This is why a shakedown trip matters - Van Life UK
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- Опубліковано 16 тра 2024
- Join us, Carol & Ken, on our first ever trip in our new campervan called Snoopy, as we continue to get used to driving and living in a larger van.
In this video, we return to Consort Motorhomes for some snag fixes on our electrics and to see if they can check out the fault on our diesel heater. We try and get a table for a Valentine’s Day meal out, console ourselves with an Indian meal after a muddy walk at Marbury Country Park then visit the historic Anderton Boat Lift.
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🔶 About us 🔶
Welcome to our channel! We're Carol and Ken, retired professionals turned van life enthusiasts. We share our adventures across the UK and Europe in our camper van, which we have just upgraded to a slightly larger model.
Our goal is to provide a relaxing, honest account of van life, with no scripted drama - just the real, day-to-day experiences of our travels. Many of our viewers find our content calming, and we hope you will too.
We're passionate about wild camping and love to share our knowledge and tips, from staying cool in the van to choosing the right toilet. We're always learning and look forward to sharing our campervanning experiences with you.
While we love the freedom of wild camping, we also enjoy supporting local businesses by indulging in delicious local food. Expect to see plenty of one-pan meals and restaurant visits in our videos.
We like historical sites, country homes, towns, villages, and the occasional city. We aim to share interesting facts and stories about the places we visit.
We post new videos every Friday at 6pm UK time, sometimes more often.
Our channel is perfect for armchair travellers, those considering a caravan or motorhome, or anyone looking to unwind after a stressful day. If this sounds like you, hit that subscribe button and join us on our journey. Your support, whether through watching our videos, subscribing, or contributing to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' fund, helps to keep our adventures going. We appreciate every bit of it. ❤️
🔴 Contact us @ lifeistooshortwildcamper@gmail.com
Video Link:
When we went to Frodsham in Little Red:
• From Sussex to Frodsha...
This episode was filmed 14th-17th February 2024.
#vanlife #lifeistooshort #relaxing
Quite a few people asking what was wrong with the diesel heater so I will deal with that via this pinned comment. On initial collection it was fine. As the days passed it would fail to ignite. This happened whether we were on hookup or not. We mainly wild camp so have to run on diesel. When it failed there would be a lot of smoke and then we got a variety of error messages. These messages sometimes give a broad hint as to what was wrong but usually are quite vague. Each error has to be acknowledged and cleared. Trouble is the unit keeps track of them and after 5 faults it locks and you have to try a reset. Ours failed to come back to life so the unit was replaced free of charge. Consort don’t know what actually killed it. We had a faulty relay in the main power unit of the van which would sometimes cycle rapidly on and off which made the lights flicker. The whole unit was replaced, the heater was checked and was running fine but that clearly there was a more serious fault in the heater. The heater was replaced and since then its had about 6 weeks of fairly heavy use and its been fine. The Truma makes quite a bit of noise on start up, a roar of the burner and the fan but once it hits temperature its quiet. Now its working as it should we are happy we have it as our LPG is only used for cooking.
I'm glad to hear that Consort replaced your heater. Enjoyed the video. Everywhere looks so cold and damp. Except your lovely camper. Thankyou for the video .
Consort did a great job sorting out the heater. Thanks for watching 🙂
Glad that Consort sorted the issue for you. Blimey Ken that’s a hell of a Burger. Like your quick getaway thinking. I like the sound of your watch Ken. “Well done” 😂. The company we used for our Webasto said they won’t fit any other make now as they have had so many issues. Hope they get it sorted for you soon. Amazing engineering on the boat lift. That’s the sort of egg that I would get down my top 😮. Thanks guys.
All sorted now, thanks. We must of had a faulty heater and Consort didn’t hesitate to replace it with a new one 🙂
I wish the Aldi here in Texas had all those British goodies!
Our closest Aldi is an hour and a half away in Lafayette. I've never been, but I want to.
