We Show You More of Our Campervan - The SWIFT Carrera 144

[@blitzco]

Great in use video ! real life experience well done

[@ianmonk4871]

Great shout with the Fiamma tripod pro table foot on the last video, we got one and it’s made a huge difference as it’s allowed us to remove the fixed table from our van. Thanks for the idea

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Glad you found it useful, saves taking another table, ok it's a bit high but does the job👍

[@czajkinadwoda]

es we working hard now for life like you have guys on few years later if the world no explodes, nice to watch keep it like that ❤️

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

@@czajkinadwoda Thanks, yes we worked hard and were able to retire early. Stick in and you will get there 👍

[@19seal65]

I have this awning. I would highly recommend you purchase the Thule Tie Down kit. It’s not expensive but could avert the potential disaster of the awning blowing over the van!

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks, we've already got that👍💕🐾

[@getawaygeese]

Looked a good parkup especially being quiet …. God to see the weather turned for you Good old google where would we be without it Couldn’t agree more just times when you need to stop and do very little … Hold that thought re flying in the van like you but mine didn’t end well 😂😂😂 Thanks for sharing guys

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

There's a pinch point in the van between kitchen and loo, and our wee drone Midge bottled it 🤣

[@campervancompanions]

Thanks for showing how you stored the awning pole! Just got my Carrera 194 and was wondering where to put it…your solution is genius! ❤

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks, it's definitely the best place for it👍💕🐾

[@PietroFraccari]

🙏thank you for the reply

[@lindao1327]

That looked like a nice parking spot. Your van looks comfy and cosy.

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks, yes it was a great spot just to chillax for a few days👍💕🐾

[@stellam8157]

Great video!

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks for the feedback 👍🐾💕

[@debh4190]

Such a lovely van! Love the AI Mike at the end too!

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks, some people have said AI Mike is a bit creepy when he was in a previous video 🤣

[@elizabethlouisedurdin4666]

You can lower support legs n " wella " more shade over doorway n still room to sit 😊

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

We tried lowering the support legs, but sun just kept coming in so making a canope is definitely on the cards.

[@elizabethlouisedurdin4666]

Oh sounds good .. Enjoy ( in joy ) it's a beautiful van 🤗

[@SparkysAdventures.]

love the van guys. Im on my way to France myself. Yours is similar to mine. Have a great time.

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Hope you enjoy France as much as us, the villages are brilliant to visit and things starting to open up now👍🐾💕

[@kenandersson7268]

Hi Mike, Tricia and Keira, pleased to see you relaxing and enjoying yourselves even if we do miss your video through towns and villages. Thanks for the tour, as you might remember, we are hoping to get our 144 this year and it’s good to see how you travel and live in it. Also nice to hear that you haven’t experienced any problems, apart from the awaking of course 😂. Take care and see you soon

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks Ken, no doubt yours will have the updated feature that we talked about....bug screen on rear doors and updated power management display.

[@PietroFraccari]

We’ve got our carrera 144 last December, really appreciate your video on the awing we have not used our jet so far by following your videos you’ve saved us lots of google searches, glad to see you’re having a good time in your travels. We just come back from a two months tour through Europe with the van and experience a few minor problems, I will be happy to discuss

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

I think there will usually be minor issues crop up with a new van, if small things then I would fix myself such as the plastic strap that holds the bin up. Anything I can't fix will go back to the dealer but thankfully we've not had anything significant, touch wood.

[@ispearo]

Hi, The fly screen does work you just need to pull it closed that little bit more. If you haven’t done so already. Love you guys keep up the good vids. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Just tried that, it's really stiff but it went right to the end, thanks for that 👍💕🐾

[@janeconnors1807]

There are some days when you just have to kick off your shoes and sit back and relax 😊. I'm loving these parking places. I guess the UK just doesnt have the landmass for such things. I'm sure Tricia has many sewing ideas for when you get home. Don't know if you've come across a company called 'must have ideas' but they have a lot of very useful bits of kit for campervans from hooks to something called a quad cube which is a great tidy/storage idea. Hooks for wet weather gear in the bathroom is useful but I'm sure you have that sorted, Have fun🥳

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks Jane, will have a look at that company. Having chill out days is part of what we enjoy when we get away, glad we're not the only ones👍🐾💕

[@johnallan5821]

Brilliant video pals ❤️ ur channel 😊

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thank you so much 😁

[@Kermit-Si]

Hi guys I'm really liking your van, really nice, I love the idea of being able to leave the bed made up, and still having the dining area up front. To be honest, I like Ken and Carol's (lives to short) new Concort van with the rap around rear seating, and the 5.4m length. But for only half a metre longer, I prefer yours. Cheers 👍 🐸

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

We also like their van, there are definitely pros and cons with the extra length👍💕🐾

[@JimmyCall]

Melbourne, Australia went straight into winter from summer.

