New To The Camper Lark

Hello to all, bought an eighties 4 (I think!) the other day. Have not seen it yet, not the best way to buy something I know, but having had extensive chats with the owner, he seems a genuine chap, and the camper looks in great nick from the photos. Just need to get a tow bar fitted so I can go and pick her up!

Main reason for the purchase was that we do Glastonbury every year, and my other half has refused to tent it this year!

Did some extensive research online (this forum was a big help) and a Dandy seemed the only way to go. Should be fun putting it up the first time

Looking forward to lots of weekends away, especially if the weather ever improves!

Nice to be here, I'm sure I'll have lots of silly questions.

Welcome to the group and cant wait to see what you have bought.

I drove 3 hours to mine and still never saw it up without parting with my cash.

Hello and welcome

Great to have some more festie folk along. Daughter keeps nagging me to take her to Glastonbury so looking forward to hearing how you get on with the Dandy there.

It was the desire for a bit of luxury at festivals that got us into Dandys too.

Exciting times, I loved collecting our Dandy .... apart from keep checking it was still there because it towed so easily, we were in the same boat and had to wait to have a tow bar fitted

questions are very welcome

Thanks for the welcome folks, I'd post a pic, but not allowed for 7 days. Should be getting the tow bar fitted next Wednesday, so hopefully can pick her up next weekend. If I'm not working that is!

Hello and Ali T

Look forward to seeing your pics when you get it home.

Just need to think of a name now!

BTW, anyone any idea where I can get a spare wheel?

Hi Ali, what a wise OH you have. Welcome to the world of PVC, I hope you have lot's of fun.

I'm looking for a spare wheel as well. I have a trailer I bult in 1980 using mini wheels from the scrap yard. When I get a chance I want to compare them, in particulaar I want to check the offset.

I'm looking at the WT5 or WT52 here.

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There's a fair bit on wheels and tyres here

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Hmmm. Welcome to the world of PVC.. Thought I was on the wrong forum there!

Thanks for the info, I'll have a look. Guess it might be easier/cheaper to buy new ones for it?

There is one advertised for a fiver on the dandy owners club. Too far away for me. Surrey/Sussex border

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Glastonbury jealousy emits form this post

I too bought my dandy for festivals primarilly, sick of spending 2hrs packing up a sopping wet tent after 3-5 days of excess hehe. Hopefully i get mine this weekend.

Nice to see im not the only new face here

to the forum,i see you got sorted so i wont pm you.

mike

Cheers Mike.

Might have to delay the tow bar fitting, some t**t has just nicked £800 quid out of my bank account!

Bank were great though, refunded me straight away, though of course have now cancelled my card, and it'll be late next week by the time I get my new one. Curses!

Hello Ali.

We have just recently setup an email account for such purposes send the pictures to dandycampers(at)live.com and one of us will then host the pictures for you.

I presume you realise the (at) is @ but used to stop automated readers.

Ok thanks, will do that.

Ali T wrote:Ok thanks, will do that.

Not pressing but just checked the forum email address, nowt yet.

Tow Itch wrote: Hello Ali.

We have just recently setup an email account for such purposes send the pictures to dandycampers(at)live.com and one of us will then host the pictures for you.

I presume you realise the (at) is @ but used to stop automated readers.

Piccies now uploaded.

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Blast too much shadow can't see if they are flat or dished wheels.

I can blow up the image here, they are definitely dished.

Good deal for £600?

Old style Mini wheels then.
I'd confirm with Ian the offset, centrebore and that they are the original 31/2" wheel though as more Mini variations than you can shake a stick at.

Good deal for £600

It's not what I think that is important. It's about you being happy. I've seen people pay more and less. Generally as long as the floor is solid and the suspension not knackered you will get good value out of it.

Certainly looks like it's in good nick. Inside nice and clean and original, outside clean, full awning. You can't really go wrong for that money.

Presumably if you're going to festivals you won't have electric hook up. Will you be sble to manage with fridge and lights etc.

Seller says it comes with leisure battery, and I have been looking at three way fridges. Any suggestions on that front?

Regarding the wheels, would new ones with no offset be ok? I realise they would stick further out, but as long as PCD and Center bore were correct, they would be ok?

Pretty sure the floor and suspension is ok, but I'm pretty handy and have loads of tools, so any repairs or renewals should be manageable, especially with all the kind help here.

They don't look like mini wheels to me, they look like standard 10" trailer jobs as fitted to my 1990 disco. In that case they are easy to replace, 10" mini wheels are scarce nowadays and prices have gone up accordingly I know, I would like to replace mine with mini ones so that I could fit chrome hub caps

A leisure battery will never run a 3 way fridge, or any other 12v cooler for long enough to be useful. The 12v option is only to be used when connected to the car alternator while the engine is running, any other choice will very rapidly result in a flat battery as a 3 way fridge takes about 8 amps minimum (approx 100 watts)

Cheers for the info, yes, I was aware of that (I work in the electricity supply industry). I was intending running the fridge on gas.

It's more to keep the beer cold than anything else!