Just such a beautiful country with charming towns, even in the rain! How fortunate to lives in such a beautiful country with 1000 yrs of history! Awwwww, Indian Food cures all ills ❤
It certainly does 😁👍
You know what. Your cooking skills have hit the roof since you got your new van. Great to watch you in the kitchen. How life in the little van has changed.
Thanks 👍
I’ve seen the boat lift several times on narrowboat life UA-camrs’ channels but this is a first seeing it from land. Very interesting! Sorry to hear about your Truma problems. My van has a combined Truma water heater and furnace and the pump that circulates the hot water in the lines has a mind of its own. It stars even when turned off and refuses to start when I tell it to. I’m learning all sorts of work arounds to get hot water when I want it. Glad to hear that Consort replaced yours for you.
There was no messing around as it was dead 😁👍
Seeing Carol with her face up to the sun triggered a memory for me > I set a goal for myself 2 years ago to learn 5 new words every day . This was something I started doing with the children I work with in the school system here in Canada . With the use of technology and all it's short forms I realized how limited our vocabulary had become . So in an effort to broaden their vocab we looked them up together . One of these words was APRICITY,,,which means on a very cold day to hold ones face up to the sun in an effort to warm up . That little bit of warmth against your skin on a cold winters day is APRICITY...just some useless knowledge I thought I'd share.....thanks for the memory Carol Cherryl from Canada
We like useless knowledge. It keeps the world interesting. Thanks for sharing ❤️
I love fridge magnets!
We are thwarted at our forst attempt 😁👍
Hi Carol and Ken, we've just had a relaxing Saturday lunch catching up with your two latest videos. Dave was chuckling away as he always comes up with odd theories when having issues with things technological or mechanical 😆. Pleased you got it sorted in the end. Hope you are having a great weekend. Best wishes Dave and Dawn ❤️
Thanks guys. Enjoy the rest of your weekend ❤️
Love to watch your videos ... Always a pleasure to see where you have traveled... Greetings from Perth, Western Australia.. 🙏
Thanks Edith ❤️
Ah! Heater problems persist. The Midlands still look very nice even in the cold, damp, and wet winter. Cheers!
I do sympathise with you re music being too loud … I do dislike it in public places. It should be gently in the background otherwise it’s intrusive and annoying. I enjoy your videos … thankyou both. Greetings from Devon 👋🏻
Hi Cherry. Thanks for watching 🙂
I agree
We always politely ask if they would mind turning the music down a little and they have always obliged without any fuss.
@@em6577we also have a problem with loud music particularly as we wear hearing aids
Lovely.❤
Excellent Video, Thank You
Glad you enjoyed your visits up North 😊
Absolutely good advice, sometimes it's best to keep quiet... enjoying your videos 🥰🥰
Brill vlog as always! Glad you got the heater sorted. 😊
I'm glad you got your heater sorted.
I loved your philosophical moment about the heater. Glad it is sorted now.
I suppose you could say, “Im addicted to ya’ll” I just have one small complaint, the videos, to me, are too short, lol. Seriously another great video. I love your love of history and bringing us along.
Thanks Gerald. Glad you are enjoying the videos 🙂
Just love watching your little meals and travels.etc..most enjoyable,
Thank you 🙂
nice to see you both having fun nigel
Love your new van…. Very nice ❤❤
Lovely 😍 to see you both, thank you for the video, I enjoyed it very much.
Take care X X X ❤
Glad you enjoyed it, Susan 🙂
Nice to see you back. Love your video’s
Thank you 🙏
I like it you give the dates. We were in France while you filmed this...same weather!
Hope you enjoyed your French trip 🙂
Love you guys and your adventures, long may they continue
Thank you 🙏
Awesome blog, nice to see our neck of the woods on the TV 😉!! Glad you got the heater sorted 😎
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
It’s rainy & dreary here in Virginia in the US today as I’m watching this video. Consort sounds like a great company to deal with. It’s good to know they stand behind their vans and replaced your heater. Enjoyed this video. Thank you!