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

No autumn, well hope it was a prolonged summer rather than an early winter.

[@yaminthegrey]

Hari OM When you find a good spot and are not on a fixed timetable, staying places that feel good and relaxing an extra day or two is perfectly in order. Even if the van is not...🙃 YAM xx (Who is back in Dunoon and preparing to make the third-stage part of the build...praying for more than one day a week that isn't p-ing down!!!)

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Agree, having a few days at a stop is a relaxing way to do it. Hopefully some good weather heading your way👍💕🐾

[@000caro555]

Lovely van, who wants to do housework when the sun is shining 😊. X assuming the wine went down a treat 😊

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Exactly, relax and chill, and yes wine went down lovely 👍🐾💕

[@keithweybury5212]

Hi Guys, great spot and love your Motorhome. You may recall we have a locally built one 6.23m here in Melbourne Australia. Autumn here and we are heading off for 3 weeks next Monday.

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Yes remember that, hope you have a great time, it will be cooler for you now and more comfortable in the van, all the best 👍🐾💕

[@janetbowen7854]

Lovely, we love to chill outside our campervan, the park up lioked fantastic, and peaceful. We have awning shades from @Cysgod handmade in Wales, they're excellent, but it sounds like you're going to make your own, that would be great to film too Cheers xx😄🚐🐶🍾

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks Jane, will have a look at them, sometimes it's just easier to buy than make👍🐾💕

[@JanelleVocate-Ames]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Yo!

[@stevezodiac491]

I would say, never put out the wind out canopy, without hammering in 4 pegs. We were nearly caught out by a sudden wind on an otherwise windless day. There is such a large area underneath the canopy for the wind to work against. It wouldn't take much to completely trash the canopy.

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks Steve, a few others have said the same thing👍

[@Waiheke-Transcend]

Your comment, "it's 16 degrees and hot"! 😂 Here in the north island of New Zealand 16 degrees is considered 'winter'! 😂 I'm enjoying your adventures. Cheers from Waiheke Island

[@janicecameron3688]

Hi I grew up on waiheke. 1960s to 70s.

[@Waiheke-Transcend]

@@janicecameron3688 oooh lucky! We've only been here since 1990 and I'll bet it's just a tad different to the 60s & 70s. Though it's still good old Waiheke! Where do you live these days?😁

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks for watching all the way from Waiheke Island. Our daughter is in Sydney and says the same, their winters are like our summers👍🐾💕🤣

[@valeriebridge7305]

Nice to see a van that looks lived in. Thanks for not tidying up!!

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks, we wanted to show it as it is👍🐾💕

[@dafadowndilly8919]

That park-up looks so peaceful and relaxing. If it is not too personal could you indicate the cost of the park-ups when you visit them. Thank you for sharing.

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thay are all pretty much the same cost, between €12 and €14 per day which includes hook up, really good value.

[@charliegould7829]

Please, please, every time you roll out the awning peg it to the ground, it only takes seconds. You'd be surprised just how little breeze it takes to lift it up and take it over the roof. I've had it happen twice, the first time there was next to no breeze, but suddenly the awning lifted slightly and as it went up it caught more breeze and ended up right over the roof. The second time I'd rolled the awning out and was getting the pegs out to peg it down when out of nowhere there was a gust that lifted the awning and it was gone. I got away lightly the first time it only broke the plastic end fittings which I managed to get new ones and replaced them. The second time it was a write off, I had to buy a £650 (at the time) new one. A little tip get some long 8 inch coach bolts, you can screw them in using an electric drill with a socket adapter, they go into hard or stoney soil no problems and grip really well with less chance of just pulling out, and of course they will unscrew easily with the drill as well. So please nail it down don't make the same mistake I made, trust me it's not nice seeing that expensive awning disappear over the roof!

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks Charlie, we will take that on board. We saw ot happen to a motorhome parked up beside us once, ours was pegged down at the time, that was our last van. Generally we have not bothered pegging it when there is no sign of any wind, but reading about your experiences, we will definitely be pegging out all the time in future. We have the storm straps too.👍🐾💕

[@louisegrinham2315]

Hi guys, would you be able to drop the legs just a couple of inches at the front so you are more shaded? Xx

[@Wheres_wanda_wandering]

You have the same make of awning as us. We use a tie down kit as on our previous van the awning went up in a gust of unexpected wind. Tricia please can you video the making of the door nets as I would like to do something similar at the back of Wanda. Thank you take care Gill

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Hi Gill, we have the tie down kit already. Will definitely keep in mind to video that 👍💕🐾

[@colinblack7049]

Hi Tricia and Mike, are you sure you're in France? One week snaw, the next week you're learning how to wind out the awning looking for shade.

