Keith Gooden
Welcome back to the Motorhome Matt podcast.
Matt Sims
In today’s episode of the Motorhome Matt podcast, we talk to a man whose lithium battery exploded and destroyed his motorhome. So are lithium batteries more dangerous?
Keith Gooden
We dig and delve into that one. In the news is the new 20 mile an hour speed limit law in Wales. A good thing?
Matt Sims
No, definitely not. It’s a stupid idea. Really?
Keith Gooden
I couldn’t possibly comment.
Matt Sims
And we answer your questions on winter storage, Thetford toilet bowls – toilets again, Keith – and towing with an A frame trailer.
Keith Gooden
Welcome to the Motorhome Matt podcast, I’m Keith Gooden.
Matt Sims
And I’m Motorhome Matt.
Keith Gooden
Industry insights and expert advice for the world of motorhomes, caravans and campervans brought to you by www.thatleisureshop.com.
Matt Sims
Now, please do remember to follow on your favourite podcast app and subscribe on YouTube. Click the little bell and hit the subscribe button. It’s brought to you by www.arobasecreative.co.uk.
20 mph speed limits in Wales
Keith Gooden
Okay, let’s delve into the news straightaway, shall we? That 20 mile an hour limit in Wales – it began on the 17th of September 2023. They began enforcing it on the eighth of January 2024. Oh, joy.
If you’ve never heard of this, basically everything that was 30 has gone down to 20 now. So the standard default speed limit in Wales is now 20 miles an hour. A lot of toing and froing and a lot of protesting. A lot of people say it’s a good thing. Others are questioning whether the police are going to be enforcing it properly. It’s a hot potato in Taff land.
Matt Sims
Taff land. Indeed. Well, apparently now the police are enforcing it. So you’re going to get a £100 fine or six penalty points if you go over 20 miles an hour.
Keith Gooden
That’s in a built up area. If it’s marked differently to 20 miles an hour, then clearly it’s not 20 miles an hour. But what’s it like driving a motorhome at 20 miles an hour? Is it good for the vehicle?
Matt Sims
Is it good for the vehicle? That’s a good question. I guess if you only ever drove it at 20 miles per hour, probably not. You’re going to ruin the clutch, aren’t you? This is not about being good for the car, though, is it? It’s about being safe for pedestrians.
Having 20 miles is a good idea if you’re the pedestrian who gets hit, and the car’s only doing 20. I think that’s the point. And I guess emissions are lower at that speed. That’s another claim by the people who enforce these things.
I’ll telling you what’s interesting, though. The police are only enforcing this if you go over 10% plus four miles an hour, so 26 miles per hour. And then it’s enforced. So can’t we just go around with a Sharpie and turn all the zeros into sixes?
Keith Gooden
Like in America, their speed limits there – they’ve got the fives in the speed limits. 25, 35, 45 and 55. And wouldn’t that be more sensible in this country as well? I take your point about how if you’re hit at 20 you’re far less likely to have a severe injury or be killed than at 30 miles an hour. But 25 miles an hour is still a pretty low speed, and I would argue, certainly looking at my Volvo clutch, it’s going to be better for the clutch. It doesn’t like 20 miles an hour, my car.
Matt Sims
No, same. I’ve got a car which judders at 20 mile an hour, but then I’m in fifth gear, so that’d be why. Have you just thrown your pen on the floor? He’s just throwing the studio around.
Keith Gooden
He’s given me a rubber pen.
Matt Sims
So it’ll bounce. A bit like the cheques you wrote.
Keith Gooden
You’ve given me the comedy pen. And of course, the First Minister in Wales has resigned. He’s the man who heads up the government – could be a woman elected – but there is an election that’s going to take place to replace the First Minister and this of course is now a political issue.
Matt Sims
Yes, I know. I think politicians are going to jump on this, aren’t they? We’re seeing the political parties go polemic on this. Conservatives, “No!” Labour, “Yes!” So it’s going to be an interesting year. Or is it?
Keith Gooden
But it has no impact when you’re driving a motorhome, no?
