well, the culmination of 2 years planning and skinned knuckles has finally come to fruition! Have finally got everything done on the tug and the camper. Little manual washing machine purchased yesterday, Digital, electronic laptop, valuables safe bought and installed, 6 digit combination and there is no way anyone can get it out without power tools. Quite proud of my ingenious anti -theft deterent system I devised. All goodies and equipment stashed and packed as a trial run and hey.... still got some spare room. 120watt solar system to a 105amp hour AGM battery, all LED lighting. Carrying 100 litres of water2 x 30litre poly tanks, 2 x 20l jerry cans backed up by a water fitration system. Trailer is a hard floor side tipper with 12v and 230v via an invertor . All new canvas. Should be moving out on the 15th of august, slowly. See ya out there
justjo said
06:39 PM Jul 26, 2011
Wow, I dream about your setup but could never run it! You will be totally self sufficient, how fantastic is that! I can stay out for about 4 days max. Are you on the road for an indefinite period? I know you will enjoy, truly the nerves vanished very quickly!
Jo
gordon_adl said
07:09 PM Jul 26, 2011
Would love to see some pictures of your set up :)
Campfire said
08:18 PM Jul 26, 2011
Well done Bob, have the best time out there!
Cheers, C
Bent Axle Bob said
08:20 PM Jul 26, 2011
Hi Guys and Gals, Plans,, (very loose) are to travel 300kms per day , 3 days per week Max. As long as I'm out of Darwin by mid November , all good. Have friends and family all the way round the east coast. Having worked in the mines for the last 18 years, I reckon the solitude will be no problems, but will be ready to share a bottle of vino any time. ( in vino, veritas) The are no time restrictions on my trip , so could be something of a marathon. A little family research in Bendigo, great grandfather was a butcher there during the goldrush, grandfather was a blacksmith. Grandfather is somewhat a shadow, very little known of him, suspect he may have been a bit of a scoundrel! Rig set up pics should be up in a few days
Travel Bug said
10:48 PM Jul 26, 2011
Goodonya' Bob....
Safe and happy travels.
Cheers. Pam.
Dunco said
10:49 PM Jul 26, 2011
See you out there mate !!
Happywanderer said
10:55 PM Jul 26, 2011
Good luck with your travels Bob, Have a great time and hopefully you will catch up with a few of the nomads while out and about.
Vic said
11:48 PM Jul 26, 2011
Happy Travels Bob !
Esmeralda said
09:36 AM Jul 27, 2011
Terrifici Bob - have a great time. Enjoy the family research, something I am doing at the moment too. My "greats" were in Bendigo during the gold rush before ending up in Williamstown.
Cheers, Es
billeeeeeee said
04:57 PM Jul 27, 2011
Howdyeeee Bob,, take in every experience ,and enjoy it...catcch u out there in the play ground...(Aussie)........Billeeeeeee
Congratulations mate, safe and happy travels. Your rig looks and sounds great....so envious
cheers
ozi2
billeeeeeee said
06:36 PM Jul 27, 2011
Ma wrote:
How long ago were you in Penong Billeeeee
Howdyeee Ma, last year i was there, think Bob is heading that way,,sooooo how u doing,, im heading off to the bottom of Vic in a few weeks, then off to c the 12 Apostle, then over to WA......might catch u out in the play ground,,,,,,Billeeeeeee
With a bit of luck and the Doctors agreement Billeee we are off on Thursday next week for Doug's place in Chinchilla. For a while there I didn't think we would make it but things are looking up and cross your fingers that I get a good report from the Doc.
Enjoy your trip on the GOR, we did it just recently for about the third time.
The absolute best way to see it is from a helicopter, puts a whole new perspective on it.
willem269 said
02:57 AM Jul 28, 2011
Hi Bob, how come you say you travel 300 k's a day. Do you have to be somewhere at a certain time. We spent 5.5 years on the road and often managed to do 50 k's a day. Then there was another coffee stop, a pre-lunch walk, an after lunch doze/walk and a book and look, it was not worth hitting the road any time soon
Bent Axle Bob said
09:32 AM Jul 28, 2011
Hi Willem, as I wrote, the 3ookms per day x 3 days per week is MAXIMUM. There will be times when I wont move for a week, as I intend to do a bit more writing , so when I find THAT place, then the anchor will go down. After being in the mines operating different plant and 400tonne trucks for 18years, I do not intend to be in a rush to fire up the engine every day. And thanks everyone for the good wishes and hope to meet up with some of you along the way
bronnie said
03:17 PM Jul 28, 2011
Wishing you wonderful travels Bob!!
Cruising Granny said
09:21 PM Jul 28, 2011
How exciting! Safe and happy travels to you Bent Axle Bob.
Bent Axle Bob said
11:34 AM Aug 7, 2011
Finally got some pics up to show the basic set up. Water tanks are mounted one either side and are interconnected. Solar panel has been expanded by a further 165 watts. Power source to camper is by anderson plug cable to a 230v inverter for led lighting and entertainment( music ,dvd, computer). 8 days to go, but who's counting?....lol
gordon_adl said
11:38 AM Aug 7, 2011
Very nice!!! Keep it slow and have fun.
Cruising Granny said
09:26 PM Aug 7, 2011
Wow! There's a lot of thought and planning in that rig. Is the trailer a camper? Do you cover the water jerry cans when in transit to avoid damage and algae growth?
