The Caravan Owners Club

[n1cktd5]

I would like to fit these in the existing cluster, has anyone done this ?

[Doc]

Before you do the reversing lights, Nick, you ought to make sure that the offside (UK) foglight is active as Hobbys usually only have the (UK) nearside foglight active. 'Tain't quite legal!!

You need to get hold of the little three pronged bulb-holder that fits on back of the light cluster. G.T. trading have them, I think.

Don't think many bother with reversing lights.

[n1cktd5]

Before you do the reversing lights, Nick, you ought to make sure that the offside (UK) foglight is active as Hobbys usually only have the (UK) nearside foglight active. 'Tain't quite legal!!

You need to get hold of the little three pronged bulb-holder that fits on back of the light cluster. G.T. trading have them, I think.

Don't think many bother with reversing lights.

I have both fog lights working

I was toying with the idea of a bleeper but think it's illegal - no reversing lights is also a breach of the law I think ??

[keith]

Before you do the reversing lights, Nick, you ought to make sure that the offside (UK) foglight is active as Hobbys usually only have the (UK) nearside foglight active. 'Tain't quite legal!!

You need to get hold of the little three pronged bulb-holder that fits on back of the light cluster. G.T. trading have them, I think.

Don't think many bother with reversing lights.

I have both fog lights working

I was toying with the idea of a bleeper but think it's illegal - no reversing lights is also a breach of the law I think ??

Reversing lights are not a requirement they are considered an accessory in law.

[n1cktd5]

Reversing lights are not a requirement they are considered an accessory in law.[/quote]

Thanks Keith,

For safety I want to fit some anyway.

Nick

[Doc]

Nick, you obviously want your new Hobby to have 'all the bells and whistles' so to speak (and no harm in that), but adapting the reversing lights to be operative is likely to be quite a fiddle.

Apart from cutting out the blanks from the rear light clusters (a real pain in the @r5e), you'll also need to run a feed wire from the lights up to the Hobby connection block for the wiring to the 13-pin plug, as I don't think Hobby put wiring in for reversing lights. (not in my 2002 'van any way)

And then you need to make sure that the reversing light feed is connected up to pin-8 (13-pin socket) or pin-1 (12S socket) at the car; very often it isn't!

So it's unlikely to be a quick Sunday morning job; unless you're very lucky!!

Happy Hobbying!

[fokion]

Maybe he will leave that for the second weekend!!!!!

[n1cktd5]

Maybe he will leave that for the second weekend!!!!!

Sorry guys my excitement is taking over reality, Doc you are right I do want my van to have that 'Nick' factor. I have done this on all my vans to be honest and if I gave you a list of jobs done and to do you would need an hour to read it I don't want to give all my sectrets away 'cause I'll have people quoting me like with you !!!

Just having a tea break mid flow on the jacuzzi install, then its onto the herb garden creation on the 'van roof.



I am going to look into it, but an option is to have a 2 way intercom and pay a small child to sit in the rear. Upon hearing my voice they could shine a torch from the window at th rear thus appearing to a reversing light......your thoughts gentlemen.

[keith]

Nick I am beginning to wish I lived near you, then I could park my van outside your house for the weekend with a couple of boxes of accessories and see if you could resist fitting them for me

[Roy Armstrong]

I just hope that Nick weighs his Hobby when he's finished all his upgrades (or preferably before).
I've had to take goodies (including the motor mover) off my 540WLU to get the weight down to the 1600Kg plated and I had the uprated suspension option.

[Doc]

Nice one Keith and Roy.

Nick is obviously an 'upgrade-nut' so perhaps at the next rally we should form a circle round his 'van so he can do all this upgrading on our 'vans, and then he won't get into any weight trouble on his own 'van!!

What a 'cunning plan' as the good Baldrick would say. Or even a 'cunning stunt', . . . . . . . . but you must be very careful saying that!!

Anyway Kim's Bob is pretty nifty at the upgrades; he did a super job with his imported Coleman Air-Con unit, oh and . . . . and his electric levelling!!

You can see piccies of some of mine here http://community.webshots.com/album/67010113HgzPle.

I find the additions to the lighting (often not brilliant in Hobbys) especially worthwhile.

Have fun and Happy Hobbying.

[n1cktd5]

Very good guys.....

I am indeed a bit gadget mad. Let me get my diary sorted next year and would love to attend a Hobby rally, complete with 2100kg 540UK

Have finished extras. They are not heavy ones in fact, things like 12v radio, status 530, freeview, mp3 and bottle racks are not heavy. As my main sport is Tug O War and I am just 30 years old I don't have the need for a mover just yet.

I have also 'downgraded' all the lights to 5w bulbs. As on rally fields no power and so 12v is king. I was looking at a twin battery change over but each battery is 50kg or so and it would be a bit silly....If i can get away with it I will do though !!!!. I have access to a weigh bridge so will weigh her soon..watch this space.

Keith - no probs mate. I am no technical guru (civil engineer) but I have an attention to detail and access to most trades via friends. Also I am a self confessed Gadget mad fool

Just need an easy jet ticket to see Fokion as the weather in Greece has to be better than here.....maybe thats it a euro tour finishing in Greece...

[Ladyjan]

Never mind Fokion's gadgets....... I wanna help drink his beer

Jan

[n1cktd5]

Never mind Fokion's gadgets....... I wanna help drink his beer

Jan

Jan,

Its been outside in his awning in Greece..eerrrr warm beer. The beer is much colder in 'sunny' Warrington

[beejay]

I think I know why Hobby don't wire the reversing lights. If they are fitted, reversing lights MUST work on a car so, theoretically, also on a caravan. But, we don't have MOTs for caravans (yet) so no problem in the U.K. In Germany there is a caravan MOT so, do the reversing lights have to work OR as there are no bulb holders, the opening is blanked off and there is no wire in the harness, is it considered that the reversing lights do not exist???? If so, why does Hobby fit light units with reverse lamps? I have spoken to Hella about this and they said this particular "Caraluna II" lamp is specific to Hobby and made to their specification in Finland. There is a similar lamp fitted to other makes (including some U.K. models) where the reverse lamps are useable. Regarding the foglamp, the easy way is to change the bulb holder to the right hand lamp after removing the blanking disc but it is just as easy to run another wire from left lamp to right lamp and get them both working. Beats me why Hobby are not wiring all the rear lamp cluster, they know that hundreds are used in the U.K. and have an official Importer. If wiring the second foglamp and reverse lamps add another earth wire from the front junction box. The existing wire could be overloaded if you have rear, fog and reverse on together never mind the hazards!!!! I have fitted stop/ tail bulbs in the stop lamp opening so getting twin rear lamps on each side (twin contact bulb holders fitted with parallel pin 21/5 watt bulbs).