Matt Sims
Well, you’ve got to do 20 miles an hour in Wales.
Keith Gooden
Physically on the vehicle.
Matt Sims
No different to a car. If it’s a combustion engine then, as you say, the clutch on your Volvo – mind you, I’ve seen your driving…
Keith Gooden
You’ve smelt it.
Matt Sims
20 miles per hour is the problem there.
Keith Gooden
Whoever smelt it dealt it.
Matt Sims
“Keith’s here!” “How do you know?” “I can smell his clutch.”
Keith Gooden
Okay, so we’ll keep an eye on that one and see how it goes. But if you are motorhoming or caravaning in Wales, keep an eye on those speed limits – and they are enforcing it.
Matt’s product of the week
Keith Gooden
So the spend and save sale, then, Matt at www.thatleisureshop.com. Sounds good to me. What are the savings?
Matt Sims
Easy. So £10 off when you spend £85, £20 off when you spend £160, or £30 off when you spend £250. So more than 10%!
Keith Gooden
Get online. £10 off when you spend £85 – or over, I presume.
Matt Sims
Or over, yes.
Keith Gooden
£20 off when you get up to £160 and £30 off when you spend £250. Still plenty of stuff on the shelves, as Matt says, some of last year’s stuff. And prices are creeping up for 2024. So take a look around, get on the website, get spending and save yourself some money.
Matt Sims
And also, we’ve got loads of new product coming into stock this year from the Netherlands. We’ve got a whole range of new Bo-Camp product. If you’ve seen the shop team at any of the shows in 2023, you will have seen some of the beautiful chairs and accessories that we sell. They are stunning.
And we have committed to a whole range of new product from them. So we’re really excited. That should arrive with us at the end of this month, early February. I’m hoping all of it will be on display at the NEC show in Birmingham in February. So come and see us there.
Are lithium batteries dangerous?
Keith Gooden
It’s the Motorhome Matt podcast with me, Keith Gooden.
Matt Sims
And with me, Motorhome Matt.
Keith Gooden
It’s brought to you by www.thatleisureshop.com.The main part of our podcast this week, Matt – lithium batteries. Are they more dangerous? We’ve got a story to tell, haven’t we?
Matt Sims
We have, yes. I dropped one on my toe and yes, it blooming hurt! No, no, I didn’t. But it would hurt. Are they more dangerous? So we have a story of one actually exploding. This is not a story in the pub, playing darts and overhearing another conversation. This is a real true story firsthand from a gentleman who put a lithium battery in his Motorhome. And it exploded.
What is the difference between a lithium leisure battery and lead acid battery
Keith Gooden
Okay, first of all, before we launch into that, what is the difference between a lithium battery and a different and another sort of battery?
Matt Sims
A lead acid battery, typically. Or a gel battery. So the big difference is longevity of use, so how long the charge stays high, the way it drains. So a lead acid battery has a kind of a diagonal drain line, if you know what I mean.
They slowly discharge over time, whereas a lithium battery remains very level and then suddenly will drop. And they last a lot longer than a lead acid battery in terms of usable life per charge. And the cycles that you can charge, discharge, charge and discharge are massive compared to a lead acid battery.
So they’re ideal if you’re doing a lot of off grid camping and you want power in your van. A lot of the modern brand new motorhomes are being fitted with lithium batteries. And we’re seeing an increase, a huge growth, in number of people that want to do a lithium battery install in their van and get rid of the lead acid batteries in there.
Keith Gooden
Now, they are more efficient. It is up to the minute battery technology. We don’t want to scare you. That’s not the intention. This is just a story that we’ve come across, okay? A true story from one of our listeners. Simon Fox owned an Adria twin, and the lithium system blew up.
Matt Sims
Now, I saw Simon share his story on Facebook. I got in touch with him and asked him to share with me a little more about it.
How Simon’s lithium battery caused an explosion
Simon Fox
My wife and I had caravans for a few years, several caravans. We always got something funky. We had the Tab teardrop caravans, and then we had the Knauss Sport & Fun. And they were great caravans.
