ZigZag Wanderer

Friday 6th March 2026

Although there’s not been much actual progress on the van build per-se, a very significant related event happened yesterday. As I’ve stated before, I’ve struggled with having three large vehicles to shuffle around, and selling Zig Zag Wanderer II has been key in this respect. However, it was only really sold if I could put a full MOT on it (we advertised it with a full ticket). So, yesterday it went for testing, and I can report that it passed with flying colours – no advisories, and a fairly remarkable set of emissions figures (just like last year), together with complimentary remarks from the guys at the testing station (just like last year). Someone is getting a very good engine. And a very good van all round, to be fair.

The new owner-to-be is delighted, has placed a holding deposit, and is excitedly awaiting delivery (I volunteered – she’s only four or so miles up the road) next Wednesday. That’s the earliest she could accept it as she’s currently away. Ah well, it’ll soon come round.

Another small thing happened yesterday too; the roof fan – not the ubiquitous MaxxAir fan as installed in ZZW I – arrived, adding to the growing pile of bits and pieces. I hadn’t thought about it before, but the make of it – Nomadic Ark – ties in nicely with Zig Zag Wanderer! Good Karma?

Other large items in the pile include a separator toilet, and four IKEA ‘Skorva’ bed rails (two of which will be fixed and stationary in the bed system, while two will slide to permit the bed to extend from four feet to six feet six inches in length. I can never think of bed dimensions in anything other than Imperial). I’ve also sourced and identified the manufacturer/discussed the design of the two mattress pieces (hybrid firm foam with a top layer of memory foam) with a fixed price, but I shall place the final order as late as possible to keep the localised clutter down to a minimum.

Monday

Two days until the Alphard goes, meaning in two days time I’m committed to stop fannying around and crack on.

In the meantime, today’s job is to ‘survey’ the interior to get a good idea of the requirements for sound-deadening and insulation materials. It’s not cheap stuff, so I don’t want to over-purchase, so a bit of measuring and calculating is needed. Then, it’s a trip over the border into Treacletown* to pick it all up.

Wednesday

ZZW II has gone.

We delivered it to the new owner this afternoon, and she is now counting down to her trip to Scotland for her brother’s birthday celebrations. I have no doubt the van will serve her very well indeed.

It was a bittersweet handover. It had served us well in our two years together, and it was quite sad to see it go. But, needs must; we need a bigger van, and getting a good chunk of cash back into the bank account sweetened things up somewhat.

On the way back, we called in at Harlow Timber to get some quotes for ply sheets and battens, and they stock everything we need at slightly better prices than anticipated – I just need to pick up the insulation materials first.

Earlier in the day, we spent a fair bit of time measuring and debating the windows choices, and researching (well, M did that) the best places to buy, and then placing the order.

Thursday

It seems that M chose well, as four parcels arrived this morning from Cheshire Vehicle Windows. Four windows within – and on unpacking they proved to be everything we were hoping for. Thus far a solid recommendation there.

The rest of the day, however, was not everything we wanted. It turned foul! Cold, wet, and very windy. Not a day conducive to van build progress in any form…

Other items received today: a roll of butyl sealing tape via Ebay, and two tubes of black Sikaflex 522 from Amazon. Oh, and some random free gifts from AliExpress, a couple of which may actually prove to be useful.

Monday

Time to stop procrastinating, evading, hedging, fannying about, and making excuses.

Today we buy the stuff we really need to enable a start on the build proper. And about bleddy time if we’re going to have a workable campervan by the end of May. No, I don’t mean fully finished, necessarily, but in a condition whereby it could be used for a few days away.

And, wouldn’t you know it? The insulation that I wanted was out of stock, even though it said it was in stock on the website. That’ll learn me.

At least I was able to pick up the sound-deadening panels at a very reasonable cost. Back at home, M jumped on to Ebay again, and started hunting down closed-cell, foil-backed insulation, and ordered some for delivery around the 19th (it said! We’ll see).

Friday

The router turned up. I went for a quite well-featured Netgear Nighthawk M2 4g one, which should be more than adequate for our needs. Current versions are F expensive, but this one is still available on Ebay, and saved us about 200 nicker. I’ll take that. Who needs 5g anyroadup?

I also ordered – on Amazon – a roof-mount Poynting Puck (something like that anyway!) antenna, which should turn up on Monday. I want all the roof-mount bits and pieces available so I can just go up there and do everything in one go. A decent weather day will be needed, as there will be lots of holes cut and drilled. We’re talking solar panel, cable entry gland for same, antenna, and Nomadic Ark roof fan.

Five large bundles of closed-cell, foil-backed insulation also turned up!

Saturday

Fiddling with stuff.

I have been struggling with the starter battery for some time. It seemed to be discharging rather rapidly, which is possibly mainly down to it not getting any miles under its belt, and a fair few starter motor cranks. However, it always felt like it was more than that, and I was definitely suspecting two things: a duff, or on the way to duff, battery (It’s old), or something (probably a tracker) draining it. There were definitely no lights on anywhere, and all the accessible BT wiring and kit has now been removed.

So, there was only one (two) thing(s) for it: Charge the battery, and investigate the dash wiring. But first a bit of online ‘researching’. And wouldn’t you know it? A potential solution presented itself quite quickly via a Farcebook BT/Openreach vans page post, which showed a picture of the main fusebox with two red wires piggybacked off two fuses, and an explanation that these were from/to the tracker buried under the dash somewhere.

It was, then, a quick job to pull these, insulate them, and tape them up out of the way (and in so doing inadvertently dislodging the brake switch fuse which quickly became apparent after a quick function check – after buttoning everything up… Doh).

The other job – far more long-winded – was to put the battery on charge on a very low current mains charger, for a day. At least. Eventually it displayed a battery-full symbol, and maybe it had been somewhat ‘conditioned’ in the process? That was the wishful-thinking plan, anyhow.

And… touch wood, no chickens counted, etc. it seems to have worked. At least the residual drain appears to have stopped draining, and the battery seems to be holding its charge. I’ll keep an eye – and a multimeter – on it, and keep a few fingers crossed into the bargain. Yes, I doubt it’s out of the woods, and never will be with that age of heavily-sulphated battery in circuit, but it should stand me in good stead for a few months.

*Nuneaton, for those not in the know.