Tolley

Steve and Kez, congratulations and good luck. You make me very envious. Your first night's camp spot looks beautiful. Merry Christmas. Colin

Hi Russ and Sue, What a great day; it is always exciting when you finally release the handbrake and depress the accelerator to head off with a wonderful trip ahead. Have a wonderful time. Russ, I am interested in the reverse osmosis filter you have. If you get the time and inclination I would be interested in the details. The bladder set up looks great. Merry Christmas and all the best for 2012. Colin

Sorry about the extra "o", Rod! Colin

That is intereseting Rood. Thankyou. Colin

Hello Everyone, I was interested in Leno's comment on 7 Dec about 000 being available in an emergency from any mobile phone even if there are no bars (signal)showing. I decided to do a bit of research. I recommennd the following link: http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_100575 On the ACMA web site you will find the following information: Calling the Emergency Call Service from a mobile phone: FAQs Is calling Triple Zero (000) from a mobile phone reliable? Mobile phones enable individuals to call the Emergency Call Service from most places in Australia. However, the nature of mobile handsets and mobile networks means that in some circumstances these calls are not as reliable as calls from the fixed network. Problems that may be experienced when making a call from a mobile phone to the Emergency Call Service include : • bad reception, making it difficult for the emergency service operators to understand the caller; • a remote location may result in limited or no network coverage being available; • running out of battery; and • a lack of precise location information about the call. Special roaming capabilities of the vast majority of mobile phones when calling Triple Zero (000) mean that when you are out of your service provider's coverage area but are in another carrier's mobile phone network coverage area, your call will be carried on the other carrier’s network. However, it is important to realise that if there is no mobile coverage, you will not be able to reach the Emergency Call Service via a mobile phone, and alternative devices, such as personal location beacons (PLBs) should be considered. PLBs are equipped to send a distress signal with location details on a dedicated radio frequency that communicates with Search and Rescue operators I hope this info is useful. Regards Colin

Hello Everyone and Merry Christmas, iPhones are fantastic and addictive. Being Apple, they do not have any after market goodies such as the ability to attach to an external antennae. We have the external antennae on the van and we have a telstra phone (cheap one) that we can attach if we need to do so. However, very often the external antennae does not help as there just aint any signals out there. So, we have a satellite phone. Now we don't even bother with the Telstra phone attached the the external. If we can't use the iPhone and we just have to chat with someone, we use the satellite phone. Works anywhere in the world and is a great safety device for outbback travel. I know it is more expensive but...... Regards Colin

Hello, Following up on my post where I sought comments on Cairns prior to my meeting with Cairns Mayor. A very successful meeting was held yesterday. I am delighted to report that the Mayor, and her senior staff, are determined to make Cairns RV friendly. Discussions coverd all the major issues from signage, RV drive through parking at shopping centres and attractions, dump points, water points, information centres with ample drive through RV parking, low cost camp spots and so on. I am naturally a sceptical sod when it comes to government, federal, state or local, and its intentions. However, yesterday I gained a very clear and strong impression that changes for the better will occur. I intend to maintain my interset in this matter. Regards Colin

Hello, I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time and made the effort to submit comments on this subject. As the meeting is on Tuesday, it is time to close the topic. I now have sufficient information to equip me for the meeting. I have no idea as to how the meeting will progress nor the eventual results. However, consistent with both privacy and confidentiality, I will submit a brief summary later in the week. Thank you everyone. Please accept or best wished to you for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Regards Colin

Thank you TnT, Chris and Gini. I really appreciate your contribution and I am at one with all of your thoughts and suggestions. At least the Mayor is willing to meet, think and listen. That is a real positive. Regards Colin

Thank you John and Ann, I appreciate your effort in making a response. Regards Colin

Hello Everyone, Cairns, my home town, has recently been criticised for being unfriendly to caravanners or Rvers as some call them. I believe the criticism is justified. Gayleen and I did the lap round Oz this year and we found Canberra and Cairns to be the two worst RV towns that we visited. A couple of months ago there was a good deal of letters to the editor of the Cairns Post, our local rag, criticising how unfriendly Cairns appears to be to "grey nomads". I put my two bobs worth into the debate. I have now been requested by our Mayor to meet with her and some of her senior staff to discuss what it is that Cairns should do the be "RV Friendly". I have a few ideas but I would welcome any Kogger thoughts on the subject, especially if you have recernt Cairns experience, but also, if you have opinions as to what makes a town attractive to you. The meeting is next Tuesday so speed is of the essence. If you can help please do so. Regards to all and Merry Christmas Koggers!! Colin

Russ n Sue, I look forward to getting the link to your blog. Regards Colin

Hello Russ, Great to read that you are getting the van out and taking a long trip. The Eyre Peninsular is great especially from Port Lincon and north-west. I envy you your trip. For me, I am sitting here writing a response to a government tender! Great fun! Wish I was back on the road with the TE in tow. Hello to Sue. Travel safely and have a great time. Regards Colin & Gayleen