We had some great holidays in them. But then we decided we liked the idea of having a van. And we met a couple in France who had an Adria Twin. And they just were raving about how good it was. So we put a deposit down and we were told it was going to be a 14- to 18-month waiting list at the time. I think this was the beginning of ’22. Yeah, beginning of 22, February or March.
We put the deposit down for the Baltic orange. We were very excited. We had a few extras and options we needed. So we got the van and we picked it all out. And then unfortunately, during the 14 months since we arrived, my wife and I separated. And she said, “You have the van, because I don’t think I’ll use it. And it would suit you more.” And so I thought, “Well, I’ll plan some holidays with it.”
I had a friend who was getting married in Vilamoura in Portugal. So I thought it was an ideal first trip, to drive down through Spain, to southern Portugal and attend his wedding and then slowly make my way back home. And it was just me and the dog. So I said I was going to go to the wedding, and I booked my crossing on the ferry – Plymouth to Santander. And I thought, “I’m going to need to do this on a budget because of the separation.”
And campsites are quite expensive now. You can easily pay a lot, especially as we were high season. We were travelling in July and August. I thought I’d get something installed which means I can stay off grid for maybe a week at a time and everything would function. So I went to a local company. It was very good. They said yes and they ordered all the parts, the solar converters and all the bits and bobs.
And they said to me, “Well, look, you order the battery, because you seem to know what you want.” And I did know what I wanted. It was a KS Energy 210 kilowatt hour to fit the Fiat Ducato. So it would just be a direct replacement under the passenger seat of the existing leisure battery. That’s what we did. They fitted the solar panel and did a great job. It was really nice integration. Everything was working fine.
It wasn’t cheap. I think all in all with the cost of the battery, it was over £3,000 to do that. Off I went and travelled down to Portugal and then attended the wedding and then travelled back slowly through Spain and France, up into the Netherlands and then back home. And the solar panels and the leisure battery were just faultless.
I mean, it was very sunny and hot, and I could easily be off grid, and everything was working perfectly. The hot water, the shower, the fridge. I got some nice 12 volt fans to keep me cool at night. And they were blowing all night.
And everything was great. I thought it was a great idea. You know, “How clever I am having lithium batteries and doing this.” And then when I got back my wife said to me, “Look, I don’t really want you in the house anymore. But you can keep the van in the driveway until your house is ready.” My new house was about two weeks off being ready for me to move into. So I was living in the van on the driveway with the dog.
Matt Sims
So you were living in the van full time at this point?
Simon Fox
Yeah, which was fine. It’s great fun. And for one person and a dog… it was 6.4 metres. It was probably too big. But you know, it was great. We were fine. And then I was out on Sunday attending a charity event.
And I got a phone call from my wife saying, “There’s been a loud bang and there’s smoke coming out of the van and it’s on fire. And we’ve got the fire brigade.” So I hot legged it up to the house. And the fire engine was there in full attendance and the fire guys had all the hazmat and breathing stuff on and apparatus on, because apparently they’re quite toxic, the lithium batteries, when they go up.
And it took them quite a while. But eventually they got the thing cooled down and the fire put out. And then they lifted the battery out and dumped it in a huge vat of water, because they said they can seemingly go out and then reignite again. And that was it. I think I’ve sent you some photos. The van was completely burnt out. Everything was destroyed. Nothing left.
Matt Sims
So a write off? It would assumed it’s been written off, has it?
Simon Fox
100%. Yeah, I mean, I knew it was. There was very little left that wasn’t destroyed. I phoned the insurance company immediately and let them know and put in a claim. And they came and picked the van up within I think a week. And then within about six weeks after that I had a full payment.
Matt Sims
And just out of interest, who are you insured with?
Simon Fox
It was Aviva.
Matt Sims
Good to know. So you’ve been paid out in full?
Simon Fox
I’ve been paid out in full for the actual van and for the contents that were in the van. A nearly new secondhand van with just a few thousand miles is worth more than the new one.
