Zolle

Hi Bob If they still exist on this web site you may find posts describing the saga I had with springs on my 2007 XC2 and cracked chassis fitted with a rock & roller suspension. The springs were actually Alko and sagged around 25mm allowing the tyres to punch the inner guards breaking the seals with the body and causing a hell of a dust problem. Kedron(David) offered to do something if I took the van from WA to QLD. In co-operation with David and the chassis manufacturer (Can't remember their name) I designed and made a block 50 x 50 mm shs to weld a new suspension bracket set to from Industrial Springs Adelaide. IHS I understand were the origin desiners of the rock & roller suspension. This new suspension has been great covering many thousands of km on dirt roads with out any signs of sagging. I would suggest you call Indsustrial Springs and see what they can offer, you also may find their prices are atractive. />http://www.industrialsprings.com.au/ Cheers John

Hi Glen Re your points 1. That is about right at the rated maximum use of 170g/hr - have your always run the unit at maximum? 2. If the gas unit is rated at 2.4kW what size diesel heater will you go for? 3. Why should a gas regulator fail because of the gas heater which must be using far less gas than a 4 burmer stove or a BBQ which would use far more gas? 4. There are about 70 heater service agents scattered around Australia in high population areas and I did wonder about the service problem but with respect to how reliable the 2 electronic boxes are as my guess would be these are none serviceable and have to be replaced to source problems. I hope I have positioned our controller in a suitable position. Cheers John

Question to those who have a Truma E2400 Gas Heater where is it installed and where do your pipes run? I am installing a Truma E2400 Gas Heater but have found the wall outlet fitting of the exhaust/air inlet is too short to be able to form a seal on the inner wall. Does your exhaust/air inlet run through the the wall as required by Truma instructions? Where and how has your exhaust/air inlet been installed? I am intending to fit the heater inside the water heater/pump box where there is plenty of space as anywhere else under the beds would mean loosing significant space. Kedron apparently have no knowledge about fitting gas heaters. Cheers John

Hi Reading these types of messages on batteries makes me wonder when ours are going to give up as they are 7 years old this year. Cheers

Pete and Margie I think you will be trying to do what we did in 2007 when we bought our XC2 to suit the rated towing capabilities of a Terracan CRD. The van was plated to suit the Terracan but when we put it on the weigh bridge it was 400kg over weight although the Terracan pulled it easily with terrific fuel economy of around 15l/100km. We changed to a Patrol 3l CRD because of the legalities of the tow weight and the Terracan started showing signs of margin transmission strength in the clutch and diff. Kedron provided a new plate to suit my weigh bridge weights without any hassles which was fitted at a vehicle inspection centre in WA. In any negotiations with Kedron put it in writing what your towing capacity is for the Prado and insist Kedron provide a public weigh bridge certificate to prove the build weight suits your needs before you part with your money. Also have close look at the standard electrical equipment fitted to the XC3 lightweights as you may not have any margin to add batteries, solar panels or water tanks. We called in to Kedron last year after our trip to the tip of Cape York and looked at the XC3 which looked as though the coil spring suspension could be an improvement over the rock & roller on the XC2 and the internal build was typical Kedron. However there was silence when I asked if I could take an XC3 where I have been with the XC2 but that could be because Kedron know all about our travels with the XC2. I gathered that the intent of it was a lightweight bitumen and good dirt road van but I think it would do everything you want it to do. As I said above your priority with whatever van you buy is that its actual weight is legal for the Prado. Have fun John

We went in the first week of June last year and must have timed it after the graders as it was an easy run to Weipa and up to Seisa. On the run back the road was showing signs of corrugations increasing, was that due to people leaving the Cape driving faster or normal deterioration? Take care of any road signs they are there for a purpose and not to be ignored. Side roads were still wet and rough with many areas still closed. From our experience I would recommend going early in June. Just go and enjoy whatever you find hoping the conditions suit. Cheers John

We have the air conditioner fitted very close to the front of the 4 seasons, is that why we do not have a dust problem from the 4 seasons? Cheers

Yes with a CRD, you should be able to search for a number of posts by me. Our van is plated at 3100kg ATM but we probably run a bit lower than that. Cheers John

Hi Jabob We are in Weipa and can assure you the PDR is generally in great shape having been recently graded and some road works still ongoing. There are some nasty bits at some dips and creeks where a sign usually indicates a rough road but what is found in the bottom is a washaway filled with fairly large crushed rocks so take heed at all these signs. In other places there are what I call usual dirt road corrugations. We were assured by a Bamaga local at Archer roadhouse that all roads heading north are in good condition. The condition of the PDR is as good as we remember the GCR being in 2010. If you intend camping in national parks then you will have to use the ePermit system as there is no self registraton on arrival. Be careful of the booze restrictions in community areas. Cheers

[quote name='Tolley' We head south towards Charters Towers tomorrow morning. Hi Colin Our paths may cross as we expect to be in Richmond Sunday Night & Charters Towers on Monday. Have fun on the GCR and Plenty which we decided to avoid after reports received in Alice as we expect a bit of a pounding on Cape York. Cheers John

