Adria Caravans

[Lazy-Ferret]

We are starting to find replacement caravans that will fit our lifestyle, and one that seems to have several models that fit the bill are Adria.

Anyone on here have any experience of the long term, build quality, ease of parts... blah blah... Most of the fittings seem to be English, lie the toilet, heating and hot water, so it will basically be related to the chassis, and brakes etc.

Cheers

[zippy656]

Not worked on one.
But
The chassis, and brakes etc. Are alko so same as your last one ;)

[Lazy-Ferret]

Not worked on one.
But
The chassis, and brakes etc. Are alko so same as your last one ;)

Result.... I'll keep the chassis handbook then...:lol

[zippy656]

Lol

True.

[Lazy-Ferret]

Our old 1996 caravan was perfect for us, we had made a few modifications to get her exactly how we wanted, and we spent an average of about 70 nights a year in he. We loved her, She was our haven away from the "real" world and were most happy when loading her up and heading away for a weekend, or longer. She was all the more special to us, as we got her as our wedding gift to each other, when we got married 8 years ago.

In the last couple of years, when odd things have needed work, ie when the heating system packed up, and we discovered how much it would cost to get it fixed, or when we realised the floor had de-laminated, we talked about changing her, but every time we did and went to look at a few vans, we could never find any caravan that were anywhere near as good as she was, even most of the ones out of our price range, were still not what we wanted. Luckily, being fairly good at the DIY, I found how to fix the heating controller for the cost of a 97p transistor, and a £5 motor, and I purchased the resin, became a driller killer, and re did the whole floor, with great results, although I do have to say, that paying someone else to fix de-lamination is well worth the money, no mater how much they charge! LOL

As most of you may have read, unfortunately, our love affair was unfairly cut off in it's prime, when our caravan was written off by a person who could not see it slowing down, despite being bright white, and having 3 massive brake lights on the back.They managed to hit the back of it so hard, they caused huge amounts of damage to the caravan, and also our T2 as well.

Now our hand was forced, we set to work again looking round for a replacement, only this time, we had no fall back, so had to find something. We decided to take this opportunity, to add some funds to the kitty, so we could go for something newer, but we were still struggling to find anything that was within our budget, and ticked all the boxes we needed. To make things worse, we have not even seen a single one of our old van, in the same layout for sale anywhere, so we did not even have that as a fall back option.

So after 5 weeks, of looking, and travelling over 1000 miles looking at caravans in various dealers, and seeing some real heaps that were in worse condition than the current state of our written off van, we decided we would have to go private, but how to buy privately, when you have no idea what you want.

We spent most evenings, wading through listings on every caravan web site we could find, and then if we found one that looked possible, we searched on that model to find as many pictures and reviews as we could... So today, after finally finding what looked like the perfect van earlier in the week, we drove 170 miles to actually look at it in the flesh, and fell in love again..

We have brought her home with us, in all this wind and rain, driving through floods, mud, roadworks, and huge traffic jams, and she followed along as good as gold, not even a twitch, even when we saw arctics getting blown across the lanes by the gusts. I never thought the day would come, but we have jumped off the UK marques, and gone for something completely unknown to us, a 2006 Adria Adora 532DL.I can't wait to go out and have a play now... Yippeee...

[AD Ent]

:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap :clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap

Awesome news. Glad you have found a new van, When can we see it? http://www.jonrb.com/emoticons/photographer.gif

[Lazy-Ferret]

:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap :clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap

Awesome news. Glad you have found a new van, When can we see it? http://www.jonrb.com/emoticons/photographer.gif

When who ever it is, who controls the weather, decides to stop making me think about going out and building an ark....:lol We are taking a right bashing down here, we even have flood warnings in the villages around us.

I know this is a silly thing to say, but I don't understand why some rain seems to be very very wet, the stuff coming down tonight, is the sort, that permeates all your clothes, and even gets in your shoes, in just the time it took to push the van into the drive...

[zippy656]

So where are the
pics!

[firebobby]

Glad you have your new van, hope you have many years of use from it.

I'm also looking at foreign for my next van, I do like the look of Hymer's Nova range, but not in any great hurry.

Our Lunar Lexon EB, fixed bed works just nicely for us, great 4 berth...brilliant 2 berth

[zippy656]

Hymers are heavy,

Will need 4x4 to tow it

[firebobby]

Hymers are heavy,

Will need 4x4 to tow it

I have one :augie

[Lazy-Ferret]

Here is the front...
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/Caravan/Adria%20Adora%20532%20LD/Front_zps40ad7283-1.jpg

The Side
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/Caravan/Adria%20Adora%20532%20LD/side_zpsd855ab47-1.jpg

The fuzzy end
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/Caravan/Adria%20Adora%20532%20LD/ferretend_zps41a26ec9-1.jpg

Our end
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/Caravan/Adria%20Adora%20532%20LD/ourend_zpscfc68f5c-1.jpg

[macabethiel]

We have brought her home with us, in all this wind and rain, driving through floods, mud, roadworks, and huge traffic jams, and she followed along as good as gold, not even a twitch, even when we saw arctics getting blown across the lanes by the gusts. I never thought the day would come, but we have jumped off the UK marques, and gone for something completely unknown to us, a 2006 Adria Adora 532DL.I can't wait to go out and have a play now... Yippeee...