Yes, Consort looked after us well. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Glad to see you got your van fixed properly. Looking forward to next video.
Thanks Larry ❤️
Loving your trip and fascinated by what you shop, cook and eat. Thank you for sharing from Australia.
You are welcome 👍
Nice vlog Ken and Carol. Thanks for sharing
Cheers 👍
Hurrah! A new adventure from Charlie Brown and Kendal Mint Cake!!. I just recently found you and have been bingeing on your channel. I live in Canada but am from Edinburgh. I miss the UK everyday but someday will get to return and a little van I will buy.! Love your channel
Welcome to our channel. Glad we can bring back some memories 👍
Love castle hill. ❤
Hi both
Another great video and I hope your teething problems with the heater sorts itself out, as we too have a new van and are experiencing some issues with it.
Just to say I discovered your channel a few weeks ago and I have just completed watching all your entire playlists which I've thoroughly enjoyed, please keep them coming as I've learned a lot from you with regards going off grid which we are going to do for the first time in a couple if weeks on our tour of Yorkshire.
Take care both.
Our diesel heater was replaced so all is working well now. Thanks so much for watching our videos. Have a great time on your Yorkshire trip 🙂
Another great video thanks
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Thank you for sharing an interesting video with all the ups and downs, and very glad your heater problem has been sorted out and no more trouble from it... Keep safe...
Thanks 🙂
I really appreciate the variety of meals you make. Also it is fun to sneak away early mornings and head out on the new adventure. See you next time. Mary
Makes us feel like naughty kids having to run in the mornings 😁👍
It's good to see Consort are looking after their customers. I'm in the market for a brand new van soon, I'm constantly looking but keep coming back to consort. I think a tour could be next.
They have great after sales service 😀👍
Thanks carol and ken another great video 😊
Thanks for watching 🙂
Its great concort replace your heater guys ,,,thumbs up as usual ❤
They did a good job 👍
I love your show. ❤️🤗🇺🇸I live in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Well thanks for watching ❤️
You were in my neck of the woods 10 minutes from the Anderton lift I was impresed with the burger thanks for the vlog
Thanks for watching 🙂
Great stuff. ❤❤❤. We are off June on a long trip can’t wait. ❤❤
Enjoy 👍
Great videos thy are very entertaining and informative thanks
Glad you like them!
Great customer service at Consort, glad you got your diesel heater sorted (I went for the traditional gas version).
That will give you good service as it’s well developed. The diesel heater is fairly new tech for Truma I think
Thanks for the video your right so easy to just give up keep safe 😂
I enjoyed this! Enjoyed having a bit of an understanding what is near the Anderson Lift. I have only seen it from a narrow boat.
Did you get to go up in the lift? We wanted to do that, shame it wasn’t operational when we were there.
@@LifeistooshortCK - No, never been. But I followed a few narrowboaters who panic going to it, though it is well designed, organized and stable.
We like Aldi here in the U.S. too!
Wow, that burger looked amazing Ken! Hope you finished it 😆😆😆 Thanks for another great vlog both x
So good 😋
Thank you both , you got lots of patience with that heating system. Visited the same type of lift lock in Peterborough Ontario it’s funny cause they called it the Trent too . Well done good luck 👍👍👍🏴🏴🇬🇧🇨🇦🦢
All good things come to those who wait 😁👍
Ah glad u got snoopy fixed after.
Ken I totally agree, the Aldi sausages here in Ireland are my favourite,an I'm picky about them. I've not tasted better anywhere. Lovely video as always . Have a great weekend.
Cheers. You too 🙂
Holmfirth is the Slaw's neck of the woods! My folks had a nice weekend there years ago. Mum was so chuffed to have a cuppa in Sid's Café 😂
We LOVE a fridge magnet! Our fridge freezer is covered!