<br /><br /><br /> Hi Colin HOPE & PRAY We are in Alice having just completed the GCR and regret doing so as the degeneration of this road since we did it in 2010 was a shock. You will enjoy about 800km of corrugations that are generally quite bad and I rate the road condition now worse than the Savannah Way and GRR in 2010 and the Oodnadatta Track and Tanami in 2011. If there is much rain prior to your leaving Yulara the road to Docker river will be a badly corrugated mud bath. The camp site at Docker is a mess no water or toilets but free. Docker to Warburton is an average road with lots of corrugations and what I think is all weather crushed rock toppings sections that have formed narrow tracks leaving ridges of soft crushed rock for the van wheeels to drag through. My fuel consumption in the sections rose about 25%. The toppings were not only rough but also corrugated giving a very rough ride and there were many of these sections throughout the GCR. Shortly after Warburton you will hir road works with rough side tracks and just hope thes has not been any serious rain. You will the wonder what is in front of you, it is not a mirage but about 25km of bitumen, enjoy it whilst it lasts for then then road is generally currugated to alsorts of degrees until Cammp Paradise which is a gem of a place to stop, sunsets and sunrises are great in good weather. Heading West from here you are immediately hit with the worst road conditions on the GCR 5-10km/hr crawl for several km. even the lead foot locals were slow over this section waving us down with prior warnings when we were heading East. From Tjukayirla road house you will have almost continuos quite bad corrugation to the Laverton end. You may find conditions have significantly changed as the reports I got and another camper and Camp Paradise were the 3-4 weeks ago the road was generally quite reasonable to drive. Your group will also have a distinct advantage from me in the you intend to tkae it very easy so can run very low tyre pressures in youe 4WDs whereas I ran lower but safe handling tyre pressures that enabled me to cover the run from Menzies to Kings Creek in 3 days. I ran the van at mid 30's tyre pressures and had no significant problems except for a door hinge braking and 2 external hatch doors deciding to let dust in one of which was the Thetford, everything in the fridge and kitchen was ok including the the crockery we carry without ant special packing precautions. If you want an appetiser of what is coming then I suggest you do the Mereenie Loop. Have fun John

Jabob An ATV 21ft with an ATM of 2800kg ????????????????? Are you sure it is not 3800kg? Might see you on the Cape. Cheers

Hi Fred1 The response I got from a representative on the Caravanning QLD stand at the Perth caravan show this year when I asked when would it be likely I cound take my van up the York Peninsula was NEVER. He was adamant caravans should NEVER be taken to Cape York and obviously had some sort of grudge. I have just returned form a short trip running in my new bearings and brakes and went to 3 DEC sites in SW WA all of which did not show suitability for use by caravans on their web site and printed publications but most campers on all of those sites were caravanners and motorhomes so I do not give much credence to suitabilty of use to any NP web site. When I go shortly I will simply be asking questions locally. Cheers

Didn't take enough close-up photo's during the build, particularly when it was all wired up and the external skin had not yet been fitted. Enjoy the road, travel safe. John

Bas On current pricing Melbourne Trailers, who are Dexter distributors, are much lower priced than VC and interchangable ALKO assemblies can be bought for a lower price again. Cheers John

For those who may be interested in seeking RV spare parts from USA I received the following message from http://www.easternmarine.com/ today. "Hello, We just wanted to touch base and let you know we are now setup to ship directly to Australia, let us know if you have any questions. In the past when you contacted us were unable to do so. Thanks for inquiring with us and have a great day! Eastern Marine 1.800.453.7379" Cheers

Perhaps a poll on problem differences between front kitchens and rear might be interesting. I recall seeing comments on a web site somewhere that rear kitchens suffer from more bounce at the back than the front. Mine is front and we have few problems compared to what others are posting. Cheers

Those are what I recall and use with no tyre problems on the van Cheers

Hello Fred1 Hope you don't mind my adding the following to your post. Yesterday at the Perth caravan show I enquired at the Caravanning Qld stand about likely timing of access to Cape York this year towing my caravan. To my surprise the man on the stand responded by virtually ridiculing any idea of taking my caravan up Cape York without even asking what type of van I had. He told me the development road would be a muddy difficult mess until the end of June and after that would be a bull dust hazard and very busy with other traffic.. I was very surprised at the reaction I got and was left wondering if he was a radical type who wants to keep vanners out of remote areas. Comments would be appreciated from those who have been up the Cape York peninsula. Cheers John

Hi Ronnie Be very careful when considering the size of a van and what weight you might be asking you vehicle to tow as sales weights can be a long way out from actual weigh bridge weights. The only way to know what your vehicle is required to tow is to know the weight of a caravan and to get a weigh bridge ticket for the van at ex-works and that is not necessarily the plated tare weight then add your expected load which can be anywhere between 500kg at the lightest up to 800kg or more. My 17ft XC2 was plated at 2250kg tare and 2750kg ATM and when loaded with 500kg load the weigh bridge showed just under 3100kg. A same size ATV is likely to weigh in at 250 -300kg more and a TE another 100 -200 kg again all depending on your list of extras and the weight of a 21footer ask owners on this site who have dared to put their loaded van over a weigh bridge. Please do not get carried away with the size until you have fully considered all aspects as others have advised. Cheers John

I have found that instead of just tightening loose screws on internal fittings take them out add a spot of water proof PVA glue and then refit them, on external fittings cover the threads with mastic before refitting them, this has worked wonders for us. Cheers John