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Hi all, I have a 2011 TopEnder and I want to replace the 3 x 120ah agm batteries with a 200ah lithium lifepo4 battery. The onboard 240v charger is the Xantrex 40amp and the solar controller is the Morningstar TS-45 which came with the van when built. Both do not support lithium charging that I know of. My question is, can I simply just replace the agm's with the new lithium without replacing the 240v AC charger and Solar controller? Has anyone done this? My understanding from what I have read online is that the Battery BMS will sort it out. There are conflicting reports online as to what will work and will not. Any constructive feedback is welcome Cheers Rob Note: I have 3 x 135w solar panels on the roof, my guess is that will be OK with charging the lithium battery.

Serenity , very difficult to find now days , yourself and Val seem to have no problems.

Sounds great, I like the idea of a ferry across the river to the local pub.

Hi Chris. it looks like you folk are doing it tough!!!!!! Cheers from Margaret and Pete.

A nice quiet spot on the River Murray SA, near Berri. Site 5, at Lyrup Flats. It is a national park (Murray River National Park), NE of Adelaide. And although it’s a national park, it is dog friendly in this section. Lovely weather and equally lovely view. And no one else in cooee. The small town of Lyrup is just across the river on a ferry ride, and has a great tavern with meals.

Kedron Topender - our around Australia travels have finished and we would very much like for others to share in this amazing experience. That is why we are selling our ultimate off road caravan that will go anywhere you want to take it. Australian built and guarantee with its outstanding workmanship. What an opportunity to get a great off-road caravan for half the price of a new one, and no waiting time as its ready to go now. Excellent second-hand condition, and well maintained and serviced. NSW registration 15.11.25. Has everything you need to go off road and off grid, and avoid the crowds and caravan parks if you wish. 3 solar panels provide heaps of power and 3 water tanks gives you a total of 300lts. Independent suspension. Most things operate on 12 volt eg fridge, lights, fans & TV which is great when off the beaten track. We have had some amazing trips and adventures around Australia in this van and now its your turn. Pull out generator drawer with rain cover Boot divider for ease of storage BBQ & gas cooker. Innerspring queen bed & topper Leather lounge/dinning setting Full ensuite with large size shower and separate toilet Large fridge and oven, microwave and heaps of storage Reverse cycle air conditioner and also 2 x 12 volt fans All the comforts of home Come and inspection as you will not be disappointed Why not become a grey nomad and enjoy this great life style Recently replaced: 3 x 120amp deep cycle batteries Powertech 40 amp solar charge controller Outside awning Stone guard Full block out blinds Lots of extras, too many to list More photos are available on request. Phone - Denise 0432 168 185

I keep my face plates on my c40s and c60s off at all times and can reach everything within (I live in the deserts and it help to keep them cool with the face plates off). If you lift the charge controller off to mounting screws and move the screws over a few inches you would be able to reach the reset hole and button. Further you shouls have some distance from other equipment to help keep the unit cool. By having it mounted so close doesn't allow enough area to dissapate the heat.

Just today been replacing radiator and heater hoses as a precaution on our 2005 LC 100 4.2 TD. All hoses have been in excellent condition and not really needing replacement, however doing it for peace of mind as a friend had a heater hose burst on his LC 100 a year or so ago. I found though that the top radiator connection spigot was a bit crumbly on inside, so referred to Dr Google and found this thread. Now I am more concerned than before changing the hoses. Perhaps I'll pay a visit to Ipswich Radiator Works on Robjewel's recommendation above, seeing as I live here. Would have been my 1st point of call anyhow.

Hi Pete, I’ve heard tell of the ‘Fridge Whisperer’ before so thanks for the number and if I can’t get this sorted out locally I will give him a call. Now that I’m armed with this new knowledge regarding average daily use from Chris I’m quietly confident that I can get the problem fixed. Up to then I didn’t know for certain that my suspicions regarding amperage consumption were justified as I’ve been wrong before .Just ask my ……….anyway ,thanks.

Hi. This might be a long shot. A couple of times in the past, I have used ‘The Fridge Whisperer’ (07 5499 1261) in Caboolture, north of Brisbane. The guy was able to help us some years ago. Even though you’re in Belrose NSW, no harm in giving him a call. Cheers from Pete.

