There is rather worrying post on CT regarding a leaky Orion 440/4 that is worth a read.
Leaky Orion 440/4
Ours is due for a service in three weeks so I hope all is well in that department,have to say there is no indication that we have any ingress problems.
Ian
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Sunday, 12 August 2012
Floeing Again
Have been back from Cawood just over a week I thought I would try the Floe again,this time with all the taps shut.
As I surmised previously I got out just over 200mls, plus what came out of the hot water tank.
What came out was a dirty brown colour.
In my humble opinion I think this proves the worth of the Floe and its admittedly high price for what it is ( round about £40 ).
200mls is enough to freeze during the winter with the resulting damage of pipework etc.,although admittedly I had no problems last winter pre-Floe.
Ian
As I surmised previously I got out just over 200mls, plus what came out of the hot water tank.
What came out was a dirty brown colour.
In my humble opinion I think this proves the worth of the Floe and its admittedly high price for what it is ( round about £40 ).
200mls is enough to freeze during the winter with the resulting damage of pipework etc.,although admittedly I had no problems last winter pre-Floe.
Ian
Saturday, 11 August 2012
Damp Mattress
John has e-mailed me about a damp mattress in his 430/4,can't say I have heard of it previously and apart from a leak,which John says he hasn't got,I am at a loss to see where it comes from,apart from a faulty mattress in some way.
Anyway here is John's e-mail in full if anyone has any suggestions.
Orion 430-4 Damp Mattress
Hello Just found your site. Have had our Orion for a
month now, love the layout and van. Just one problem (so far). Damp Mattress.
Bedding fine, front seating fine. The mattress just seems to absorb any moisture
going. Has anyone else, to your knowledge, come up against this problem. Our
dealer says he has never come upon this problem before and will be contacting
Baileys on our behalf. Hope I am doing this "blogging" right, never done it
before. Regards John
Ian
Sunday, 5 August 2012
Sleeping Bag ( No Not SWMBO in Bed )
Instead of faffing about with sheets,blankets,duvets etc. we recently purchased a double sleeping bag and liner quite cheaply from GO Outdoors.
Tried the arrangement out for the first time whilst at Cawood and it worked very well,much quicker and easier to use than bed linen and warm as well.
Had another try using the rear bed but have decided once and for all that the front is much the better option.
Have taken the "mobile cushion" home,never to be used again.
Ian
Tried the arrangement out for the first time whilst at Cawood and it worked very well,much quicker and easier to use than bed linen and warm as well.
Had another try using the rear bed but have decided once and for all that the front is much the better option.
Have taken the "mobile cushion" home,never to be used again.
Ian
Saturday, 4 August 2012
Cawood Park
Just returned from a four day stay at Cawood Park between Selby and York.
A very clean and tidy site just north of the village.
It is in the process of upgrading itself with the emphasis on holiday homes,which incidentally look rather smart positioned around a lake on which fishing is included in the price.
We stayed on a super pitch which had the added advantage of having Astroturf at the side of the van on which to pitch the awning.We found this excellent as there was no need for awning tiles or carpet and was very soft to the feet,naturally we had brought a sack full of awing tiles
This is a feature which should be copied by other sites,hardstanding for the van and Astroturf for the awning,the pitch is then virtually weatherproof.
I have been studying the Isabella instructions on You Tube for erecting the Magnum and I must say it looked almost professional.
The shower/toilet block is clean and modern but the showers leave a little to be desired as they only seem to spray around the edges and not in the middle and the floor in front of the shower tray gets soaking wet plus,if you are unlucky,your clothes as well.
For £30 a night,a hairdryer might have been a useful addition.
As well as the super pitches there is a "touring" site which is just grass and is looking a little careworn but we were told that later in the year this is going to be turned over to static homes but the field opposite the present super pitch site is going to locate eighteen further super pitches so eventually the park will just be statics and super pitches.
There is a bit of work going on on the site but in no way did this affect our stay.
The park also boasts a small swimming pool which is included in the price and a smart looking clubhouse which we didn't visit but features "turns" at the weekend,there is also a small shop which sells groceries etc.but could do with stocking a few more caravanny items that people my need like one or two awning pegs or some fuses for example.
