RussnSue

G'day Lyn and John, this is like the old "how long is a piece of string?" question. The variables are: What type of battery are they? What is the quality of manufacture? What have they been used for? Have they been on float charge while the van has been idle? How deeply have they been discharged? How often have they been deeply discharged? Have they been charged at the correct rate? Have they been charged to the correct voltage? Have they been given a boost charge and if so, how often? I can't even help you with a rule of thumb life expectancy without knowing the anwers to many of the above. As a guide, AGM batteries, looked after optimally, will last about 7000 charge/discharge cycles if discharged by no more than 20% of their rated capacity. (that is, 80% capacity left after discharge). However, if discharged to 50% they will last only about 2000 charge/discharge cycles. If they are discharged by 80% (virtually dead flat) you would be lucky to get 300 charge/discharge cycles. Not leaving batteries on float charge while the van is idle is another killer. The batteries get a condition called Sulphation and this can kill them very quickly. I think four years is probably on the money if you are not familiar with the principles and techniques that can extend their life. Cheers Russ

G'day Bruce we got quite a bit of bulldust experience while we were living at Alice Springs. It can be quite tricky on several levels: . It can be quite boggy . It can hide some pretty large rocks that you won't see until you've hit them . The bulldust will get into your van, it's just the amount that will vary Having said that, we always got through and were lucky enough to not have any damage. The trick is to go fast enough to avoid getting bogged, but slow enough to maintain control. I wouldn't change plans if I were you (in fact we'll probably come across you out there somewhere). Just take it easy and if necessary, wait until someone else has gone through if you are concerned about particularly bad looking patches. Cheers Russ

We also stayed at the homestead and we were quite disappointed. We probably won't be staying at Mataranka on the return journey so we'll have to wait a while to check out the other camp ground. I think that this is a design issue with the battery charger. It should be able to coexist happily with the solar regulator. I've had much cheaper chargers do a better job than this one does! I've contacted the Kedron factory about it an asked them to contact the charger manufacturer to see if there is a solution. That was a while ago and I still haven't heard back from Ashley so I'd better give him a reminder. I'll let you know what the outcome is. Cheers Russ

G'day Gazza, well, we beat you over here! Got to Karratha a couple of weeks ago and have since driven down to Geraldton and spent a week over on North Island (part of the Houtman's Abrolhos group). We're back at Karratha now and will spend seven weeks at Cossack before heading north to do the Gibb River road etc. We'll most likely cross paths up there somewhere. How's the solar setup going? We have a small issue with the battery charger. I had to trick it and tell it it was charging "normal" lead-acid cells and not AGM cells. It was cutting out if the solar charger raised the voltage higher than 13.2 Volts. Then it wouldn't cut back in after the sun went down. It's behaving now, but I think I may have to alter the PL-60 program so that the charge voltage is slightly lower. I can use Program 4 to set that up. We were at Mataranka about 4 weeks ago and it looks decidedly sad. They had floods there and the hot spring is very degraded. The pool was full of vegetation and sludge and the understory plants were all gone. The caravan park is quite bare of grass considering that they have just gone through the "Wet". They have added a couple of new powered bays to the camp area. Hope you and Bev have a great time. Cheers Russ n Sue

Hi King and Deb, we're at Katherine now. From there we head to Karratha in WA for a couple of month's work before heading back across the Top to "do the Cape" in August. So we'll be up that part of the world from mid-June on. We'll be posting regularly on this forum in the form of trip reports etc, so keep an eye out. We will probably cross paths somewhere. Cheers Russ.

Here I sit in my Ked Watching the raindrops that fall on my head You've gotta love these four seasons-hatches I'll mention to the Galls in my next despatches Everything else is staying quite dry Thank goodness for that as I look at the sky 'Cause it looks like there's more rain to come and there's nothing worse than a wet numb bum

If I had my druthers I'd rather that we had two Fantastic hatches instead of 1 Fantastic and 1 four-seasons hatch. The 4 seasons hatch leaks dust and water and insects, offers very little ventilation and, to be honest, looks ugly. I have had these in work caravans and didn't like them and must have had a complete brain-fade getting one in this van. Cheers Russ.

