Webby
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Posts posted by Webby
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The last couple of days around Alice Springs have been gloomy to say the least. Today it is absolutely bucketing down.
Definitely won't be any dust on the surrounding tracks, that's for sure !
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Ian and Sue
Our last one had a hole in the emptying spout, but we had a plug for it when emptying time came. I absolutely hate getting ANY type of liquid on me when emptying the cartridge - even water, so if it even leaked a little, it would have freaked me out. There was no drama with it at all.
With this van, the setup is different and there is no cartridge holes at all to plug. Not sure how it all works, but I love it.
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Hi all just wondering if those using the toilet vent system are still happy with the results.
Been thinking of installing this for some time now and saw them for sale today for $150 ,
down from $ 240. John
We had one in our first Kedron and loved it.
With this van we had it ordered, but it didn't arrive before we had to leave on a trip to Newcastle, so we decided to wait until we returned 3 months later to have it fitted.
That 3 months couldn't go fast enough. I missed the SOG so much ! It makes such a difference and I would not have a van without one.
100% happy ! !
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We have just driven the Strzelecki and Oodnadatta Tracks and had 38 psi in the van tyres. No tyre damage, no van damage. There was a huge variety of rocks, some of which were definitely out to get me.....but not this time !
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Hi Cathy and Greg
From our experience of corrugated travelling we haved learned that anything that can move sideways, up or down, WILL. During its movement, if it comes into contact with another object that is breakable, it WILL break. LOL. At best, if items can touch, expect them to finish with rub marks that make them look like they are 20 years old, not 3 months.
Take a look around your van and picture every item as a movable item, and when it moves, what will it come into contact with. We used a lot of non slip matting and foam. Even your knives and forks will rattle against each other and leave marks in your cutlery drawer divider, or fill it with a staining silver dust and mark all the cutlery. We have recently learned to wrap our cutlery in some non slip matting to prevent one touching another. Not a big exercise when you only carry a few of each item.
Initially when we start a corrugated road, we stop after a few klms to check the inside of the van. This will give you an early indication of any issues. ie, drawers opening, cupboard doors not latched properly etc. It is much better to discover these things after only a few klms than a few 100 klms.
In your pantry things will gain a life of their own. Jars will unscrew themselves and bottoms of items will wear thin. We once had the lid from a jar of coffee unscrew itself and spill the contents throughout the cupboard. A bit of a mess to try and clean up, particularly when you think you have got it all and then put a damp sponge to it to finished. We now either wrap tape around all the lids, or an easier option is the wrap a rubber band around the jar (length ways from top to bottom). If you've got a few rubber bands, put two on crossing them in 90 degree angles at the top. The tension of the rubber stops the lids from turning. Watch those tetra paks (particularly the long life milk). Constant up and down motion of those on a hard surface can put a hole in the bottom. This applies for the same tetra type paks in the fridge. Perhaps place them on something soft. You can never carry too much foam. Lucky it is light weight
We cut some pool noodles up and place these in any spaces in the fridge. This has stopped most things from moving around too much on the shelves. Of course the rubber band method applies in the fridge as well for screw top lids. For all our small jars that can break, we have them all grouped quite tightly together in a plastic container. (Just a low sided rectangular one does us). Something that will also fit in the fridge without too much movement. That way, if the garlic glass jar, or chutney jar decides to break, the mess is contained to the container and not the entire fridge.
Most of these methods have been born for us, out of a messy incident of some sort, that we can fortunately laugh about now. I'm sure there will be a few more, but as each one happens, we learn something new.
Oh, and don't forget your car fridge. I once had some bottles of Ginger Beer in the car fridge and Ann nicely packed some of her beer in between to try to keep it all nice and tight. Well, turns out that a serrated edged bottle top of a soft drink is a can's natural enemy. During the corrugated travel over the Gibb River Road, the beer cans danced around in a circular motion and ring barked themselves against the soft drink bottle top lids. Ann was not happy that she lost about 3 cans of beer in that short journey ! Beer makes a stinky mess to clean up in the bottom of a fridge too. Yuck. Don't know how people can drink that stuff.
There are a few different suggestions from people we have met regarding clothes jumping off the rail in the wardrobe and landing on the floor, but with our current van the rail is metal and has individual holes, so we don't seem to have that problem anymore.
While we're on the subject of clothes, if you have a washing machine in your van, be very very careful. Ours shrinks our clothes. Happens with every trip. I start out and everything fits fine, but by the time I get home, everything is 2 sizes too small. I have worked out it must be the washing machine's fault. Can't possibly be the 20 bakeries we have visited while we were away !!
If anyone can think of some more suggestions, please contribute as we are all going to learn a lot on this trip. I am looking forward to it.
See you in June !
Sue
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Love it ! Only a matter of time.
A definite customer here.
Sue
(aka Ms Gadget)
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I completely agree with Leon. I would think it would be very difficulty to sell bunk beds over Double or Singles. IMO double bed vans sell the easiest.
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Very cute Colin. I am surprised they wear them at all. Most dogs would chew them off.
Looking forward to the trip. I have our Trivia Night mostly organised.
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We had the Vitrofrigo in our last Kedron, and although we didn't have any problems without, we know many others who did.