Matt Sims
Yeah, at the time yours went up, certainly that was true. So did you get paid out more than you paid for it?
Simon Fox
Maybe a few hundred pounds up on the deal. I basically got my money back.
Matt Sims
Now, you mentioned KS Energy was the battery that you had fitted. They had a recall issue, didn’t they? But when was that recall issued?
Simon Fox
Well, I got an email on the following Wednesday. The fire was on a Sunday afternoon. And on a Wednesday morning, I got an email from KS saying that there was a fault – not with all their batteries, just with this particular model, the 210 underseat.
And it had a component which was liable to short and cause a fire. And it was at any stage. It could be plugged in. You could have been driving, you could have been using it. At any stage that could have shorted and gone off. And it did.
And their advice was to disconnect the battery, discharge it if you could, and they would organise collection and a replacement. So I just wrote back to them with a photo saying, “I’m afraid you’re three days too late with this one. It’s already gone up.”
Matt Sims
So it happened when you weren’t in it, having spent all that time in it.
Simon Fox
Yeah, my ex-wife said that it was a loud bang. She actually thought something had fallen down outside the house. Almost like a backfire, you know, it was a big thud. So had I been actually sat as I did every night on those seats, watching telly with the dog, I think it would have been a life changing injury.
Matt Sims
It could have been worse than that, could it not?
Simon Fox
My personal view is that a life changing injury is the worst. I was extremely lucky that it actually went up while I was out and not in the van, because I probably was spending 12 hours a day in the van at that time.
Matt Sims
Well, thank you so much for sharing the story. It’s a bit of an urban myth that this happens, but it’s great to talk to someone firsthand to whom it happened. So tell me, what’s next? You’ve been paid out. Is there another motorhome on order?
Simon Fox
With my love of lithium batteries, I’ve just bought myself a secondhand MG electric car. And I fitted some roof rails and I’m about to get a rooftop tent. So what I’m going to do for a holiday this year and future holidays is I’m going to work with a rooftop tent.
The dog will sleep happily in the boot of the car. I’ll sleep on top. We’ll have various things with us to make it more comfortable, awnings and things to sit in, and tables and chairs. I think I can camp perfectly well doing that. So we’re going to tour hopefully in May in the new setup.
Matt Sims
Well, I wish you many happy and safe adventures in your tent box. I must admit, I’d rather be in an Adria Twin. And thank you again for sharing your story.
Simon Fox
I still wouldn’t necessarily be scared of lithium. I think there’s just as much chance of a normal battery going up. It’s just they are harder to control once they do start cascading and once they do start superheating. But I bought a car which is just a big lithium battery. So I’m obviously happy with lithium batteries. I suppose we just have to write it under, “Sh*t happens, doesn’t it?”
Matt Sims
Well, that’s one way of looking at it.
A statement from the lithium battery manufacturer
Keith Gooden
We got in touch with the manufacturers of the battery, KS Energy, and they gave us this statement. Matt?
Matt Sims
Yes, Stuart Allen and Richard Gleeson are managing directors of KS Energy. They said, “Once we became aware of the fault, we immediately reported it to the OPSS, the Office of Product Safety and Standards, and action was taken to identify and locate the affected batteries. And we are pleased to confirm that all recalled units have been successfully collected.”
Keith Gooden
They went on to say, “Working closely with our customers, we’ve ensured that replacements or suitable alternatives were provided promptly, minimising any inconvenience. Oue insurers have underwritten losses on Simon Fox’s motorhome and his premium should not be affected.
It’s important to note that all batteries currently in circulation are not affected by the recall, and customers can continue to use them with confidence.” They go on to say, “Our revised product, thoroughly tested and free from the potential fault found in the seat base version, is now available.”
Matt Sims
“And we remain committed to supplying high quality products to motorhome owners and the leisure community. Our dedication to safety and value for money is unwavering. And we believe in providing a premium product for our customers’ investments. Sincerely, Stuart Allen and Richard Gleeson, directors of KS Energy.”
Keith Gooden
So there you go. It was a component failure, Matt. So we shouldn’t be afraid of lithium batteries, should we?