Kimbo, do you have a rough itenary of where you'll be and when? Cheers Russ

G'day Sue, we'll keep an eye out for you. Will you have access to the Internet as you travel? Cheers Russ

Hi Kimbo, Cossack is between Roebourne and Point Sampson on the Pilbara Coast. It is about 35Km from Karratha and yes, the sandflies are both large and in abundance. We lived at Karratha for almost 9 years and know the area well. Additionally, our daughter and two of our Grandies are at Karratha and we'll be able to see a fair bit of them. Cheers, Russ.

Well Sue and I and the Kedron had planned to spend the winter in Queensland but we got a great job offer in WA and will be heading over there for a couple of months. We'll be leaving Mackay on the 22nd of March and will be going via Townsville, Hughenden, the Isa, Camooweal, Tennant Creek, Katherine, Kununurra, Derby, Broome to Karratha, stopping at points of interest along the way. We have just over a month to get there. We're sticking to the blacktop on the way over as the "wet" won't have finished before we get to WA. We'll be caretaking at the historic village of Cossack while there, so any Koggers going that way, be sure to drop in and say g'day. Maybe we'll see some of you on the road on the way over. After Cossack we'll have six weeks to get back to Cairns, where we are joining up with friends for a trip up the Cape. See you on the road... Cheers Russ

Hi Tony, It's the "peeling off and back" that worries me as it looks like the silicon sealant used to seal the insects out will also stop me from removing the screens! Cheers Russ

Hi Sue, did you have any trouble removing the glue residue left by the tape? Cheers, Russ.

Hi Bruce, I purchased some 6mm rubber from Clark Rubber. It is not see-through but then what can you see with the van hitched anyway? I cut it to fit my rear window. I hold it on with some of those straps made from that seat belt webbing stuff (not the ratchet ties, but the ones with the buckle that sort of clamps down on the strap.) At each end I have used some little "hook like" clips that were originally on the tie-down straps of my Waeco fridge. The whole setup was cheap and works well. The problem is that I put them away recently and CRAFT has set in. Now I can't remember where I've put the "hook" thingies.... otherwise I'd photograph them and put up a picture for you to look at.

We had quite easy to see, match head sized gaps in our screens of our four seasons hatch. When we took the van back to Kedron after our shakedown trip I informed them that insects were entering through these gaps and they sealed them with clear silicon sealant. It worked but I hope I never have to remove the screens for any reason. Cheers Russ.

We supplied our own 1200W pure sine wave unit and Kedron fitted it for us. We specified a changeover switch at the breaker panel inside the van. It works so that with the changeover switch in one position all of the outlets in the van work on the inverter. When changed over, all of the outlets are connected to the external 240 volt source, be it a caravan park supply or the Yamaha inverter generator. This way, the inverter and the external 240 Volt sources can never be connected at the same time. The 1200 Watt unit runs the front loader washing machine with ease and would possibly manage a microwave, but we didn't bother with one. Just remember... your batteries have to supply the inverter. A 1200 Watt model at full load is going to pull a constant 100 Amp current from your batteries. An 1800 Watt model will pull a staggering 150 Amps at full load! 150 Amps continuously will kill a three-battery configuration in just two hours - you have been warned...lol. Cheers, Russ.

G'day, the 'fridge would not pull down to 5 degrees in the fridge part. Most of the time it was between 6 degrees and 11 degrees, which is not below the safe food storage temperature. The freezer would get to -17 degrees but could not hold it. Again not to food storage specs. These results were at the coldest thermostat setting. Ashley's thermometer agreed with ours, so out went the 'fridge. The replacement 'fridge gets down to 4 degrees and can maintain it, with the fridge on the second coldest setting. Personally, I think that the compressor/evaporator/condensor unit is too small for a 230 litre 'fridge and it is most likely a design issue rather than an individual 'fridge issue. I think that there is too little margin for error with the design. At the pre-delivery talk, we were told that the large, lift-up hatch used to improve airflow and cooling around the condensor is new to the design of the vans. One would have to suspect that the change was required due to customer feedback about the 'fridges. gazza d, we are at Benaraby now and will be working at the caravan park for about three weeks. Cheers, Russ.

