Essential Information

Things that are necessary to know to use the A'van:

Cab seats: These leather seats can swivel to become part of the main accommodation.
Sleeping Configuration: One double bed, 2.00 m x 1.25 m. and one single bed suitable for a child under 12 years old. The latter is made by removing the table and cranking down the driver's seat back until it rests on the twin passenger seat behind.
Fridge/Freezer: The fridge always operates on 12 V. Fridge capacity 90 litres. Size: 808H x 549W x 411D (mm).
Gas cooker: 2 ring cooker ignited by match or included piezo lighter.
Gas bottle: A 4.6 kg gas bottle. The gas bottle is located in a vented, isolated exterior compartment on the kerb side of the vehicle under the bed, accessed from rear door. Do not use "Swap'n'Go" refills since these are hard to source in this size and anyway all seem to be only 3 kg bottles.
Microwave: Operates on 230 V power which can come from the mains supply or the fitted 1500 W inverter so long as used for 10 minutes or less.
Water heater: Water heater works on gas or 230 V and is operated by internal switches. Water will be heated after approximately 30 minutes. BOTH gas and electricity can be used to hasten the heating. A heater vent is on the driver's side towards the rear.
Fresh water tank: Capacity is 63 litre. Additionally, 2 x 10 litre plastic containers are located behind the passenger seat.
Drinking water: A drinking water faucet is located on the sink. It is supplied from the fresh water tank via dual filters that remove minerals, chemicals and Giardia bacteria.
Clothes hanging space: A clothes rail and special brackets to stop the clothes hangers from moving around are located in the cubicle for the shower and toilet.
Shower facilities: Hot and cold pressurised water shower cubicle with separate hand basin and mirror.
Toilet: Located in cubicle with shower. When foot lever is depressed, flush toilet waste goes into a 14 litre vacuum holding tank which is accessed from the rear door. The toilet cassette holding tank must be emptied if panel light in shower room indicates full. 1-2 cm of water must be in pan to seal vacuum (lifting foot lever adds water). A switch on the panel stops the toilet pump from operating at odd times. The switch is centre off, up momentary on, down permanently on. The ball seal in the pan needs to be kept clean to establish vacuum.
Grey water tank: Holding tank for grey waste water from the shower and kitchen sink. Disposable at all caravan parks and dump sites. Holds 71 litre. Note carefully how the hoses are stored under the vehicle on the driver's side. - the smaller hose is inside the larger, threaded nose to the front nestled in the driver's side front wheel well.
Power Supply: 230 V mains and 12 V battery. The 230 V mains power operates when the exterior power cable is plugged in at a camp ground. There are two 12 V batteries, one for starting the engine, and the other, a lithium type, for the domestic 12V system (the 'house' battery). Batteries are recharged by engine alternator when driving, from the roof-mounted solar cells, or from the mains power supply when plugged in at a camp ground. The wall-mounted panel meter near the sliding door can show the State of Charge of the house battery. Do not let it go below 20% before recharging by driving, solar or mains charger.
Lighting: All interior halogen lights have been replaced by LED lights and operate only off the 12 V house battery.
Heating/Cooling: A ceiling heater/air conditioner operates off 230V, and is thermostatically controlled to ensure a comfortable temperature.
Two fans are available for comfort.
Also fitted is an Airtronic diesel heater, operated from the mini-controller below the controllers for the hot water heater next to the bed. Set the dial to the desired temperature; start by top button, off by centre button, fan only by bottom button. Adjust setting slowly so that once the room temperature reaches a comfortable level, the heater runs at its lowest speed. Otherwise it will either use excessive fuel, or repeatedly stop and restart, drawing a lot of energy from the battery.
Storage: Ample overhead cupboard storage, space under bed at rear of vehicle, and along wall.
Skylights: One in the roof of living area, one in the shower cubicle. Ensure these are closed when driving.
Fly screens/privacy screens: All windows and the main skylight have privacy screens. All openable windows and skylights in the living area of vehicle also have fly screens. There are also fly screens for the sliding door entrance and for the cabin windows, under the bed. That for the side entrance fits into the rope track at the top and is attached magnetically at the sides and bottom. The cabin window screens also attach magnetically and are rolled into position.
Flooring: Easy care, non-slip vinyl.
Internal access: Full internal access between driver's cab and living area.
External access: Side door with power doorstep, controlled at the door. The step is retracted automatically when the vehicle ignition is turned on. The step cannot be activated if the ignition is on.
Sun awning: Fiamma wind-out awning fitted to the passenger side of the motorhome. Anti-flap brackets and poles are under the bed.
TV/FM antenna: A crank handle on the ceiling at the side door raises and lowers the antenna. A pull-down ring allows rotation to aim the antenna. The antenna has a built-in head amplifier which needs to be switched on at the red push button inside cupboard 8, the 'technical cupboard' at the door.
If signals at the location are vertically polarised, the antenna can be tilted to vertical to match. An adjuster handle can be reached through the main skylight — it needs a slight twist to unlock and lock, and then a push to set the antenna vertical. Be sure to pull out the handle to restore the antenna to the horizontal before lowering it!
850MHz mobile phone antenna: Mounted on top of the TV antenna, it has a connector under the front of the Technical Cupboard, cupboard 8. The TV antenna needs to be raised for this to be effective.
General Equipment: Buckets, fire extinguisher, etc.