Matt Sims
No, not at all. Not necessarily. And I think the lesson from this is about the installation. Often it’s the installation that can cause the issue. And it was interesting to hear that it wasn’t on this occasion the installation. As Simon says, he had that done professionally. This was actually a known fault of a component within the battery.
So lithium batteries have a battery management system built into them. And they can transmit a Bluetooth signal, which you can then use to monitor the battery condition on your phone or on a control panel. So there’s a lot more tech involved in a lithium battery. And that’s what failed. A component within this battery failed.
And when I was chatting to Stuart at KS Energy, he said that there were 46 batteries affected, of which 30 were out in the community across England and Ireland and they were able to get all of them back and replace all of them with a fully functioning corrected battery. And the ones that were faulty have all been corrected.
So they are a great choice of lithium battery. They physically fit the hole under the driver’s seat or the passenger seat where the battery is in a Fiat Ducato. And so it’s an easy swap out in terms of space. So it’s a good battery for that reason, which is why they are popular, but they are now safe to use. So if you’re thinking of one of these then you can be assured the guys at KS Energy have told us they’re safe.
Keith Gooden
In a Fiat Ducato or an Adria Twin?
Matt Sims
In a Fiat Ducato, which is what an Adria Twin is built on.
How to safely install a lithium leisure battery
Keith Gooden
Let’s talk about the installation, then, shall we Matt? Because as you say, it’s not the installation. It was done professionally. But if I want that work done, if I want my gas boiler put in I go for a gas safe engineer. Is there any such thing for the installation of lithium batteries in motorhomes?
Matt Sims
Good question. So yes, where would you start if you wanted to find a professional to do an installation for you? I would start with the NCC, the National Caravan Council’s approved workshop scheme.
There are hundreds of engineers across the country. Some are mobile, some are bricks and mortar type places where you go and have the work done. There’s also the MCEA, the Motorhome and Caravan Engineers Association.
These guys go through rigorous checks annually. And they sometimes get inspected as well. And they have to comply to certain standards. And it means that if they are registered with one of these bodies and you feel that their work is substandard, you can report them to this body. And there are penalties for them and they could be struck off. But I would always be looking for an engineer who is part of either the AWS or MCEA.
Keith Gooden
And remember, your rights aren’t affected by going through that organisation. You still have your full consumer rights. You’re not signing anything away. You’ve been talking to somebody about this, haven’t you?
Matt Sims
So I thought I would go and get in touch with a professional. Not only are these guys motorhome engineers, they are actually lithium battery nerds. They live and breathe it. They’re a company called Bluefix, and they were exhibiting at a show we were also exhibiting at.
And I spoke to Mark Street, who’s one of the directors at Bluefix. Mark, you were telling me there are things people need to consider before doing a lithium installation. What are those things?
What to consider before installing a lithium battery
Mark Street
I think the first thing to consider is that lithium is not a drop in replacement for lead acid or AGM. There are things you have to consider. I mean, the wiring for one. Is it thick enough? Can it take the high amps the lithium will generate in your system? Probably not.
Can you charge it properly? Is it going to overload your chargers? Is it fused correctly? Do you have isolation? If you can’t turn it all off, which in a lot of these motorhomes we’ve seen you can’t – they don’t have it.
From a manufacturer, they don’t come with any kind of form of isolation. So you simply can’t turn everything off. You’ve got a switch on your control panel, perhaps, but you know, in the electrical system, there’s nothing there. So you’ve got no way of just turning it off if something’s gone wrong.
Matt Sims
And just looking at the display that you’ve got here on your stand – we’re recording this at the Malvern show – it looks complicated.
Mark Street
It is complicated. Yeah, it is. Absolutely. It can be quite complicated. But it also doesn’t need to be, if that makes sense. You know, if you’ve got the right equipment, it’s quite easy.
Matt Sims
And is it something someone can do themselves, then?
