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Nickynoo

Hi not been on for a bit just to say we love our 550 we keep all outside gear levelers eletcric cable etc in a large green weather proof bag that used to house our wastemaster in the caravaning days .this then tucks behind swiveled passenger seat on site We've also bought legs for our internal table to use outside. We are heart sick of making up the double bed though so have decided to use the singles with sleeping bags instead. this means that if one wants to go to bed the other can still watch telly etc and there is no clambering over eachother in the middle of the night! I know what your thinking but the dog puts paid to any romantic notions anyway!
We have some clunking from underneath our van which we can't identify . so I need to have that looked at and get one of these covers for the engine we just had grease put on the injectors.
We did have a prob with the Fiat side a siezed rear wheel after 1500 miles and then well over 2weeks to wait for a part.
I'm also a bit worried about the reversing probs see this months MMM letters page . We dont use an oven on site I find I can heat ready made garlic bread and cook part baked bread under the grill! .the diesal heating is fab . Happyvanning everyone

oldenstar

Hey Nickynoo
Just shows that virtually all 550 owners do love em, despite the odd niggle.
Mind you, a seized rear wheel and mysterious noises mean you have had quite big niggles, worse than any of mine.
Sadly ours has now gone and we pick up our replacement low profile in a week or so.
It was the bed that prompted our change as we realised what a boon a fixed bed would be- then after it was ordered SWMBO had a bad diagnosis so it becomes virtually essential. If she has a bad day she can simply stay in bed.
On the oven front I carefully measured the width of the cupboard under the fridge, then bought a good 240v oven-I lined the cupboard floor and sidewalls with a good carpet underlay and it travelled there really snugly.

When on hook-up the oven sat neatly on the pull down flap in front of the rear doors, and worked very well

As for the reversing issue there was a thread a couple of months ago covering this, and after the first couple of months ours settled down (or I got used to it). It wasn't an issue for us.

Happy Tribbing
Paul

Nickynoo

Thanks, hope your new van works out for you both!

Otto-de-froste

We just got our van back from Fiat dealers after 4 weeks waiting for new springs.
The rear springs had no rubber bushes, so they have been replaced. I have to say that it may ber psychological but it seems to ride better and less internal rattles.
It also seems the spare wheel carrier was loose - anyway it doesn't clunk anymore so - who knows?

wenlock

Hi All,
We are enjoying our Tribute 650 in spite of a few faults. Has anyone else experienced cracks just where the screws fit in the plastic panels that line the inside of the back door(offside) and the inside of the sliding door.
We have a new lining for the rear door and one is on order for the sliding door.
It appears that they were overtightened when fitted and then the shock of slamming the doors has induced these cracks.
My latest problem is a leaky tap in the bathroom sink, we have hardly used this tap as we tend to use site facilities. Our dealer says that it is fairly common for this type of tap to fail, probably the same tap used on all Trigano makes of van. Parts take months to arrive which is worrying and inconvenient.
Of course we have suffered leaking into the engine via the scuttle and some judder when reversing.

Paul

Nickynoo

Hi all not noticed any cracks in the door panels but will check because the sliding door does need a good slam! to stop the fridge fan!
We have had a plastic cover put on by the fiat dealerand experienced reverse shudder in lakes a few weeks ago it does seem to stop if you try to keep revs about 13OOrpms Fiat recommend this!
I had to get the dealer to check electric step which seemed to be loose in its housing and not working correctly thought that was the clanking but it is still there now its fixed
we have also noticed the paint is coming off our roof rails . No probs with the bathroom tap but that is worrying as we have used it quite a lot!
When we took delivary of our van last Oct they had replaced our fridge vents with white ones as the silver ones were cracked . they only arrived last week six months on order ! if my bathroom tap fails I would not be happy to wait months for part as we tend to stay on non-facility sites its cheaper!
Unfortunately when things are on order the dealers blame Fiat or Autotrail . they seem to forget that you didn't buy the van from Fiat/Autotrail you bought it from them and it is their responsability to make sure things are done! Its funny I bet your dealer didn't tell you that that type of tap usually fails when you were parting with your hard earned cash!
happy vanning!

bandaid

Its not very off topic, but I see in the last post about fridge vents taking 6 months on order. Now, I know nuffink abaht manufacturing motorhomes, other than they're low volume units, but, surely the vents are a bought in item to the maker, and shouldnt take 6 months....... I mean, if you want vents for your house they're in all the DIY sheds by the hundred.

stands by for correction on the temrity to question supply proceedures of motorhomes manufacturers Smile

Tribute_650

bandaid

Its ludicrous. Shocked

Lambo

Wenlock, our 06 Tribute had both taps frost damaged and leaked around the top. Both ceramic discs were broken.
Replacement cartridges from a caravan shop fitted nicely, 5 minute job and £15 each, cheers, Paul.