ABCO Caravan Services Coffs Harbour

After our recent trip away, our Bushtracker was booked into ABCO here in Coffs Harbour for some much-needed TLC. They are the only approved agent in the country for Bushtracker vans. They always have at least one new Bushtracker on their premises, along with several second-hand vans available for purchase at any given time.

We are planning a week away in early October, so there was no urgent need to return the van, and we left it with Darren and Kathleen for several weeks. During this time, they will perform a service, along with a few additional features. The service includes replacing the wheel bearings, aligning and balancing the wheels, and rotating the tyres.
 
We check our bearings every 10,000 km without fail.  We have been doing this for many years, even when towing camper trailers, and touch wood, we have never encountered any problems. 
Following a trip earlier this year and our recent journey, which covered 5,500 km, including 1,400 km over rough, corrugated dirt roads, it was definitely time for this service.
 
I usually replace the sacrificial anode in our Suburban hot water system, but recently we have experienced lighting issues. The team at ABCO will replace it while they service the system. 
 
Our current wind-up Cruisemaster VC stand is being replaced with a new 12-volt jack.

The Bulldog-powered jack, rated at 3500 lbs, is now standard equipment on all Bushtrackers and has been found to be very reliable. The jack comes with a handle that can be used in case of power failure. Hopefully, we will never need to use it, especially with our current 300Ah lithium batteries and 600 amp hours of solar panels on our roof. 

Our local canvas shop has created a transparent cover that can be used without removal, and Ros has designed a canvas waterproof jacket that fits over it to further protect it from moisture and UV rays.

Another addition was the installation of tyre carriers that incorporate a fold-down ramp for easier removal and replacement of tyres. So, thankfully, in the event of a tyre blowout or puncture, there will be no more lifting heavy tyres weighing over 35 kg.

Having read recent threads on other sites regarding gas leak issues, we have installed a 12-volt gas leak detector. This device will ensure that the alarm sounds if there is a possible gas line fracture or leak. It’s all about peace of mind, making sure there will be no damage to our van or, more importantly, ourselves.