Thanks Chris , That figure of 70 amps /day is very helpful as it gives me something to compare with.Ours uses about 50 amps overnight with the sleep function on for most of that 12 hr period so I’m guessing it uses well over a 100 amps per day to operate. I’ll call the Australian distributor and hopefully get this fixed as it’s frustrated me for 4 years! Thanks again.

We don’t have the 150l fridge (have the 230l) and it uses roughly 70 amp hours per day…that is, over a 24 hour period. Ours does ice up and needs defrosting about every 3 to 4 weeks. I hope this is helpful?

Hi Karen, yes but they weren’t interested as it’s a manufacturer’s problem. I’ve taken it to a Vitrifigo fridge mechanic who fixed the exhaust fan which solved the icing up that was occurring but not the coldness issue. Can anyone tell me approximately how many (amps) this fridge should use in say a 12 hour timeframe while on sleep mode? Also do other owners only run their fridge on the (1 ) setting regardless of ambient temperature ? In which case it seems to me a little odd to have 4 useless settings! Any help would be much appreciated.

Travel safe

ooohhh Tony, I think it is time to give up on a comedy career. We are heading to the Louth races this week

Have you contacted Kedron to see f there is an answer?

We also tried to get RACQ when we first bought the van and lived in Qld and RACQ said the value was above what they would insure. Interesting that after all these years they still won't insure Kedrons. We originally had CIL insurance. Bit dear but whilst we were going through all the states and traveling full time and the van was new it worked well. We now spend only approx 4 months of the year on the road and the van is now 11 years old so we were able to insure with RAC WA I thought because the value of the van had dropped but maybe it is a state by state thing?

Looks great, so many of these are disappearing after the pandemic with many councils being pressured by locals and bad behavior by campers.

RACQ wouldn't insure our van when we first got it. someone suggested it to me for insurance. So, it would be helpful to know more about it.

We are camped at a drop dead gorgeous beach camp at Port Gibbon on SA’s Eyre Peninsula. Called Serenity (talk about well named) it has a view from our van that is unrivalled. The cost is $15 a night, and the only facilities are rubbish bins. Mobile phone reception is OK, but not brilliant. But we have Starlink and Celfi Go so that’s all good.

Hi, I have a Vitrifigo 150 slim in my Compact CP 5 van that seems to me to be using too much battery power. It operates on the number one setting regardless of the outside temperature being 0 deg or over 35 deg as we experienced in QLD. A 300 amp lithium battery will last 2 nights without any solar input in that period. The fridge cuts in and out periodically and seems to keep the right temperature in the fridge and freezer. It says its power at 12 volts is 70 w which doesn’t mean much to me. Any suggestions ,or better still, solutions would be appreciated.

Do a search on You Tube plenty of info & ‘how to’s’ there

Not that I am aware of.

We have used Australian Caravan Insurance since we picked up our van new in 2018. Found premiums to be better than the CIL and Ken Tame. We had a approx $10k claim in 2021 that was handled quickly and really well.

Congrats on the new (to you) cross country vehicle! Here's some helpful advice on insurance companies as you take delivery: * **Compare Rates:** Don't just stick with your current insurer. Get quotes from several companies, including national providers and regional specialists that might cater to SUVs or off-road vehicles. * **Consider Your Coverage Needs:** Tailor your coverage to your specific needs and the vehicle's value. Cross country adventures might involve different risks than city driving, so consider factors like roadside assistance, comprehensive coverage for off-roading mishaps, and uninsured motorist coverage for remote areas. * **Ask About Discounts:** Many insurers offer discounts for things like low mileage, safety features on your new car, bundling multiple policies, or being a good driver with no accidents. * **Read the Fine Print:** Don't just focus on the monthly price. Understand deductibles (the amount you pay before insurance kicks in), coverage limits, and any exclusions that might apply. Here are some resources to help you compare quotes: * Web aggregators like NerdWallet [invalid URL removed] or [The Zebra](https://www.zebra.com/) can get you quotes from multiple companies. * Consumer Reports ([Consumer Reports](https://www.consumerreports.org/)) offers car insurance ratings and reviews. Remember, the best company depends on your individual needs and driving habits. Take some time to compare, ask questions, and find the coverage that gives you peace of mind for your cross-country adventures!