We had a couple of bike rides as the weather was warm and mostly sunny for a change and on one of these we called at the White Horse in Church Fenton for some dinner.
A welcoming and friendly place with good value food,can be recommended.
The Orion behaved itself ( nearly ) and won one or two admiring glances and one fellow camper came for a look round it.
It blotted its copybook on the last afternoon though when SWMBO announced that there wasn't any water coming out of the the taps.
Naturally I thought "What do women know about these things" but she was right,there wasn't any water coming out of the taps,any of them,hot or cold.
After trying all the usual thing like changing the pump and swapping out fuses there was still no water coming out of the taps,then after consulting CT for some inspiration I waggled the electrical connections at the back of the Whale inlet on the side of the van and water started to flow.
Not for very long though when another waggle was required and this is how it carried on but at least I know where the problem is,another one for the first service warranty list in a months time.
The front and off-side front blinds have always been slow to retract but now the off side one has packed up altogether.
All in all a very pleasant few days,Cawood Park can be recommended.
Incidentally we must now be fully fledged caravanners as we managed to sit out in the sunshine on two folding chairs just like the pictures in the caravan mags,this is only the second time whilst we have had the Orion.
Ian
A very clean and tidy site just north of the village.
It is in the process of upgrading itself with the emphasis on holiday homes,which incidentally look rather smart positioned around a lake on which fishing is included in the price.
We stayed on a super pitch which had the added advantage of having Astroturf at the side of the van on which to pitch the awning.We found this excellent as there was no need for awning tiles or carpet and was very soft to the feet,naturally we had brought a sack full of awing tiles
This is a feature which should be copied by other sites,hardstanding for the van and Astroturf for the awning,the pitch is then virtually weatherproof.
I have been studying the Isabella instructions on You Tube for erecting the Magnum and I must say it looked almost professional.
The shower/toilet block is clean and modern but the showers leave a little to be desired as they only seem to spray around the edges and not in the middle and the floor in front of the shower tray gets soaking wet plus,if you are unlucky,your clothes as well.
For £30 a night,a hairdryer might have been a useful addition.
As well as the super pitches there is a "touring" site which is just grass and is looking a little careworn but we were told that later in the year this is going to be turned over to static homes but the field opposite the present super pitch site is going to locate eighteen further super pitches so eventually the park will just be statics and super pitches.
There is a bit of work going on on the site but in no way did this affect our stay.
The park also boasts a small swimming pool which is included in the price and a smart looking clubhouse which we didn't visit but features "turns" at the weekend,there is also a small shop which sells groceries etc.but could do with stocking a few more caravanny items that people my need like one or two awning pegs or some fuses for example.
We had a couple of bike rides as the weather was warm and mostly sunny for a change and on one of these we called at the White Horse in Church Fenton for some dinner.
A welcoming and friendly place with good value food,can be recommended.
The Orion behaved itself ( nearly ) and won one or two admiring glances and one fellow camper came for a look round it.
It blotted its copybook on the last afternoon though when SWMBO announced that there wasn't any water coming out of the the taps.
Naturally I thought "What do women know about these things" but she was right,there wasn't any water coming out of the taps,any of them,hot or cold.
After trying all the usual thing like changing the pump and swapping out fuses there was still no water coming out of the taps,then after consulting CT for some inspiration I waggled the electrical connections at the back of the Whale inlet on the side of the van and water started to flow.
Not for very long though when another waggle was required and this is how it carried on but at least I know where the problem is,another one for the first service warranty list in a months time.
The front and off-side front blinds have always been slow to retract but now the off side one has packed up altogether.
All in all a very pleasant few days,Cawood Park can be recommended.
Incidentally we must now be fully fledged caravanners as we managed to sit out in the sunshine on two folding chairs just like the pictures in the caravan mags,this is only the second time whilst we have had the Orion.
Ian
Friday, 27 July 2012
A Floeing We Will Go.
A few months ago I purchased a Floe device ( Floe ) for removing residual water left in the supply system after draining down in the traditional manner.
Having recently purchased a digital air compressor I thought I would give the Floe a test run.
After studying the enclosed DVD I set to work pressurising the system after having close off all the taps and closing the water heater dump valve.
