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| What's your Hobby?; Who has what Hobby Caravan. | |
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| Topic Started: Jul 16 2008, 10:57 PM (1,715 Views) | |
| KeithMcC | Jul 16 2008, 10:57 PM Post #1 |
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Well let me start off. We just happened to wander in to the J G Trading Showroom in Eastriggs, near Annan in southern Scotland, 'cos that's near where we live. Just out of interest, to see what a Hobby caravan was like. We had a very good, nearly new, Avondale Harrier at the time - November 2002. Wow, we were blown away, and without leaving to think about it we traded in our old van for a brand new HOBBY 540UF - promised to be imported in a "few weeks". By March 2003 at the latest. It didn't arrive until early June of course, but it was certainly worth the wait. We have kept that van, and still have it. I just could not imagine parting with it now. It is almost as good as the day we got it - bone dry, smart, unmarked, clean unfaded upholstery and carpets, AND we have done so many things to make it the way we want too. Things like adding battery, relays and charger; fitting dual water supply option of Aquaroll connection panel as well as on-board tank; design and make a lighter wooden dining table; fit a Keen Electronic alarm system and sensors; upgraded fog lamps and fitted reversing lamps and wiring; CRiS Registration and DIY etching of all windows; adapted TV aerial wiring internally; fitting a Status 530 direction aerial through the roof; adding a spare wheel carrier; fitting the Kojak jacking plates; fitting Powrtouch mover. In that time - 5 years now - the van has been serviced by J G Trading every year and monitored for damp. Excellent service from Mark and first class advice on various topics too. So.........we still tow the same van with the same car (Volvo V70 - 170 bhp petrol manual) , just five years on, and 20,000 towed miles across Europe too as well as UK, and 103,000 miles total in the Volvo. Both going strong and no signs of wearying either. Do I have any niggles? yes one or two, but that is for another Forum/Topic. Keith |
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| Roy Armstrong | Jul 17 2008, 06:02 AM Post #2 |
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2005 Prestige 540WLU, uprated payload, upgraded soft furnishings, bought from Joeressens, Rheindhalen. Modifications: 110A/h battery with Sterling 4 stage charger. Roof mounted 55 watt solar panel with Morningstar controller. NASA battery management monitor. Roof mounted Dometic B2200 Air conditioning. Ultraheat added to the Truma space heater. 5 litre Trumatherme water heater upgraded to Truma Elektroboiler, 14 litres, 230 volt, 850 watts. Additional sockets installed in TV cabinet, run from a 300 watt inverter. Supermule security device. SAS alarm system. Tracker Monitor. Fiamma Safe-T-Lock for entrance door. Fiamma rear mounted Hobby Carry Bike. Satellite cable run straight from existing external socket to TV cabinet. Relays and wiring to allow fridge and battery charging from the car. Modified the fixing of the rear panel to the floor to (hopefully) prevent the floor rotting in the corners. Added 230vac and 12 vdc LEDs to the fridge panel to indicate when on. Roof lettering added. Front locker mounted spare wheel. Removed and stored the sliding door between living and sleeping areas as it was never used and is quite heavy, allows more alcohol to be carried!!! Only one problem to date........the cutlery drawer handle came loose!!! |
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| Hobbyman | Jul 17 2008, 07:02 AM Post #3 |
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Wow, just a few mods then 
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| fishman | Jul 17 2008, 10:00 AM Post #4 |
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Hi Roy nice to see you on here I have read all your previous posts avidly and found them brilliant, Re cutlery drawer is it the handle! Or drawer front ???? I had a prob with drawer front pulling away??? Cured it easy, Was going to post on here when i had time! Fishman |
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| candlefish | Jul 25 2008, 12:00 AM Post #5 |
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Well, we've got a 495uk (with the bunk beds) which we got in 2005 from Joeressens in Germany when the euro was a piddly little currency, and 1 euro = 69p. We tend to go back to mainland Europe in the summer due to Mrs C's job, and spend the rest of the time sneaking short breaks in Scotland or the North of England. We got a load of advice from the old club before we bought, and really appreciated the help everyone gave. So far, nothing has broken, but I did ding the front table when I left a fan on the tv shelf and then drove 70 miles. (oops) Also the cows got out at the farm and broke a bit of trim last month. Fixed with white silicone! (the van, not the cow) Cheers, David |
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| Roy Armstrong | Jul 25 2008, 06:59 AM Post #6 |
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Hi fishman, Thanks for your comment. The cutlery drawer handle came loose due to one of the fixing screws being too short, the whole front does flex somewhat however. Roy |
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| Hobbynut | Jul 26 2008, 05:29 PM Post #7 |
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I have a 1998 Hobby 710 Excellent which I have had for 7 years..I want to get another but just can't bare to part with this one, it's part of the family Cheers Hobbynut |
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| fishman | Jul 27 2008, 11:49 AM Post #8 |
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Hi Roy, Mine was flexing to the point of starting to crack plastic drawer sides, I purchased some 2" x "2 white plasic right angled brackets, (i could post you some if you like ) These screwed to top of plastic drawer sides on top then one screw in top hole into drawer front , I have a photo on my phone pm me your no and i could maybe send it, cant postpic no bluetooth on laptop, Regards fishmang |
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| kevcon | Aug 2 2008, 10:25 PM Post #9 |
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Hi everyone Have just got a 2003 HOBBY 650 UMFe EXCELLENT EASY. Great to find this site as i have been looking for both for a longtime and thankfully found both in the same week. think these caravans are great and walk all over the others. kev |
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| happyface838 | Aug 9 2008, 07:19 PM Post #10 |
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Hi there, got a 2006 540 ufe from joeressons, first outing into uk met with campsite that was less than accomodating (because it was a hobby) but since then tend to use club sites and have not had any problems. I have a permanently mounted lcd flat panel tv satellite dish/ receiver on board gel battery and charger/ controller spare wheel gas oven truma ultraheat Only niggle I had was self inflicted where I didn't drain down water properly from kitchen tap! Cost 49 euros for a new one from joeressons and received in a week. What a fantastic van! |
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| Firth | Apr 28 2009, 12:22 AM Post #11 |
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Newbie
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Hi, Keith. Got a Hobby 495UL from J G Tradingin March. Our first brand new caravan. Dawn was great but we weren't told until we'd paid for it that the hot water doesn't work off gas. You sound like the kind of person who'd know if we could do anything about that. We also discovered that without battery power we don't even get cold running water or toilet flush! See my post in the "welcome" section - "Hello from the Moray Firth" |
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| Roy Armstrong | Apr 28 2009, 05:17 AM Post #12 |
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Hi Firth, If you had connected your cararvan to your car the toilet flush, water pump and limited lighting should have worked when off hook up. This is the way that Continentals use it for breaks en-route. You could install an Ultrastore water heater but it is expensive. A simpler gas water heater to fit is the Henry which is a copy of the Carver Cascade. Lots of info. on here re. fitting a leisure battery and charger. |
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| 2bees | May 2 2009, 12:02 PM Post #13 |
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We bought our 2006 495Ufe Prestige from Decuyper in Belgium (like Candlefish, when the euro exchange rate made it even more of a bargain!) Only mods have been a rear mountted bike rack, battery & charger, Powrtouch motor mover and a Fiamma Zip - we have a full awing and a porch as well , but never use them as we find the Fiamma fine for everything, especially when touring around in France! Oh, and we changed the curtains as the red & gold were a bit too much  Superb van and would only change it for another one! |
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