Neville and Kay

Andrew & Sally What is nonsense, not being legal with towing with a Landcruiser our 17ft 6inch Internal Top Ender Loaded was over the 3500kg so I am guessing a 19 feet 6 inch internal Top Ender would be heavier, or happier & stress free towing with a Yank Tank. Neville

Have you driven a Yank Tank off road, at least one is totally legal regarding the weight which one is towing with a Yank Tank, where there is no way you can be with a Landcruiser, so this leads to a happier & stress free travelling. Neville

Good Morning Cargo When we bought our 17ft 6 inch van in 2007 David told me our Sahara would pull the Top Ender & yes it did we did thousands of Km. across a lot of dirt but when I put it across a weigh bridge I found we were over weight [ not legal & if in an accident No Insurance] so I had our Sahara cut & Lazy axle added to get over this problem, but the Qld Transport bloke put end to that as it depend what side of the bed he got out of as to what towing capacity he would give you, the vehicle done before mine he put 4500kg on blue plate, mine 3500kg, & the next one 4000kg, all done through the same Conversion shop. So after spending $ 40,000 I was still not Legal so now I have bought a Dodge Ram & can rest easy when driving down any road & know I do not have to worry if I see the Dept. of Transport pulling people over to weigh them. So I think if you are looking at a Kedron you need to look at the lighter models not the Top Ender, I think in the industry they say if you have a single axle you can put 200kg in van & 2 axles 400 kg & you will be surprised @ how little gear in total you get for 400kg. Hope this helps & safe & happy travels down the road. Neville.

Well we picked up our new Dodge Ram a week ago from Irelands in Cairns, the delivery & service was just great, we were taken around to meet the service manager, then the Lady doing the delivery went through everything possible a real mind blowing experience explaining everything. They filled it with fuel also the adblue & also gave us a 20 lt. drum of adblue. They rang the next day to see if we were happy with the pre-delivery, then rang again after a week to see if all was okay & I said it was still going & had not broken down. I know it is only early days but got 13.1 Lt. per 100 Km. [ not towing] with the on board fuel management system, coming home to Cooktown I will see how this compares to actual when I fill up at the pump. Now we just have to fit it out, Bull Bar, Radio, Extra fuel & filter, remove the Tub & put an integrated tray & canopy on & 2 spares then we are ready to travel again. Neville & Kay.

Ash you can get new lens [light covers] from Carac they are at 21 Frankston- Dandenong Rd. Dandenong in Victoria, Phone 97947977, when we got them they were $15.95 each. Part Number carac L-DAV004 Light Diffuser T/S DELTA. Hope this helps. Neville.

Good Morning Strettman I do not think it matters as we towed our Top Ender in 2007 with a new 100 series Sahara, & we ended up doing 237000 km in the Sahara before selling it. Neville

Good Afternoon Merv, I am going to look at this as I do not pick it up until Tuesday the 17/5/16, then I will be able to have a good look & also for another fuel Tank as I will take the tub off & put an integrated Tray & canopy on it & spares can hang off back of canopy, so fuel can go where spare was?????? al going well. Regards Neville

Good Morning Greg & Cathy No East Coast are not making a Bull Bar yet for the Dodge Ram [2016] as they have sensors in front bumper Bar, they say they will look into it as this is the first they had heard of it so maybe we will just have to wait. Thanks Neville & Kay.

Goog Afternoon all We have crossed over to the other side sold our 6x4 Land cruiser Sahara & bought a 2016 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie from Ireland's in Cairns, bought it Saturday hope to take delivery later this week, then as you know a real learning curve. These are converted by Walkinshaw Racing in Melbourne under the blessing of Dodge in USA, they have 3 year 100K warranty backed by most Dodge dealers in Australia. Ran into first snag as nobody is making a Bull Bar which can take the front sensors so will have to disconnect these. Neville & Kay.

John A suggestion I would make is get the latest version of Camps Australia Wide with snaps as it is very helpful when travelling. Neville.

Good Morning all I have seen on a forum where it is reported that Lovells are about to announce an upgrade to 4000kg towing capacity for the 200 series Land Cruiser for those who are not after the extra space of the [big American machines] & use around town a lot easier. Neville.

Good Morning Wandering Slaters Is the nut you are talking about on the end of the shower hose if so check the state of the rubber washer inside the nut or if the nut is split, but if you are talking about the nut on the poly pipe supplying the water these are known to crack with age & you will have to replace & these are not to be over tightened as the split if done up to tight. Kedron have the nuts for the poly pipe but you have to say what colour the nut is. Hope this helps. Neville.

