The Druid User Manual

This has nothing to do with sailing... It's a manual for people who are hiring our bus. 

Stuff you may want to know…

We’ve tried to find or have (badly)made videos of how things work but, there are times when you just have to read the manual.  If there is anything you think we should add please feel free to comment and we will add to this page.

Inside layout of the bus. (Video)

Air bag suspension. The rear of the bus can be raised or lowered by inflating the rear air bags. The inflation valves are on each side down low at the back of the bus. We’ve found that the bus handles best at about 32psi. Both sides should be set at the same pressure. The air bags can be inflated at any service station just like tyres.

Air conditioning. The bus doesn’t have an engine driven air conditioner. To have a cool breeze while you are driving we’ve found it is best to leave the window directly behind the side door open a few centimetres. This will allow breeze to flow through. If it’s really hot you can start the generator and run the rooftop air conditioner with only the forward facing vent open. If it’s still too hot then it is probably time to find somewhere shaded and grab a nice cold drink from the fridge. You did remember to stock the fridge?

Awning. The handle and rafter for the awning are above the side door. The awning can’t be used in windy conditions and should be rolled up overnight. There are a couple of videos you can watch if you haven’t used one before.

Opening and closing Fiamma F45 Awing and Fiamma rafter

Cooking. Using the slide out cook top.(Video) We use paper plates in wicker holders (not the plastic laminated ones). Apart from being better for the environment than detergent, who wants to wash dishes?

Daylight running. The headlights are always on when the ignition is on.

Driving. Driving the bus is just like any manual car. It is however much longer and higher. At 7m long you will need to swing out quite wide when cornering or risk running over kerbs. At 3.1m high cornering will be slower and keep an eye out for height clearance signs or you could end up a Bayswater bridge statistic. Here is a UK video to give you a bit more confidence.

Fuel. The filler cap is on the passenger side and the bus runs on diesel. There is a fuel warning light. When the warning light comes on you can drive for about 30km before the tank will be empty. If you run out of fuel the motor will need to be primed before it will start again. The filler flap opens forward and the tank holds 90 litres.

FSM. The Flying Spaghetti Monster

Gas. The gas bottle is stored under the bed in the latched grey box. This box is vented under the bus so don’t panic if you forget to switch it off while parked, but please make sure that it is turned off while driving.

Generator. This has its own two pages and even a video. Leaving the generator in remote mode for an extended time will flatten it’s battery. Remember to turn off the remote switch or you will get lots of exercise pull starting. The generator uses unleaded fuel. There is a 10 litre plastic jerry can under the bed to refill.

House batteries are charged by the solar panel on the roof. We have gone up to three days without sun by careful use of the refrigerator. The fridge alarm will sound when the batteries are low. If needed the house batteries can be charged when on 240V by turning on the charger switch at the base of the bed (drivers side). 

Kill switch. There is a battery isolator switch just inside the step. When closed it will immobilise the bus.

Power. 240V power is connected by the 15 amp plug at the back of the bus just above the generator. The short lead is to connect to the generator and steps down to 10 amps.

Radio. To run the sound system without running the motor the key needs to be turned to ACC (accessories). There should be no other dash lights on. You can use the remote to operate or turn off music from the bed. The radio has bluetooth and accepts USB.

Refrigerator. This runs off the house batteries and will automatically switch over to generator or 240V power if connected. To get the best results using a 12 volt fridge you should try to keep the fridge full, open the lids as little as possible, only put items that are already cold in and make sure the vents next to the door are kept clear.

Security.  Please lock all doors if the bus is going to be left unattended. Never lock or obstruct the side bifold door when you are in the bus. This is the main escape route in case of a fire. There is a smoke alarm above the bed and fire extinguisher in front of the driver's seat. In case of fire the main priority is to make sure everyone is safely out of the bus!

Shade cloth. Behind the bed headboard is a bucket with shade cloth, tent pegs and a hammer.  When camped, if you peg out the shade cloth under the awning it will help keep the grass and sand out of the bus. The bucket is used to collect the waste water and can be placed under the tap just in front of the driver's rear wheel.

Shower. Having a shower is a bit of work. To avoid scalding start with cold water then add hot water to suit. Due to the limited supply of water it is best to rinse, turn off water, soap down with a loofah or flannel, then rinse. There is a chamois to wipe down the cubicle after showering so that the toilet is ready for use. The shower exhaust fan is solar powered so there is no switch for it.

Toilet. This has its own page and this video is pretty comprehensive. We don’t use chemicals in the toilet as they are bad for the environment and even worse for septic systems. The best way to avoid smells is to empty the cartridge daily.

Water tank. The tank filler is located on the rear driver’s side. It holds 60 litres. It is a good idea to lock the tank as some people think it’s amusing to put “things” in it. Hopefully this fad is dying out.

Water heater. There is a 5L electric storage tank under the sink. It takes about 20 minutes to heat the water up. There is a separate lit switch above the sink to turn the heater on. We usually do this during the day when there is plenty of sun on the solar panels as it uses a lot of power. Don’t forget to turn off the heater. Leaving it on will flatten the house batteries very quickly.

Water pump. This is under the bed and has its own lit switch above the sink. When the water level gets low the pump may run intermittently while you are trying to sleep. We tend to leave the water pump off unless actively using water.