Hi from the UK

[Ian03/54]

Hi to All,

I've just found your forum by searching the great WWW and thought I would sign-up. I am a member of several MH forums here in the UK and look forward to helping any members I can with anything UK related.

My family have been camping with MH for over 18 years now, we started with small VW pop-ups and as our two daughters grew so did our campers. We had a couple of le'Sharos and kept moving up until we had an A Class Hymer built on a Mercedes 410D chassis. Now our girls go their own ways we have shifted down to a James Cook, known in the US as an Airstream, which we bought from a guy in Germany three summers ago. We like Mercedes and wouldn't go anywhere else now.

I am medically retired now, my work was for Kent Industrial selling auto, aviation and marine chemicals. I'm an auto man from years ago so I know my way around an engine but find these new ECU controls systems difficult to live with!

Like I said if I can help anyone with anything, Please call me I'll always try.

Regards, Ian

[streamer23]

Welcome to the forums Ian.You will find several other forum members here from your part of the world.

[Maybricks]

Hi Ian
We are just outside Peterborough amd glad to see another new member from the UK! Welcome!!
Lots of good stuff and helpful people on here.... enjoy
Sharon

[Ian03/54]

Hi to you both,

Mike, Thanks for the welcome "You will find several other forum members here from your part of the world" By the looks of the message below you're right!

Sharon, Thank you also for the welcome. I have found many useful links already.
BTW I've just been browsing your website, what a fantastic way to make a living! I've often wondered were Airstreams are found when TV programmes want one and now I know!

Regards, Ian

[TBRich]

Ian...welcome to the Airforums! Sounds like you are ready, willing and able to contribute to the knowledge base right away! Glad to have you here! Looking forward to hearing from you frequently...

Ease on down the road...
TB

[safari62]

Hello Ian
I am curious about the buz on the introduction of the European spec Airstream trailer? In your camping travels have you seen or talked to others others about their introduction to overseas markets? Love them or hate them?
We are hoping smaller and lighter versions will appear here as fuel cost rise and tow vehicles become smaller.

How about some photos of your James Cook. I am guessing it is much like the Westfalia Sprinter class B as it is called here.

Also curious about the Mercedes reliablilty history. Seem I only hear the negative stories and not so much the positive.

Thanks
Gary
ps Hello to silverconnie from silversylvia !

[Ian03/54]

Hi Guys,

TB, Thanks for the welcome, I'll try my best to help. I've just taken a quick look at your blog, what a great rig you have and it is obvious that you take great care of your vehicles, or do you polish the trailer for each photo?

Safari62, I haven't heard anything about a new trailer, most off my gossip is MoHo related. I think you are absolutely spot-on with regard to lighter trailers being the future. Gas prices really hurt in the UK as we are now paying £5 per gallon!! There is a furniture company from Italy that makes some great lightweigh cabinetry but I don't know how that would be accepted by buyers in the US? Without this how would they get the weigh down?

I will try to post some pics of our James Cook when I learn the procedure.

Regarding Mercedes reliability, well maybe this is the wrong time to ask me this question: our van is in the repair shop right now having a problem with the immobiliser fixed. It looks as though we are about to get a repair bill for somewhere between $1000-$2000. Other than this we have had very little trouble over the 12 years that we have run Mercedes so I guess we shouldn't complain too much. I will not change as most of the vehicles which are even vaguely comparable to the James Cook are only available on FIAT chassis and I will NEVER run one of those because .

Happy travels.

Regards, Ian

[safari62]

Originally Posted by Ian03/54

Hi Guys,

TB, Thanks for the welcome, I'll try my best to help. I've just taken a quick look at your blog, what a great rig you have and it is obvious that you take great care of your vehicles, or do you polish the trailer for each photo?

Safari62, I haven't heard anything about a new trailer, most off my gossip is MoHo related. I think you are absolutely spot-on with regard to lighter trailers being the future. Gas prices really hurt in the UK as we are now paying £5 per gallon!! There is a furniture company from Italy that makes some great lightweigh cabinetry but I don't know how that would be accepted by buyers in the US? Without this how would they get the weigh down?

I will try to post some pics of our James Cook when I learn the procedure.

Regarding Mercedes reliability, well maybe this is the wrong time to ask me this question: our van is in the repair shop right now having a problem with the immobiliser fixed. It looks as though we are about to get a repair bill for somewhere between $1000-$2000. Other than this we have had very little trouble over the 12 years that we have run Mercedes so I guess we shouldn't complain too much. I will not change as most of the vehicles which are even vaguely comparable to the James Cook are only available on FIAT chassis and I will NEVER run one of those because .

Happy travels.

Regards, Ian

Hi Ian,
After 12 years of service I suppose something has to give, so you have had good luck with it seems.

I think Airstream dropped the Westfalia Model over here which is unfortunate. I am guessing that the James Cook has some more luxury features that the westfalia did not.

On photos, the search feature will bring your to instructions about how to add photos. JanetB posts are a big help. Also CHUCK, with the Patriot avatar.

As a bicycle racing fan, we follow the Tour de France. That looks like a fun event if you own an Caravan/RV. (Maybe insane) Have you attended the race or know of someone that has?

Thanks and good luck with your travels.
Gary

[Maybricks]

Originally Posted by Ian03/54

Hi to you both,

Sharon, Thank you also for the welcome. I have found many useful links already.
BTW I've just been browsing your website, what a fantastic way to make a living! I've often wondered were Airstreams are found when TV programmes want one and now I know!

Regards, Ian

Thanks Ian.... looking forward to meeting you. Feel free to call over anytime or we are planning a get together sometime soon.

We are now the Tin Can Tourist reps for the UK so we are hoping to kick that off shortly.
We have a venue sorted just making sufficient space in the schedule to give it the start it deserves.
In the sprit of start as you mean to go on and all that stuff......