Being unable to pressurise the system properly I went into the van to investigate where I discovered I had not closed the shower tap and the bathroom was soaked in water.
After drying the bathroom I carried on doing the other taps and the water heater but because most of the water had come out of the shower there was only about 25mls or so of dirty brown water left in the system which I wouldn't have fancied drinking.
I would estimate that including the water in the washroom and that in the water heater there would be about 200mls remaining in the system which is enough I imagine to cause problems in a cold winter.
As the van hasn't been used for a couple of months due to cancellations because of the weather/flooding then some of the remaining water will have evaporated I suppose.
So in conclusion the Floe does actually work in removing water left in the system.
Next time I use it I will make sure the taps are all shut so I can measure more accurately the remaining water.
I shall sleep a bit easier in my bed next winter knowing that there is much less likelihood of frost damage during any cold weather we may have.
The Floe is around the £40 mark which for what it is is quite expensive but still less costly than having a frozen water system repaired.
Ian
Having recently purchased a digital air compressor I thought I would give the Floe a test run.
After studying the enclosed DVD I set to work pressurising the system after having close off all the taps and closing the water heater dump valve.
Being unable to pressurise the system properly I went into the van to investigate where I discovered I had not closed the shower tap and the bathroom was soaked in water.
After drying the bathroom I carried on doing the other taps and the water heater but because most of the water had come out of the shower there was only about 25mls or so of dirty brown water left in the system which I wouldn't have fancied drinking.
I would estimate that including the water in the washroom and that in the water heater there would be about 200mls remaining in the system which is enough I imagine to cause problems in a cold winter.
As the van hasn't been used for a couple of months due to cancellations because of the weather/flooding then some of the remaining water will have evaporated I suppose.
So in conclusion the Floe does actually work in removing water left in the system.
Next time I use it I will make sure the taps are all shut so I can measure more accurately the remaining water.
I shall sleep a bit easier in my bed next winter knowing that there is much less likelihood of frost damage during any cold weather we may have.
The Floe is around the £40 mark which for what it is is quite expensive but still less costly than having a frozen water system repaired.
Ian
Colin's Mattress
Colin has informed me that his Orion mattress which was advertised in an earlier posting has now been sold.
Ian
Ian
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Rain Sodding Rain
Well we had planned to go to Hawthorn Farm CC site at the weekend but I thought I had better check on the state of play this morning so I gave them a ring.
Bad news,they have a lot of grass pitches which they were closing as they were waterlogged and even the hard standings were very muddy.
The warden said the state of the site was "dreadful" and thanked me for ringing as she was about to start ringing around cancelling people.
I imagine that that most sites are much the same,plus if you get on and it rains some more,will you get off again.
We may eventually get away about October.
Ian
Bad news,they have a lot of grass pitches which they were closing as they were waterlogged and even the hard standings were very muddy.
The warden said the state of the site was "dreadful" and thanked me for ringing as she was about to start ringing around cancelling people.
I imagine that that most sites are much the same,plus if you get on and it rains some more,will you get off again.
We may eventually get away about October.
Ian
Friday, 6 July 2012
Helpful Tips
In the "Comment" section under the Oven Shelf post,Paul Medcalf has made one or two helpful suggestions that are worth reading.
For some reason I can't cut & paste them into a posting.
Ian
For some reason I can't cut & paste them into a posting.
Ian
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Just For Information:Oven Shelf
SWMBO wants an additional shelf for the Spinflo Duplex oven in the Orion and I was placed on this Earth to comply with her wishes.
The Bailey Parts site showed two different shelves for the Orion,one was the "Orion Duplex Oven Shelf,Part Number 1040399 at about £26 or so" and the other was "Oven Shelf 370mm,Part Number 1040072 at about £10";both plus P&P.
Not knowing which to order I contacted Bailey who said the former was the correct one ( the dearest one of course ) and they have removed the other from their site.
Ian
The Bailey Parts site showed two different shelves for the Orion,one was the "Orion Duplex Oven Shelf,Part Number 1040399 at about £26 or so" and the other was "Oven Shelf 370mm,Part Number 1040072 at about £10";both plus P&P.
Not knowing which to order I contacted Bailey who said the former was the correct one ( the dearest one of course ) and they have removed the other from their site.
Ian
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