Good Morning petdav30 I think you have answered your own question with having more weight on the draw bar, it is your choice but I would forget it as we originally had the outboard on a bracket on it & ball weight was 420kg so got rid of outboard from draw bar. After doing a long trip note what you did not use & leave home next time, as you always take off with to much gear thinking that maybe you might need it. Regards Neville

Good Morning LeaL To remove the globe [light] the small black ring next to the globe is a bit like a surclip [which has 3 small tabs on it ] can rotate, just carefully prise this out & then you can pull the globe out & check the pins on the back of it & get a replacement Led & it just pushes back into place & put surclip back in. Hope this helps. Neville.

Hi All, In Queensland if your vehicle is modified in any way changed fuel carrying capacity or suspension up grade for carrying capacity you have to have a BLUE Plate fitted with this information on other wise it is not legal. Regards to towing if when the Van when it is hooked to car & is weighed & as long as it is 3500 kg or less you are okay as this is classed as the static weight, but bearing in mind when un hooked the van will go over the 3500kg & this is what the Insurance may look at. With the weight of the Vehicle also includes those sitting in it, so drive car only with fuel full onto weigh bridge & get it weighed. Regards Neville

Good Morning Petdav 30 We have friends who live in Baldivis W.A. & they bought their van in S.A. & Ken said they towed it across the Nullarbor back home he took everything out of the van & took to Gov. inspection station as he told us if you live in W.A. you have 3 months to do this [if registered in another state] other wise you loose your insurance, same for a car. I can not remember the brand of van but he had to take it away & have the brakes on van up graded because of weight & he said he had nothing in the van & according to the compliance plate on van he could tow with Falcon / Commodore. Hope this helps you. Neville.

Hi Petdav30 Graeme Y has up graded his GVM of L/C but I think he can still only tow 3500 kg as I had our 100 series L/C Sahara turned into a 6x4 twin cab by Creative Conversions & it has a GVM OF 4495 Kg [still drive on car licence] but still can only tow 3500Kg. If you have to tow above this you have to get one of the Big Yank Tugs. Neville.

Rocket Do not believe weight on compliance plate I would put it over a Weigh Bridge then you know your starting point, Land Cruiser will handle it but if over 3.5 t. not legal. Best of luck Neville.

Good Morning When we picked up our Top Ender in 2007 we were told when travelling on the road to switch to 240 volts & this would make sure all lights & water pumps were without power & that the fridge would still work as it is wired direct to batteries. This way you do not accidently loose your water while driving along the road. Neville

Good Morning Brian In the forum they said they got 2 AGM batteries for $600, not each so this will half your figures. Also I wonder what the cost difference is if you buy a New Kedron with Lithium or AGM Batteries. Interesting Neville.

John I fitted extra panel on roof & to connect I lifted one existing panel up & hooked up to it. I also hook to extra panels direct to the PL 60 Solar charger through an Anderson plug the bloke at Springers advised me how to hook it up. Hope this helps. Neville

Has any one heard any more about the Dodge Ram with the conversions being done by Walkinshaw Racing, We were in Cairns today & called into Irelands who are the Doge dealers & they have heard nothing, A few months ago David Ireland had a half page add in the Cairns Post saying September / October they should be here. I have seen where one of the partners who were going to bring them in, in numbers is being sued for $30 mil. so maybe it will not happen. Neville.

Good Morning Steve, did the fellow say who did his conversion to the Dodge as you would not want anybody else to get caught. We are looking around for a possible change & looking at the Dodge, maybe we will wait & look at the one's that will be done by Walkinshaw racing later in the year. Neville.

Good Morning Leon I have a canopy built by Concept Canopies @ 5 Youngs Crossing Road Joyner [barry Hayward] mine included tray & heaps of extras & painted to match Vehicle & cost $14k. we have done most of the tracks including great central Google CONCEPT CANOPIES & you can see photos also price list to get an idea what it will cost you. After sales service if you need it we have found to be great. Regards Neville.

Good morning Colin, How accurate is the computer in the Chevy to the actual fill from the Bowser as our Land cruiser Sahara gives a rough average& can be out by 10 to 15% & it is only when I fill up do I get the true amount of fuel used. Thanks Neville.