Howdy folks,

I'm also in Europe and drive an F-150. I'm stationed at Ramstein AB in Germany and really love the country except for the 16%MWST(VAT). Luckily, I'm military and have the VAT form available. One of the best things about being here with my truck is the look in the local's eyes when they see this big ol' truck heading down the road with only one person in it.
Germany is really great, wonderful people, very friendly. I even like France, well, that is, when I stay out of Paris. Metz is great. What's your favorite?

 

Cool,

I am not much of a traveler.
The only time I have been in Germany was when I was in the army.
Bergen Hohne I believe it was.
Ramstein, is that far from the eastern border of Holland?

Good to hear you like Germany and parts of France.
That is something different from most what I hear on this board.
Hey, Europe is not that bad.

Have a good time in Europe during your stay at Ramstein.

 

I used to work in Bremen a few years ago and stayed with a buddy whos apartment was right on the river opposite the Becks Brewery. Very handy.
I actually like Paris. My atrocious schoolboy French seems to annoy them quite nicely, ha ha.

 

Mike wascom here from Germany. Mainz to be exact. Anyone know where I can get a new bed cover at ? I'm specifically interested in the roll & lock style that's out now.

Thanks Yall !

 

exfordguy, we are close to each other ! I live near Mainz. Little town near Dexheim, called Hahnheim. 35 miles to Sembach. I know what you mean about the tax. The 16% VAT sucks. But the worst part is when you work on the German economy and they take 51% for tax. That's why I no longer work there and now I'm in Bosnia with Brown & Root.

France is good like you said. The only place I EVER found a rude French person wa sin PAris. Everywhere else seems okay.

Mike

 

Calling F150Europe.

I finally made it over to the Netherlands with my truck.
I am working in Groot-Ammers and staying in the AC Hotel at Meerkerk.
I don't know if you know where that is but it's just off the N216. You take the A27 from Rotterdam in the direction of Utrecht then take the exit 25 to Noordeloos.
The hotel is the left turn under the viaduct.
Phone number there is 31 183 352198. Give the place a call and ask for Adam Green.

Cheers

 

Hi! I've just imported my 2000 H/D - SVA test next thursday!
What year is your truck? - I dont have a wiring manual yet - it may take too long to import one!

Please can I ask for some clarification:-
1) The light green wire you mention, are you saying: Cut it off at the indicator switch and take a wire from the switch tail (at the switch) all the way to the 2 existing brake lights? - Will this stop them flashing when the indicators are operated?

2) Are you saying: Wire the front and rear indicators up in parallel from the front to the back?

3) Where did you manage to get single filament amber bulbs to fit the rear reversing light positions (for the new indicators).

Thanks a million in advance
James


Original (snipped) post.....
QUOTE]Originally posted by EnglishAdam
mcroot,

No problem, it's pretty easy to get the truck registered and legal in the UK. Here's what you have to do.......
First, you will need to convert the lighting system.
I thouroghly recommend that you get yourself a Haynes manual for the wiring diagrams.

Now to the back of the truck.

Lastly brake lights. This is a bit more complicated.
What I did was to disconnect the reverse lights and fit orange bulbs.
You need to get under the dashboard to the plug on the back of the indicator switch.
Cut the light green wire and feed it all the way down to the brake lights.
Take the wire from each indicator and run it down to the same side reverse light.

Best of luck. If you get stuck, drop me a line. I can send you some pics of the side markers/foglight/switches when I get home next month. [/QUOTE]

 

f150hd-uk

Let me try and explain the set up and how it is being modified.

With the standard US wiring, the indicator switch controls whether the stop lamp is being a brake light or an indicator.
This is all internal to the switch and nothing can be done.
There is only one wire running to the back for each combined stop/indicator.

Where the indicator switch wiring connects to the rest of the loom, just under the steering column, you will find a light green wire going into the multi plug.
Cut this wire on the loom side and not the switch side of the plug.
The end you now have in your hand (I hope) is from the switched side of the brake light switch and also "tees" off to the 3rd brake light on the cab.
Once this wire is cut, you will no longer have brake lights at the rear, just indicators.

Now you need to take those wires from the stop/ind light and connect them to either side reverse lamp. Then fit the orange bulbs to the reverse lights.

BTW, I just went to my local US car spares place, they had them on the shelf. If you can't find them, spray your reverse light bulbs with some opaque orange paint. Actually, I have used orange nail varnish before (don't ask)

Back to the brake lights. Take the green wire you have cut and connect it to a long length of wire. This is then run down to the tail lights and connected back up to (ex) stop/indicator lamps.
You should now have red stoplights and orange indicators.

Don't forget, you will need side marker indicators and a rear foglight for the MOT test.

I hope this is clear enough. You can probably get a Haynes or Chilton Manual for the wiring diagrams at one of the specialist US parts dealers.

If you still need clarification, email me on adamgreen57@hotmail.com and I will send you my phone number.

 

f150hd-uk

this may be too late for you - I only just found this new Euro forum, I hang out in the Lightning forum

I brought a set of manuals over to the UK when I imported my two trucks (returned from California a year ago). I have a wiring diagram manual for the 2001 F150. You can borrow if you promise to return it

ps - the cheap way to get a manual for your truck is to look for a CD off eBay - Ford send updates to dealers every 3 months or so and many sell off the old copies for about $10 a pop

pps - didn't know about the tax, as a returning ex-pat I didn't have to pay duty or VAT. I just can't sell the truck for a year, although several people have offered me more than I paid for it new in 2001!

cheers - Mike
Hurst Green, East Sussex
San Francisco, California

 

f150hd-uk

Two other bits of info you may find useful for the F150 SVA

1. technically, they don't check the lights for a commercial vehicle (which includes pickups). That's one reason the test is cheaper than for a car/SUV. So, in theory, you can get through the SVA without side repeaters and fog lights. But you'll fail your first MOT, which of course you may need straight away if > 3 years old

2. I got failed at Mitcham for the following 2 items, which we fixed same day, got re-tested for free and passed:

• Insufficient shielding of the cables for the added rear fog and reversing lights
• Ford US weight plate was in 4mm type instead of the required 5mm (fix was to print up a new sticker on a computer printer...)

Hope this helps

 

How much did it cost you for yours? What was your vehicle spec and weight? Maybe that makes the difference??

 

It's the goods vehicle designation that makes the difference, (pickups are consddered commerical vehicles here, as you'll find out when you come to pay the Dartford Crossing toll)

I paid £150 for the SVA for my Explorer, where they checked absolutely everything, and £60 for my F150 where they basically checked the emissions, tyres and weight plaques

test fees are posted at http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/econtent..._msva_fees.asp

Mike

 

Hi Guys,
Thanks a million for the help with the registration Adam asked for me to upload some photos but I have tried three different ways now with this board and have had no luck whatever!

Happy new year to all & Keep on truckin'
James

 

If you create a gallery on f150online, you can link your truck pictures from there.

Create your gallery here

Happy New Year to you too.

 

Thanks, but I tried that - server down.