TonyH

We are currently in Melbourne, and I would like to sing the praises of a company here that I have had indirect and direct contact with, BTA Towing Equipment @ Knoxfield. Approx 18 months ago I started doing research on the Air Safe Hitch to put on the back of my GMC/Chev. During my research I had communication with a Daryl at BTA and also another supplier of the same product in the Caboolture area, I supplied all the vehicle/van details along with informing them of my choice of coupling (McHitch Auto Glide) and both parties came up the the same conclusion as I had, that I should consider the Class 6 Air Hitch. Pricing was discussed and both companies offered similar pricing, due to geographical positioning I decided to purchase a Class 6 Hitch from the company at Caboolture. (I should state that this crowd are resellers of the Air Safe and BTA are the importers) I had no problem with supply from the Caboolture company, the hitch arrived on time and all was good, quoted price was the charged price and the tongue supplied was ‘suitable/adequate’ for for the job intended. Several weeks later, I used the hitch for the first time, a three hundred k blacktop trip from Maryborough to Cecil Plains (for the KOG, AGM) try and imagine my dismay when I got out of the vehicle at Cecil Plains to find the tongue and coupling bent at a rather peculiar angle. I was able to unhitch safely with no dramas, I tried to contact the supplier to inform them of my woes (of course it was a Friday afternoon just before 5pm) and they didn’t answer the phone. With the assistance of locals I managed to contact a metal worker/fabricator at Millmerran who would have a look at the ‘bent tongue’ the next morning. Arriving at Millmerran the next morning, the tongue was repaired and suitably strengthened and a lot stronger than the original supplied unit. The tongue was refitted to the hitch and we returned back home to Maryborough without incident. I contacted the crowd in Caboolture, supplied them with photos and a copy of the receipt for the repairs at Millmerran, after that I contacted Daryl at BTA to inform him of my ‘dramas’. From the moment I told him of what had transpired he ‘owned’ the problem, although BTA had not directly sold me the hitch and tongue, BTA had supplied it to the Caboolture company. Dartl, that afternoon dispatched a new ‘heavier/improved’ tongue to me at Maryborough which arrived in due course and I fitted it up. I have recently been in touch with BTA, re a query about the ‘new’ tongue, but to my dismay Daryl has left BTA, my communications at BTA are now with John who is just a pleasant and helpful as Daryl. Today, I called into BTA’s factory (unannounced) and introduced myself to John. He was just as keen and interested in my concerns as Daryl! John asked if I could bring my vehicle into the workshop and it was there that I was introduced to Anthony (Tony) Pendock the proprietor of BTA. Tony, listened to my comments and suggestions and then produced an even heavier version of the tongue that Daryl had supplied. I spoke to Tony & John about ‘possible’ improvements that could be done to the newer version, to which they agreed. Tony did suggest the problems they are having with the Auto Glide Mchitchs fitted to the BTA tongue are related to the load pivot point being ‘so far back’ from the mounting point onto the hitch. Tony, personally did the requested/suggested improvements to the new tongue, I was able to watch on, not that I was of much assistance....... but to be able to have direct contact with the manufacturer of this great product.....to me is fantastic & the service is second to none! Thank you BTA Towing Equipment for your outstanding service and seemingly endless customer support. I now have a hitch assembly that I feel (if needed) could tow the Spirit of Tasmania across the Bass Strait! In closing....it took two emails and about four weeks but I did get the requested refund from the Caboolture company. I have NO association with BTA Towing Equipment other than being an EXTREMELY SATISFIED CUSTOMER Tony H

Hi Pauly,Just a short email to welcome you to the Kedron Owners Group (KOG)I believe you will find that we are a friendly group who enjoy the Kedron product and caravanning generally!There is lots of information on this website, if there is something you would like to know or can’t find.....please ask.Looking forward to meeting you at a gathering or on the road somewhere one day.Regards and travel safe,Tony H (president) PS.....Do consider joining as a financial member✅..... there is a lot more information available for ‘full’ members!Sent from my iPad

Ernst, Welcome to the KOG. I along with many other Kedron Owners are going to be in Tasmania at the same time as you. With Tasmania being so......small........ I’m sure you will cross paths with many other Kedron owners. With only four weeks in Tasmania can I respectfully suggest that it will not be long enough for you to enjoy the delights that await you.....can you extend your stay there? Looking forward to meeting you on the road .....some where Tony

Hi Bryan, Any vehicle registered in Australia will/would have to comply with ADR’s (Australian Deaign Rules) so if your asking about ‘attaching points’ ......the vehicle will/should be compliant. If your talking/asking about connecting to the ‘attaching points’ ......could I suggest you go back to the beginning of this thread and follow it through. Should you have any questions or queries........PLEASE ask. Cheers CU down the road

Hi Bryan, I haven’t used a WDH for many years now, even before I purchased my Air Safe. Without some welding and fabrication to the tow tounge (fitted to the Air Safe) would you be able to attach WDH bars. (I believe) Wishing you you a happy new year! Cheers, Tony H

To all members of the Kedron Owners Group, Annie and I would like to wish you all the best for Christmas. May it be a safe joyous time for you and your families. If you are travelling, look out for the other silly buggers on the road. Stay safe, cu on the other side of ‘the silly season’! Tony H Wishing you all..........At this time of the year it’s difficult to know what to say without offending someone. So I’ve checked with my legal adviser and on his advice I wish to say the following to all friends and colleagues. Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the seasonal holiday, practised with the most enjoyable traditions of religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practise religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2018, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make our country great (not to imply that Australia is necessarily greater than any other country) and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

Mother ship......ha ha You guys need to speak to John & Maureen also Nev & Penny, they have ordered AT5’s I’m lurking in the background. Stay safe and have a wonderful Christmas Love & hugs

You may be aware that the Kedron Owners Group makes yearly donations to the RFDS. It is great to know that we are helping such a worthy cause and that if there was trouble while we are travelling this great country the RFDS would be there to assist. Wishing you all safe travels over the upcoming festive season.?????

