Tolley

Hi Webby and Mayzee and Merv, There is a good chance that the new auto coupler will not be available for me as Tom was not certain when they would take delivery. Keeping my fingers crossed. The price of the service was, I thought, $500 but I could be wrong. To get a good check over and service from the factory is a good investment for our van at this time and before our Corner Country trip. Hard to get that type of service up here, believe me. Thanks Merv for that info. I have always just taken crossed chains for granted, the convention, and as I was hitching up this morning I just thought "I wonder why it is so?" Now I know. Regards Colin

Just testing!!! LOL! Gayleen tells me she knew all about that, as well!! Women! Thanks folks for your informative responses. I have had a torsion bar fall out after and excessively tight turn and it was caught by the crossed chains and prevented from hitting the ground. Lastly, the collective wisdom and experiences of our KOG members is a valuable resource and a great reason to be a member. BTW, on Wednesday we are heading to BNE to take the van to Brendale. Kedron has a new concept where they give the van a complete service, brakes, bearings, chassis, refrigeration and electrical etc for $500. Takes two days. Hoping to have a McHitch Auto coupler fitted at the same time. It will be a neat little 4000 km drive that gives us a break from removalist boxes and business. Looking forward to it. Thanks once again for your responses. Colin

Hello, When hitching this morning I wondered why the convention is to cross the safety chains. Anyone know? Regards Colin

Hi Russ and Sue, That is great! Loyalty Beach Camp Ground is my pick of the two near Seisia. Also, I would love to catch up as you pass through Cairns. From the end of March we will not be in our house (it is close to being sold) and we will be in our Kedron in Lake Placid CP. We depart Cairns in early May for a few client visits out west before heading to Tibooburra for the start of the Corner Country Trip. Some $280 million has been allocated for the sealing of the PDR as a starter and it is being pushed hard by the Mayor of Cooktown. I will PM you my mobile number. Regards Colin

Hello Koggers, If you have not visited the Cape you had better hurry. Reported in the news in Cairns yesterday is the fact that the Federal and State Government are going to fund the sealing of the road right to the top. Once that happens the fun and challenge will be gone. So, if the Cape is on your bucket list you had better do it sooner rather than later. Regards Colin

Hello Koggers, I was delighted to have Colleen and Dennis visit me at home yesterday. They completed the Corner Country trip from Tibooburra to Birdsville in May last year. They travelled from Innamincka to Birdsville via Walkers Crossing so I was keen to hear their story. If Walkers Crossing is open when we are there we will probably go that way as opposed to going via Cordillo Downs. As a bonus Colleen and Dennis gave me a CD which contains some fantastic photographs. Colleen specialises in wildlife shots and Dennis in landscapes. Great photos. So, it is a public thanks to them from me and a reminder to us all that there is much more to caravanning than driving! Regards Colin

Hello Russ, Thanks for your response. I have been looking forward to it given your knowledge of that country. My intended route, as shown in the current itinerary, is via Cordillo Downs. The distance from Innamincka to Birdsville via this route is 417 km. Via Arrabury it is an additional 100+ km. I am a bit concerned about fuel and, except for those with long range tanks we will need to be carrying at least two jerry cans of diesel. Naturally we will be talking to locals at Cameron Corner and Innamincka as road conditions are a thing of the moment. I had not considered the Walkers Crossing route which is the shortest being 353 km between Innamincka and Birdsville. However, yesterday I noticed a report in the Members Section from Col and Den who travelled from Innamincka to Birdsville via Walker's Crossing in March last year. More to think about. Russ, do you have any other comments of our itinerary as it stands at the moment? Regards Colin

Hello, Rick and Lea have a good point. The technician who serviced the heater told me to regularly turn it on, turn it up and let it run for a good while. Great fun when you live in Cairns!! Regards Colin

Hello Koggers, Unfortunately we have had one participant withdraw from our Corner Country Trip due to a clash of dates resulting from our earlier start date. As a consequence we now have one open spot if anyone is interested in joining the group. I have published the itinerary earlier on this thread and do so again for your information. There will be some minor changes to that published with the addition of a visits to the Painted Desert and slight variation in our route. However, the attached is a good guide if you are interested. Send me a PM if you have an interest. Sad to hear of the fires in the Flinders Ranges but, thankfully, they are in the southern end while we will be visiting the northern end. Regards Colin Corner Country Itinerary Edition 2.pdf

Hi Col and Steve, Thank you for your posts. I always have plugs in the heater air intake and exhaust pipes when it is not in use for all the obvious reasons. However, the point I wished to make was that according to the technician, the air intake sucks up dust in certain circumstances when it is running. Hence my idea of a snorkel type air intake extension. Col and Den, I gather you are nearing Cairns. Give me a call if you have a little spare time. It would be good to catch up. Regards Colin

