Every one wants to save money on their travels. Nuff said. But how?
I have a Road Star 2008 van I think it is 18'6 I'm not sure but it's big enough for me and my missus and that is that!, it weighs around 3 tons fully loaded with all or stuff and beer. And is towed by a 2011 Holden Colorado the last of the Isuzu engines from Holden. The Colorado is a manual and after 40,00klms around Aussie has performed faultlessly. And yep as soon as I can I pop her in 5th and turn on Cruise I do! Average 16 klms per 100 k's. I am a happy camper!
Want to save money, one BIG way is to buy quality gear. Not from the internet but from a reputable outlet. Preferable from a large multi state outlet. Why? Because if you do have a problem you can take it to your nearest outlet and hopefully get a replacement or refund. I bought a twin tub washer from BCF in Bunderberg QLD and some months later it was giving problems, I took it to Geralton WA, BCF and they immediately offered a refund or exchange, it is such a good washing machine we exchanged it. My experience of cheaper alternatives has been very expensive!
Here is a list. This is just the major ones.
Hansen hot water system (caught on fire), gas regulator, Dometic 240 fridge element, 800watt inverter from e-bay this caused heaps of problems until I finally found out the real culprit. Solar panel from e-bay it's marketed as RICH it still works but mppt regulator failed ALL the hinges and catches have fallen off, the bag it comes in is now just a useless rag. Maxus cheap Yamaha copy didn't make it's first service, generator from e-bay failed after a few hours. Told by local small engine mechanic that he thought it was the coil but even if it was , he could not find a replacement which would make it worth fixing. I have since bought a Honda very ( Remember lost in Space OH the pain Oh the Pain was that the Doctor?) expensive but it is a quality piece of work one pull hot or cold and it starts and it is very quite, it is just a quality piece of equipment. Do I wish I had bought a Honda at the beginning of our Grey Nomad existence you bet I do. Do I wish I had paid the extra bucks for a real Yamaha outboard absolutely.
On the positive side I have Dunlop MADE IN AUSTRALIA tyres on the van which are 8 yrs old and still going. They are just about buggered so I will be looking for some more made in Aussie tyres sadly I am not hopeful. Anyway that is enough from me, remember to drive safe, talk to those Road Trains they are great guys just doing there job and we all want to get to our destination SAFELY. Cheers Kevin
Good on you Kevin...Great post mate.....and so true....I remember carrying a 2KVa Blue Kipor Generator around in the front of my Heritage for some 3 years..before I went o use it..had only started it once when I purchased..and after I got solar panels I didn't use it....it dropped its piston immediately I used it for the second time 3 years later....local mechanics handed it back to me in a box and in pieces..told me to take it to the Honda dealer as trade in so he could show clients what you get with Chinese garbage...it wasn't cheap either about $1,300 originally but cheaper than the Honda which was about $2100 at that time...just out of warranty...no-one wanted to know about my problem...bought the Honda 2KVa and love it...use it now on all our outback prospecting trips....never missed a beat...
Saved myself some $800 at the time to cost me $1300!.....I learn't your lessons...well said...drive safe...Hoo Roo
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'The secret of happiness is not in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less'.Socrates BC399.
'Be a Cheerful Nomad, not a Grumpy Gromad, it's the Surly Bird who catches the Germ'!
On the positive side I have Dunlop MADE IN AUSTRALIA tyres on the van which are 8 yrs old and still going. They are just about buggered so I will be looking for some more made in Aussie tyres sadly I am not hopeful. Anyway that is enough from me, remember to drive safe, talk to those Road Trains they are great guys just doing there job and we all want to get to our destination SAFELY. Cheers Kevin
Rule of thumb is tyres pass their use by date at six years. If you have an accident with eight year old tyres maybe you will need some of the money you saved on court costs.
Goldfinger, the name should have given away the secret ( outback prospecting trips ) my picture was taken at the teetulpa fields ( no gold but a cracker of a relic but ) Would like to catch up one day to have a yack.
G'day Bass, Photo attached shows my van and the Honda Gen after we had unexpected 100 km winds on our last trip in the donga between Leonora and Laverton W.A.....awning was ripped off, and you can see my outside Porta Loo exposed with shower tent down.......others in the small prospecting camp fared worse....out there with no "facilities" whatsoever for a few weeks at a time you can't trust 2nd best 'el cheapo' items when your life can depend on it....can't compromise on gold detectors and equipment either...buy it right first up and you soon forget about the 'extra' you paid.....
Hope to meet you 'out there'...I used to prospect Mt Crawford in S.A.,and I used to own a property in the Barossa Goldfields in C-o-c-katoo Valley...if I don't abbreviate word speller removes!...Hoo Roo
Capt Key wrote, --- [ in part ] I have Dunlop MADE IN AUSTRALIA tyres on the van which are 8 yrs old and still going. They are just about buggered so I will be looking for some more made in Aussie tyres sadly I am not hopeful.
Very good interesting and true post there Capt Key , -- Thanks for the read, But with regret I think you may be battling to find Any Australian Made tyres anymore,
captain kev, we have to disagree with you over maxus motors, ours is 4 years old has been used in venus bay on he back of our porta bote for years , dosnt get flushed for up to 2 months while we are travelling, gets service yearly and i use and abuse it on my punt in bundy , bloody love the thing has been perfect. you must have bought a dud sorry.
I brought our first Honda Genie Eu1000 in 2002 I use it every week with my work and on every trip away. Change the oil every 50 hours of run time =200mm of oil. takes 5min's to do. Has always started first pull. Very reliable unit.
We brought a Honda Eu2000 to use with the new vans AC. Money well spent.
On the positive side I have Dunlop MADE IN AUSTRALIA tyres on the van which are 8 yrs old and still going. They are just about buggered so I will be looking for some more made in Aussie tyres sadly I am not hopeful. Anyway that is enough from me, remember to drive safe, talk to those Road Trains they are great guys just doing there job and we all want to get to our destination SAFELY. Cheers Kevin
Rule of thumb is tyres pass their use by date at six years. If you have an accident with eight year old tyres maybe you will need some of the money you saved on court costs.
There is NO law regarding "out of date" tyres so there would never be a court case stemming from the use of. Bald tyres different thing.
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Neil & Lynne
Pinjarra
Western Australia
MY23.5 Ford Wildtrak V6 Dual Cab / 21' Silverline 21-65.3
Thanks for your reply and you are probably right. The thing that pisses me off the most is that the engine spent most of it's life in the back of my ute fully protected by an aluminium canopy. After a couple of weeks I noticed some oil in the ute and contacted my nearest dealer who assured me that, that is normal for a new engine. I have bouts of laziness and think ok she will be right, after all they are the experts so left it that. After all I have had Yamaha, Mariner and even an 1986 Johnson without any problems. Twelve months later the dealer tells me there is NO OIL in the gear box and a replacement would cost $800! The complete outboard only cost $ 899. The dealer did the right thing and asked Maxus to help me out with transport costs or something, they where not interested. So all I can do is tell my story and hopefully others will learn by it.
My experience has been a reputable brand has excellent 100% quality control, cheaper brands have so, so quality control and E-bay has none good luck to you.
Hansen hot water system (caught on fire), gas regulator, Dometic 240 fridge element, 800watt inverter from e-bay this caused heaps of problems until I finally found out the real culprit. Solar panel from e-bay it's marketed as RICH it still works but mppt regulator failed 
But with regret I think you may be battling to find Any Australian Made tyres anymore,
