Have taken the plunge and launched the blog on Twitter.
The Twitter name is @BaileyOrionBlog.
There may be a hiccup or two as I am new to all this but we will see how it goes.
Ian
Friday, 12 April 2013
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Milenco Cargo Bar
I have often been concerned that when travelling with stuff in the van that it may shift,especially under braking,and cause instability.
Whilst mooching around on the net I came across the Milenco Cargo Bar which fits between two bits of furniture,in our case between the rear dinette seat bases,and prevents movement of transported equipment.
The quality of the bar is very good and it fits in seconds.
I got it from Kenmore Caravans via E Bay and it cost about £21.
If you decide to purchase be careful to buy the correct one as there are two sizes,I got the "small",20" - 36".
Ian
Whilst mooching around on the net I came across the Milenco Cargo Bar which fits between two bits of furniture,in our case between the rear dinette seat bases,and prevents movement of transported equipment.
The quality of the bar is very good and it fits in seconds.
I got it from Kenmore Caravans via E Bay and it cost about £21.
If you decide to purchase be careful to buy the correct one as there are two sizes,I got the "small",20" - 36".
Ian
Thursday, 28 March 2013
Easter Caravan Site Club Closures.
The Caravan Club has closed some sites and restricted others over the Easter period due to the weather.
This is the situation as of Thursday evening ( 28/03/2013 ) :-
Caravan Club Closures etc.
For the Caravan & Camping Club the closures are:-
Bala
Barnard Castle
Leek
EburyHill
Cannock
If you were travelling to any of these sites over Easter perhaps a phone call may be in order to ascertain the latest situation.
Ian
This is the situation as of Thursday evening ( 28/03/2013 ) :-
Caravan Club Closures etc.
For the Caravan & Camping Club the closures are:-
Bala
Barnard Castle
Leek
EburyHill
Cannock
If you were travelling to any of these sites over Easter perhaps a phone call may be in order to ascertain the latest situation.
Ian
Sunday, 24 March 2013
Beechwood Grange
Just returned from three nights at Beechwood Grange near York.
We were fortunate that as the rest of the country was suffering from snow we didn't see any apart from the odd flurry.
There was a cold wind but that was it.
The Orion performed faultlessly and the lagged heating pipes made it all the warmer.
I did have to call on the warden as all the 240v electrics went off and I presumed we had blown the bollard but it turned out I hadn't plugged the mains cable into the van properly.
I was especially impressed with the Isabella Magnum Eclipse sun shade,not that there was a great deal of sun to be shaded from but it makes a shelter if it rains.
We took this as it wasn't worth taking the Magnum just for three nights.
Although there was gusty wind most of the time,the Eclipse never moved an inch.
It was a bit of a gusty tow back down the A1/A64 but I think the shockers make all the difference.
Ian
We were fortunate that as the rest of the country was suffering from snow we didn't see any apart from the odd flurry.
There was a cold wind but that was it.
The Orion performed faultlessly and the lagged heating pipes made it all the warmer.
I did have to call on the warden as all the 240v electrics went off and I presumed we had blown the bollard but it turned out I hadn't plugged the mains cable into the van properly.
I was especially impressed with the Isabella Magnum Eclipse sun shade,not that there was a great deal of sun to be shaded from but it makes a shelter if it rains.
We took this as it wasn't worth taking the Magnum just for three nights.
Although there was gusty wind most of the time,the Eclipse never moved an inch.
It was a bit of a gusty tow back down the A1/A64 but I think the shockers make all the difference.
Ian
Saturday, 16 March 2013
Bog Standard Five Second Maintenence
I have read in one or two places about the Thetford toilet giving up the ghost and the problem has been diagnosed as the fuse at the rear of the toilet cassette compartment not making good contact.
Had this wizard wheeze of removing the fuse and applying a dab or two of Contralube to the fuse blades and replacing it.
Hopefully this might stop further problems.
There you are,five seconds and all done.
Ian
Had this wizard wheeze of removing the fuse and applying a dab or two of Contralube to the fuse blades and replacing it.
Hopefully this might stop further problems.
There you are,five seconds and all done.
Ian
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Winter Is Officially Over.
Went up to the van today,removed the winter wheels and reattached the round rubbery ones.
I did find the screw in wheel locating pegs mentioned in an earlier posting very useful in relocating the wheel to the hub.
I thought I would remove and check the spare as I have not removed it previously and there are all sorts of horror stories about the difficulty in removing it.
Well yes it is not the easiest device in the world to use but it wasn't the "devil from hell" that I thought it would be.
Having said that you have to lay prostrate on the ground to remove it and I was in a storage compound with my overalls on,much different I imagine to doing it at the side of the road in the pouring rain.
One thing that I did come to appreciate,that I have seen complained about but didn't realise the consequences of,was the problem of how to remove the spare when the puncture is on the near side which is the side the spare is located.
I only just managed to extricate the wheel from under the chassis with the van tyre inflated and the van fully nose down.
How you do it with a flat tyre I don't really know,plus the Al-Ko jack obstructs the removal of the wheel I think from memory,I will check this on my next visit.
I suppose you could run the flat up a levelling ramp to give some height,remove the spare,if it will come,and then jack the van up.
Or of course you could ring Mayday Green Flag and make a cup of tea whilst waiting.
I was pleased to see that the spare had been balanced as requested and a Tyron band fitted,one up for the dealers as I can't remember asking for a Tyron for the spare,glad they did it though.
Ian
I did find the screw in wheel locating pegs mentioned in an earlier posting very useful in relocating the wheel to the hub.
I thought I would remove and check the spare as I have not removed it previously and there are all sorts of horror stories about the difficulty in removing it.
Well yes it is not the easiest device in the world to use but it wasn't the "devil from hell" that I thought it would be.
