Laurie and Helen

Hi All, We use the Polaris NG7200 with the Off Road and city mapping systems installed. The added benefit is that you don't have another system hanging of your windscreen. The off road system has access to all the latest Oz explorer computer packages and HEMA maps. After just travelling to Darwin via Birdsville and the Savannah Way using as many back roads as possible it was invaluable when we were in the back of the old Duchess mine and no signs when you come to an intersection also in at Lorella Springs to get back to the campground after going touring on the station using the tracking system to backtrack our path a few times. Think it cost around $195 to have it installed on the SD card. cheers

Rick, We use one we bought at the Brisbane show "www.txp.com.au" the 3.1 model, not exactly light but more uses than getting on the roof of the van. Accessing the roof of the cruiser safely, you don't have to extend it full height to use it just the runs you need. Recently used it when I had the car jacked up and had to also access under the bonnet so lent it against the guard and had that extra reach. I store it in the back of the car next to the fridge. cheers

Ian and Jill, We are currently in Darwin and have the 3300 Genquip mounted on the "A" frame. The thing I like about this unit is turn the key and run anything you like in the van including battery charger, A/C and washing machine without worrying about overload. We primarily use it for the washing machine when out bush but after sitting near a van using a Honda the other day I wouldn't go any other way. The Honda 2 was just sitting revving its head off. The after sales service should you need it from Genquip in Sydney is excellent as well. cheers

Pete and Tracey, Helen and I have always had good service from the team. We were in getting some things looked at before we left and it was a good feeling when you leave. I have made a special note in my latest blog regarding the level of service the Gall Boys and the team at the factory provide. cheers PS It's not raining in Charleville, we spoke to the staff at the Diamintina VC today and they said all the roads are clear so we will be heading through Birdsville when we leave here on our way to Mt Isa on Sunday or Monday.

John & Tina, Great choice of van congratulations, this is a personal choice but after towing a range of vans before we bought our first and second Kedron both with long draw bars, I wouldn't tow with anything else these days. I also built my own trailer many years ago and also included a long draw bar on this as well. The advantage of control and manoeuvring ease I believe outweighs the negatives if you apply some judgement to what you put on the frame. Check out my blog and you will see pictures of our van with what I carry on the draw bar, the generator is only the same weight as the outboard that was designed to be put on this area. cheers Laurie

Fitted the mirrors today, just have to get out and use them. It is refreshing to actually get a product that installs as easily as the manufacturer says it will in the brochures and instructions.

Colin, My mirrors should arrive this week, I am getting them through Tony H who organised them after his return from his last trip. It is good to see companies do the right thing regarding product problems when they happen and the message should go out so others can benefit from good customer service. I have a similar story with Genquip in Sydney, phoned them when I was down that way advising I had fumes from the gene and after talking with the tech guys they sent up a new design fuel cap to my daughters place that I would be at the following week. After arriving home, still with the gene giving of fuel fumes I spoke with them again and they are arranging to have the generator sent back to Sydney at no cost to us to determine the source of the problem. I did offer to do some investigation work but they said that was not my responsibility and were more than happy to pay to have the generator sent back for investigation. That's what I call GCS.

Russ, Interested in what you are doing with the batteries, like you suggest most TE's are above the 3500 when fitted out for travelling and that is when it counts. We only have a 19'6" van, I don't have the ball weight issues but still have to be careful and can pull ours under 3500 by lowering water levels when travelling not the best option but the one we have decided to live with at present. cheers Laurie

Rob, 3 months won't take long, hope you have a great time and we will probably see you on the road somewhere. cheers Laurie

Rob, We have a few electrical whiz's on the forum who will possibly be able to help but it really all depends on a few basic ingredients. How much solar you have available, how much battery capacity you have, size of your wiring going back to the tow vehicle, size of the wiring in the tow vehicle. How much you are using out of your batteries on any given day and whether or not the sun is shining so you can recharge what you are taking out. What you ask can be done, I back charge a 75 amp Thumper which runs a 40lt Engel with no problem through a direct connection from the AP on the van and input plug on the Thumper. cheers

Colin & Gayleen, Thank you, we had already made up our mind to take Rascal with us. We were hopeful and assured that others do take their dogs with them with minimal disruption. In our case moving to a new area to live the option of leaving him behind was not really an option at all especially since he has gone deaf over the last few months. He has been caravaning with us for a while and loves it. He has the whole back seat of the cruiser to himself so he is quite spoilt really. We use to travel with two, but Anzac weekend 2008 was our last trip with one of our mates but he enjoyed it right to the end. Rascal was only a boy when this photo was taken looking after his old friend.