Mark Street
With the right guidance, perhaps. But I would say if you’re going to, you need to research it, or come and see us or someone like us. Get a professional opinion, get some ideas on how it should be done. Look at YouTube videos. But really and truly, it’s probably a job for a professional, especially in these big motorhomes. They’re quite complicated. You can’t just mess around with the electrics in these things and hope that nothing goes wrong.
Matt Sims
It’s not worth taking the risk, is what you’re saying.
Mark Street
I can’t see it, not myself. Motorhomes cost a lot of money, don’t they? Lithium batteries cost a lot of money. So why not spend a few extra quid and get it done properly?
Matt Sims
And as we know, when it goes wrong, it goes horribly wrong.
Mark Street
It goes horribly wrong. Yes, absolutely.
Keith Gooden
So that’s Mark Street, director at Bluefix. He recommends that you get lithium batteries installed professionally. So just quickly in summary, then, Matt – lithium ion more complicated than lead acid batteries. What are the comparisons? You mentioned earlier on about charge. Is that the only benefit?
Matt Sims
We did a whole episode on this, you remember, with Oakleigh from Bristol Caravans. And the first question is, “Do I need lithium? And should I get it?” And his point was, which he agreed with me, well, if you’re just going to go to a campsite and hook up and then you’re going to drive somewhere and hook up, you don’t need a lithium battery.
If you’re going to be off grid for days at a time, many days at a time, and you want to consume a lot of power when you’re there, so you want to run a laptop or like you want to run your hairdryer for extensive periods, then a lithium battery can be really, really useful.
But if you’re not doing that, you don’t need a lithium ion install. You just don’t need it. So they are expensive. I mean, the battery in question here that caught fire is over £1,000 before you have it fitted. And then the install, as Simon said, I think it’s £2,000 or £3,000 to have it all installed.
When we were up at Bristol Caravans in that episode – and you can listen or watch that on YouTube – that was a £6,000 install that we were looking at. I know installs that have cost £15,000, multi lithium batteries with lots of monitoring and so on.
So it is a huge expense compared to replacing it with a £200 lead acid battery. So that’s the big consideration, really, and the question really is, do you need it? There’s an element of keeping up with the Joneses here, I think.
Lithium battery warranty claims
Keith Gooden
Absolutely. So if you need it, have it installed. But remember, keep your eye on industry news. Keep listening and watching the podcast here as well because if there’s a recall, you need to take note of it. Now, this “accident,” in inverted commas, this incident we’ve been talking about today happened not because of the meat of the battery itself.
It was the components surrounding it and component failure happens or can happen in practically anything at any time so keep an eye on those manufacturer recall notices. If you stay tuned to the podcast, we will certainly tell you about them. And fill out your warranty form.
I did say a little bit earlier that none of this affects your consumer rights. But one of the great benefits of the warranty form means you have a legal contract with the supplier of the goods or services. And the important thing is, even though it doesn’t affect your consumer rights, it enhances them.
Matt Sims
It does. And also it means – and in this scenario, this is what was most important – that the manufacturer can get in touch with you. So if they’ve got a problem, they can reach you and tell you there’s a problem. Because Simon did get an alert to the fact that there was a recall on this battery. Sadly, it was three days too late.
Nonetheless, KS Energy were able to contact all their customers who bought from them. Because you buy direct, they will have your details, but how often do you buy directly from a manufacturer? If you buy it online from a reseller, fill out that warranty card. Particularly with something like this – I mean, how often do you see it and go, “Oh, that’s a waste of time,”?
Keith Gooden
Well, you do. You’re so excited. You’re opening the box and all the rest of it. This stuff drops out and you just forget about it.
Matt Sims
It does bring to light for me the importance of the warranty card. And actually something we don’t always think about – the fact that manufacturer can get in touch with me.
Keith Gooden
That’s the key thing, isn’t it? So if there is a recall, they can get in touch with you directly. So I hope that’s been useful to you. It’s a horror story, but it seems that the manufacturer and retailer did the right thing. All’s well that ends well. Just be alert.
Matt Sims
Absolutely. Just be alert. The bit I love most about this story is that Simon is now driving around in an EV.