Having said that you have to lay prostrate on the ground to remove it and I was in a storage compound with my overalls on,much different I imagine to doing it at the side of the road in the pouring rain.
One thing that I did come to appreciate,that I have seen complained about but didn't realise the consequences of,was the problem of how to remove the spare when the puncture is on the near side which is the side the spare is located.
I only just managed to extricate the wheel from under the chassis with the van tyre inflated and the van fully nose down.
How you do it with a flat tyre I don't really know,plus the Al-Ko jack obstructs the removal of the wheel I think from memory,I will check this on my next visit.
I suppose you could run the flat up a levelling ramp to give some height,remove the spare,if it will come,and then jack the van up.
Or of course you could ring Mayday Green Flag and make a cup of tea whilst waiting.
I was pleased to see that the spare had been balanced as requested and a Tyron band fitted,one up for the dealers as I can't remember asking for a Tyron for the spare,glad they did it though.
Ian
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Shockers Again.
After a visit to a dealers yesterday I can confirm that despite what the Bailey site says the latest Orions don't come with shock absorbers as a standard fitment.
I wonder what would happen if someone insisted on them being present as this is what Bailey are advertising ??
Orion 440/4 As An Example.
Interesting.
Ian
I wonder what would happen if someone insisted on them being present as this is what Bailey are advertising ??
Orion 440/4 As An Example.
Interesting.
Ian
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Wheel Covers
The wheel covers we have at present for the the Orion seem to blow away unless I anchor them with bricks so I was interested in these I saw on the Specialised site:-
Specialised Wheel Covers
Have ordered a pair so I will report on them in due course.
Ian
Specialised Wheel Covers
Have ordered a pair so I will report on them in due course.
Ian
Saturday, 2 February 2013
What If ....................................
After the Manchester Show,and wondering if there was to be an Orion facelift this year or next,I began to ponder what I would like to see in any new incarnation of the Orion,here are a few things I thought of ( apart from better workmanship ) :-
1. I think the new panoramic front window would look good even at the expense of the above window locker,but would it add to the weight or reduce it ??
2. Replace the Belfast sink in the washroom with a bowl shaped one so even if the van is not quite level the water will still drain.
3. Go back to a window/blind in the door as there was in the prototypes.
4. Shock absorbers as standard ( Bailey say they are OE now but I would have to check ).
5. The new 4Kw Whale heater.
6. Exterior door hinged at the other side so it doesn't foul the front window and with a means of securing the top half.
7. Lagged heating ducts.
8.Two plug holes in the shower tray as in more upmarket models to aid draining when the van isn't quite level or a single central plug hole with a slightly dished shower tray.
9. In the 440/4 at least,a wider door to the front nearside "wet" locker.
10. Steady support pads as standard ( they only have to be bought so why not provide them ).
11. Fit the "green cap" to the 13-pin plug as standard.
12. Offer Al-Ko ATC as a factory fitted option.
13. An Al-Ko steady winder instead of that skin trapping contraption that is at present provided.
14. A grille or mesh cover to the heating exhaust to keep creepy crawlies out especially when in storage.
15. Be able to access the spare wheel via a trapdoor from inside the van.
I don't think the above would add much,if any,mass especially if Bailey used the new lighter weight Al-Ko chassis as fitted to the grander models.
Has anyone any further suggestions ??
Ian
1. I think the new panoramic front window would look good even at the expense of the above window locker,but would it add to the weight or reduce it ??
2. Replace the Belfast sink in the washroom with a bowl shaped one so even if the van is not quite level the water will still drain.
3. Go back to a window/blind in the door as there was in the prototypes.
4. Shock absorbers as standard ( Bailey say they are OE now but I would have to check ).
5. The new 4Kw Whale heater.
6. Exterior door hinged at the other side so it doesn't foul the front window and with a means of securing the top half.
7. Lagged heating ducts.
8.Two plug holes in the shower tray as in more upmarket models to aid draining when the van isn't quite level or a single central plug hole with a slightly dished shower tray.
9. In the 440/4 at least,a wider door to the front nearside "wet" locker.
10. Steady support pads as standard ( they only have to be bought so why not provide them ).
11. Fit the "green cap" to the 13-pin plug as standard.
12. Offer Al-Ko ATC as a factory fitted option.
13. An Al-Ko steady winder instead of that skin trapping contraption that is at present provided.
14. A grille or mesh cover to the heating exhaust to keep creepy crawlies out especially when in storage.
15. Be able to access the spare wheel via a trapdoor from inside the van.
I don't think the above would add much,if any,mass especially if Bailey used the new lighter weight Al-Ko chassis as fitted to the grander models.
Has anyone any further suggestions ??
Ian
Ecocamel
I have recently bought one of these Ecocamel shower heads for the Orion that Bailey fit as standard to their posher vans,so someone thinks they are OK
Ecocamel Jetstorm E
They are supposed to use less water and give a better spray so perhaps we won't have to fill the Aquaroll as often.
The original plan was to get one for the van and one for home as we have an electric shower but I thought I would buy just the one and see what it was like at home first.
I am glad I did as it didn't work particularly well on our home shower so will just use it in the van.
I have kept the old shower head so if we ever change van we can swap them back.
When it has been put to use I will report on its performance.
Ian
Ecocamel Jetstorm E
They are supposed to use less water and give a better spray so perhaps we won't have to fill the Aquaroll as often.
The original plan was to get one for the van and one for home as we have an electric shower but I thought I would buy just the one and see what it was like at home first.
I am glad I did as it didn't work particularly well on our home shower so will just use it in the van.
I have kept the old shower head so if we ever change van we can swap them back.
When it has been put to use I will report on its performance.
Ian
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