Thanks for an informative video. I’ve just bought a 1998 VW autosleeper Trident and I’m getting to grips with how everything works, so I’ve found your videos really useful. 👍
Hi dalewillis1494 - Congratulations on the purchase of one of the best VW built and designed campers there is (in my opinion!). Thanks for watching my vids, glad you found them helpful. I've had my van 12 years and my best advise is 'KEEP IT SIMPLE'. But everyone is different, and do things their way... there's no right or wrong. Happy travels 🚐🚐🚐
@@teresasworld3374'Keep it simple' - I totally agree! The amount of 'stuff' some people take in their vans seems a hassle rather than enjoyment, to me at least....
Thanks for the video, Theresa. Mine's a 2000 Trident and I love it. One thing that has caught me out in the past is when there is not enough power in my leisure battery to ignite/spark the pilot light on my fridge. Regarding using the water tank and pump, I've never bothered using mine. I just have a water carrier and am always on a campsite.
Thanks for watching Janice... yes our vans have little quirks we have to get to know... and we all have our own little routines. I'm hoping to take mine out for one more trip next weekend, then she's being covered up for the winter. I always feel rather 'grounded' when that time of year comes around - happy travels 🚐 x
Hi Motormatt, glad you enjoyed this video. Does your Trooper have Calor gas, the 3.9kg? Calor have discontinued that size bottle, and I altered my van to house the 6kg... you might find that an interesting watch too - check out the playlist. Happy travels in your camper - and thanks for watching and taking time to comment. Always nice to know if someone has enjoyed a particular vid. Best wishes, Teresa
Hi Teresa, yes its fitted with the the smaller gas bottle so I'll check out that video thanks. Also you mentioned about the lack of power steering...I agree you can live with it, but apparently there is an electronic power steering conversion out now for T4s. Im going to look into it next year. Shall I keep you updated?
Thanks for the video. My 2003 T4 has just passed its MOT (it goes like the clappers and is smooth and classy) and I'm heartened to hear that yours is nearly 10 years older and still going strong. I now have to pay a ULEZ charge every time I use it for my work - even if it's only a couple of miles away - but hey! I'm not going to have it scrapped... how un-environmental would that be?
I do wonder what will happen to older vehicles in years to come. OMG don't scrap your camper... what a terrible thing that would be. I have to say I only use mine for trips, as I'm fortunate enough to have a car for work, so the ULEZ hasn't affected me ... yet! Thanks for watching the vid, it was a bit longer than I anticipated! Hope people don't drop off!! 🚐
Hi Teresa! I find myself worrying about using the lights in case they drain the battery. I have a 60ah leisure battery. In your experience how long can you run the lights without it being an issue? Also my understanding is even when connected to electric hookup, the lights still run off the battery as they are separate systems...
Hi Amie Thanks for your question. I'm the same! I'm paranoid about using power and flattening my vehicle battery. Nothing worse, than turning the key... and it's dead! So! You have 2 batteries - your vehicle battery (1) and your leisure battery (2) If you're on site and hooked up to the electric you have no need to worry about using your interior lights. The lights are powered by your leisure battery (2)... and the electric hookup feeds power to your leisure battery (2) only . It's worth knowing that the van radio (if you have one) takes power directly from the vehicle battery(1) only, and will flatten it, if you have the radio on whilst parked up even on electric hookup... the electric hookup only charges your Leisure Battery (2), NOT the vehicle battery(1). If you are NOT on electric hookup, , the leisure battery (2) will still power your interior lights, however, when the leisure battery runs down, it will then take power from your vehicle battery (1). This is when you have to be mindful of what power you're using. All electrics in your interior are powered by the leisure battery (2) ... when the leisure battery runs down, it then takes power from your vehicle battery (1). If you're driving the van in the day time, the main vehicle battery (1) will top up the leisure battery(2) as you drive. This means you should be able to use a light every evening for 3 or 4 hours... even all the lights, but I tend to use just one main one, as like you, I'm paranoid about draining both leisure (2) and vehicle battery (1). If you're on site for 5 nights, NO ELECTRIC HOOK-UP and you're not driving the van in the day - you're just parked up... Id just use one interior light for an hour or 2 in the evening, as your leisure battery isn't being topped up, by driving the van, or being on electric hookup... Hope all this makes sense! This is my understanding of it all, and relevant to my van... which should be pretty universal in all Tridents. The fact it gets dark early in the winter is the main reason I don't use my van during the winter months, it's not really about the weather... it's a long night when it's dark at 4.40pm and you're fearful of flattening batteries! lol Thanks for watching Teresa's World... your support is really appreciated. Happy travels... xx
@@teresasworld3374 thanks so much Teresa this is so helpful! I am in my trident right now and you're so right about it getting dark early and paranoia with using the lights. I think I might just use electric hookup if I'm going to be stationary for a few nights, to avoid any worry. I wasn't sure if the electric hookup topped up the leisure battery or not, but my trident hasn't been modified since 1997 and if you're does then I presume mine will be the same way. Thanks so much Teresa!!
