The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

I don't know the later models at all but a quick search suggests power steering problems are a common fault.  It's an electric pump and there was even a recall of earlier models than yours to sort a problem with the pumps earth.

Would be worth checking and cleaning the contacts if you can get at them.

I'm a shortarse (5' 6" ish) and find that unless my belly is brushing the wheel, I can't depress the clutch the last cm or so.  I then have to move the seat forward or back just to get in or out.

Makes you wonder who they designed the seating position around.  Admittedly the swivels on mine do add an inch or two to the height.

Apart from the nuisance of having to keep moving the seat, it isn't a bad position for the sort of driving I do.  Almost a straight push down on the pedals and no reaching for the wheel.  A bit like a 60's Commer.

It is surprising how much swivel seats open the space up.

Even in the expert bringing the cab into the living area makes quite a difference.  You could have four people seated yet all able to stand up, walk from front to rear and get in or out any door.  No squeezing past each other and no being dictated by the seating as to which way to face.  But as there is usually only two of us we each have a chaise lounge which can be used either facing forwards or back.  Having the passenger seat laid right back even allows star gazing straight up through the windscreen.

The versatility is amazing.

Looks like you might need one of these though Casper:-

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/HANDBRAKE-EXTEND … SwkShY-Hu2

Especially with the traditional scotsmans short arm problem. 

In general, yes I would certainly pay attention and check them out.  In fact I did get the bit of welding done that was an advisory last time.  Another bit of welding I was advised about couldn't be found!   

I do see the MOT as the minimal standard a vehicle should be able to achieve.  Mind you, I don't need the state to remind me and extract money for it every year.

But with my seat rails, I don't consider them a significant danger even though I can see why a tester might be concerned.  While not averse to sensible precautions, as someone from the era of no compulsory helmets or seat belts, I think there are far worse dangers on the roads than rattley seat rails. 

Just remembered my 40's swb landy with a V8 in it.  On the road in the late 70's.  Seats were bushel apple boxes wired through holes in the floor, no screen and no rear bodywork.

Ah well, no time for fun or excitement anymore... efficiency and safety uber alles.   

Twas I Casper.  I don't want them badly enough to join facebook though thanks. 

I looked at Boxer ones as you suggested.  Surprised to find their windscreen is an inch less in height than ours.  As you said, a long slope on Expert/Dispatch/Scudos.

I also looked at diy but at £20 pm for the proper stuff I soon changed my mind.

Where did you get the "tent like material" from? 

I can only find the woven polypropylene stuff and know from experience how noisy that is.  Would really like something finer and less plastic.

My van already has C channel both sides so I intend to use these :-

http://www.popupportal.com/threads/make … ers.63064/

I think they are worn loose.  It's not the actual fixings but the sliding rails.

Being part of the bed and also swiveling they get a lot of use.  Get hold of the top of the seat back and shake and there is quite a lot of movement in all directions.  Feels and sounds worse than it is I suspect.

If I can't adjust it out I will bolt them down rigid for the next MOT.  Is that allowed?

Just needed to take out the center console, the plastic trim over the wheel arches and on the sills.  A few large round plastic turn buttons hold the front edge of the mat up under the dash.

I slit the mat to allow for getting it over the handbrake lever but you could just release the cable.

A couple of bad patches of surface rust on mine and the hard drive looking thing for seat belt pre tension I think was quite rusty.   The worst bits were around the seat mounting bolts which of course isn't good.

I am glad I did it.

Finally got the time to remove the seats and mat.

Only one seized bolt so not so bad.  Some of the other bolts were replaced by hex heads though and were very long.  An eighth of a turn over a 2 1/2" long thread has done my arthritis no good at all.

Glad I did it though.  The original rubber mat had been covered in carpeting which had dried out nicely.  But the foam backing under the rubber mat was sodden.  I could only just pick it up with the weight of water in it!  The van was on a slight forward slope and after lifting the mats out there was still an inch deep pool gathered at the front.

Just caught it in time I think as surface rust had got hold in a few places and plenty of areas had rust coloured bubbles in the paint.  It would never have dried out without lifting the mats and I recon a year or so and the floor would have needed major repair.

Nearly ran myself over!

When I removing the hand brake lever from the side of the seat it of course took all tension off the cable.  The above mentioned forward slope and gravity did their thing and I noticed it starting to roll.  Just managed to jam my boot under the back wheel before it gained too much momentum.  But then I was stuck.

Managed to reach a spanner which allowed me to reach a hammer and a bit of wood to replace my foot as a wedge.  Otherwise I might still be there now.

I have also had problems.  Sometimes connects after a long wait.

Seems ok today though.