Checklist: Leaving a Site

EXTERNAL (short stop)

Check under van for shoes/chairs, items
Wind in awning and pack away awning winder. Be sure awning is fully stowed for travel

INTERNAL (short stop)

Shower/toilet hatch and shower/toilet door well closed
Roof hatch closed and its block-out blind open
All cupboard doors closed and latched – important for floor level cupboards!
Windows closed, and blinds open. Front blind side guides may be folded down to reduce viewing blind spots
All lights, fans off
Stove and sink lids down
Diesel heater off
Microwave packed and door closed
Check that roof items stowed correctly by using the momentary switch next to the battery cell monitor (should show 4 green lights)
Water pump switch off (at monitoring panel)
[Note the other switch for this next to the bed]
Fridge door closed – if necessary use the child security locking strap
Bedding secure (its risky to travel with loose items on the bed but we have always done so)
Front seats locked in forward position

STARTING OFF (short stop)

Release the hand brake as you move off!!!

EXTERNAL (longer stay)

Check under van for shoes/chairs, items
Turn off gas at gas bottle (recommended but rarely done!)
If warranted, check gas level in the bottle by pouring very hot water over the bottle and observing the colour level strip (can be done in position!)
Fill water tank using the proper hose (with a trigger nozzle)
Lock the water filler access door
Water Tap attachment removed, water hose rolled up so empty, and stowed in rear drawer
Check that grey water tank is empty. Use hose or a bucket to do so
Grey water tap turned off, hose (if used) returned to position under the vehicle being sure the threaded end is properly located in position at the front
Black water cassette emptied. You may need to use the wooden stick provided to persuade the cassette to come away from the stand
Return black water cassette to its stand.
Power lead unplugged from Caravan Park power stand
Power lead fed back into place on rear offside of Van
Washing in/clothes line packed away
Remove flyscreens and shades on windows if they were deployed
Wind in awning and pack away awning winder. Be sure awning is fully stowed for travel
Restow third solar panel if it was deployed
Drive off Levelling Blocks if used, and stow them in the back
Every two or three days when travelling:
- Check tyre pressures: at 25°C pressure should be 65 psi in front and rear tyres
- Check oil level in engine (it has never needed topping up)
- Check that indicators, brake lights are working

INTERNAL (longer stay)

