Perseverence is key with a camper

Readers, you may remember that on our epic trip to Ireland we had the key stuck in the ignition in the 'on' position so had to resort to connecting and disconnecting the main electrics to start and stop the car. Not the best way to operate things.

So this was clearly high up on our jobs list for the Winter and using the expertise of the car locksmith at his work, Husband recently dismantled the key barrel and managed to fix it, this after being quoted £90 (because a working key barrel is like rocking horse poop according to Husband) for a replacement from Adrian Bailey (CF bods will know who he is).  Here's how we (Husband) did it:

Step one: drill 2 holes, one either side of the lock retaining pin

Step two: prize the lock retaining pin out...

Step three:...allowing key barrel to be removed

Step four: lightly drill the rear retaining clipto remove the peened over metal

Step five: now the lock mechanism can be removed and the offending key slides can be taken out

Step six: this shows a badly deformed key slide and another one that snapped in half, this is what was causing the mechanism to jam

Step seven: remove any redundant springs, I left only 2 lock slides in place to hold onto the key to stop it rattling out

Step eight: re-peen the back plate on and re-assemble everything - knock the pin back in and it shouldn't fall out

So there you go - easy, right?!

We're back! Well, eventually...

It's been an age since we last posted about Trevor but things have been decidedly hectic over Winter - unfortunately not in terms of working on the van but other life events; we have baby number two due this Autumn so the need for the baby bunk has never been greater!

Husband returned from an extended work trip to Japan in June, and has now turned his attention back to Trevor with the first target to get that all important MOT.  You'll remember last year how Trevor stunned us all by achieving an MOT pass FIRST TIME; well our fingers are crossed for this time around.  We have got off to a shaky start though....

Amazingly Trevor started on our first attempt after over-wintering on the driveway - I for one was amazed when I heard the front door windowpanes rattling from the revs - wonderful!  A week or so later Trevor was booked in for an MOT and we weren't sure to expect.  One thing we certainly didn't anticipate was to get a speeding ticket whilst driving our ancient campervan!

On the way to the test centre the Husband was revving up and braking sharply with the purpose of bedding in the brakes. Unluckily, just as he revved the van up past 30 he got pinged by someone with a roadside speed camera! I couldn't help but laugh when I heard the tale; although I'd never condone speeding, it did tickle me that our slowest vehicle which sometimes struggles to get over 40mph had clocked up a speeding offence!!

Sadly Trevor wasn't tested at the MOT centre that day either, because the rear brakes were partially seized on, so all in all it wasn't a very productive time.  By the time the van was back home they had freed-up, so back he went for his re-test soon aftger and it all went pretty much ok - failure on a few minor points which Husband managed to rectify quickly [Husband says: number plate light and one inch square area of welding on the floor]. The mechanics at the test centre know us and the van now and even commented when we took it back, how well it is doing from year to year, with the minor fails getting more minor!

Anyway, this time it was thumbs up so we're on for holidays this summer, hoorah!!