I am not a shed dragger but its a touching tale hope the new one exceeds expectations.

[zippy656]

I have one :augie

Cool, want to join a nissan 4x4 club?

[zippy656]

Lazy-Ferret

Looking good.

[larson]

the van looks good:thumb2

[AD Ent]

Quick! A disco is making off with your new van

[larson]

Quick! A disco is making off with your new van

take your time it will break down before it gets too far

[micktheshed]

That looks to be in excellant condition. Glad to see it DOSEN'T have alloy wheels....a pet hate of mine on 'vans thse days (they're much too fragile IMHO).
Wishing you many happy hours.

[Lazy-Ferret]

Thanks guys... We spent a while having a really good look round her yesterday, and going through the paperwork. The guy who owned her spared no expense. He even paid someone to winterise the van each year, which is basically just putting on a couple of vent covers, and draining the water system and loo. There are a few small jobs, where it has spent so much time standing, and had so little use, like some things are a bit stiff or random in their working. e.g, on the window stays, the grease has gone sticky, so the ratchets are not working properly, same on some of the push catches, but all things that a few mins with some wd40, and a screwdriver can be sorted nice and easily.

Interesting what you say about the Alloys, I must admit I love the look of them, and would have had them, if they were available, but then I have not head anything about them having problems.:eek:

Quick! A disco is making off with your new van
:lol:lol

No accounting for some people, great taste in caravans, but bad taste in cars... :lol

Actually, that Disco has departed this world, and is part the reason the caravan was up for sale, as the Disco was parked in their driveway, the other side of an 8 foot high brick wall, on the outside of a bend, when an uninsured driver went through the wall, and pushed the Disco 3 foot sideways into the front of their house.

The uninsured driver then extracted his car, and managed to drive off, but the disco owner gave chase in his works van, and caught him. He only lived a few roads away...

He decided that now the car was gone, and they did not get to use the caravan as much as they had hoped, it was time to let her go. She has not left the storage compound for 2 years, other than to be taken for it's annual service and clean!!!

[Lazy-Ferret]

One thing that seems strange on this Adria, is the location of the steadies..

The ones on the back are about 10 inches under the van, so trying to get the winding handle onto the nut is a pain, the ones on the front are about 20 inches under the van, and you have to get down onto your hands and knees to do it... Not good when the ground is wet.

Today, I made up some guides to make it so you just slide the winder in a tube and it slides straight onto the nut..

the back one..
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/Caravan/Adria%20Adora%20532%20LD/20131014_143640_zps11b1ed52.jpg

from the back
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/Caravan/Adria%20Adora%20532%20LD/20131014_155700_zps2de92f74.jpg

The front
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/Caravan/Adria%20Adora%20532%20LD/20131014_155718_zps3ed58320.jpg

And from the Front.
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm322/Lazy-Ferret/Caravan/Adria%20Adora%20532%20LD/20131014_155728_zpsfcf17a1c.jpg

Tested them out, and they work a dream...

[zippy656]

Looks good.

We use an 18v battery drill save one the winding

[Lazy-Ferret]

Looks good.

We use an 18v battery drill save one the winding

Cheers, I have a drill winder, never been that mad on them, I normally forget to take the drill as well... :doh

The thing is, it's not the type of winder, it was actually getting the winder onto the steady without having to crawl around a muddy field.

Not sure you could get a drill winder long enough for the front ones either.:confused:

[kitchenman]

Neat flare on the guide tube, how did you do that or was it off the shelf?
dave

[zippy656]

Iv cut down a normal leg winder.

Just an idea

[Lazy-Ferret]

Neat flare on the guide tube, how did you do that or was it off the shelf?
dave
Thank you, it was a bit of a long winded job... I had 2 bottles, one I filled with salt water, and set on the stove to gently boil, the second was left cold to set the flair.

I use my heat gun, and the boiling bottle to make the end of the tube flexible, aiming the gun at the bottom of the tube, slowly turning the tube while lifting and pushing it down over the neck of the bottle, and then when it was about soft enough, and the right flair, I pushed it over the cold bottle, to cool it into the right shape.


Iv cut down a normal leg winder.

Just an idea

First I need to find one, you can see how long the winder is on the draw bar in the last picture, there is about 2 inches between the end of the tube, and the first bend in the winder on the front steadies. You can see, it has actually been extended by 6 inches.

[Cant W8 2 Retire]

Used to have an old Vanroyce then changed to a Swift :doh
It served its purpose but not very good build quality, then to cap it all got damp around the bathroom window. So time to change.
Been looking around for months and couldn't find anything we liked until we came across an Adria.
She who must be obeyed dragged me to the N.E.C this weekend to visit the caravan show and guess what we came away with?.... a new one. Our first.
Great van with everything we wan't (fixed bed :thumb2) and can't wait to get out and about.
Will update when we pick it up in a few weeks time

[Lazy-Ferret]

Congratulations....

