Never use metal valve caps!

For the first time I wanted to check finally the pressure on the tyres. I was able to do this on three of them, but the read right tyre had a cap on that I just could not remove. Went to Walsh Vehicle Repairs, and they told me I need to go to a tyre shop - the valve cover had welded into the valve and therefore could no longer be opened, so the wheel would need to be removed and the valve be cut off and replaced. So I went to Kwik Fit right next to my place, and the guy there confirmed that this valve cover had welded into the valve. Since shop was not equipped to handle such large vehicles, he sent me to Kwik Fit in Geldert Road. They have provisions for trucks, but the blue Luton is still a bit too high: 10' 2" is their entry height, while the Luton is 10'4". So they sent me to Panesar Motors, and they did have a large garage for trucks I left the Luton there, and a few hours later the new valve was there, tyre pumped up to correct pressure.

So a whole afternoon was spent on this.

And each shop told me one thing: NEVER USE METAL VALVE CAPS !

Better mounting of the 2nd rear-view camera

After my friend Ken saw that I again attached the read-biew camera with blue tape, he offered some advice and help: using self-taping screws to affix the camera. I had originally tried to drill holes for fixing the camera, but the material of the upper rear panel appears to be solid har steel. I broke my drill bit. Therefore I used tape.

But then on Ken's advice I bought drill bits suitable for drilling in steel metal. And so I drilled two pilot holes, 3mm wide, then used Ken's self-taping screws with 4mm hole. And now the camera sits tight and stable.

I also could have drilled the hole for the cable inlet, but I did not want to drill in the hard tough steel. So instead I drilled a hole in the aluminium part, and that went like butter.

A second rear-view camera

 From Amazon I got another rear view camera, with a less wide-angle view, mounted higher in the rear of the vehicle. The monitor picture on the camera is very clear and sharp, looks very good. Now I feel safe driving backwards

Better fuel mileage

Another long distance trip. This time I tried to watch the fuel consumption by driving slower, trying to keep speed even on the motorway below 50 mph / 80 km/h . And it worked: the consumption changed from 15 mpg (15 l per 100 km) to 17.7 mpg (13.5 l per 100 km). Still not overwhelming, but at least an improvement.

Waiting for the ferry in Dunkirk:

In comparison, my blue camper is not that large. The white van in front looks somehow more massive.

And back in the UK:

Re-Wiring the Rear View Camera

On the first day when I had this camper, I had to buy a rear-view camera, because when driving backwards I was basically blind. No way of seeing anything that was behind the van.

Due to the rushed installation I only had time to attach the camera and the cabling with tape. Blue tape. But this tape did not stick very well, and the cables kind of dangled down on the side of the van. So I did a rewiring: the cabling now goes inside of the Luton box. Not very nice looking, but better than outside. 

Turns out guiding the cable inside needs longer cables, because the path is longer. So I had to get a video extension cable, next-day delivery from Amazon.

Now the cables are hidden, not visible outside, and my friend Ken in Leeds will be happy. He is a professional camper van owner, and he was disgusted by my haphazard way of "affixing" the cables with plain tape. 

I could also make good use of the hole in the floor on the top right, above the driver cabin: did not need to drill any holes but could guide the cables to the front into the cabin. Does not look very nice, must later find a better solution. 

And must definitely close that hole!!!