With our new van, Kedron have fitted it with a Waeco, and we are more than happy with it. It is slightly smaller than the Vitrofrigo, but that does not bother us at all. The compressor for the Waeco is at the top, so this means it only needs one outside vent. This obviously reduces dust into the van as the vent is placed quite high.
If we had to choose between the two, we would pick the Waeco. (I think it is a 210 model).
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We also used the Staun Deflators and had similar experiences to Russ. Would not recommend them.
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We rotate ours every 10,000 klms.
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We rotated our 6 tyres recently on our van and simply did this -
Spares tyres came forward on to the rear axle (same side).
Tyres on the rear axle moved to the front axle (same side).
Tyres from the front axle moved to the spare tyre positions, but crossed over.
I guess everyone has their own pattern, but I guess as long as you do it the same way each time, you can't go wrong.
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Hi Sue,
Many thanks for your comments, any photo's would be great.
Pic as requested -
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Hi Chanty
Not sure of the exact rules on this, but I would assume the jerry cans would need ventilation of some sort.
We had checkerplate lids made for our jerry can holders on the A frame, removed the chains, and have a flat steel rod that slides across the top (between the remaining chain loops) and this is secured with a padlock. This setup does not completely seal the jerry can holder as there are still gaps around the loops and also under the lid itself.
You need to search for a 10 litre plastic jerry can that is low in profile but not too wide, as it will be a snug fit. From memory we bought ours from SuperCheap Auto.
Our reason for fitting the lids was to stop stones flicking up and into the holders and then with vibration, rubbing holes in the plastic jerry cans themselves. The lids aren't very thick checkerplate and would bend back quite easily if forced, but it is a quick visual check that they haven't been tampered with, and the locks, in that case, are merely a bluff. We could have used thicker grade checkerplate, but the fitting of the steel bar would have been a bit snug. The main reason was not for absolute security, but to stop the tiny stones. The locking was to hold the lids securely so they done fly off, or come away with the "helping" hand.
I can post some photos if you like.
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I personally do not believe that any forums should be used to bag any products what so ever, especially using second hand information or hearsay. Please be careful as we can leave not only ourselves open to legal action but the site can be held to account.
Cheers and a merry Christmas to all from the Kyd's.
Totally agree Rod. I recall this same topic of conversation being contentious in the past, and an attempt to protect the members and the forum from legal action was attacked. I would suggest again that further discussions on contentious topics should take place in the Members Forum.
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Hi Col & Debbie
Don't know much about the pros and cons of the Hitch Easy,but we had the Hyland on our last Kedron and now have the earlier model DO35 on this Kedron and find the DO35 much easier to hitch up. The Hyland used to need a prod or two to let go, or connect. The DO35 is a smooth connection. Would definitely recommend it.
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Hi Bryan,
We have installed an Oyster and it works really well.
Ian
We also have the Oyster Sat. Very easy to operate.
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Hi Colin
Sounds like a great trip. We'd love to join you, if it works in with our plans. We will be coming up the centre around June next year, so could join the last half.
Will let you know in the next month or so (when we return from NZ).
Cheers
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Hi Chanty,
We had a stoneguard fitted just last week to our Kedron ATV2 that might be just what you are after. See pics below.
It was made by Ken Barratt and his contact number is 3207 7152 and he lives at Victoria Point.
He did a fantastic job and the price was very reasonable. If you decide to contact him, tell him Sue & Ann sent you.
For the observant amongst you, we also had some checkerplate lids made for our gerry can holders. We got sick of them filling with little stones. Had these done by Tong Box at Northgate. The gerry can holder now holds a 10 ltr plastic gerry can and is now secured as well as "stoneless".
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I was told by a service agent in Brisbane what the fix was, but unfortunately ran out of time to have it done before we left. I approached 2 service agents on the way north with a "verbal" on the fix, but one failed to do it correctly, and the other gave me a blank stare as if I was talking Chinese. I had to almost dial the Yamaha Head Office for him who told him my instructions were correct. And yes, it was a simple spring adjustment.
I now have a flyer from Yamaha Head Office showing how the spring is adjusted, so if anyone is having this same "hunting" issue, PM me and I will email it to you. Of course, if your genny is still under warranty you should take it with the flyer to a Yamaha service agent and have them do the adjustment to avoid any warranty issues.
I have only had to start the genny once since it was done and I can immediately hear the difference.
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Would love to catch up Colin. Will call you next week (1/9 - 7/9) when we're at Ellis Beach.
Cheers
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Thanks Colin
We are in fact in the are and stayed at The Boulders last Thursday night. I agree, it is a lovely spot. A smaller area than the one closer to Babinda, but much quieter. We didn't do a swim, but it was a nice walk to the Boulders.
We saw Josephine Falls last time we were up here and loved the walk there also.
We are currently in Cairns and moving on to Ellis Beach next weekend for a week. We have a beachfront site booked. It's certainly a lovely part of the country up here.
Hi to the kids.
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We had something similar happen to us with our previous van, and it turned out to be a fuse.
Not saying that is your solution, but I guess you've checked the obvious.
The Outback Way
in Public Forum
Posted
That's very disappointing. Can't believe it broke again. Hoe you can get another in time to continue your adventure.
Camec usually post stuff off pretty quickly if you give them a call. Happy to pick it up at the Post Office here in Alice if you want to get it sent here. That's if you can get the fridge door to stay shut until you get here.