I have been out "Ferret Proofing" ours, which involves getting down and dirty with her, and I have to say the build quality is fantastic.

Only thing that lets it down, well on the 2006 anyway, is a lot of the UK specific bits were fitted after they were imported, and who ever fitted those parts is not up to the same standard as the Slovakians, with some very shoddy wiring, but I am sorting all that...

[Sweety]

Nice looking van:thumb2 & your flares are great on the tubes, I tried to make some up a few years ago & failed:doh

[Lazy-Ferret]

Nice looking van:thumb2 & your flares are great on the tubes, I tried to make some up a few years ago & failed:doh

Thanks...

It's a sad thing, but I said to my wife the other day, I must be getting old... I seem to have more patience to take my time over doing things, thinking them right the way through, and not rushing them. The results are they come out better for being done slower...:doh There have been a few things, where I have taken it easy, and ended up with a good result, and it scares me..:lol

[len peacock]

i would like to upgrade my caravan road lights to leds can this be done some say not ???? i have 2002 terrano 11. 3.0ltr thanks Len.

[zippy656]

i would like to upgrade my caravan road lights to leds can this be done some say not ???? i have 2002 terrano 11. 3.0ltr thanks Len.

What van you got bud??

[zippy656]

Used to have an old Vanroyce then changed to a Swift :doh
It served its purpose but not very good build quality, then to cap it all got damp around the bathroom window. So time to change.
Been looking around for months and couldn't find anything we liked until we came across an Adria.
She who must be obeyed dragged me to the N.E.C this weekend to visit the caravan show and guess what we came away with?.... a new one. Our first.
Great van with everything we wan't (fixed bed :thumb2) and can't wait to get out and about.
Will update when we pick it up in a few weeks time

What van you get mate?

[Lazy-Ferret]

i would like to upgrade my caravan road lights to leds can this be done some say not ???? i have 2002 terrano 11. 3.0ltr thanks Len.

The first thing you will need to check, is whether the bulbs are mounted front to rear, or across the van... On my old van, the bulbs were side on in the holders, and most LED replacement bulbs are designed to be viewed end on.

Another problem is the reflectors and lens, as they are designed to give the bulb the appearance it is a lot bigger than it is. If you look at the lights in my pictures, you will see the lens is clear, rather than having a fresnel effect, so the beam is not spread, and as the LED bulbs point in one direction, the reflector is doing nothing.

[Sweety]

The first thing you will need to check, is whether the bulbs are mounted front to rear, or across the van... On my old van, the bulbs were side on in the holders, and most LED replacement bulbs are designed to be viewed end on.

Another problem is the reflectors and lens, as they are designed to give the bulb the appearance it is a lot bigger than it is. If you look at the lights in my pictures, you will see the lens is clear, rather than having a fresnel effect, so the beam is not spread, and as the LED bulbs point in one direction, the reflector is doing nothing.

Well I know nothing about caravans:doh but would a LED bulb like these be a poss option
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-White-28-SMD-T10-W5W-168-194-501-LED-Car-Interior-Tail-Wedge-Light-Bulb-12V-/380779272624?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item58a83699b0

The Son has some like this & there as bright as hid headlights:eek:

[Lazy-Ferret]

Well I know nothing about caravans:doh but would a LED bulb like these be a poss option
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-White-28-SMD-T10-W5W-168-194-501-LED-Car-Interior-Tail-Wedge-Light-Bulb-12V-/380779272624?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item58a83699b0

The Son has some like this & there as bright as hid headlights:eek:

Most caravans have the Bayonet style bulbs, rather than push in. I have not seen the 3D style in Bayonet, mind you, I have not looked in depth.

[Sweety]

Most caravans have the Bayonet style bulbs, rather than push in. I have not seen the 3D style in Bayonet, mind you, I have not looked in depth.

Cheers:thumb2 I got a lot to learn about vans:augie had a quick look & it looks as if they have started doing more LED bayonet fitment bulbs
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-1156-BA15S-382-LED-White-Bulbs-18-SMD-Signal-Brake-Light-/291015502114?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item43c1e02922

[Lazy-Ferret]

Cheers:thumb2 I got a lot to learn about vans:augie had a quick look & it looks as if they have started doing more LED bayonet fitment bulbs
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-1156-BA15S-382-LED-White-Bulbs-18-SMD-Signal-Brake-Light-/291015502114?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item43c1e02922

I also had a look, and like you say, there are a lot more than there were when I looked into it a few years back...

There are still issues to look out for, like, will the larger LED top fit, some are to big to pass through the hole, if the bulb holder is put in from the rear, others use the narrow neck of the glass part of the bulb, to recess it further in, and some of the LED ones I looked at, had a step there. Basically, you need to check out the bulb you want to replace first, and then find one that fits...

There is also another issue, which is a bit pedantic, but is still correct, which is the bulbs, should carry the E approval mark, and not many LED ones do.