Hermit

Hi all, I have a 2011 TopEnder with a shower/toilet combo. The shower mixer tap is starting leak. Before I go and remove the tap I just wanted to know if the mixer tap is a special caravan mixer tap or will I be able to replace or find parts from the local plumbing outlet? Has anyone had to fix or replace the shower mixer tap? Please let me know of any problems removing it or obtaining replacement parts. Thanks in advance Rob

Hi all, We are thinking of taking the van (Top Ender 21'6") over to Tassie for a few weeks next year in October. We were down there many years ago with only a hire car and remember some of the roads were quite narrow. Has anyone done this trip with the van? Are there many van parks and what about free camping? Have not looked into the cost to get the car and van over there yet, so this might be a decider not to take the van. Regards Rob

Hi all, I had the tyres rotated again back to where they were before we left home.....near new tyres now on the front and the 3/4 worn tyres back on the rear. Now all ok, no swaying in the front steering. I realise that you are suppose to have your best tyres on the front but I like to rotate the tyres to try and get even wear. Normally I don't have a problem with the tyres and all 4 get an even wear, but this time the rotation was not done a couple of times when the car was serviced, maybe my fault for not insisting on a rotation???? Not sure why the older tyres are causing this problem....my guess is that the side walls on the older tyres have become softer and hence are flexing more....any thoughts? Funny thing though, I didn't notice any tracking problem on the car when not towing!!!! Cheers Rob Back home in Mulwala

Hi Tony, I towed the van about 2 weeks before the tyre rotation and it was fine. Rob

Hi all, One other thing I forgot to say, Just before heading off, we had the Cruiser serviced and the tyres were rotated. Now the 3/4 worn tyres are on the front and the 1/4 worn tyres are on the rear. Maybe the worn tyres have a problem. The tyres are Goodyear Wranglers All Terrain. I have been using this brand and model tyres for years without a problem. I have booked the car in for a tyre rotation again and balance and alignment, will see if this solves the swaying/light steering. Cheers Rob in Hahndorf Caravan Park

Hi all, I have been towing my 21'6" Top Ender with our LC200s for many years without a problem. We have just set out for another short trip and I find that the steering is quite light and I am experiencing a little instability. We are more lightly loaded than usual but I cannot see why I have this problem. I have my WDH set as per usual and the van and Cruiser are level as usual. Could it be a tyre problem? Would tyre pressures be the culprit.......? On the Cruiser I have 38psi in the front and 45 in the rear, this is a little less than what I usually do (40 front/50 rear). The van tyre pressures are a little less also. I have them at 40psi and usually run them at 45psi on the blacktop. The Cruiser has no more or less load than on our previous trips and the load balance in the cruiser is the same as before. The van rear water tank is empty this time, would that be a factor? I was thinking with the rear water tank full this would reduce the weight on the hitch and put more weight on the front wheels....am I correct is this assumption? I am at a loss as to why this is happening now. Any advice is gratefully accepted Rob Currently in Hahndorf Caravan Park ,south Australia.

Hi Sandra, thanks for the photo's, they have given us some ideas about what can be done. Those drop down basins are rubbish!!! Cheers Rob

Hi all, I am fed up with my drop down basin in my combo shower toilet. The drain pipe has split several times and I have had to replace the basin section twice now in 9 years. Currently I have a large hole in the bottom of the basin (done by me) near where the drain pipe exits, so I can replace that section of pipe when it splits. Another problem with this drop down basin is that it has never fully self drained, right from when new. I have to tilt the basin up to drain the water every time it is used. I am thinking about removing the basin section and vanity unit section and installing a narrow fixed basin above the toilet with a mirror above it. My question: Has anyone had this problem and replaced the basin and vanity unit with a fixed basin? If so, can you provide any details and photo's if possible. I'm not sure how a fixed (narrow) basin will work up above the toilet?????? Any advice, suggestions appreciated. Cheers Rob

