Steve and Kez

Mate, once you get that van hooked up and on the road and reach the beautiful corner country, all the turmoil will be forgotten I'm sure. Good luck and have a fantastic trip Cheers

Merv, Have you spoken to John (owner) of Victorian American Imports? That is where I bought my GMC and he and his team are always eager to please. They are very efficient whenever I have dealt with them. Daryl, Sorry for hi jacking your post

Hi Merv, While your question was not directed to me regarding tyre sizes, I thought I would put my 2 bobs worth in in case you were gathering data. My GMC came with 20" as standard equipment but I changed them to the 18" Silverado rims as I figured the tyres would be easier to get hold of plus they have more "Wall" for off road use. Cheers

Hi Tolley, Yes I have to agree with you about it being a "Great part of our beautiful country" and we are looking forward to seeing it in real life instead of brochures. It is the last place on our list of things to see in WA. In saying all of that, I do believe we have found a beautiful slice of paradise here in the Kimberley as it is far better living the area than just giving it a fleeting visit. Cheers

Thanks for the info Ann and Tony. Tony................... I don't need anything for mozzies while I have Kerry around as they much prefer her to me which annoys the crap out of her. But I might let Kerry know ........ if I remember

Thanks again Sue Your info is appreciated Cheers Steve

Thanks for the info Sue, Is it best to set up base at 1 spot or is there a few spots to utilize? Also, what would you say would be a decent amount of time to allow in the park? We were thinking about 3 nights/4days, but we can allow more if required. Thanks once again Sue

Hello Fellow Koggers, I would like some info on Karijini NP in the Pilbara WA please. The best places to stay in or around the park with the van and a recommended time frame to stay so we can optimize our time there. All info greatly appreciated Thanks Steve

Hi Pete & Tracey, Once you get to Broome, get the van sorted out and start your site seeing, drop in at the Beagle Bay store and say hi ........................ If you travel up this way that is. We manage the store there Cheers

Thank you very much Sue, Like the other guys, your info is most helpful Thank you Steve

Thank you for the info guys. If anyone has more to add ................ please do as I would like to make the most of out time there Thanks guys

Hello fellow Koggers, I would like some info about the best places to stay and see in Kakadu and Litchfield NP's. We are heading across from Beagle Bay (Broome) in June and have 4 weeks to see as much as we can inthis area and its surrounds. If time permits we may try and squeeze in Lawn Hill also. We have seen most of the "Non" NP area, but were restricted on our last time in the area as we hadour dog with us. We would prefer bushcamping but understand the being NP's, that will be restricted. All information willbe appreciated. P.S. : If you are inthe Beagle Bay Region, drop into the store and say G,day (except in June of course). We have room for a van or 2 ifrequired. The Dampier Peninsula is a breathtaking part of the world and extremelyworthy of visiting. Cheers

Hello Tony, We had a small leak in our van when we first purchased it. It was leaking above the bed in the front of the van. The Kedron boys found the leak, which happened to be 1 small screw that was only partially sealed in the hatch above the shower at the rear of the van. So it is very feasible that it could come from the AC even though it is 1 mtr away from the visible sign. Good luck with it and I hope to enjoy Tassie as it is a fantastic place to be. We went for 6 weeks and retuned nearly 4 months later ................. way too much to see Cheers Tony

Thanks for the "heads up" Colin. I have always put a plug in the exhaust outlet but never the intake. I never really gave the dust a thought, the reason I did it was to stop wasps. Thanks for the info

Hello Colin If you are camping at the common at Innamincka, There is a really nice spot called Policeman's Point, We usually camp out of town on the Cullyamurra Water Hole as it is good fishing and nice and quiet with large private areas.It is out on the Dig Tree road about 25-30 kms from Innamincka. If you are there at the right time ....... the yabbies' are massive and plentiful. Montecollina Bore on the Strzelecki Track is also a beautiful spot and worthy for a lunch break and a swim. The water is lovely and warm. Muloorina Stn is certainly worth a overnight (if you get time), You turn right about 2kms west of Maree on the Oodnadatta Track andtravel 50 kms (all good dirt roads) It is beautiful. It has a large waterwayand plenty of birdlife. When you get there you will come to the small toilet block, look to your right and you will see a single date palm in the distance.Just past there is a beautiful camp spot at the very end of the road and hasplenty of room to turn the van around. You have to take your own wood for the fire. You will have to back track for this spot too. Happy and safe travels