Audience Q&A
Keith Gooden
It’s the Motorhome Matt podcast with me, Keith Gooden.
Matt Sims
And with me, Motorhome Matt.
Keith Gooden
It’s brought to you by www.thatleisureshop.com. It is our Q&A where you ask the questions and Motorhome Matt, our expert, answers them for you. And if he doesn’t know, he’ll find somebody who does. First of all, we have Mark in Cambridgeshire.
Can my solar panels charge my chassis battery?
Mark
Hello, Matt and your sidekick. I’m enjoying your podcast, thank you. I have a motorhome, new. I only picked it up a couple of weeks ago. It has the Fiat chassis with the stop start keyless go, blah, blah, blah. The solar panels – I’ve got two solar panels, 310 watts, on the roof with a Victron controller.
I was told from the outset when we were talking about it that due to the keyless go, etc., the solar panel wouldn’t be able to charge the chassis main battery, only the leisure batteries. This wasn’t mentioned in your podcast.
Are other people in the same position? Is that the case? Are they being overcautious? I might have to speak to Fiat and see if there is a controller that will protect that system. I’d like to hear your views on that. Thank you very much.
Keith Gooden
That’s Mark in Cambridge addressing you directly there, Matt. And what did he call me? A sidekick?
Matt Sims
I couldn’t catch what you said, Mark. What did you say? Normally he gets called Chris.
Keith Gooden
I get Chris.
Matt Sims
Your buddy, your partner in crime.
Keith Gooden
What’s the answer?
Matt Sims
So I was intrigued by this question, Mark. And I have to say, we’ve not had anyone come to us with a request for a solar to charge a Fiat Ducato with a start stop. So I went off and asked a few people who maybe had, and none of them were familiar with this being a problem. And they said, “Well, just connect it up as normal.”
The AGM battery that is your starter battery that’s going to manage the start stop is more than capable of taking a charge from a solar panel via split relay. So I don’t see that there’s an issue, and I’m intrigued as to why this installer thought there was. Some vehicles have a separate battery for start stop. That’s not the case on the Fiat Ducato.
The feedback I’ve been given is that it wouldn’t be an issue. So I would wonder, Mark whether you could go back to them and find out why and come back to me, because I don’t see that this is an issue. I was not aware that it was an issue and I’ve asked three people and they have all said there’s no problem.
Keith Gooden
A bit more detail from the retail.
Matt Sims
Deatil from the retail! Well, if you’re listening to this and you’re a solar expert, then please if you’ve got different view and you think that it would be a problem because… I’d love to know what the problem is and why.
Can I make my Thetford toilet seat larger?
Keith Gooden
Shaun Batch is in Scunthorpe. He’s written to us. “Hi, Matt. Just got an old Auto-Trail chieftain and it has a Thetford 200 toilet in it. Is there anything that will increase the size of the seat for a larger person?” Shaun has a huge…
Matt Sims
Bottom. Evidently. No, it’s the toilet bowl he wants to increase the size of!
Keith Gooden
Not the seat, then? Because I changed bowl to seat thinking, “Is he having difficulty sitting on it? Is that the sheer volume that he’s producing which is the issue?”
Matt Sims
I think he’s just got a big bum.
Keith Gooden
Right. Okay.
Matt Sims
I think he just wants a bigger bowl. I’ve not seen a picture of Shaun, so I can’t vouch for him.
Keith Gooden
Or his bum.
Matt Sims
No, and I don’t want one either! Thanks, Shaun, for the offer.
Keith Gooden
I tell you what, we’d get a lot more hits on the website if you do supply a picture…
Matt Sims
Not the right sort of hits, though, I’m afraid! You know what? That’s a good question, Shaun. And I’m sure you’re not the only one who wishes they had a bigger toilet. But I’m not aware…
Keith Gooden
Or a smaller bum.
Matt Sims
Or a smaller bum. Well, yes, that you might be able to change, perhaps. But I’m not aware that Thetford make a bigger toilet bowl, you know. They are all pretty much the same tiny size. I mean, I’ve got a small bum. But even I find them uncomfortable. They are small!