Our freezer at home has a growing collection 😀👍
Just found your channel,love your laid back videos and your humour you should try a road trip over here many beautiful places to explore,happy travelling many greetings from Stockholm Sweden
Thanks for watching. We would love to visit Sweden one day 🙂
@@LifeistooshortCK Your most welcome😊
Frodsham is not far from me..its a lovely place❤...
Self fitted a Chinese diesel heater 3 years ago only problem with cheap tubing replace with braided fuel pipe never been a problem always works first time and very warm. Love your vids best of luck..
We have seen how reliable they are. New one is behaving now
Pleased you got the heater fixed.
I live quite close to Anderton, if I’d known you were coming you could have popped in for a brew!!
Safe travels ❤
Next time!
Hari Om
One of my pet hates, "muzak"... so count me a grump too! Glad the heater got fixed... and that you mostly managed to stay cheerful! YAM xx
😁👍
You need some wiggle eyes 👀 for your front window. Of course I am crazy about them. I also love ❤️ your grocery store. You have the pre cooked custard pies . The fish filets looked good. Our countrys are so alike and so different. Love your new van. ❤️ you remind me of me and my husband
He died 6 years ago. Please enjoy each and every second together. That diesel heater is not getting very good publicity over in America. Have fun.
Sorry to hear about your husband. Best wishes to you over the pond 🇺🇸❤️
Good to have a van with storage for a good shop - we like Aldi fortunately a new one on the doorstep
It’s good you are ‘because it was your duty’ 😂😂
I couldn’t agree more about excuses when something isn’t right - it’s my mode of operation
Boat lift so similar to the one in France we came across
Thanks for producing
I can’t believe my mind actually served up that tosh and I listened to it 😁👍
Wow, was that burger as big as it looked? (Not the Aldi one, obviously😉) and how on earth did Ken even figure out how to eat it.
Also, I just want to say we appreciate all the social media malarkey, so thank you 😊 x
Yes I didn’t know it was going to be that big when I ordered it. I couldn’t finish it all 👍
Very nice trip. Looks like you are getting used to having room. 😉 Bit of Dutch weather. ☔ Fridge door maybe stainless steel? Magnets don't stick
You were so close to my house! I live a few miles from Holmfirth. I know you can advertise where you're going to be for security reasons but I wish I'd bumped into you. You're right though, our roads are completely knackered.
We love bumping into people on our travels 🙂👍
I really enjoy your new van, it's so cosy and it's so nice to have more space, especially when you are inside for a few hours. I'm glad your heater is working now 🙏. Did you manage to eat the stacked burger? It looked delicious. Great vlog, have a lovely weekend 😊
Thanks. Yes, the burger stack was delicious 🙂
That video solves something we were pondering about. Around that time we spotted a Consort motorhome close to the M6 in Cheshire and thought it might have been you. Now looks quite likely.
Could well have been us 🙂
We have had a Webasto, van fuel tank fed, diesel heater for about 3 years. It hasn't missed a beat. Put it on full it works, reduce it to 11 degrees c overnight, it comes on and off automatically as required, with absolutely no issues. Even so, we always take an electric blanket andcs fan heater with us, just in case. The fan heater can be used from a camp site hook up but the electric blanket can work all night from an Ecoflow Delta 2, if required.
Glad to hear it 👍
I love Aldi! Very reasonable prices, good bread and cheese assortment, very good meats and organic veggies!
Yes wish we had one near where we live.
👍👍
I'm glad the heating is now working thanks to Consort's replacement.No problem with space for your shopping in Snoopy's fridge. Aldi's skin on fries are worth a try or their beef dripping chips.I was smiling as you described your swearing man outside.I also experienced that(and worse) in my previous job.Glad I'm now retired! Safe travels.See you on the next.
