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Protection for rear window on our Cruiser


Bruce and Sue

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Bruce,

We used heavy duty clear contact on the rear window on our trip around Oz.

working on the theory that it would at least hold it to-gether untill we could get it fixed.

P.S Jackie lost the perspex one on the way back from the Cape!

Good Luck, we also hit the road July.

Tom and Jackie

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Greetings Bruce and Sue.

We lost a rear window in the west on our big trip.

In trying to avoid the same again we/I purchase a polycarbonate protector for too much money only to find that the supplied mounting gear was completely inadquate requiring a lot of modification to work. I know this dosn't help you too much but please be aware that not all available products are good.

Good luck and we hope someone comes up with the goods for you.

Regards.

Mavis and Rod

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Hi Bruce,

I purchased some 6mm rubber from Clark Rubber. It is not see-through but then what can you see with the van hitched anyway? I cut it to fit my rear window. I hold it on with some of those straps made from that seat belt webbing stuff (not the ratchet ties, but the ones with the buckle that sort of clamps down on the strap.) At each end I have used some little "hook like" clips that were originally on the tie-down straps of my Waeco fridge.

The whole setup was cheap and works well. The problem is that I put them away recently and CRAFT has set in. Now I can't remember where I've put the "hook" thingies.... otherwise I'd photograph them and put up a picture for you to look at.

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Bruce & Sue

We purchased a some high density (6mm) sleeping mat from one of the local camp stores on our trip to FNQ in 2007 and gaffa taped it to the rear window. Same situation as Russ & Sue (couldn't see out of it), which was in fact a bit of a nuisance because even when backing, you'd be surprised how much you do use the rear window. Well I do, anyway.

The cost was only $6, so well worth the small inconvenience, and worked extremely well.

post-1-1236197450_thumb.jpg

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Hello Bruce and Sue.

We now have just over 100,000 klms up on our F250 most of which has been towing, we fortunately have never had a broken back window.

In the first instance we tried a lot of different ideas, covers, rubber belting, etc, etc.

Then we purchased a towtector and have used it ever since.

We purchased over the internet and they sent it off to us, very happy with their service.

http://www.northcoach.com.au/towtector.html

"1/13 Dominions Road, Ashmore Queensland"

post-730-1236220289_thumb.jpg post-730-1236220334_thumb.jpg post-730-1236220365_thumb.jpg

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Hi Bruce & Sue,

We picked up a high density camping mat ($6) like Webby has detailed when we hit the gulf last year. This was advice from Dazza - thanks, mate.

It worked extremely well but I did make the mistake of sticking the gaffa tape to the paint work and while it was dirty - hmmm, I won't do that again. I did eventually get it all off but did have to give it a good polish afterwards.

And yes, I couldn't see out the back but that didn't matter - the back was full of crap anyway.

It WAS nice and pretty like Webby's pic to start with but you wouldn't know it was blue after too long!

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Hi All,

When we had our Discovery and we were going to The Top End towing a Camp-o-matic off road camper, I went to a local supplier of Persplex with the pattern of back window of car, he cut persplex to pattern, I then purchased HEAVY DUTY velcro dots which I stuck to back window 3-4 inches apart, these worked well none came off but the dirt would get between two layers but was easily removed and cleaned,when we came home I removed the persplex , leaving dots on car. I found dots worked better than longer strips.

Best wishes.

Sue.

Happy safe travellling.

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Hi Bruce & Sue, I purchased a rear window saver from a company called Obie's Outback and 4x4 for the 100 series about 2 years ago when we did our central oz trip. It definately payed for itself as i watched a rock about 4 cms wide hit the window through the rear view mirror. It is made of perspex and shaped to the window. It's held on by velcro and never looked like coming off during the trip. The velcro on the back window is only now starting to lift but when i bought the protector it came with spare velcro. Here is the contact details.

OBIE'S OUTBACK AND 4X4

44 MITCHELL ROAD MELTON SOUTH VICTORIA

pH. 03 97431351 0418 513437

www.obiesoutback.com.au

obie@obiesoutback.com.au

When i bought it i think the price was about $120. The owners names are Mike & Sue, and i actually spoke to him and he was extremely helpful.

Hope this is of some help.

Kingston..

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Hi to all

I just received an email from Obies and the window saver to fit a 200 series is $230 delivered to Canberra. Still not sure if it is the right thing to go for. Mainly concerned with the ability of the velcro to stay attached on corrugated roads.

We are planning to head off in May for Cameron Corner, Innaminka, Alice springs, Uluru, possibly Kimberlies etc. etc. Will have five months away but not much planned at this stage. John is currently in Doomadgee doing a volunteer stint with ICV for two months, so I am hoping to have the van just about ready to go when he gets back.

We did five months in QLD last year but I think we would be pushing our luck not to have some form of protector on the rear window this time. Any advice much appreciated.

Cheers

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A $6 High density camping mat worked for me on the Tanami & plenty - I think the $224 change from not buting a Obie's buys us quite a lot of nice meals out when traveling :biggrin:

Cheers

Darryl

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Hi Bruce

Tom & I went to the tip in winter 2006. We travelled in company with a couple of Bushtrackers and a camper trailer. We stayed on the development road, as I wasn't game to try the telegraph track due to my inexperience in off-road towing. The worst part of the road on our trip was from Lakeland to Laura. It had fairly rough corrigations and then good sections which lull you into a false sense of security and higher speed... and then you come crashing down into a large bull dust pot-hole you can't stop in time for. Enjoy all the dips!

Every trip will be different depending on when the road was last graded and the weather.

Things we enjoyed were:

* Mt Carbine Caravan Park is a great inexpensive place to stay for a few days on the way up and/or back. They do a free guided evening walk which is very interesting. Takes about an hour. (Also, they will store vans for free if you have stayed there and don't have an off-road van.) You can also trap big red-claw in the area.

* Palmer River gold fields area - enjoyed driving a few of the bush tracks but unsuitable to take the van.

* Cooktown is also not to be missed.

* the Quinkin art just south of Laura.

* The Bends (overnight stop free camping beside a creek just north of Coen)

* Hamburgers at Archer River roadhouse are a great take-away food fix.

* Fruitbat Falls (wish we'd gone on to Eliot Twin Falls but we were on a tight timeline to get back to Cairns.) You can stay at Eliot Falls but not a Fruitbat Falls.

* Punsand Bay Camping Ground at the Tip.

* Lots of interesting things to see at the tip (old aircraft, Pioneer and war relics etc)

* we got good Internet reception from the beach at Punsand Bay.

Fresh food at Bamaga is poor quality and expensive (as you would expect).

If you want to free camp on the way up and back look for an old quarry or roadworks clearing. There are quite a few that give you good visual protection from the road.

Best wishes for a fantastic trip.

Jackie & Tom

PS If anyone found a new perspex back window guard on the cape road in 2006 - it was mine! (suction caps stop working once they get dusty!!!) It cost us about $110 to get a piece of perspex cut to size in Cairns. Next trip we might use the yoga mat idea.

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Julie, Just a follow-up on the Obies protector when we did our central OZ trip we did the Marrinee loop, very corrigated, Birdsville & Oodnadatta tracks, also corrigated, and the rear protector never looked like parting company with the velcro. I thought money well spent.

King.

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