HAVAGO

Being a statuary write off makes it extremely hard to re-register. Before auction, conversed with Transport Department, also a certified engineer regarding putting it back on the road and was advised of all the red tape involved. Van wasnt really that bad, It sold for $20,000. :confused:

When we designed our van, we spoke with many good people and got advised many ways. We fitted Heike hatch over the front Kitchen and two auto fanatstic hatches one over the table and one over the bed. 18 months on no dust no water absolutly would not be without the Heike hatch. Cheers

Bill we fitted two auto Fantastic hatches to our van and definitely would not be without them, 18 months on and they are brilliant. :thumbsup: The motors are a little noisy in the dead of night when asleep. Judy never hears them open and close, they wake me most times but it beats having to worry about shutting them. Like all mechanical items one day they will fail, I intend to change the sensors down the track for safety sake. Our van sits in the back yard here in Nth Qld waiting for the next trip and the hatches just open and close at will to help with ventilation and keep the moisture at bay. Safe Happy travels.

Welcome Enjoy Cheers If you get to Nth Qld drop in for a chat and a coldie or three :thumbsup:

Hello Allan and Rhonda, I think there might be a quite a few of us that can relate to this one :thumbsup: Cheers Greg and Judy Ps: Congratulations on the F-250 purchase, hope all goes well. Look forward to catching up again soon.

Joe McGinnes from McHitch informed me as of yesterday 5 Kedron owners have already purchased the Big Yella Fella. ............................................... Yesterday It was bought to my attention, Vans that exceed 3.5 tonne also require a different setup for the safety chains. Thank you Kimbo for bringing this to our attention :thumbsup: With that in mind I have attached a link to a valuable site with all the relevant information in easy to understand format. Click to check out Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 62/00 – Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles) 2006..

Hello Kingy, As it is a coupling that can run at neutral ball weight unlike others that need a certain down pressure, I ran the first 800 klms with the WDS attached and found the van wagging it's tail ever so slightly. So I dropped the bars and ran the rest of the trip into Brisbane with out WDS and found it surprisingly better. Our F-250 has a loaded weight of 4.4 tonne and doesnt know the 4 tonne van is there, I had no dramas running on the speed limit and sitting on a 110 klms an hour when allowed no issues what so ever. Having said all the above when I get home I am going to do a mod on the WDS hitch and then I can report the results. If you look at the reciever hitch you will see now with this coupling it hooks on at the pin as all coupling but the pivot is back at the universal so when the WDS bars are fitted the bars are actually fighting the uni because they are pivoting approximately 6 inches forward of the trailer pivot. I am going to move the tow pin forward on the reciever hitch so as to align the uni pivot and the WDS bar pivot. I hope I have explained this for all too understand where my thinking is going. Hey! I am not an engineer "just an old truckie."

Christian Arendt Automotive Engineer, Rupertswood, Townsville Mobile 0400 699 656 Tel 07 4773 2051 Christian is a very helpfull fellow he upgraded the GCM on our road trains for us, he has now upgraded the ATM of our van. When Christian seen the McHitch coupling he was absolutely impressed, and stated "everyone should be using the McHitch as it uses the pin to lock it to your tow vehicle and the universal to pivot, not screwing on a pin which can wear, bind and break". Cheers Best of luck, safe travels. :thumbsup:

Speak off the devil and he appears. Thank you for the positive words and your thoughts. Just completed 2100 klms with our "finally legal at last outfit". Thanks to "Inventor of the year Joe McGinnes". He came up with "The Big Yella Fella". Purchased handbrake assembly $63.50 will fit it today bolts onto the back two bolts of the coupling.

This Hyland coupling is rated at 3.5 tonne, our van weighs 4.04 tonne. Grab a 19mm ring spanner and a 19mm socket and remove the four bolts. Throw on this "Big Yella Fella" using 16mm grade 12 bolts Make sure you loctite the bolts for safety even though you are using lock nuts What is it you ask, it is a McHitch 6 tonne coupling. Price is $795.00 inc GST In my honest opinion, Bloody cheap.:Australia: You cannot put a price on peace of mind and safety. Also available a 3.5 tonne rated coupling same design at $495.00 inc GST Click to check out the McHitch Website and then do yourself a favour, give Joe McGinnes a call, a very obliging gentleman..

