Tolley

Thank you Sandra. It was a "once in a lifetime event", so to speak, very special. The poem at the end of the story sums it up. Regards Colin

Hello, Below is a link to a report I have written on the ANZAC Day commemoration Gayleen and I attended on a hill, half way between Boulia and Bedourie in far western Queensland. It was a great day. https://www.dropbox.com/s/nnptp376iw1db82/ANZAC%20Trip%20Report.pdf?dl=0 Regards Colin

Hewre is a comparison of the big three. Dodge does not do well. www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2012-chevrolet-silverado-2500-ltz-4wd-crew-cab-vs-2012-ford-f-250-super-duty-king-ranch-4x4-crew-cab-2012-ram-2500-laramie-longhorn-4x4-mega-cab-comparison-tests' Colin

It's the Holder Special Dealers and their contract does not exclude them from dealing in other cars. It happens that Irelands in Cairns are the Holden Dealer but they have Chrysler and Jeep as well. It isn't GMH bringing out the Dodge. Colin

Thanks Tony. My tip is that this is the start of a trend that will see the US pick-ups become commonplace on our roads. Colin

Hello Sue, I have just enjoyed reading your blog. What a wonderful collection of bird sightings. I cannot agree that your photography is "very amateurish" as you claim as the photos are excellent. Thanks once again. Regards Colin

Hello Koggers, I have been following this thread with some interest even though I have never experienced a "sway" issue with my van. I have begun to think that ESC may well become compulsory due to pressure from the insurance industry and the interests of the State authorities. Then today I was reading one of the two owners manuals for the Chevrolet Silverado and low and behold I discovered that it is fitted with Trailer Sway Control (TSC).If the system detects that the trailer is swaying the vehicle brakes are applied automatically. If the vehicle is fitted with Integrated Trailer Brake Control (ITBC), which mine is, the StabiliTrak will also apply the trailer brakes if necessary. Bloody great! I guess all vehicles designed for towing will go this way. Regards Colin

Thank you all for your comments and advice. The torsion bars and hangers are now stored in my garage. I am in the process for upgrading from a 6 tonne autoglide McHitch to a 6 tonne auto-coupler McHitch. Attached is a photo of the hitch I will use. It is a Titan by Reese, rated at 8165kg for a trailer and 907kg ball weight. The hole in the end has an ID of 33 mm (1 ¼) which is perfect for the 6 tonne auto-couple receiver. My current McHitch has been great over what must be four years and a lot of km's. The reason for the change is to make it as easy as possible for my dear lady to hitch should anything happen to me while we are "out there". It also makes it easier for me! Regards and thanks again Danny, Steve and Merv.

Hello KOG American truck owners, Since acquiring the Silverado I have not towed using the WDH torsion bars. The rig sits level and rides beautifully. The Silverado has rear airbags which I have been running as 30 PSI when towing. I have carried the WDH gear with me, "just in case" but would like to leave it at home. From your experience, is that a smart idea? Regards Colin

Neville and Kay, Considering what Merv has written, above, I reckion my average fuel consumption might be misleading. I notice that my speedo overreads in that 100 kph on the GPS shows as 102 kph on the speedo. That would make sense as the Silverado in standard form has 20 inch wheels whereas most of them in Oz have 18 inch wheels. I cannot do an accurate check on fuel used and kms travelled as I have only recorded caravan kms. I did, on the most recent trip, a fair bit of unhitched running around. In terms of AdBlue my rough calculation is that I use about a litre for every 400 km when towing Colin.

Thanks Chris, Good info.

You may have seen this before. THE SATNAV - BY PAM AYRES I have a little satnav, it sits there in my car A satnav is a driver's friend, it tells you where you are I have a little satnav, I've had it all my life It's better than the normal ones, my satnav is my wife It gives me full instructions, especially how to drive "It's sixty miles an hour", it says, "You're doing sixty five" It tells me when to stop and start, and when to use the brake And tells me that it's never ever, safe to overtake It tells me when a light is red, and when it goes to green It seems to know instinctively, just when to intervene It lists the vehicles just in front, and all those to the rear And taking this into account, it specifies my gear I'm sure no other driver has so helpful a device For when we leave and lock the car, it still gives its advice It fills me up with counselling, each journey's pretty fraught So why don't I exchange it, and get a quieter sort? Ah well, you see, it cleans the house, makes sure I'm properly fed It washes all my shirts and things, and keeps me warm in bed! Despite all these advantages, and my tendency to scoff, I only wish that now and then, I could turn the bugger off!