Shower/toilet hatch and shower/toilet door well closed
Roof hatch closed and its block-out blind open
All cupboard doors closed and latched – important for floor level cupboards!
Windows closed, and blinds open. Front blind side guides may be folded down to reduce viewing blind spots
All lights, fans off
Stove and sink lids down
Air conditioner turned off
Diesel heater off
Microwave packed and door closed
TV antenna: check that the antenna elements are horizontal (that if you have set the antenna for vertically polarised reception, you have returned it to its normal position), change the antenna director to point to the rear of the vehicle, and THEN wind down the antenna to be flush with the roof
Check that roof items are stowed correctly by using the momentary switch next to the battery cell monitor (should show 4 green lights)
Water pump switch off (at monitoring panel)
[Note the other switch for this next to the bed]
Fridge door closed; if necessary use the child security locking strap
Bedding secure (its risky to travel with loose items on the bed but we have always done so)
Front seats locked in forward position

(Return Caravan Park Key/Pass)

STARTING OFF (longer stay)

Release the hand brake as you move off!!!

Troubleshooting

Has something stopped working? Did something go wrong and there is now no power? Won't the heater start up? Step not deploy? Fridge not work?

First, check that you have actually turned on the right switch! A very common problem with no signal for the TV is that you have not turned on the signal amplifier in the Technical Cupboard (Cupboard 8).
Check the fuses on the Elektroblock (see its description). You may need to use a continuity checker to be sure the fuses are OK.
Check that all the connections to the Elektroblock are well seated, particularly on Block 6 which has a not so great plug. This may be the problem with the heater or the step if they show no signs of life.
Did the battery drop to a very low state of charge? Perhaps the Low Voltage Cut was activated. You will have to first turn off whatever drained the battery so low and start charging the battery by some means. After several minutes open the battery compartment and reset the cutout relay on the top of the power board by moving the little lever on top to its other position.
Did the battery problem occur because the water pump was running continually and it discharged the battery? Especially when the water tank is near empty, the pump will run ineffectively at a low rate nonstop. Be sure to turn off the pump between uses when the water level is 50% or less.
Did the Elektroblock display and switches stop functioning? Why? Correct the cause and then check the centre fuse in the group of three under a cover on the wall next to the Elektroblock under the bed. If blown, replace with a new 2 or 3 Amp fuse.

A flat tyre?

Pull off the road to a safe place and block the wheels so it cannot roll
Remove the jack kit and wooden blocks for jacking from under the bed in the battery compartment area, being very careful not to knock electrical wiring there
Remove the small plastic cover plates to the bolts that hold the spare wheel frame under the vehicle. These are at floor level and are immediately behind the rear cupboards
Undo each bolt using the spanners in the jack kit as much as possible — a slow and difficult process
To release the frame from its hooks at the rear, you may need to apply upward pressure to the wheel using the jack
Jack up the vehicle at the designated jack point, loosening the wheel bolts on the way and then removing them
Replace the wheel, lining up the locating spike on the axle with the wheel
Tighten the wheel bolts very firmly using hand pressure only. Do not use an extension or stand on the brace
After having the flat tyre repaired, replace it in the spare wheel frame. Its just as hard to put it back as it was to remove the first one.

Consumables

Filters

Water filters should be changed every 1–2 years. "Voyager" twin set.
Heater air return filters should be changed or vacuumed periodically. Details here.
Fridge ventilation air inlet filter behind grille. Details here.
Toilet exhaust air odour control. There is an activated carbon filter in the floor of the base station that periodically needs to be removed, heated in an oven at ~90C for several hours and returned to service. An introduction here. Refer to manual.
Range hood. Condensed oils from cooking build up on the metal mesh filters and need to be cleaned periodically.
The roof-top air conditioner has an electrostatic filter in the rear air director flap. It needs to be washed periodically.

Batteries

The weather station requires two AA cells.
Temperature transmitter for weather station is behind the near-side rear view mirror. Two AA cells are required.
Fridge thermometer. Two button cells required.
Smoke alarm. A 9V battery required.
Bed-side clock. An AAA cell required.
JVC CD Tuner. The settings are retained during disconnects of the house battery. A 9V battery does this. See details here.