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

I know it's incredible the regional variations, we're just glad that we escaped out of there👍🐾💕

[@laurencebrown1983]

New to your channel 😊 Great video and love your van. I have a question on the bed size. I am 6ft and wonder if I would be ok on the width of the van, especially as I am predominantly a back sleeper. I am considering this van and as you said in a previous video getting a good night sleep in the van is very important. Appreciate your thoughts and keep up the good work.

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks, it would be on the short side for you, I know that some people have removed the padded wall mounted back boards, the can be easily taken out apparently and would give another few inches but I think it would still be tight and if you can try it out in a showroom that would be best.

[@LeeLorrie]

Hi Mike & Tricia We have recently purchased a Swift Carrera, and wondered if you bought seat covers for the cab seats? If so can you advise where you purchased yours please? Thank you

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

@@LeeLorrie Hi Lee, yes we do have covers and we got them per below. Hope you have many years of adventures in your new van. Seat Covers: motorhomeseatcovers.co.uk/

[@LeeLorrie]

@ Thank you, we have placed an order tonight 🍻

[@welshieonwheels]

Thank you both nice area 👍 for up grades maybe a little more solar and a 2.4 kw power pack save you tripping out the supply and save your gas. well done both and good luck 👍👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🇨🇦🦢

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks, we will see how we got on once we start wild camping a bit more when we get back to Scotland 👍💕🐾

[@gwen1337]

Maybe lower the legs, will lower the awning giving you more shade😎

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks, we tried that but the sun was so low it was still getting under. Never mind we have a cunning plan😉

[@richardaustin5298]

Have you and any security issues using “Camping car parks” ?

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

No, none whatsoever, we have felt really safe in them.

[@geecee8864]

Have a look a Windswept Robert,he’s a Scottish drone guy who will show how to do fly through and fly under/over video with your drone.Kisses to Keira.👍

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks, I watched WSR for quite a while but then he was introducing fees / Patreon so I stopped watching.

[@grimreavers]

Hi guys love the vids...what drone do you guys use in your productions ? Many thanks..

[@donbrown8001]

For people with no sewing skills like us look for a Welsh company called Cysgod who make the type of screen you are planning on making👍

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Thanks Don, you are the second person to suggest them, we will definitely have a look👍🐾💕

[@donbrown8001]

@@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot there’s a KZbin channel called Professional Moochers who demonstrate them - not cheap but seem well made and Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 👍👍

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

@@donbrown8001 cheers will have a look.

[@donbrown8001]

I tested our fly screen on the big door today as we’d never tried it since picking up our new van last September - ours fits perfectly against the door edge (not a Swift but S&L) - my fear is I can see our dog trying run through it !!

[@johnchristie3798]

Did you forget to take your racket?

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Still have it somewhere, it has Bjorn Borg branding all over it 🤣

[@NSteele76]

You might want to look up the hidden meaning of what pink flamingos and campers means… 😂

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

And how exactly did you know that? 🤣

[@PietroFraccari]

We’ve got our carrera 144 last December, really appreciate your video on the awing we have not used our jet so far by following your videos you’ve saved us lots of google searches, glad to see you’re having a good time in your travels. We just come back from a two months tour through Europe with the van and experience a few minor problems, I will be happy to discuss

[@kenandersson7268]

Hi, we are getting our Carrera 144 later this year and would like to know what minor problems you encountered. It’s always good to know in case we experience similar. Kind regards, Ken

[@PietroFraccari]

Hi Ken, let me start by saying that the van is lovely and we love it, however there are a few things that can be improved, first is the gas and the location of the gas bottles which has a not very practical access and also to find 3.9 kg gas bottles has proven to very difficult and expensive , we will be most probably changing to a different system either refillable bottle or using the diesel, also the valve for the grey water tank broke in our first trip and we couldn’t close it automatically and there isn’t a manual system as an alternative and it could be a good idea to install one under the van , we are looking into a ball valve. Other than that, there are other cosmetic issues like a panel in one of the windows, one of the latch on the bed and other tiny things, I advise you to have a good look around your van when is delivered and during the handover we obviously didn’t pay much attention and the excitement got the better of us, good luck and see you on the road

[@kenandersson7268]

@@PietroFraccari Hi Pietro, many many thanks for replying we really appreciate your feedback. Sorry to hear of the issues you encountered and hope you get them fixed under warranty very soon. The gas has always been an issue with Calor stopping the 3.9kg last year. They have now reinstated them but they are slowly coming back into the pipeline, I’m sure that will improve but good to think of an alternative. I hope these issues didn’t spoil your trip and may see you around on our travels in our 144. Regards Ken