Bent Axle Bob said
10:38 PM Aug 7, 2011
Yes , have a cover for them, just took them off for pics; Trailer is a side tipper, hard floor > One person can set up in 5 minutes and be sitting under the tug awning with a coldy. Travelling by myself, so for me , it's the ideal rig.
Bent Axle Bob said
09:24 AM Aug 14, 2011
Hmmmm. Weather on the West Coast looks a little unsettled for the next few days. Methinks I shall delay my departure for a few days. Not much point starting this trek in dubious weather. After all, I've got a few years to get this done, lol.
nu one said
11:25 PM Aug 16, 2011
Thanks for the photo's you posted...it seems you have thought of everything however I'm wundering if a second deep cycle battery would be a good idea especialy if you could switch it to the vehicle if required ? your comments please ...oh by the way happy trails ..
Nu one.
Bent Axle Bob said
09:13 AM Aug 17, 2011
You're right about the second deep cycle battery, and a second one has been fitted along side the 1st one to take advantage of the second 120 watt solar panel that was installed after pics were taken. Deep cycle batteries are rather hopeless as a back up for the vehicle, as starting draws a huge load for a short time, deepcycle deliver lower loads over a long period. A 1kva genny and 20 amp battery charger are my emergency back up system . 2nd battery is identical to the first, same make, model and the first battery is only 6months older so don't anticipate problems on that front.. Cheers, B A B
-- Edited by Bent Axle Bob on Wednesday 17th of August 2011 09:16:10 AM
jules47 said
11:27 AM Aug 17, 2011
Wow BAB - that is a great set up you have there - good luck - won't be long and you will be counting the hours - have a great trip
Bent Axle Bob said
12:44 PM Aug 17, 2011
Thanks Jules... looks like tomorrow I blast off. As the song says...."It's a long and winding road........."
Esmeralda said
05:56 PM Aug 17, 2011
Have a great trip Bob - with that rig behind you I don't doubt you will.
Bent Axle Bob said
03:34 PM Aug 21, 2011
Thanks Esmeralda, 3days with Crisjon at dongara, perfect start to the trip, peace and serenity
Jo
Well done Bob, have the best time out there!
Cheers, C
Plans,, (very loose) are to travel 300kms per day , 3 days per week Max. As long as I'm out of Darwin by mid November , all good. Have friends and family all the way round the east coast. Having worked in the mines for the last 18 years, I reckon the solitude will be no problems, but will be ready to share a bottle of vino any time. ( in vino, veritas) The are no time restrictions on my trip , so could be something of a marathon. A little family research in Bendigo, great grandfather was a butcher there during the goldrush, grandfather was a blacksmith. Grandfather is somewhat a shadow, very little known of him, suspect he may have been a bit of a scoundrel!
Rig set up pics should be up in a few days
Goodonya' Bob....
Safe and happy travels.
Cheers. Pam.
Terrifici Bob - have a great time. Enjoy the family research, something I am doing at the moment too. My "greats" were in Bendigo during the gold rush before ending up in Williamstown.
Cheers, Es
Howdyeeee Bob,, take in every experience ,and enjoy it...catcch u out there in the play ground...(Aussie)........Billeeeeeee
How long ago were you in Penong Billeeeee
Congratulations mate, safe and happy travels. Your rig looks and sounds great....so envious
cheers
ozi2
Howdyeee Ma, last year i was there, think Bob is heading that way,,sooooo how u doing,, im heading off to the bottom of Vic in a few weeks, then off to c the 12 Apostle, then over to WA......might catch u out in the play ground,,,,,,Billeeeeeee
With a bit of luck and the Doctors agreement Billeee we are off on Thursday next week for Doug's place in Chinchilla. For a while there I didn't think we would make it but things are looking up and cross your fingers that I get a good report from the Doc.
Enjoy your trip on the GOR, we did it just recently for about the third time.
The absolute best way to see it is from a helicopter, puts a whole new perspective on it.
Finally got some pics up to show the basic set up. Water tanks are mounted one either side and are interconnected. Solar panel has been expanded by a further 165 watts. Power source to camper is by anderson plug cable to a 230v inverter for led lighting and entertainment( music ,dvd, computer). 8 days to go, but who's counting?....lol
Keep it slow and have fun.
Is the trailer a camper? Do you cover the water jerry cans when in transit to avoid damage and algae growth?
Thanks for the photo's you posted...it seems you have thought of everything however I'm wundering if a second deep cycle battery would be a good idea especialy if you could switch it to the vehicle if required ? your comments please ...oh by the way happy trails ..
Nu one.
You're right about the second deep cycle battery, and a second one has been fitted along side the 1st one to take advantage of the second 120 watt solar panel that was installed after pics were taken. Deep cycle batteries are rather hopeless as a back up for the vehicle, as starting draws a huge load for a short time, deepcycle deliver lower loads over a long period. A 1kva genny and 20 amp battery charger are my emergency back up system . 2nd battery is identical to the first, same make, model and the first battery is only 6months older so don't anticipate problems on that front.. Cheers, B A B
-- Edited by Bent Axle Bob on Wednesday 17th of August 2011 09:16:10 AM
Have a great trip Bob - with that rig behind you I don't doubt you will.