The more the merrier......

Your slack Steve........

Hi all, Annie & I have just arrived at ‘The Pines’ CP Belmont (Newcastle). We are here till early January catching up with family & friends for the festive season, before venturing further south and taking the ferry to the apple isle for three months. If you are out and about......travel safe!

New Bull On The Farm:I recently spent $2500 on a young Black Angus bull. I put him out with theherd but he just ate grass and wouldn't even look at a cow. I was beginning to suspect he was gay, if that's possible with a bull. Anyhow, I had the vet come have a look at him. He said the bull was very healthy, but possibly a little young, so he gave me some pills to feed him once per day.Holy Cr*p. The bull started to service the cows within two days. All of mycows! He even broke through the fence and bred all my neighbor's cows! He'sbeen breeding just about everything in sight. He's like a machine!"I don't know what the heck was in the pills the vet gave him, but theytaste kinda like peppermint.

Hi Karen & Paul, Great to hear.....you know I wouldn’t give you a ‘bum’ steer!?

I just leave mine in the 12v position, regardless of whether I'm free camping or on power.....works for me.

Hi 'Kev' You say you put this in your vehicle.....I presume you mean van ??? You say you purchased this unit second hand....is it faulty? My van is a 2007 ATV and Im on my third charger, 1st Centaur 2nd Zantrax (both were 40 amp) I have just upgraded to a 60amp Enerdrive....it is FANTASTIC!!! So quiet, compared to the original two.....the originals were that noisey I would turn the power OFF (at the circuit breaker) at night as the charger was only inches away from my head making it hard to sleep. My understanding with fan operation is, the higher the load, the more heat is created, and fans will come on. Ambient temp of 4 degrees.....would have some bearing on fan op, buit I suspect original owner of your 'new' charger gave it the flick because it was annoying him also. I would suggest a trip to a competent solar electrician. Sorry I cant be of more help.....please let us know how you get on! Cheers Tony H.

Hi Maureen & Brian, I also would like to echo Chris's comments above, it is disappointing that you have experienced 'failures/shortcomings' with your new Kedron van. I honestly believe you will find that Kedron will sort out your concerns , promptly and with a smile....albeit you probablyay have a frown on your face now......soon it will be smile....yes it would have been better to have a smile from day one. Looking forward to meet you at a gathering or somewhere on the road in this beautiful country. Regards Tony H PS......PM sent

Hi Chris & Val, If Val has installed a 'new & an additional' filter after the the fuel tap......I would think you may have problems! You possibly have a potential blockage/restriction at the fuel tap (yet to be confirmed) by installing an extra filter ( from my understanding) you now have TWO auxiliary filters before the pump......you'll be asking the pump to work VERY hard pulling fuel through two Inline filters AND the (possibly) restricted filter on the fuel tap. I understand and appreciate the value you put on your heater.......just don't want it to fail on you. Stay warm ???

Ha ha ....I'd love to belong to the 100kg club.....but that's another story!! Stay safe.

Let us know how you go.......

Hi John & Lynne, Purple polish is what you need, get 'Step One' which is green colour and is a deoxidising agent then hit it with the purple polish, you will be amazed at the results....as it says on the container 'Caution, results can be addictive'. You can get the product from most auto shops, both bottles will cost you around $50.00 Cheers

Ha ha Karen, At the very least, pour a litre of kero or metho into at a half full tank of fuel!?

G'day Big Mike, Bigger Tony here, I recently had the same dilemma. Bearing in mind I'm 6'3" and approaching the wrong side of 120k's?? I got a suitable ladder, asked 'the cook' for an old bedspread or similar, spread this out over the solar panels then on top of the bedspread I placed a piece of 1.2m x1m x 20mm plywood (wouldn't suggest anything less than 20mm as it will flex too much) on top of the solar panel mounting brackets, on my van and probably yours as well the actual panel sits just below the top edge of the mounting bracket. I was then able to carefully get onto the roof and remove the cover for the A/C without any resulting damage to the roof or panels. Whilst I was up there I also removed and cleaned the hatch covers, that made a big difference in the amount of extra light coming into the van. make sure the solar panels are clean also! Would strongly advise that you have an offsider on the ground to assist you if attempt this procedure! I kneeled on the wooden panel whilst I was on the roof......if you don't have back pain now .....you soon will....lol Good luck, stay safe

Hi Chris & Val, There is a filter screen on the fuel tap on the bottom of the tank, remove tap from tank, remove and DISCARD this filter, refit fuel tap. in a suitable/safe location between the tank and the inlet of the pump, install/fit a 'cheap' disposable 'inline fuel filter' available from Supercheap or similar. This filter should be changed every 12 months regardless of usage or when ever you get a load of iffy fuel. Add 1 litre of kero or metho to the fuel tank once a year also it will break down any moisture in the tank and clean the pump (internally) at the same time. I don't think knighthood is good enough for the inventor.....I suggest sainthood....stay safe

Hi all, Just 'bumping' this up..... We have had a fellow member put their hand up for the VP's position....thank you! Still looking for someone to pick up the baton for the 'Presidents' position,....... don't forget it comes with a Platinum Amex Card ? only joking.....lol Stay safe, hopefully you will be attending the AGM @ Murgon!

'Baroque' pearls very special ! ?