John and Jo
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Posts posted by John and Jo
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Hi all Ken Tame ? Have been insured with them for some time now but received the renewal notice this week and thought I Better compare prices . RACWA and Apia are both $600 cheaper!!
Seems like Ken is going to miss out .
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Had a disaster yesterday. We are in Bremer Bay WA setting up the awning then crash. The cast iron bracket holding the roll on to the arm/leg snapped off . Upon inspection it no wonder as the bracket isn’t that thick . The best part is that I got a local fix it all man to fabricate a stainless steel bracket. Now it’s probably stronger than the original and he was able to make and install it within 5 hours .Total cost $100 .00
The awning is an Aussie Traveler Sunbust Eclipse if you have one may pay to keep an eye on this bracket. It’s the front or left one, top bracket which fits over the leg /arm and is attached with a roller pin .
John
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It’s maybe a good question if your attachment point on your vehicle are small then you may need to fit a set of hammer locks first then rated shackles.
Our 200 series have rather large holes and I am using 3.2 t shackles. I believe that I need 4 t ones but hey enough is enough I recon.
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Thanks Tony that was funny but somewhere near the way things are heading.
We would like to wish you and other Kedron owners a belated Merry Christmas and may we all have a great year ahead of us with many days spent in our wonderful caravans . This year we tried to concentrate on the real meaning of Christmas.
We had a great Time at Church/dinner with all our children and grandkids/dinner with the brother and a family bbq at the beach . Need to diet now .
Just as well the cricket is on, time to relax in front of the box .
Greetings John and Jo
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Guess what . Finally got the ATM upgrade completed and approved this morning.
Ended up purchasing the Bartlet system from Transparts in Qld .
Mate ex body builder (trucks) did the weld for me .
I am relieved it’s all over .Upgrade ATM to 3990 although we will always be lighter than this at least we are always legal .
Thanks people for the advice and have great Christmas and a safe 2018
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Hi Paul and Belinda , we like Chris also had TI Lithium install our system. 600 amp with 580 w existing solar . Terry told us that while he installs a lot of 400amp systems he has had people coming back saying they wish they had another 200 so we bit the bullet and are very happy with the set up and happy with lots of power . Ok the cost was high but now long forgotten and have had great after sales service from Terry he knows his stuff .
One thing we still need to buy is a portable solar panel .
As Chris said these batteries can be drawn down to 15 percent causing no damage but you do need a good charging system including a dc to dc charger .
As far as pricing goes every system will be different according to size, what you currently have and how much labor to install.
John
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You are right Merv we stayed overnight some years ago it was terrific.Something we will never forget including meeting the owner of the operation who had been out remote fishing with his helicopter which he landed on a barge behind the houseboat.
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Has anyone installed the automatic RED FOOT levelling systems to your caravan? Recently bent the two rear stabilisers so need replacing , I know my mistake !!
Maybe I'm lazy but levelling from inside does seem appealing.
But ?
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Sorry I now understand what you are asking .
Maybe talk to David or Glen,they may be able to come up with something for you .
The new TE5 look good hey
John
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Hi Danny ,we have a top ender and a Mangrove Jack aluminium trailer which dismantles completely,only weighs 39 kg and is licensed.
You probably have a trailer already but it's an other option.
John
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On 16/04/2017 at 9:09 AM, TonyH said:
Hi John,
Trusting this finds you in good health & spirits.
Trying to fully understand/decifer your post........
I appreciate your in WA and that each state in this great country has different rules & regulations.
I know for a fact that in NSW & Qld, you cannot mount/secure safety chains to the underside of the draw bar (if the van did come away from the tow vehicle the mounts would be ground off dragging on the road)
IN NSW & Qld.....THIS setup.....chain mounts under the draw bar is illegal !!!!
OR are you suggesting modifying the near vertical plate directly under the hitch where the draw bars come together? (which would be 'above' the lowest edge of the draw bar)....if this is what your implying, can I respectively suggest you go back a few posts have a look at my photos (print them off) and take to your engineer for his opinion/feedback. By welding an 8mm plate to the side of the draw bar, then attaching a chain mounting block to that plate, It would be stronger and a LOT cheaper (cost always has to be considered, but never on the point of safety) & possibly more aesthetically pleasing to look at!