Hello, Just a general point re diesel heaters. Towards the end of last year's Outback Way trip my wonderful diesel heater started spluttering, belching, producing large quantities of blue smoke and not working. Had it serviced a couple of weeks ago and the technician reported he had to remove a large portion of the Great Victoria Desert. He pointed out that the air intake sucks in large quantise of air and, being located close to the ground, also sucks in large quantities of dust. I am going to carry an air intake extension just to lift the intake position up near the centre of the spare wheel. Bit like a snorkel. Regards Colin

Andrew, I had the same problem some time ago in respect of pushing the reset button. I took the cover off, which is simple, and reset that way. You will nott come to any harm but, for your peace of mind, disconnect the 240v supply first. Eventually, I had to replace the box. Colin

Hello Koggers, I have had it suggested to me that a better route between Cameron Corner and Innamincka is along the Bore Track. The idea interests me, does anyone have any information and experience on the Bore Track? Love to hear from you. Colin

Thanks Steve, that is handy information. Much appreciated. The timing of our itinerary has changed with departure from Tibooburra set for Wednesday 21 May 14. Nothing else has changed so far. The new itinerary, Edition 2, is attached. Regards Colin Corner Country Itinerary Edition 2.pdf

Hello Steve, Yes time is important at least to me and Gayleen as we are still in business, unfortunately. So, it is a bit of a recon of places to visit later!!! There will be some adjustment to the itinerary as comments and suggestions are taken on board. Do you have any suggestions as to where we should, in particular, spend more time? Before we get to the start point, Gayleen and I will be on the road visiting clients from Townsville to Mt Isa and Winton, Longreach etc. Then to get from the Flinders Ranges back to Caiirns takes at least a week more like ten days. So, yes, time is of the essence. Given all that I am pleased that you feel it is a good itinerary. Thanks for your feedback. Regards Colin

Hello Koggers, Attached is a proposed itinerary for the Corner Country trip. I would appreciate any feedback / comments from those who know this country well. Regards Colin Corner Country Itinerary Edition 1.pdf

Hi Russ, That is good to hear as it reduces the risk of non intended consequences. It is one of those "beliefs" that has enjoyed currency for a long time. None-the-less, I am always alert to what the pups are sniffing when we are out there. Russ, on another matter, as soon as Telstra fix my home internet I will publish in this thread the first cut of our proposed itinerary. I would really appreciate your views on what I am planning. Regards Colin

Hello Russ, It would be great to catch up with you. When will you know if you will be working there? Wild dog baiting is an issue. While the baits may be initially dropped away from "public" areas, they are occasionally "redistributed" by birds, especially crows. They pick them up., fly off and then drop them. Safe travels. Regards Colin

Sounds good to me, Tex! Colin

Hello Helen and Peter, To you also I offer my apologies for not responding to you sooner. As you will see from my earlier post to Steve today, I have been off the air since mid December. Thank you for your expression of interest in the trip. I am pleased to advise that you have filled the last vacancy in a group of ten. I will send you a PM to ask for your contact details. Kind regards Colin

Hello Steve, My apologies to you for not responding sooner. I have been away since mid December returning home just last Friday week. I have not been on the net much during that time. Thanks very much for your very informative post. It will be very useful. Just today I have begun the detailed planning for this trip. Doing a lot of reading especially the links provided by Chris earlier in this thread. Kind regards Colin

G'day John, Yes, I agree. It looks great. I find my existing 6 tonne McHitch pretty easy. I don't have domestics as I do it all single handed aided by a camera at the rear of the cruiser.. The big advantage of the auto coupler over my current setup would seen to be having the point of pivot closer to the rear of the tug and having the pivot point of the hitch and torsion bars in the same plane. Regards Colin

Thank you Merv. I will have a look and give it a bum test!! Colin

Hello Koggers, My Coleman Chair of the green and gold stripe model, is about to expire. While I have been very happy with it I thought I might ask for the opinion of the Koggers as to what is the best chair available? I am definitely in the market and soon! All opinions are welcome. Colin

Tony, thank you for your offer of your lovely spot. On the way down we will be "passage making" which is a nice way of saying we will be knocking off the K's everyday. Our return trip will be a proper caravan trip and we may just take up your offer. I'll be in touch if we come your way. It's about 3,600 km from Cairns to Gippsland and we have eleven days including a full day in BNE. So there will be a few 450 km days! Sue and Ann, thanks, and I hope Santa is kind to both of you. Regards Colin