Hello Rob, I can not give advice with toyota specs and what is and what is not acheivable. We tow our van (21' 6" interior) it weighs in at 4.040 tonne with F-250 dual cab which carries a GCM of 9.070 tonnes. Rob advice you need in the possibilities of upgrading GVM, GCM and tow weights contact Christian Arendt Automotive Engineer, 17 Gollogolly Lane, Condon 4815. Mobile 0400 699 656 Tel 07 4773 2051 as you can see by his adddress he is in your back yard. Christian is a very helpfull fellow he has upgraded our road trains for us, he is also looking at our van at the present. Best of luck, safe travels. :thumbsup:

Nev and Linda and their new ATV having a run in the dust. Five good friends stopped for smoko

Yes Mal and Kerry, Tony is spot on. That was a big decider in Judy and I going the Kedron way. :thumbsup: Safe Travels and again as Tony said "Looking forward to meeting you, down the road one day in your Kedron!"

DITTO :Australia:

A retired couple, Margaret and Bert, moved to Tamworth . Bert always wanted a pair of R.M. WILLIAMS boots, so, seeing some on sale, he bought them and wore them home. Walking proudly, he sauntered into the kitchen and said to his wife, 'Notice anything different about me?' Margaret looked him over. 'No Darl.' Frustrated, Bert stormed off into the bathroom, undressed and walked back into the kitchen completely naked except for new R.M. Williams boots. Again he asked Margaret, a little louder this time, 'Notice anything different NOW?' Margaret looked up and exclaimed, 'Bert, what's different? It's hanging down today, it was hanging down yesterday, it'll be hanging down again tomorrow, 'cause its always that way' Furious, Bert yelled, 'AND DO YOU KNOW WHY IT'S HANGING DOWN, MARGARET? DO YOU?' 'No Darl', she replied. 'IT'S HANGING DOWN, BECAUSE IT'S LOOKING AT ME NEW R.M. WILLIAMS BOOTS!!!!' Without changing her expression, Margaret replied, 'Shoulda bought a hat, Bert. Shoulda bought a hat.' :thumbsup:

No we didn't, Here is the link for those who missed it

I bought a new F-250 and returned to the dealer yesterday because I couldn't get the radio to work. The salesman explained that the radio was voice activated. 'Nelson,' the salesman said to the radio. The radio replied, 'Ricky or Willie?' 'Willie!' he continued and 'On The Road Again' came from the speakers. Then he said, 'Ray Charles!', and in an instant ' Georgia On My Mind' replaced Willie Nelson. I drove away happy, and for the next few days, every time I'd say, 'Beethoven,' I'd get beautiful classical music, and if I said, 'Beatles,' I'd get one of their songs. Yesterday, some bloke ran a red light and nearly creamed me, but I swerved in time to avoid them. I yelled, 'Arsehole!' Immediately the radio responded with a speech by Kevin Rudd Damn I LOVE this truck :thumbsup: .................

Hello Steve and Jim. Congratulations and happy vanning. Hope you both are as satisfied with your new investment as Judy and I are with ours.:thumbsup: All the best and hope to catch up one day soon. Remember anyone travelling towards Cairns, you are welcome to drop in at Babinda for a cuppa or happy hour or three :laugh:

Lionel and Margaret have a safe trip, enjoy. :thumbsup: Love Greg & Judy.

Russ, I second that motion with a big thumbs up

Sue, that is a fair suggestion :thumbsup: PS. I'm with Tony :laugh: Cheers

That would be right, dodging us hey! :laugh: We were expecting a visit :thumbsup:

I originally thought "yeah change it" but then thinking about it realised it would be a negative action. But Hey! I am only a broken down old truckie :laugh: , I'm happy as long as the website is here to keep up with what's happening with everyone. :thumbsup:

It is great to have a forum to visit and keep up to date with the latest info. A Big Thank you to the Moderators. :thumbsup: If the last post is at the top you then have to flick to the bottom to catch up with all other posts in between or if looking first time. So looking at this objectively, I believe it is better the way it is. Cheers

I must pass this on in the hope that I might save at least one person from this terrible disease. The Centre for Disease Control has issued a medical alert about a highly contagious, potentially dangerous virus that is transmitted orally, by hand, and even electronically. This virus is called Weary Overload Recreational Killer (WORK). If you receive WORK from your boss, any of your colleagues, or anyone else via any means whatsoever - DO NOT TOUCH IT. This virus will wipe out your private life completely. If you should come into contact with WORK you should Immediately leave the premises. Take two good friends to the nearest grocery store and purchase one or all of the antidotes - Work Isolating Neutralizer Extract (WINE), Complete Health and Mind Purging Anti Guilt Negating Enzyme (CHAMPAGNE) or Bothersome Employer Elimination Rebooter (BEER). Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has beencompletely eliminated from your system. I hope this warning is not too late. Cheers :thumbsup: