G'day New grey nomad here. Me and my lady have done the morgage and having kids thing so now it's time sell the house and to hit the road... We have a Datto patrol 3.0 turbo and a new Avan Owen 609 Adventure pack ... My old 32 ft Viscount tri axle is a tad to big and has been retired.. Travelling around OZ shortly and we have set it up with a 200 watt solar panel , extra battery , power inverter , extra water tank ,washing machine , jerry can racks etc hoping to do lots of free camping where possible. see you on the road..
Hi welcome to GN, I'm sure you will enjoy yourself here.
There are a few A vanners on here.
your pics are a bit large, perhaps make them a bit smaller next time, btw just looking at the 1st pic with the annex up, do you always carry around your own Hills Hoist?
Thanks . missus likes the Hills hoist ... lol will have to work out how to make photos smaller. I uploaded them off my computer and that's how they came out.
Welcome from me too Pinto, enjoy here and out in the playground. Nice rig too. Friends of mine have just come back from going around the block in exactly the same van only their tug was a 2010 Prado. They said the Avan CV had no problems and were wrapped with it.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Hi Pinto, We to have an Avan Owen, very pleased with it, purchsed it from Avan Brisbane, who are good people to deal with. Our tug is a 2010 ford Teritory, which goes very well, and is not to expensive on petrol.
Thanks for your welcome :) Avan tows beautifully and so light..2004 3.0 liter Datto has no problem towing it... Bought ours from Avan in Brissy too. Nice thing with the Owen is I can tow it legally with my Ford falcon too if the Datto breaks....
My old Viscount van ... tad too large to tow with the Datto....
I had one of those, Similar in size, I lived in it for 4 years while I built my house years ago, It had a shower and toilet inside, two out side doors, I never towed it any where other than bringing it home and delivering it to the buyer when I moved into my house,
And we are off... Had a few teething problems with the Avan applyances Brand new microwave oven made all the right sounds but would not heat.. New Dometic fridge.... could not close the freezer.... had to cut 3 mil off the lock pin to get door shut... could NOT be adjusted 200 watt solar panel will not run the fridge for long so had to use gas. Solar will run most items in van. Avan tows beautifully when loaded. Tug a bit gutless as 3.0 turbo diesel won't pull the skin off a rice puddin' Nearly stopped going up steep hill.. Needed 4.2 turbo for more grunt.. BUT it's great being out of the rat race and finally on the road Added a few stickers to cover the bland walls of the van to give it a little CHARACTER!!
-- Edited by Pinto on Wednesday 3rd of October 2012 10:52:31 AM
Hi Harry I like the stickers Steve is big on stickers also & they do make a big difference to the van. Hopefully we may meet one day out in the wonderful country
Hi Robyn have a few more stickers on the back so when "Up a mountain road we wind with ten miles of traffic stuck behind "they have something to read lol..
plus one on the door for unwanted visitors.. My lady and I met through our love of horses thus the horsey themes on our van Yes we may see you on the road... take care
-- Edited by Pinto on Monday 8th of October 2012 08:54:52 AM
Hi Harry The stickers that you have on the back with the trees horseriders & wording are exactly what Steve put on ours, we have another one on storage compartment that says "Not a care in the world" I will get to upload some photos one day.
Life on the road good so far . Have met quite a few nomads . One couple have been on the road 18 years and been around the block 10 times All van mods working perfectly. Very happy with solar panel , batteries never run flat. Heading south soon towards melbourne .. Should take us a few months.. NO rush.... It's great being free
Hi Harry - looks like you are having fun out there - how about posting sometimes where you are heading - might be some other members there who would like to have a meet up - share good times etc.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Sure Jules we are heading towards Sydney on the 15th December, may take the inland road .. Spending Chissy with rellies then Ulladulla for new years with the missus brother then on through Vic, SA, WA, NT..
We have a Datto patrol 3.0 turbo and a new Avan Owen 609 Adventure pack ... My old 32 ft Viscount tri axle is a tad to big and has been retired.. Travelling around OZ shortly and we have set it up with a 200 watt solar panel , extra battery , power inverter , extra water tank ,washing machine , jerry can racks etc hoping to do lots of free camping where possible. see you on the road.. 
Pinto
Brand new microwave oven made all the right sounds but would not heat..
New Dometic fridge.... could not close the freezer.... had to cut 3 mil off the lock pin to get door shut... could NOT be adjusted 
Nearly stopped going up steep hill.. 
Needed 4.2 turbo for more grunt.. BUT it's great being out of the rat race and finally on the road 
My lady and I met through our love of horses thus the horsey themes on our van 
