the weekend and serve it in bread buns with coleslaw and sauce. Maybe roasting a hole pig is not the most motorhome friendly meal however using leftover roast from home and make pork sliders on the road is a quick and easy way to enjoy delicious finger food on the go. Ingredients:
2-2.5kg Boneless New Zealand Pork Shoulder 3 tbsp brown sugar 3 tsp salt 1 tsp smoked paprika ½ tsp black pepper 2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp mustard powder 1 tsp cayenne pepper 1 onion, quartered 1 cup cider vinegar 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce BBQ sauce to taste Method 1. Combine the spice mix Combine brown sugar, salt, paprika, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, mustard powder and cayenne pepper in a bowl. 2. Rub Rub the spice mixture over your pork shoulder – covering all sides generously. 3. Slow cook Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker. Add the onion, cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Cook on low for 12 hours, or on high for 8 hours. 4. Shred the pork Once cooked, remove the pork and shred with two forks and mix through your favourite smoky BBQ sauce. 5. Assemble the sliders Evenly distribute the pulled pork into 12-15 portions, and place on buttered sliders with creamy coleslaw. NEW DUCATO Innovation-driven, for over 40 years Last month I wrote a small article on the new Fiat facelift and shared my thoughts after seeing the first vehicles arrive in NZ. This month I would like to share some more technical information from Fiat directly and continue to explore what the new Fiat Ducato really has to offer. Please note that the information is generic and not all features are applicable to the NZ market. Enjoy the read!!! NEW MULTIJET3 POWERTRAIN Designed for LCVs The new Ducato Multijet3 powertrain lineup offers a wide range of choices that makes your work easier on every possible mission. Light Duty and Heavy Duty homologation (140hp and 180hp power levels), available on manual and automatic transmissions, all with a reduced noise level and weight and best-in-class fuel consumption. HIGH EFFICIENCY An all-new engine, that minimises excess consumption and emissions with an optimized weight. HIGH COMFORT Built with industrial design for long durability and top reliability HIGH DURABILITY Reduced noise level and enhanced torque elasticity with 9-speed gearbox available. 140 MULTIJET3 9 Speed
180 MULTIJET3 9 Speed
New Fiat Series 8 Facelift and 6D Final Engine Fiat has been building the Ducato since 1981. The new facelift model is the sixth generation which has been labelled the Series 8. It was originally launched in 2006 and then received substantial updates in 2011, 2014, 2019 and now which is probably it’s biggest yet. The Ducato Series 8 leaps to the top of the large Van class for driver feel and cab technology. The Series 8 swapped out the 2.3-litre engines for a selection of 2.2-litre units. They retain the same power and torque figures as the old 2.3s but offer greater fuel efficiency. Each engine is a different unit not an electronically calibrated upgrade which was the case with earlier models. We have also optioned the ‘eco’ pack, further increasing economy. The new engines are up to 7% more efficient than their predecessors, helped by a 15kg weight loss. The durability has also increased to est. 300,000km. The nine-speed automatic transmission is replacing the older six-speed ‘ComfortMatic’ system. In “Automatic” mode the control module selects and engages the gear in response to different driving conditions, speed, and load gradient, in case of frequent gear changes and in particularly tough conditions (on hills for example), the “Autostick” mode lets the driver stay in a lower gear, improving performance’s and prevents overheating. The drivability and feel have also been greatly improved as part of the 2022 update. Electric power steering is replacing the old hydraulically assisted rack. The updated system adapts to the vehicles speed increasing precision and results in an improved overall feel, better turning circle and steering response. The look of the front cab is noticeability different showcasing additional features such as a new front grill insert, skid plate, LED running lights, internal roof lights and side door panels. Trading your current motorhome when you purchase a new one is a simple and often an easy way for customers to have a seamless changeover as well as not missing out on camping whilst you are waiting for a new motorhome or caravan to arrive. Current shipping challenges have increased the chance of a new arrival being delayed and most campers are unwilling to let go of their pride and joy prior to making the move to a new vehicle. Due to recent price increases trade in evaluations are higher than ever and are well worth considering. Please note that we currently consider purchasing motorhomes and caravans outright. If you own a late model motorhome or caravan and are considering either selling or trading it in, please feel free to get in touch for an obligation free evaluation. We are always happy to assist!!! |
AuthorDeluxe RV Group Archives
October 2024
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