The mount that has been suggested you use (Bartlet Saftey chain system SC62-10F trailer set) I looked up, it has a smaller/less mounting surface area than say the Couplemate CM549 https://www.couplemate.com.au/trailer-parts-shop-caravan-parts-shop/safety-chain-holder/10mm-80g-safety-chain-holder/ so if the 'same' welding process was carried out on the Bartlet & Couplemate blocks the Couplemate would be a lot stronger...more surface area .....more weld. The Couplemate is machined from billet as opposed to the Bartlet which is a casting.
If you do decide to go with the Bartlet mounts, I see that Couplemate sell them cheaper than Transparts, you can also get them on eBay http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Trailer-Safety-Chain-Attachment-Kits-10mm-System-Trailer-Side-/110985427249
It is a mine field out there, I wish you all the best and a speedy & happy conclusion in your GVM upgrade!
CU down the road
PS.....I know this is Qld reg's.....but it may assist or even heaven forbid, confuse!
Description
10mm 80G Safety Chain Holder suit trailers from 3.5t to 7.2t. All caravans and trailers over 2.5t require two chains.
10mm 80G Safety Chain Holder – 80cm Long. Price is for a pair.
2 x Safety chain holders are required on caravan and trailers and be permanently attached. Chains must terminate in chain holders on the tow bar.
Galvanised Chain and shackles are illegal on all trailers over 3.5t.
Introduction
All new trailers that are presented for licensing must comply with the requirements of Vehicle Standard Bulletin – Building Small Trailers (VSB1). VSB1 summarises the construction requirements for caravans and trailers necessary to meet the Australian Design Rules (ADRs), and trailers built to meet the requirements in this bulletin are accepted as meeting the ADRs.
The chain requirements are specified in ADR 62. VSB1 stipulates that marked safety chain must be used. This particular requirement had been relaxed to some extent when it was difficult to source chain that met the required standards.
As a result, suitable chain is now widely available and this requirement will be enforced for new trailers.
- Trailers under 2500 kg ATM must be fitted with at least one chain.
- Trailers over 2500 kg ATM must be fitted with at least two chains.
- For trailers up to 3500 kgs ATM (steel chain to AS4177) must comply with Australian Standard.AS4177 Caravan and light trailer towing components – Part 4 Safety chains up to 3500 kg capacity.
- Trailers over 3.5t Grade 80 safety chain must be used and connected directly onto the chassis via a safety chain holder. Welding is not permitted.
It is essential to remember
- No chain welding over 2.5t
- No chain welding below the chassis rails.
Trailers up to 2.5 tonnes ATM must have at least one safety chain complying with AS 4177.4 – 1994 (Trailer and light trailer towing components – Safety chains up to 3.5 tonnes capacity), or as amended from time to time. This standard allows for steel safety chains in accordance with the following:
• up to 1.0 tonne, a chain size of 6.3 mm; • up to 1.6 tonnes, a chain size of 8 mm; • 2.5 tonnes, a chain size of 10 mm.
Trailers over 2.5 and up to 3.5 tonnes ATM must have two safety chains complying with AS 4177.4 – 1994 or as amended from time to time. This standard allows for steel safety chains in accordance with the following:
• up to 3.5 tonnes, 13mm Safety Chain and Holder.
However, trailers of and in excess of 3.5 tonnes ATM, all medium and heavy category pig trailers with rigid drawbars.
Trailers without breakaway brakes and all fixed and rigid pig trailers with a GTM greater than 2.5 tonnes and fitted with automatic pin type couplings, must be fitted with safety chains in accordance with the information contained in AIS Information Sheet 12(b) – Safety Chain Requirements.”
Thanks Tony for the info here still waiting for David must be away I think, your set up looks good and probably better than what was suggested to me .
I just wish we would all use the same chains ect that way all Kedron's would be the same and then make things easier to explain at resale.
John
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I'm still waiting for David Gall to inform me what Kedron are going to do regarding the upgraded chains.
In the meantime I contacted their chassis manufacturer who suggested the following:
purchase from TRANSPARTS :
Bartlet Saftey chain system
SC62-10F trailer set
and
T 809/10-28 link 850mm chain set
The trailer set (a pair ) is to be placed under the A frame /under the tow hitch . He said you will find a 2 mm plate there which needs to be cut away and replaced with a 10 mm plate .
before welding this plate on , we need to heat the cast iron trailer brackets up ,then weld on plate and then weld plate to underside of a frame .