Hi everyone, Well if you didn't know Helen and I are taking early retirement and will be taking a break in south west WA early August for a few months after we settle into our new house in Hervey Bay. We will be travelling with our much loved Border Collie Rascal who is 12 and stone deaf. At this stage we are not sure of our departure point as it is dependant upon where our grandson is for his first birthday (his dad is in the QPS and is moving north around May-June) Departure points could be one of several places north of Rocky and south of Thursday Is so an early cape trip is not out of the question yet. Down to the topic, apart from the normal issues like National Parks and 1080 poisons does anyone have major reasons why we shouldn't take our trusty companion. We will most likely make our way across to Boulia and Alice Springs and either head west to Laverton or down through Coober Pedy to Port Augusta and across the coast road. (rain and road conditions at the time will be the major decider) Hope to see some of you on the road soon.

Rob, Glen and Deb have a gas unit they should be able to assist. cheers

Colin, Have a great weekend, we will have to come up your way and do the cape area after we do south WA in August for about 3-4 months. Laurie

I know a lot of BT owners review our forum as we review theirs, and why not they are both good sources of information for like minded people. So I can't see any problem passing on information of this nature if it helps or may even save a life. I use a basic rule when on the highways our UHF scans 18/40 continuously , if I am in traffic with a lot of trucks I try to keep up to the speed limit (if safe to do so) and when room is available like overtaking lanes or a clear run give the trucks behind notice that I will slow down and let them get around, this seems to work pretty well and I am sure they appreciate it. cheers

John and Jo, The avatar needs to be smaller than100kb this is usually the hardest part actually getting your photo down to this size. I don't have the software on my new computer to do this anymore. Hopefully someone will be able to assist further. cheers

Hi All, Just to clarify, I am not the Laurie in the last few posts. cheers

Geoff, I found this site for you. />http://www.ledsunlimited.com.au/category/catalog/12v-security-light-smartlight They have a few 12 led security lights. Hope this helps. Laurie

Mal and Kerry, The Lawnton show ground is reasonably close and is usually available as long as they haven't got any events on. Cheers

Brad, I have a 19'6" TE and when packed for a trip currently goes over the scales at 3760, I don't know what the van you are looking at tares at but you have to be careful with what you carry. As far as vehicles go a couple of members have Jeeps and 200 series so they can best tell you how they tow the vans they have. cheers

John, If you don't need the full 4000kg, why not get the van rated at 3900kg ? The chassis on ours is rated at 4000kg but the van is 3500kg so it seams like an arbitrary figure based around the tow vehicles capacity. This may solve the problem of QT sticking their nose in the trough and sucking more money out of you for absolutely nothing every twelve months. cheers Laurie

John, I am sure you will enjoy the comfort of the Silverado and the knowledge that you no longer have to worry about the weight issues. Will be interested in seeing some photo's when you take delivery. cheers Laurie

G'day Chris, No one is ever wrong, people just interpret what is said differently to what the author intends sometimes. Yes it is a worry but we should be able to make ours work in the meantime with some adjustments to what and how we carry things. The last thing I want to do is get rid of the cruiser as I have nearly got it set up the way we need it for when we leave the van behind. cheers

Thank's for the comments guess it won't take long to add up the missing KG's after reading Nevilles comments. Just have to try and manage the weight issue.

John, The option of the Silverado while it would be nice doesn't always allow you to get everywhere off road once you leave the van behind unless you want plenty of panel damage on some of the narrow tracks up north. Don't get me wrong I would love one it's just the additional width when you go 4WDing without the van. We put our 19'6" TE (external)over the weighbridge yesterday set up the way we had it for our trip to Darwin last year and it came in at 3780, so I took it to another weighbridge and it came in at 3760. I am somewhat confused at some of the weights being quoted for vans in some previous topics and discussions considering they are larger vans than ours. We don't have a generator or anything additional hanging off the van. I have taken everything out of the van today and weighed it and came up with 180kg inside, 250 kg outside this is allowing a 20% increase on what I weighed for scale error. The tare listed on the van is 2835 but I am missing between 195 and 215 kg that I cannot find hidden in the van between the tare weight and loosing the 300kg water, 250 kg outside and 180 kg inside. Even allowing that the tare may have been calculated without the 2 spares (80kg) no gas (18kg) I still cannot account for a significant figure around 100kg ? I have reduced 52 kg worth of gear from the outside that I can transfer into the car but we are not carrying anything inside that would be considered luxury or not a necessity if you were going for a trip around the block. Guess I will have to keep looking for options to increase the tow capcity of the cruiser and in the meantime lower water levels while travelling. cheers