The new Top Ender was picked up, as planned, on Dec. 19th. After packing and re-packing all of our stuff about 15 times, we were finally ready to set off on our shake-down cruise. Our trip saw us at Kwiambal Nat. Park (NSW) over Christmas, Storm King Dam for New year, Leslie Dam for a week and Jacob's Well for a few weeks (while family from WA visited.) No issues arose that would render the van incapable of proceeding, but we did have a list with about a dozen items on it and Rang Ashley at Kedron the day they returned to work on Jan. 19th. He booked us in for the 27th Jan. for the items to be checked. When we hadn't arrived by Midday on the 27th, Ashley rang us, just to make sure everything was OK and that we hadn't got our wires crossed. What a pleasant surprise! When was the last time you got a call from any company to remind you that you have warranty work to be done? I am pleased to report that all of the items on our list (including completely replacing the 'fridge) were performed efficiently and without fuss. They even made a bag for my new laptop for free after I offered to pay them to make one for me! I don't know if anyone at the factory visits this site, but if they do, please pass on our thanks to Ashley and his crew for a job well done. Since the repairs we have spent time at Noosa, Burrum Heads and are now at the Town of 1770. We are thoroughly enjoying this part of Australia. Hope to catch up with other KOGers in our travels. Cheers Russ

Hello Laurie and Helen, we will most definitely be in touch. We are very lucky that we have a "base" at Evans Head, staying with a wonderful couple that we met at Alice Springs earlier in the year. We have already "exploded" in their shed and will be able to set the van up there as well. Having said that, we are bound to have teething issues and if we need a temporary base we may take you up on your wonderful offer. Cheers Russ.

Hello Chris, We are going to stay within striking distance of Brisbane for most of January as our Daughter is flying over from the West (bringing the Grandies with her) and will be around for a month. After that we want to spend time in SE Queensland/NE NSW at places such as Texas, Stanthorpe, Inverell, Bingara etc. Keep in touch. you never know, we may cross paths. Cheers, Russ.

We've been contacted by the Kedron factory to advise us that the long wait is almost over as construction of our van has commenced. After months of being a "defacto" Kedron owner on this forum, we will soon be fully qualified. We left Alice Springs 3 weeks ago to travel to Brisbane to pick up the van and are in the final stages of our journey, (currently at Dubbo for a couple of days). There is an ATV here at the park we are at, being pulled by the same kind of vehicle that we have (Discovery 3), so I'll be keen to ask them how they are finding it as a tow vehicle. The anticipation is killing us, but we're almost there. Hoorah! Cheers Russ n Sue

AGM batteries are the go, not so much for the fact that they are supposedly able to be discharged deeper than wet batteries, but for the fact that they recombine the gas and chemicals produced during discharge. This means that they can be sealed and not build up pressure as well as stay relatively cool. While it is true that they can, in theory , be discharged a lot deeper than wet cells for the same loss of lifespan, it should be remembered that the less any battery is discharged, the longer it will last. For this reason, it is better to have four batteries discharge by 25% of their capacity than it is to have three batteries discharge by 33% of their capacity. I recently saw a graph that showed that a typical AGM battery that is discharged to 50% capacity should last 2400 charge/discharge cycles. The same battery discharged to 80% of its capacity (ie discharged by 20%) will last 7200 charge/discharge cycles - a significant difference. A wet cell battery will typically last around 1000 charge/discharge cycles at 50% discharge. So, hopefully I haven't baffled you with BS or blinded you with science but the short answer is AGM, and extend their life by monitoring your usage and installing plenty of capacity. Cheers Russ.

Bumped into Paul and Denise at Alice Springs. They purchased the Pop-Up Top Ender seen in the DVD of the Cape York, (Telegraph Track), Gall Boys, DVD. Apparently it took a bit of persuasion to get Barry and Dave to part with it. It certainly doesn't look any worse for the trip. Cheers, Russ.

Hi, we are new to the forum, our Top-Ender is due for completion this December. We are currently at Alice Springs, living and working until the van is finished. We know heaps of places to camp and would be happy to pass them on to you, but as we don't have all of the criteria yet to join the Private section of this forum (such as a chassis number), you can PM us if you want more info. Don't forget, any land out this way that is not in a National Park, is either a Pastoral Lease, Aboriginal Title, Aboriginal Freehold, Commonwealth Gov't or Military. In other words, you shouldn't just plonk yourself anywhere without expecting to ruffle a few feathers. Where possible, try and find out who owns the land and get permission first. Most landowners are happy to have low-impact campers on their land, but they dislike vandals, litterers and firearms. Also, don't forget that there is a lot more to the Alice Springs area than just the West MacDonnells. Places like "Old Andado" are easily reached with a Kedron in tow and can give you a taste of the Simpson Desert without actually having to cross it. Cheers, Russ.