Try Mum's Amuminium Polish. You vcan get it in Bunnings. Colin

Hello, For my two bobs worth. I had BFG AT's on the 100 series Cruiser and was happy withe them. However, recently in WA I could not get replacements anywhere. There was a 3 month back order. I ended up with Mickey Thompsons ATZ four pads on the Cruiser. From Carnarvon to Broome, across the Gibb and then Savannah Way and home to Cairns, they have been great and they do not have a mark on them. The Wranglers on the van, however, look like they have been across the Gibb and Savannah Way! I rweckon there's a good number of good tyres out there and much of it comes down to how and where you drive and personal preference. Regards to all. Colin

Hello Gary and Kaye, That is very interesting. It would be good to understand why you are having problems. My experience is very different. I have the 6 tonne McHitch and have now travelled some 35,000 km with it. It's been just great. I rarely remove the torsion bars of the WDH. If I have to do tight manouevering into a park spot for example, or the track is really rough and undulating, the I do. River and creek crossings? I asses it and if I think the torsion bars will scrape then I take them off. I use the full WDH on all dirt roads. For example we did the length of the Gibb and Savannah Way from Katherine to Cairns with the WDH. Not a problem. Incidentally, I am using the third link. I have not had any trouble with the hangers moving. Gary, I have attached o pdf of the Installation instructions which may be of interest even if it is not of use. Regards Colin

Neville, That is a great looking set-up. Regards Colin

Hi Gary & Kay, I have a Top Ender that weighs close to 3500 kg when we are travelling. The tyres that it came with were the Wranglers. They now have just on 50,000 km and, except for one destroyed by a wheel alignment problem and another trashed on a bassalt rock (along with the rim), they look good. On the black top I have run them at 35 psi and on dirt, 28 to 30 psi depending on the road condition. The 100 seried TD has Mickey Thompsons now but did have BFG's. 35 psi front and 50 psi back on the black top, 30 front and 35 - 40 back on dirt. The BFG's wore evenly except for one front tyre where I had an alignment problem. I changed to the MT's from BFG's because I could not buy a BFG in WA anywhere along the coast. There was a 3 month back order wait! Incidentally, I am very happy with the MT's. I'll put them on the van as the need arises. I would check the advice from Kedron because it seems to be different from the advice they gave me a couple of years ago. Good luck. Colin

Hi Nev and Penny, Two years ago we were in your shoes. Very, very exciting! Actually, still get excited whenever I hitch up, even if its just bringing the van around to our home to do some maintenance. It will be a wonderful Christmas present for you both. I agree with Steve, lets the girls worry about all that inside stuff. The outside stuff is the boys stuff. Have a great pick-up day and Christmas with your new toy. Regards Colin & Gayleen

Neville, That sounds like a great trip. I want to go to the corner country soon. Your comments about the drawer catches is interesting. Our Top Ender performed fantastically along the Gibb River Road including Drysdale etc and then the Savannah Way. The only damage was two drawer catches and I sacfificed two wheel hub covers to the GRR! Your point about padding around the catches is noted. Oh! At the end of the Savannah Way I needed a van wheel alignment. That was my fault as I was not getting under the van and checking the tightness of the suspension nuts. Silly really as on rough roads I am under there frequently visually checking things and pumping grease. Just have to take a shifter with me in future. When I head to the corner country, it will be next year now, I would love to get some advice from you. Regards Colin

Hello again Neville, Yes, we arrived home safely via the Savannah Way through Hells Gate. I recall that you were travelling in company with a non-offroad van and had avoided that part of the Savannah as a result. You would have been OK as all the water crossings were simple and your friend would have had no trouble. Towards Bourketown there was a lot of bulldust but that was the worst of it. iT was a wonderful trip. Are you still travelling? Regards Colin and Gayleen

Hello Everyone, The current issue of Caravan & Motorhome on Tour, Issue 163, has a review of the Spinifex Caravans NomadiX model. Sheesh! Talk about a copy of a Kedron! Coincidence? Maybe. They call it "Knocking Off" in industry generally. The Gall family must be flattered although a bit peeved at what seems to be such blatant copying. They might be great caravans, time will tell, but in general copied items are never as good as the original. Have a read of the article and you will see what I mean. Regards Colin

Hello David, We had a diesel heater installed by Kedron when we purchased the van just over 2 years ago. Living in Cairns I wondered why we wasted our money. Then we did a trip south through NSW, Vic, SA and WA lat April to August. Now, Gayleen and I just love the diesel heater and reckon its the best money we ever spent. Very economical to run, instant heat (almost) no smell inside the van, and easy to refuel as Rod says, when you fill the tug. It does sound like a 747 when it starts but once going is almost noiseless. Once we hit the warm climated I just drain the tank completely and then run the heater until it stops to ensure the fuel is out of the long fuel line. So far it has been trouble free. Regards Colin

Forget the ensuite and go combined. Webby said all that needs to be said at the beginning.

Hello Barry and Eric, That is really pleasing to read as Elim is a special spot. It's back on my list of weekend escapes. By-the-way, in Hopvale there is an excellent cultural centre that has some excellent paintings and other things. we have three small originals in our Top Ender and somehow they atre always still hanging there irrespective of the road conditions. It's worth a visit. Regards Colin