Hi Bas, Thanks for the info regarding Kedron and the RPD-218's. We have decided to go with the 190L Bushman fridge Cheers Rob

Hi Ross and Leah, My local caravan repairer has looked at my Van and my Waeco RPD215 and said that the Waecvo RPD218 will fit ok. The Bushman 190L is a smaller fridge so should not have a problem. The van repairer guy said that there may be a small gap at the top which could be blanked out with piece of timber or whatever material you might like. I have contacted Bushman and they have said that their next shipment due this month is all spoken for by van builders, there should be another delivery in June or July. I rang around many Bushman fridge retailers to no avail, maybe you might have better luck, but it seems as though none are available in Oz. Cheers Rob Mulwala, NSW.

Hi Bas, Not sure if it will fit in the same hole, they are about 70mm deeper. Anyway, as far as I can see, they are also not available at this time in Australia. They are also about $1000 more than Waeco or Bushman. We are going to wait for Bushman to get stock in. Cheers Rob

Hi all, Have made many phone calls and found that Dometic do not make the RPD-218 any more and none to be found in Oz. Dometic now make a new model that will not fit into the same hole, it is about 100mm taller and much thinner. Thanks Dometic, just what us older van owners need!!!! At this point in time there are no other fridges available in Oz that I can find due to the Covid problem holding up importing goods. I found that Bushman make a 190L DC fridge that will suit, but alas, they are waiting for parts to arrive from O.S. We have decided to order the Bushman fridge and will just have to wait until they are available again in Australia, maybe October!!! Just thought I would advise everyone of the situation, I'm sure it is a similar problem with many things we import. I also had a big problem finding a Goodyear Wrangler for the van, but that's another story. (Many other tyre brands also in short supply). Happy travels all, Rob

Hi Karen, Thanks for your input. After your comments, I think we will look at replacing the fridge rather than fixing it. Can you tell me which fridge you replaced it with, brand, model, size etc. and where you purchased it. Regards Rob

Hi all, Our TopEnder is 9 years old now and still going strong, but we have a problem with the Waeco RPD215 fridge. The "Fault" light comes ON randomly and flashes 3 times every 5 seconds. It does this for a while, anything from a few minutes to an hour or so. While the fault light is flashing the compressor is NOT running and the small fan at the rear cycles as well, then eventually the fault light stays OFF and the compressor starts to run again. The freezer section is keeping everything frozen ok, but the fridge section does tend to increase in temp when the fault light is flashing. It has been cycling like this for about 5 weeks now and attempts to find out the reason from Dometic and other fridge repairers has failed. They have said it might be the control unit in the rear. It will cost about $330 plus labour and there's not guarantee it will fix the problem. Surely someone must know what the problem is and how to fix without randomly replacing parts until the fault disappears!!! I have checked the voltage at the compressor, while running, and all ok at 13.7v, and drawing 9.6amps. My thoughts are possibly the Thermistor is crook inside the fridge. Anyway, have posted this just in case someone else has experienced the same problem and found a fix. Regards Rob

Hi all, last November I had to replace the Xantrex battery charger in our TopEnder. The new charger worked ok for about a month and then started playing up. It would not keep the batteries at 100%. Sometimes letting the batteries get down below 90% and would not kick in. The supplier of the charger, DPA Solar in Melbourne, sent me another charger, they were quite helpful. Now with the new charger about 4 days old it is not always keeping the batteries at 100%. The eLite monitor is showing the batteries anywhere from 100% down to 99.3%. It has been very hot here for the last few days (around 40deg). The heat may be the cause?? Not sure if there is a problem or if others are finding the same thing. With my original charger, the monitor always showed 100% when plugged into 240v supply. Just trying to get some gauge as to how the charger and monitor should work before contacting the supplier again. Note: 2 of the batteries are just over 12 months old and 1 is 2 months old. Any advice much appreciated Cheers Rob Currently near Tamworth.