MODIFICATION DETHLEFFS BEDUIN 515V IMPROVING DESIGN AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS
MODIFICATION DETHLEFFS BEDUIN 515V BY B & B ARIENS
GOOD, BUT WE WANT THE BEST We have bought this beautiful caravan with all the extra’s you can wish. This Dethleffs Beduin 515V is well build and the design of this top model is already nice. Never the less we wish to make some changes to our own taste as we are living in this home one wheels nearly six month each year. The technical standard of the caravan is high, but the extra’s we have ordered are not build in in a proper way. This is our fifth caravan and sometimes we think that the designers and builders are not caravanning themselves. The lack of shelves in upper cabinets is an example. There seems still a gap in the instructions to the workshop, the addition of extra's could be improved. By mounting devices for the Mover, the bank cabinet of the front-seat is not unusable for other things anymore. Our redesign of the caravan concerns the upholstery, the curtains and the bathroom. Technical improvements completed our needs.
Bart & Birgitt Ariëns
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SPACIOUS After the adjustments, we do have our ideal caravan in which we enjoy traveling .
IN- AND OUTSIDE
GOOD LOOKING
Our equipment ensures that we can travel around and stay on all kind of campsites without much
The silver grey Beduin 515V has a good looking outside and promises a modern interior
e$ort.
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COMFORT IN THE LOUNGE Sitting in the caravan we want to relax in the lounge with our legs nice and high. That’s impossible with round cushions
AS DELIVERED
in the corner.
The quality of the fabric was poor and could be compared to cheap toweling.
We would not have bought the caravan unless the dealer, Mr. Blume, had suggested the option of leather and the possibility to change the form of the seating and upholstery to carry out the changes we required.
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SEATING The leather seating is to our detailed design entirely provided by the German firm Ruhl, magicians with leather.
The design and construction of the headrests is homemade.
MODIFICATION DETHLEFFS BEDUIN 515V BY B & B ARIENS
CURTAINS The curtains as delivered did not offer the desired modern look. The new panel curtains are made by Birgitt herself.
The challenge was to mach the pattern in the fabric.
The curtain rail was replaced by a system we found in Germany.
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SPACE THE BATHROOM
AS DELIVERED
AS DELIVERED
On visiting the fair in Dusseldorf we compared several caravan brands and models. All kinds of interior parts were compared and judged. Look and finish are important. The seats and beds were tried in the models in the exposition, but you don’t sit on the toilet in the show caravans. That was a big mistake. After delivery it was apparent that the layout was not optimal. The sink took too much space and blocked the easy use of the toilet. I have changed the sink witch turns 15 degrees. That delivers significantly more room.
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AS DELIVERED
ACCESSIBILITY AND EASE OF USE The lack of shelves in upper cabinets was solved with ultralight material. The shallow shelves in the kitchen cabinets are broadened and doubled. The luggage space under the seats is made more accessible by dividing the wooden cover in two parts. These are tailored to the size of the pillows. Thus, one of the two pillows can be put in an upright position when a part of the cover is opened.
AS DELIVERED
MODIFICATION DETHLEFFS BEDUIN 515V BY B & B ARIENS
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AS DELIVERED
AS DELIVERED
AS DELIVERED
SPACE MAKING USEFUL STORAGE The mover & Electrik Autark package was mounted in such a stupid way that it was impossible to use the storage under the seat. After reassembling the components against the front of the compartment there was plenty of space. The power switch is now to operate from the front locker.
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AS DELIVERED
CHANGES INTERIOR DETAILS The boiler pipes take up unnecessary space . These can be moved to give the owner of the caravan more useful storage. To avoid problems to take the mini-oven out of the cabinet above the table, I have made a special tool. It gives our oven maximum stability during the trip and ease of use to get the oven, without damaging the decorative frame.
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AS DELIVERED
MOOD LIGHTING LED STRIPS AND SPOTS The ambient lighting with the LED strips sometimes give too much light. By mounting a double switch it is possible to make a choice between the top and bottom lighting.
The spots were so mounted that these shine in the face instead of in the corner.
I took them out, and rotated
simply reassembled
180 degrees
them simply 180 degrees on the base, insuring that the corners are lit.
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AS DELIVERED
the switch on the right is for the floor heating
ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS Additional electrical sockets were fitted, as required for all the equipment we are using now a days. Circuits are changed, switches moved. The floor heating control in the back of the wardrobe is di%cult to see. Fitting a switch with lighting makes it possible us to see if it is switch on or of.
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SPACE EXTRA STORAGE Free space can be better utilized. What better place for bottles or other heavy things than just above the axis. Therefor we have made a special compartment between the bed and bathroom suitable for extra luggage.# Ordering the system to enlarge the two beds in to one kingsize bed was a mistake. The extra mattresses are very high and take too much space if not used.# We expected the mattresses, without the extra pads, would be easy to slide against each other.# The furling system has been removed and now we use the cabinet as a useful storage
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EXTERIOR During construction, demanding fitting accessories should have been considered. Many owners install a canopy (Omnistore). Slightly lower mounting the outdoor light is a small e$ort and avoids extra work and holes.
To mount a ladder at the rear we ordered to leave out two plastics parts. To our surprise, on delivery the window was a di$erent shape. The only solution was to reduce the width of a standard staircase and to fabricate a suitable mounting myself.
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BRAKE CONTROL ELECTRONIC SYSTEM Smart electronics ensures that the braking automatically adjusts to the driving speed and selects the correct braking e$ort. The first level gives a braking e$ect of Âą 30%, level two provides Âą 75% and at the third stage the Brake Control operates at maximum braking and in conjunction with the inertia hitch. The SnakeBrake module operates immediately when a heavy swaying motion occurs.This is the third caravan we are using this outstanding system.
EASYLEVEL ADJUSTMENT Arriving on a campsite, we only need to push the buttons to adjust the caravan on a horizontal level.
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EXTERIOR During the trip, certain tools must have easy access and secured. With us, everything has a fixed position and is safely stored. Everything got a permanent place and is securely stored. For the stabilizer tool, a whole is made in the hinge support, so that it can also be stored in this space. By routing the connection cable through the chassis cover we prevent it from dragging over the ground.
A rubber jockey wheel in the front makes maneuvering with the Mover much easier.
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This brochure, including the text, is exclusively produced and under copyright of Bart AriÍns, Huissen, The Netherlands. Without written permission it is not allowed to use pages, text or photo’s for publication. Although in compiling the content of this brochure is given the utmost care, the publisher disclaims all liability for errors, omissions or any consequences of acting on the basis of the information published. www.enterprise-comm.nl entercom@me.com
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