I am glad I am retired as well now. The police are not supported like they were in my day. It must be soul destroying now.
yeah canal ! a glimpe of a narrowboat ! the flooding is called i think a weir, it's to keep the level of water in the canal at the right height, it's important especially for the locks. Even if you fall in the canal, you wouldn't drown, it's quite shallow. All I know about canals and narrowboats come from Cruising the cut, the youtube channel.
We watch cruising the cut 😁👍
Those custard tarts won't fill the fridge up for long!😁😁
True 😂
My Chinese diesel heater is over three years old. Its run for 100s of hours. The only error code that's come up is when the wet batteries did not have enough volts to ignite it on start up. When it finally dies itl cost less than £100 to replace if i do it myself. Now check out how much the webasto units are. ( Chinese are copies of webasto now the copyright has expired!! )
That is great but it came with the van 👍
Try a Remoska for crispy burgers and toasty buns ! Cheap to run and you can even make cake and bread in it 👏👏
We have a Remoska and might give it a try on a future trip. We are also going to be testing a thermal cooker we have ordered. 👍
the boat lifts are neat, seen them before, just fascinating. i love magnets too. you could put a stronger magnet on the back, it was very pretty there. to bad that boat wasn't open would have been fun, how did you eat that huge sandwich. bet you where full you two are living the life, hugs and take care
I managed most of it 😁👍
It was your second free appetizer. The first was at the Italian restaurant where you exchanged the table of 8 to the large party and got meatballs! 😀
You’re right! You know more about us than we do! 😁
I love your diet Ken , very much like mine 😅
I can recommend it 🙂👍
Consort looking after you well. I'm off to SC on Monday to have my yearly 'doings'. Seeing the food you bought this time, you must be so enjoying a good sized fridge and freezer. I still can't decide whether to upsize or not! I agree with the music; should only be instrumental and very much background so you don't have to lipread others on your table but takes away the total silence. It will be interesting to see how you get on climbing back inside Little Red! Take care both. 💓
Definitely love the larger fridge and having it positioned higher up is great on the back 🙂👍
Hopefully all is well now.
All good now, thanks Willie 🙂
another good vıdeo.shame about the heater though
All fixed now 👍🙂
Hi guys loving your videos as usual I have to agree with you Ken the chicken burger wasn’t to my taste either 😁 don’t know if your aware but I changed my screen saver on my Apple Watch and noticed they have snoopy screen savers on there 👍😁 and Carol your doing great at driving the new van it can be a bit daunting till you get used to it , I too have the fiat ducato it’s a lovely van to drive 👍 take care guys .
Carol is still not keen on driving the van but is getting there. A Snoopy watch face could help matters 😁👍
All new production motorhomes/camper vans have bugs to work out. Even with most reputable manufacturers. A thorough shakedown cruise definitely required. Good job.
Exactly. People who collect and rush off to Spain beware. We stay close to the dealer until everything is tickity boo.
Is your fridge alloy rather than steel, is that why the magnet won't stick? Maybe start a sticker collection instead.
I think its just a very thin skin. 👍
@@LifeistooshortCK oh I see. we are picking our new motor home up in 2 weeks I can't wait.
Hope the handover goes well and it’s everything you have been dreaming of 👍
Keeping quiet in the van 🚐 when there’s a commotion outside is a bit more difficult with a Charlie 🐶🥴😂 That burger from the Mexican restaurant looked amazing! We prefer Lidl to Aldi, but, the bakery section is too inviting 😂 Glad you’re all sorted with the diesel heater, always bound to be some snagging issues with a brand new van 🚐 Thanks, Em & G & noisy Charlie 😂 💜
Thanks for watching. Charlie makes a good guard dog ❤️🐕 😀
A Norwegian breakfast at our national day 17 may is usually a creamy scrambled egg to perfection with some slices of smoked salmon. I will fly a direct flight from Stavanger to Aberdeen later this summer. There I will enjoy the british Yorkshire tea, which we do not find in Norway. The secret to cook a proper good british tea is apparently to pour the cooking water onto the tea bag and wait for a few minutes, not to put the tea bag first into the water. Then a visit to a Wetherspoon pub, good value for money. I will also enjoy the haggis, neeps and tatties. Fish n chips at Oban, the best, with green peas and curry sauce. Then some malaysian food - beef rendang, the best place just outside Euston Station.