Neville and Kay, At the moment I have no idea but at the conclusion of the trip I will calculate using fuel used from the vehicle computer and kms travelled. I am going to do the same for the ad blue to see how many K's I do per litre. I will post the results. BTW, I do not care which is the most economical as the Chev is a vastly better and safer towing vehicle for my TE. So, if it is more expensive on fuel, which I doubt, I really do not care. Regards colin

Hello, We are almost home in Cairns after a rushed trip from Cairns to Canberra and back again. All highway driving sitting on a tad over 100 kph. For those interested my vehicle computer tells me we are averaging 19.1 LP100 KM. That is about three LP100 KM better than my 100 Series would have returned. BTW, the fuel prices are a joy at the moment. Colin

To end the story. No turning back now. The faithful 100 Series TD Landcruiser has been sold. I waited until the New Year to advertise it. First person to look at it purchased it. What a good vehicle it was for us and will be for the new owner. Six years ago I purchased it second hand for $49k. It had 58,000 km on it. Sold it for $39K with 237,600 km on it. It will do another 500,000 if it is looked after. Very happy with the Silverado. Amazing how many people want to talk about it and have a look all over. And, they are not all blokes! Regards Colin

Thanks Lis and Doug, That is good information. When do you take delivery of your Kedron baby? Welcome to the wonderful world of Kedron ownership! Regards Colin

Hello Koggers, Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about the Central Arnhem Road that runs from just south of Katherine and Nhulunbuy (aka Gove). In all my reading of web sites, blogs, magazines etc on 4WD/caravan travel, I cannot recall seeing anything about this road. Any advice would be welcome. Regards Colin

MJ, thanks for the interesting report. Makes me itch to get out there again. Drawer latches. I have simply run a line of silicon from the wood, across the "nut" that vibrates lose and onto the body of the latch. Works for me. The silicon is easily removed if the need arises. Regards Colin

Tony!!!!! Here is the recipe: 4 x tablespoons of Borax 2 x cups of sugar 1 x cup water Heat until all dissolved Let cool, then ready for use in bottle tops in ants path. I keep it in a wine bottle with a screw top lid. I purchased some small screw top clear plastic containers from Bunning's. Drilled holes in the sides to allow ant access. Put some of the mixture in the bottom and then screw the lid back on. Pups can't then lick the stuff. Works wonders. Try it. CT

Hello Koggers, I have noticed that the link to the Outback Way trip report that I refreshed last August is not working again. I have refreshed it again. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ckdrppy99agf3cj/Trip%20Report%20-Outback%20Way%202013.zip?dl=0 I continue to ne surprised at the popularity of this thread and this report. It has had over 27,000 views. Regards Colin

Hi Barry and Kev, You can get a pair of 150N gas struts for $32 on ebay. $16 each. Colin

Nev, KAB is good. I am not a fisherman but Gayleen had an unsuccessful attempt. See pics. Was Santa kind to you? Colin

How about this?

Nev, thanks from me, too. Colin

Hello Koggers, Yesterday, as a result of this thread started by Roamer, I joined the FB page and made the following post: Colin Toll 4:38pm Nov 5 I have just joined Off-road caravanning Australia. It was a good idea by Sam to start the FB page. I have owned a Kedron Top Ender for the past five years and really have enjoyed the off-road caravanning. I note that most of the contributors here so far are BT owners but that the content is about caravanning and not brand promoting. That is great! Mike Willis, the originator of the FB page responded with the following. Mike Willis 5:01pm Nov 5 G'day Colin. Sam is my son - I asked him to open the new page, add my van photo etc because I am technically useless. As you said, BT owners are as thick here as fleas on a dog. That is because they all did me a big favour, to get this page up and running. We all want to hear from a bigger pool of adventurers than just BT owners. Somehow, I have to let the forums of other off-road vans know that the page exists. I have been able to leave a message on the Spinifex Owners Forum, but if anybody can get one on these following owners forums, it would help us greatly : Trakmaster Off Road Australia Kedron SLR Free Spirit Kimberley Cruiser There is a heap of adventurous van owners who don't own one of those vans listed above, but they are more dispersed and harder to contact. The more friends we have, the more interesting discussions we will have. I hope it all comes together ! Mike I asked Mike if he would mind if I did a "cut and paste" of his comments onto the KOG site. Mike agreed to my suggestion. So, Koggers, over to you. Join and enjoy! Regards Colin