Thanks for an informative video. I’ve just bought a 1998 VW autosleeper Trident and I’m getting to grips with how everything works, so I’ve found your videos really useful. 👍
Hi dalewillis1494 - Congratulations on the purchase of one of the best VW built and designed campers there is (in my opinion!). Thanks for watching my vids, glad you found them helpful. I've had my van 12 years and my best advise is 'KEEP IT SIMPLE'. But everyone is different, and do things their way... there's no right or wrong. Happy travels 🚐🚐🚐
@@teresasworld3374'Keep it simple' - I totally agree! The amount of 'stuff' some people take in their vans seems a hassle rather than enjoyment, to me at least....
Thanks for the video, Theresa. Mine's a 2000 Trident and I love it. One thing that has caught me out in the past is when there is not enough power in my leisure battery to ignite/spark the pilot light on my fridge.
Regarding using the water tank and pump, I've never bothered using mine. I just have a water carrier and am always on a campsite.
Thanks for watching Janice... yes our vans have little quirks we have to get to know... and we all have our own little routines. I'm hoping to take mine out for one more trip next weekend, then she's being covered up for the winter. I always feel rather 'grounded' when that time of year comes around - happy travels 🚐 x
Very useful. Have just bought a 92 Trooper...need to get my head round all the equipment ready for next year. Thanks 👍🏻
Hi Motormatt, glad you enjoyed this video. Does your Trooper have Calor gas, the 3.9kg? Calor have discontinued that size bottle, and I altered my van to house the 6kg... you might find that an interesting watch too - check out the playlist. Happy travels in your camper - and thanks for watching and taking time to comment. Always nice to know if someone has enjoyed a particular vid. Best wishes, Teresa
Hi Teresa, yes its fitted with the the smaller gas bottle so I'll check out that video thanks. Also you mentioned about the lack of power steering...I agree you can live with it, but apparently there is an electronic power steering conversion out now for T4s. Im going to look into it next year. Shall I keep you updated?
Great video nice van
Thanks for watching and taking time to comment 🚐
Thanks for the video. My 2003 T4 has just passed its MOT (it goes like the clappers and is smooth and classy) and I'm heartened to hear that yours is nearly 10 years older and still going strong. I now have to pay a ULEZ charge every time I use it for my work - even if it's only a couple of miles away - but hey! I'm not going to have it scrapped... how un-environmental would that be?
I do wonder what will happen to older vehicles in years to come. OMG don't scrap your camper... what a terrible thing that would be. I have to say I only use mine for trips, as I'm fortunate enough to have a car for work, so the ULEZ hasn't affected me ... yet! Thanks for watching the vid, it was a bit longer than I anticipated! Hope people don't drop off!! 🚐
Hi Teresa! I find myself worrying about using the lights in case they drain the battery. I have a 60ah leisure battery. In your experience how long can you run the lights without it being an issue? Also my understanding is even when connected to electric hookup, the lights still run off the battery as they are separate systems...
Hi Amie
Thanks for your question. I'm the same! I'm paranoid about using power and flattening my vehicle battery. Nothing worse, than turning the key... and it's dead! So!
You have 2 batteries - your vehicle battery (1) and your leisure battery (2)
If you're on site and hooked up to the electric you have no need to worry about using your interior lights. The lights are powered by your leisure battery (2)... and the electric hookup feeds power to your leisure battery (2) only .
It's worth knowing that the van radio (if you have one) takes power directly from the vehicle battery(1) only, and will flatten it, if you have the radio on whilst parked up even on electric hookup... the electric hookup only charges your Leisure Battery (2), NOT the vehicle battery(1).
If you are NOT on electric hookup, , the leisure battery (2) will still power your interior lights, however, when the leisure battery runs down, it will then take power from your vehicle battery (1). This is when you have to be mindful of what power you're using.
All electrics in your interior are powered by the leisure battery (2) ... when the leisure battery runs down, it then takes power from your vehicle battery (1).
If you're driving the van in the day time, the main vehicle battery (1) will top up the leisure battery(2) as you drive. This means you should be able to use a light every evening for 3 or 4 hours... even all the lights, but I tend to use just one main one, as like you, I'm paranoid about draining both leisure (2) and vehicle battery (1).
If you're on site for 5 nights, NO ELECTRIC HOOK-UP and you're not driving the van in the day - you're just parked up... Id just use one interior light for an hour or 2 in the evening, as your leisure battery isn't being topped up, by driving the van, or being on electric hookup...
Hope all this makes sense! This is my understanding of it all, and relevant to my van... which should be pretty universal in all Tridents.
The fact it gets dark early in the winter is the main reason I don't use my van during the winter months, it's not really about the weather... it's a long night when it's dark at 4.40pm and you're fearful of flattening batteries! lol
Thanks for watching Teresa's World... your support is really appreciated. Happy travels... xx
@@teresasworld3374 thanks so much Teresa this is so helpful! I am in my trident right now and you're so right about it getting dark early and paranoia with using the lights. I think I might just use electric hookup if I'm going to be stationary for a few nights, to avoid any worry. I wasn't sure if the electric hookup topped up the leisure battery or not, but my trident hasn't been modified since 1997 and if you're does then I presume mine will be the same way. Thanks so much Teresa!!