You sound like you enjoy your food as much as I do. Enjoy your trip 👍
I’m touring around Scotland the last few dats and I saw a black “little red”. Being single I think it would work great for me. But there isn’t anything like it in the US.
There was a company converting them in the US. 👍
Interesting about the diesel heater. When I worked in the ambulance service we had diesel heaters in the vehicles made by eberspacher. They were very temperamental and often stopped working or did the belching smoke thing so it seems diesel heaters have a bit of a reputation for this.Great video as always. Carol missed her chance though....a quick nudge and Ken would have ended up in the canal and she could have collected the insurance money! Lol 😲😁😜
Stop giving her ideas 😁👍
I recognised, and know, quite a few places in this weeks video. Think that was Woodhead Pass and then Glossop which was the home of Pat Pheonix (Elsie Tanner from Coronation Street) until her passing.
Been to Marbury Country park a few times and in dry weather it's a lovely place to walk. Did you know it has a private Lido? Not the right place for a swim in February though.
Frodsham is very pretty, we would drive through on our way to Delamere Forest.
Glad you're enjoying the new van. Looking forward to the next trip 👍🏻
We will have to go back one day in the summer. Didn’t know about the Lido 🙂👍
Fellow UA-cam DownieLive has a series on UK canals and the boat lift! It’s a great watch.
Also we’d love to see you do a collab with Mike and Trish. Happy and safe travels!
We have a video on the channel where we met up with Mike & Trish and Getaway Geese 👍
We all need a bit of Ken's current high mood!
We do ,and carol steadfastness and calm nature..
😂
Hello to you both, on top of castle hill where you freshened up..there used to be a large public house next to the tower but the owners decided to demolish it without informing anyone,They then attempted to build a new pub/Hotel without planning permission which was stopped by the authorities as soon as they found out .😎👍
That is called shooting yourself in the foot 😁👍
I live in Frodsham
Another entertaining video. Bernie said he totally agrees with you about the ALDI Burgers..burger yes...chicken burger NO. Love the fact you ate it out of duty 😆🐕🚙
Us oldies have that sense of duty to King and country, always ready to take one the team or maybe two if they are yummy 😁👍
😅😅😅@@LifeistooshortCK
I was surprised to hear that you were in Holmfirth: it's where I was born and lived for the first 17 years of my life. (BTW, you don't pronounce the 'l" - it should sound like Homefirth). There were no fancy restaurants in those days. Then came the TV series "Last of the Summer Wine" which really put it on the map. I now live in Perth, Western Australia - where the weather is much more to my liking!
Last of the summer wine. I remember that, when comedy was actually funny. 👍
Diesel heaters are usually so good and reliable, guess you just got a dodgy one, and hope your next one has no more problems.
The second one has been as good as gold. 👍
Nice goin, gettin Snoop back to the builder. What was the prob with the heater? What did the goodies cost? I do frozen stuff like laz, stews, and shep pie, less room in the freezer. Love the flag on the boat lift! Thats a bit cheeky, talking about doin dishes 'standing up' and young Kens sitting down drying in a tallie. Excellent goin m8s, pleased as this end! Pedal to the metal, stay vertical, keep exploring!
Hello Greg and thanks for the coffes ❤️. Full details about the heater in the pinned comment but bottom line something fried the main controller. 👍
Jaw dropping burger Ken! Did you manage a pudding too?
No pudding after that monster burger 🍔 😅
Would you consider visiting Lerwick ??
One day we probably will 👍
🥰🥰
Hope thay fix poor snoopy