Keith Gooden
Who told you that, then?
Matt Sims
All the women in my life. My mum and my other half.
Keith Gooden
My mum has never commented on the size of my bottom.
Matt Sims
No, nor did mine.
Keith Gooden
Anyway, shall we move on quickly?
Matt Sims
Yes, please. Anyway, thanks, Shaun.
Can I tow a car on an a-frame in the Republic of Ireland?
Keith Gooden
Martin Pratt’s in the East Midlands. “Can we tow a car in the Republic of Ireland with an A frame? You cannot in most EU countries. My wife is disabled and the car makes getting about for her easier. We have an Auto-Trail Apache 634 and tow a Fiat 500.
Matt Sims
Nice rig, as we say in the in the industry. You know, that’s a good question. I’m not sure I know the answer to this categorically. In Ireland, so the Republic of Ireland. That’s right, isn’t it it?
Keith Gooden
Eire.
Matt Sims
Then the rules are the same as the EU. And in France and Spain, they take a dim view of it where such a bit of kit as an A frame where you tow the car behind the motorhome is for recovery purposes only.
Now, I guess therefore, the same rules would apply in Ireland. But I don’t know anyone who’s been stopped on this. I’ve only recently joined a group on Facebook actually, which is all about tow frames and A frames on motorhomes. And I bet somebody in there would know the answer. So if you’re on Facebook, that’s worth looking up, that group. Pose the question in there.
Maybe you’ve been to Ireland and you’ve towed a car and you’ve been stopped or maybe you’ve not. I’d love to know, because you know what, I’ve never done it in Ireland. I’ve been stopped in Italy and in France. In fact, going through the Mont Blanc tunnel, we were made to take the car off.
One of us had to drive the car through and of course pay the second toll. So they don’t like them on the continent. And the only answer there is to tow the car on a trailer, which as we’ve said before then means when you arrive on the campsite you’re dealing with three vehicles, the motorhome, the car, and the trailer. And you have to have a UK sticker on all of them. So yeah, Ireland – I don’t know, is the honest answer. Never done it.
Keith Gooden
Look it up, because these laws also change from year to year in highway codes in different countries. So what was right last year might not be right this year. Matt is not dodging the question, though. You do need to look it up.
Matt Sims
Well, EU rules would apply.
Keith Gooden
What’s the difference between an A frame and a trailer?
Matt Sims
On an A frame, all four wheels of the car are on the ground.
Keith Gooden
I passed one on the motorway up here today.
Matt Sims
Did you? Right, okay. Whereas on a trailer, obviously, all four wheels are off the ground. An A frame is considered a recovery device on the continent. And the big debate is always about how efficient the brakes on the car are. So normally brakes are servo assisted, which is powered by the engine.
When you’re towing it, the engine isn’t running, so the brakes are deemed to be less efficient. However, A frame manufacturers will tell you that’s not the case, that the brakes are suitably efficient to pass an MOT. But on the continent they are considered a recovery device.
So whatever the facts are about brake efficiency, if that gendarmerie is telling you to get the car off and drive it, you have no choice. You are driving it. So lots people get stopped in Spain, certainly, towing on an A frame.
Keith Gooden
And a little tip for you, by the way. Never argue with a man with a gun.
Matt Sims
That’s very true.Or my mum.
Keith Gooden
Who thinks your bottom is very small.
Matt Sims
She’s lovely. So’s my bum.
Ask Matt your questions
Keith Gooden
If you’ve got a question for us, we’d love to hear it. We’d love to try and answer it for you. Go to mhmp.info/askmatt. Motorhome Matt podcast, mhmp, get it?
Matt Sims
And we would love it if you would leave us a review. If you’re listening on Apple podcasts or Spotify, in both places you can leave us a review there. And you can do that by going to mhmp.info/review.
Keith Gooden
And you can subscribe on YouTube. That’s sponsored, isn’t it? Who by, Matt?
Matt Sims
www.arobasecreative.co.uk. Thank you, guys.
