The plan was to use our Falcon and an old Juncko for a few months to put our toe in the water.
We also put the rig in the water, so to speak. Fate moved it's huge hand and the Juncko broke it's back.(32 years old though so it has earned it's keep) between Hughenden and Winton. So back to Flanagan Reserve, Mount Barney, been here 6 weeks now waiting for new rig which is:
V8 100 series Landcruiser, just delivered and our Nextgen van semi off road delivery early December.
Cat used to sit between us in the Falcon, but console in the way in the cruiser so need to sort things out the the VIP (very important puss)
Plan to head south from here via New England aiming to do Nullabor in April, then over the top I guess.
In the short time we have had on the road, met some very interesting people and will be meeting some of them on the road again in future. (Not to mention the occasional chatterbox pest)
We now know about black soil in more detail (Leave that to your imagination) and have become very good at finding free camps.
Also found that QLD roads are designed to stress test our rigs.
The UHF was a very useful tool in communicating with truckies and other vanners, used to the lingo now so much easier.
So it's feet up for a few more weeks the up and at it.
Cheers
__________________
Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
Not the best of starts I spose but then, not too bad either as you will have a great set up at the end of the day so all is good.
Now, I got in to big trouble and shot in the foot on this here forum a few or more moons back when I refered to "juncko" vans and the foot is still hurting, bugga. As for the "very important puss" maybe you could rig up a board from the back seat and across to the front seats so "puss" can be still close to you.
Mmmm, "black soil" I hope that's not what came into my mind first up?
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
__________________
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)
A lot of the older vans.Specially if maintained.
are probably better than some of the rubbish churned out of some modern factory's.
We've stuck mainly with Roadstar for last 25 odd yrs.
Never had a bad one and never a problem with any of them.
Gone everywhere a 6.5 mtr van can go and only had to winch it out 3 times.
Junco's.
This time I bought a '98/9, well used Coromal 535.
Semi ofroad?. full height, Tandem.
Ins estimate value. $19.800. I insured it for that.
Price. $12k and went down to Melb for it.
A coupla mates have bought older vans. Under $3 grand.
cleaned them up. New mattresses. Portapotti.
Sealed seams and windows.
One gave a coat of paint and new running gear.
and he's been round several times over last 5 yrs.
There's nothing wrong with older vans
as long as they reasonably maintained
and you don't mind spending a little time and money
just to tidy them a bit.
Serious travel, It probably pays to put a new set of springs
and maybe pr of shockers under there.
The older ones weren't so incensed with weight and flashy looks.
hence built a lot stronger.
Best of.
Probably an older "Evernew", or Regal. smaller models.
There's a LOT around 15/17ft floating round Vict for around 7/8 grand
and less..
I've also seen a few. Taken off their running gear and perched on top of small traytops.
Better than dumping them.
All they need is waterproofing inside.
They no different to us.
A bit of a clean up and Maint,
and we good for another 12months or so, (chuckle)
at least.
A lot of the older vans.Specially if maintained. are probably better than some of the rubbish churned out of some modern factory's.
We've stuck mainly with Roadstar for last 25 odd yrs. Never had a bad one and never a problem with any of them. Gone everywhere a 6.5 mtr van can go and only had to winch it out 3 times.
Junco's.
This time I bought a '98/9, well used Coromal 535. Semi ofroad?. full height, Tandem. Ins estimate value. $19.800. I insured it for that. Price. $12k and went down to Melb for it.
A coupla mates have bought older vans. Under $3 grand. cleaned them up. New mattresses. Portapotti. Sealed seams and windows. One gave a coat of paint and new running gear. and he's been round several times over last 5 yrs.
There's nothing wrong with older vans as long as they reasonably maintained and you don't mind spending a little time and money just to tidy them a bit. Serious travel, It probably pays to put a new set of springs and maybe pr of shockers under there.
The older ones weren't so incensed with weight and flashy looks. hence built a lot stronger.
Best of. Probably an older "Evernew", or Regal. smaller models. There's a LOT around 15/17ft floating round Vict for around 7/8 grand and less..
I've also seen a few. Taken off their running gear and perched on top of small traytops.
Better than dumping them. All they need is waterproofing inside.
They no different to us. A bit of a clean up and Maint, and we good for another 12months or so, (chuckle) at least.
Your points taken Macka, however as we no longer have a home base we don't have the facilities, nor the desire to renovate vans.
Decided t buy a quality van that will hopefully see me through.
Cheers for your comments though.
__________________
Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
Hi Snippy.
That lot was basically for others starting out.
You already fixed.
There are some really nice second hand, older vans on market.
and they ALL do the same thing.
Our moggies like travelling INside the van.
Bed made up, they normally curl up under pillows.
You stop, open door,
and two little tousled, half asleep sets of eyes peer out from under.
Blink and go back under again.
Quite happy.
Tray fits nicely in bottom step and they use it.
Water in sink. bisc, on dish on bed.
We tried them in car. but Syd insists on curling up round my neck while I'm driving.
and Megs likes to be under the brake pedal.
Not conducive to..
Our moggie likes travelling in the car. We have a short lead attached to the passenger door so she can't reach the driver and will sit in the passenger floor well. The Falcon had a bench seat so could sleep there.
Not so with the Landcruiser so have to re-think.
When parked she is on a lead so can go in or out while we are around. The bed is prime at nights though. Also has a cat box with a scratch pole on it and goes there if too noisy outside.
__________________
Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