Hello Colin, Judging from your itinerary, you must be pushed for time? If so, it looks good. If not,there is certainly a lot of those places which could warrant extra time there as there is a lot to see and do Cheers

Hello 32 Kev, I agree with Merv and Di regarding the tow hitch as it does block the sensors on my GMC also but does not affect the reversing camera. I have a normal style canopy and it has no affect on the sensors at all. However if you say it does protrude 150mm, maybe it might upset them as it doesn't take much to set them off. Cheers Steve

Hi Guys, Ok…………… The must visits in the Flinders are: WilpeenaPound, but stay at Rawnsley Park Stn, which is about 30kms south of Wilpeena Pound. It is a great place to base yourself for a few days and do day tripsfrom. Book a powered site along the creek if you can as it will give you uninterrupted views of Rawnsley Bluff and the sunsets. Take some wood as theysupply fireplaces. There are also a few nice walks on the property ……………Rawnsley Bluff is a bit steep but well worth the effort. While atRawnsley Stn do the day drives of: The loop of Brachina Gorge and Parachilna Gorge with a lunch stop at the Prarie Hotel atParachilna for lunch.Self drive of Willow Springs Station. This has a cost butis beautiful .It has a bit of 4wd bits and will take you all day so take alunch. (You can also stay there now if you choose)There is also a place to seeabout 10kms on the R/H/S north of Rawnsley Stn called Sacred Canyon. It is asmall walk in a gorge and has a bit of aboriginal art. If you wishto "Free camp" in the gorges, there are a couple of places to do so but checkit out when you do the day drive. If you decide to stay in one of the National parks in the gorges, there is really only one with enough room for the van andit is big open spaces. I can't think of the name of the spot, but it is about10kms in on the Brachina gorge road, on the right hand side. It is beside a big dry creek bed and very beautiful. You can also have fires there too. When headingfor the Oodnadatta track, the best way to cut across is the Parachilna Gorgeroad (you can decide). Once at Parachilna, turn right and just follow thesigns. It might be agood idea to overnight somewhere before you get to Farina Stn as you should getthere by 3.00 to get the choice of the best spots (your choice). If you get toFarina Stn, early, there is plenty to see to fill the day/days in. Just before Leigh Ck there is a nice spot tostop at. It is the town water supply and it is a beautiful spot and it hasplenty of room for the van to move through. The turn off will be on your L/H/S. There is a caravan park at Liegh Ck which isOk and the pub has a great feed too. There is also another van park about 5 kmspast Leigh Ck called Copley. It too has a van park and the pub there has afantastic (country pub) feed and there is a good pie shop there too and is famousfor their Quondong pies. I would recommend staying here over Liegh Ck. Farina Stn is only about 70kms from Copleyand there is 28 kms of dirt starting from Lyndhurst. There is not a lot to seearound Lyndhurst. (Lyndhurst is actually in the middle of Farina Stn) Once at Farina Stn head to the camp groundand set up as to can walk to all the sites of interest (the ruins, cemetery,old railway bridge). The owners are Kevin and Anne Dawes …………… say G'day if yousee them as they know you might be coming. The next stop to think about is: Clayton Stn,50kms up the Birdsville track. It is a beautiful spot but you will have to backtrack (but worth it if time permits) Muloorina Stn, Turn right about 2kms west ofMaree and travel 50 kms (all good dirt roads) It is beautiful. It has a largewaterway and plenty of birdlife. When you get there youwill come to the smalltoilet block, look to your right and you will see a single date palm in thedistance. Just past there is a beautiful camp spot at the very endof the roadand has plenty of room to turn the van around. You have to take your own woodfor the fire. You will have to back track for this spot too. The next spotalong the Oodnadatta track is Coward Springs …………….. a must. It has a thermalbore pool and is wonderful. You can have fires there also On the way toWilliam Creek there are a few things to see along the way if you choose.William Creek Hotel is a must for lunch and then onto Oodnadata. Oodnadatta tothe hwy is the Painted desert and it is spectacular. Guys I hope this helps and if you need any additional info , give us a call as we have extensively traveled and worked in the whole area you are looking to travel in and have a lot more info if required Hope it can help you Steve

