Hi Steve. Great video. We purchased a 2006 Rubis 420 from Gumtree last year. Great for just two of us with the big double bed left down in the front end. I like the idea of an awning rail fitted to the roof - what type of rail is this and how is it attached to the fibre glass roof?
Hi Geoff , Nick here. Thank you,I’m glad you like my video. I’d definitely recommend adding an aftermarket awning rail. It gives you the option of using many other types of awnings, some of which are much quicker than the full awning with treads through the original awning channel. I purchased the aftermarket rail from eBay . I decided to get a caravan engineer to fit the rail as I was concerned that if I did the job myself I may damage the pop top roof or possibly cause water ingress etc . He used a mastic sealing tape to attach the rail then screwed in stainless steel screws in to a specific depth . Each of the screws would also be coated by the mastic as it was screwed into to roofline, adding extra protection from water ingress. I had a 2nd awning rail added to the non door side also. This was due to that fact that our Trigano has its door & awning rail on European side. So I always have to park hitch inwards to make use of an awning space on a pitch. Not all campsites in the U.K. allow for caravans to be pitched hitch inwards due to fire regulations. So on those type of campsites, I can pitch hitch forwards & have the awning on the non door side. Not ideal but at least the awning space on the pitch can still be utilised.
@@italianjob-01 Hi Nick. Many thanks for your helpful reply. A higher awning would be much better for headroom and will also ensure water drains away from the van roof. The other improvement I plan to make when the new season starts is to improve the main double bed with a Panda Bamboo Memory Foam topper and to create some removable mosquito netting for the top small windows in the roof section, as we figure that in hot weather we will need to open these at night. If you ever want ideas for walking or cycling in Pembrokeshire (as I see your are a big fan) do drop a note here as we live just south of Haverfordwest.
@@geoffhanbury4978 good idea regarding the top windows. We have net curtains on ours. Attached using netting wire threaded through to the top & bottom of the net curtain to keep it taught against the window. Thank you for the offer regarding ideas of Pembrokeshire. We live in North Wales , & love holidaying in Pembrokeshire.
Love your video, you have seen my video, wold be very interested in getting the bike rack? Can you tell me what make and model etc and is there any changes to the van?
Thanks Steve. The bike carrier is a Fiamma Carry-Bike Pro. It was on the Trigano when I purchased . I’ve never actually carried any bikes whilst towing as I worry about the stability aspect. Also the Trigano manual states that a bike carrier shouldn’t be fitted. As regards to changes I’ve made; 1) When I purchased the Trigano , the original furniture ( wardrobe etc ) that is opposite the dinette, had been removed by the previous owner to make way for a single bed. I couldn’t find any Trigano original furniture to fit back so I decided to buy some flat pack from Ikea. It looks the part & it is lightweight. 2) Although it is a hot water caravan, there was no heating when I purchased it, so I fitted a small caravan flat panel radiator on the wall opposite the dinette, in the gap between the foot of the fixed bed & the wardrobe. 3) There were only 2 power sockets in the caravan & also no means of checking the leisure battery charge from inside, so I’ve had a twin socket fitted which also has a inbuilt gauge for showing the battery charge level, & a single socket with a built in 12v cigarette type socket & tv aerial point fitted also. 4) I ripped out the carpets & fitted laminate effect vinyl flooring. 5) The caravan had two awning tracks when I purchased it. The full length lower track & an aftermarket track which is attached to the pop top roof . Both on the door side ( which in non U.K. side ). I’ve added another aftermarket track to the non door side for those pitches where the caravan site owners refuse to let me pitch hitch inwards. 6) Changed interior light bulbs to energy saving bulbs. Something I haven’t done but would like to, is to find some way of extending the width of the dinette bed. As it’s not a double bed.
Hi Steve. Great video. We purchased a 2006 Rubis 420 from Gumtree last year. Great for just two of us with the big double bed left down in the front end. I like the idea of an awning rail fitted to the roof - what type of rail is this and how is it attached to the fibre glass roof?
Hi Geoff , Nick here.
Thank you,I’m glad you like my video.
I’d definitely recommend adding an aftermarket awning rail.
It gives you the option of using many other types of awnings, some of which are much quicker than the full awning with treads through the original awning channel.
I purchased the aftermarket rail from eBay .
I decided to get a caravan engineer to fit the rail as I was concerned that if I did the job myself I may damage the pop top roof or possibly cause water ingress etc .
He used a mastic sealing tape to attach the rail then screwed in stainless steel screws in to a specific depth .
Each of the screws would also be coated by the mastic as it was screwed into to roofline, adding extra protection from water ingress.
I had a 2nd awning rail added to the non door side also.
This was due to that fact that our Trigano has its door & awning rail on European side. So I always have to park hitch inwards to make use of an awning space on a pitch.
Not all campsites in the U.K. allow for caravans to be pitched hitch inwards due to fire regulations. So on those type of campsites, I can pitch hitch forwards & have the awning on the non door side. Not ideal but at least the awning space on the pitch can still be utilised.
@@italianjob-01 Hi Nick. Many thanks for your helpful reply. A higher awning would be much better for headroom and will also ensure water drains away from the van roof. The other improvement I plan to make when the new season starts is to improve the main double bed with a Panda Bamboo Memory Foam topper and to create some removable mosquito netting for the top small windows in the roof section, as we figure that in hot weather we will need to open these at night. If you ever want ideas for walking or cycling in Pembrokeshire (as I see your are a big fan) do drop a note here as we live just south of Haverfordwest.
@@geoffhanbury4978 good idea regarding the top windows.
We have net curtains on ours. Attached using netting wire threaded through to the top & bottom of the net curtain to keep it taught against the window.
Thank you for the offer regarding ideas of Pembrokeshire. We live in North Wales , & love holidaying in Pembrokeshire.
Love your video, you have seen my video, wold be very interested in getting the bike rack? Can you tell me what make and model etc and is there any changes to the van?
Thanks Steve. The bike carrier is a Fiamma Carry-Bike Pro. It was on the Trigano when I purchased . I’ve never actually carried any bikes whilst towing as I worry about the stability aspect. Also the Trigano manual states that a bike carrier shouldn’t be fitted.
As regards to changes I’ve made;
1)
When I purchased the Trigano , the original furniture ( wardrobe etc ) that is opposite the dinette, had been removed by the previous owner to make way for a single bed.
I couldn’t find any Trigano original furniture to fit back so I decided to buy some flat pack from Ikea. It looks the part & it is lightweight.
2)
Although it is a hot water caravan, there was no heating when I purchased it, so I fitted a small caravan flat panel radiator on the wall opposite the dinette, in the gap between the foot of the fixed bed & the wardrobe.
3)
There were only 2 power sockets in the caravan & also no means of checking the leisure battery charge from inside, so I’ve had a twin socket fitted which also has a inbuilt gauge for showing the battery charge level, & a single socket with a built in 12v cigarette type socket & tv aerial point fitted also.
4)
I ripped out the carpets & fitted laminate effect vinyl flooring.
5)
The caravan had two awning tracks when I purchased it. The full length lower track & an aftermarket track which is attached to the pop top roof .
Both on the door side ( which in non U.K. side ).
I’ve added another aftermarket track to the non door side for those pitches where the caravan site owners refuse to let me pitch hitch inwards.
6)
Changed interior light bulbs to energy saving bulbs.
Something I haven’t done but would like to, is to find some way of extending the width of the dinette bed. As it’s not a double bed.