Hope what I have written makes sense took me a while to digest it all , but we still will have to find some solution to fit something to the tow bar as the chains are only 10 mm .
John
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That's interesting Stu I was told that we had no option we had buy the tow pack with the bars .
Your set up looks great did you have to take the van to be inspected at a licenceing depo?
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Hi Stu that looks very nice particularly the block on the a frame thanks for the photos .
can you tell me,the lovells receiver you have is different than ours,which,is the traditional RH,with weight distribution bars .How come yours is different and do you not need the Bars ?
We didn't need bars when we were using Mchitch auto coupling,but noticed straight away that we needed them after the new Lovells set up .
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Hi Dismart and Chris,it sure is confusing as you have also realised,and Tony is right we all have the interest of all Kedron owners safety at heart. Its also very confusing talking to different suppliers cause they all have an opinion on what one should be installing .
One thing is for sure that we all,Australia wide come under same Australian Standards regarding the chains and how they are attached to our caravans
I have today had a long discussion with David Gall and left it all with him to get back to me with what chain system they will be fitting to any new Kedron over 3.5 t from now on . He needs to speak to his engineers . I have put my upgrade on hold till I get word back from him.
John
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Any caravan over 3.5t must have GradeT rated chains bolted not welded to a frame.
David Gall is getting back to me with a suggested way of doing this .We are still having some issues as to how to fit to the 200 series .
Under 3.5t its as is ok to weld the chains .
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From what I have learnt so far I do need 2 chains of 4t plus .They are not available the nearest one would be 10 mm . I have been in contact with a Company in Queensland,Couple Mate who suggested to use their safety block to attach to draw bar,but they are 20 cm long then the fitting to the car is 30cm,much too large .
Kedron have only as this week become aware of this and they are busy trying to come up with a simple solution.
The problem also is that we now also need rated shackles these are to thick to go through the chain.We can use a hammer lock but this will have to stay permanently on the vehicle.
John
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Trying to find which chains to use .
Narrowed it down to gradeT 80 10 mm to be bolted on not welded
We live in WA has anyone else here going or gone through this exercise?
Different states different regulations
about time we have Australia wide regs
John
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Thanks for that .Interesting concept . I will follow that up.
Some pics would be nice.
Thanks again John
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4 hours ago, dismart said:
I have just fitted new chains for our upgrade. On the suggestion from our engineer I was able to slide a chain up each Aframe arm and secure them by passing a 5/8 inch high tensile bolt through the frame and chain, securing with self locking nut. I used a 2.5 tonne stamped high tensile chain which fitted nicely inside the arms. Please let me know if you wish to see some photos
cheers
That sounds neat but does that mean that by useing 2 x 2.5 t chains you total 5 t ?
I was told we need 2 x5 t chains .
John
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We seem to have hit a small hurdle.Need to change the safety chains to meet the new GVM on the topender can someone tell me how they are attached to the drawbar ? And to the Landcruiser?
John
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Hi Chris I haven't checked as yet
was on my list for tomorrow but I going deep sea fishing(more important) then of to Perth next week so it will have to wait till we get back mid March .
I will be interesting to find out if the Landcruiser and Kedron's paper work is all up to date .
We will see it all certainly feels good towing the van with the new 200 series.
Also very happy with the new Hitch-easy .We had a Mc-Hitch previously but I find this even easier to hookup and off .
John
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Hi Chris we emailed photos to Dave of our suspension just so he had proof that we hadn't altered anything and (at a cost $350 he mailed a form stating that our GVM has been increased to 3990 kg along with the revised vin plate . I had to sign this and it has has been mailed back to them just last week.
Kedron will inform our WA licensing department .
Hopefully you can get this sorted soon
John
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How did you go I was told the upgrade could only be done on a new vehicle?
John
Club 4x4 Insurance
in Public Forum
Posted
Thanks Tony I will check it all out .
You are right plus I have had a claim with KT, no problems at all .
Dont really want to leave them .
Apologies to Di and Andy for hacking your thread . Hope that you get things sorted out soon.
John