Tony, I didn't realize you were so domesticated. I think it is time you found a new hobby. By the way if you happen to be travelling the Kimberley this season, let us know as we are now at Beagle Bay Cheers Steve

Hello Ian & Sue Thanks for the advice. I am not sure what we will have to secure the van. I guess we will see when we get there. We may have a shed to put it in yet as we have a house supplied with the job. Regardless, it's all insured. I don't suppose you have any info on places to stay or see heading up the west coast? Cheers

Thanks Peter & Margaret. Yes we are well aware of the beauty of the Kimberley as we have been there a couple of times and adore it's ruggedness and beauty. That's why we accepted the job But we have never travelled the west coast. We have only been up as far as Kalbarri as we have always gone via the Tanami, so we are looking forward to the trip even it is the wrong time of the year and it will be a bit rushed. Cheers

Hello all, Kerry and I have just excepted a position for probably 12-18 months at Beagle Bay in the Kimberley. So on the 2nd November, we are picking up our GMC and van from Perth where it has been in storage since February and then taking 3 weeks to drive up the coast to Beagle Bay by the 25th November. While we realize it is not the best time of the year to be travelling this area, we intend to try and make the best of it. So ................ does anyone have some "Must see's or Must do's or Must stays"? All info gratefully appreciated. Cheers P.S. We are not sure how much spare room we will have in the house yard until we get there, so we will let you know if we can squeeze in some visitors once we get settled.

Hello Merv, Mate we live in our van full time and could not get the weight down enough to be legal so we bought the GMC and increased the van GVM to 4T and now everything is perfect with weight to spare. It certainly takes the stress out of doing something you are meant to be enjoying. To be honest, I can't believe anyone with a 21' TE or ATV or bigger can be legal. We have a 21' TE with all the usual extras and the empty weight was 3040kg and the GVM was 3500kg. It doesn't leave you much weight to play with especially once you put 320kg of water and 2 full gas bottles. I believe most people have no true idea about the weight of their van or want to know the true weight of their vans. Their choice Cheers Steve

Hi Merv, I have to agree with Tony. The best tow rating you will get out of any current 4x4 is 3.5T and 350kg ball weight, so why bother???? The only way to make it legal if your van exceeds the 3.5 T tow or 350kg ball weight is to import something larger as I have done and it feels sooooo good knowing your legal with plenty of room to spare. Cheers Steve

Hello Ronnie, Mate all the info and concerns that you have received is correct and very real regarding the weight of the big van. You have to reside yourself to the fact that your 80 series will not cut the mustard with or without the turbo and you will regret purchasing any genuine large off road van if you were to keep the 80 series as they are all plagued with weight issues. It is personal choice on what vehicle you decide to go with, but dont choose anything with less than a 3500kg tow capacity otherwise the van will dictate the vehicle. You will get away with a 21ft Kedron and a 3500kg tow capacity vehicle if you dont fill the water tanks or you only load it very lightly for something like a short holiday. Where you will come unstuck is when you want to do the big long term trip or the great outback adventure and to have to start carrying tools, spares, extra fuel, water etc …………….. This I have learnt from experience. Now I am a firm believer that if you are not living on the edge ………………………. You are taking up too much room except for when it comes to the weight issue. I believe if you run everything on the edge of their limits ……………… you will come unstuck sooner than later, hence I purchased the GMC and I have to say, it has made travelling and towing soooo much more pleasurable and relaxing knowing you are well within the weight limits and have room and power to burn. Think before you leap otherwise you will end up on the site complaining about all the weight issues you have with the heavy van. Happy pondering