On Monday, 13 October 2025, we packed our van as if we were going on holiday. We then went to the local Coffs Harbour weighbridge and took the van to ABCO Caravan Repairs the following day, Tuesday, for a service and some updates. There was no rush, as our holiday was not scheduled until sometime in the new year.
ABCO Caravan Services has built a strong reputation for providing high-quality work. Many Bushtracker owners rely on it for repairs, particularly because it is the only service centre outside the Bushtracker Factory in Queensland that specialises in this brand.
After installing the Starlink Mini on our Chevy's roof rack, we can maintain a reliable internet connection for our van and vehicle while on the road. It significantly eases communication and entertainment on the road. Our Oyster Satellite Dish on the caravan's roof lets us access free-to-air TV with a VAST decoder, offering a variety of viewing options while camping. As a result, we removed the old TV aerial from the van's roof because it's no longer needed with our satellite and internet systems.
The current springs in the Simplicity Load Sharing Coil suspension might be underrated. Darren from ABCO confirmed this after reviewing the weighbridge measurement. Once the new springs arrive and are installed, he will also service the van, checking the bearings, brakes, and wheel alignment. Since a new Bushtracker represents a significant investment, it's crucial to get the right springs from the start. Unfortunately, our experience hasn't reflected this, as Bushtracker acknowledged the springs were incorrect but chose not to replace them, leaving us to cover the cost.
During our trip to Tasmania, our Bulldog electric jack malfunctioned; we could raise it, but had to manually retract it. It has now been replaced by a more durable Black Jack Maxi, whose base folds flat when retracted. We asked Darren to ensure that, when the new jack is raised, it fits tightly within the A-frame's contour. We are delighted with the result he achieved by designing it this way.
We also bought a canvas jack cover and a drawbar cover from our local Drifta and Camping store, which makes excellent products.
While we've truly enjoyed using our Nature's Head composting toilet, we've chosen to switch to a more compact, ergonomic model. The OGO Origin fits well in our combined ensuite. It offers the same excellent features, plus the added convenience of a button that automatically stirs the coir after use, unlike the manual handle on the Nature's Head.
Showing the exhaust fan outlet and the power supply connection.
An accumulator tank has been installed alongside the new Seaflow RV Supreme MK2 water pump. This configuration offers several advantages: it ensures smoother water flow, minimises noise, and extends the pump's lifespan by reducing cycling. The SHURflo Accumulator is a bladder-style pressure tank that also dampens pulsations, pressurising and stabilising water flow. Overall, the accumulator helps to make the system quieter, reduce power consumption, and lessen water pulsation, contributing to a more efficient and durable setup.
We've upgraded our internal Thirsty Nomad water filter to a newer, more efficient model that provides improved purification. Additionally, we've improved our external filter to a 1-micron bore water and sediment filter, guaranteeing even cleaner water.
I bought an aluminium door handle on eBay to replace the plastic one we'd broken before, which wasn't fit for purpose.
In our previous Bushtracker, the bathroom occupied the entire rear of the van, wasting space. Considering how much time we actually spend in there, it wasn't ideal. Our current van, however, features a larger combined ensuite. The only minor drawback is the older exhaust fan it originally had. We replaced it with a high-quality three-speed exhaust fan that prevents mirror fogging and significantly improves comfort. Thankfully, I don't wear a toupee; it would be sucked away by the new fan's suction.
Having the van at ABCO was very convenient because they removed our rims and tyres for us. They then took them to a nearby tyre outlet, where we installed BF Goodrich 265 x 75 x 16 KO3S tyres. This significantly simplified the process and made it less stressful.
Our van has been at ABCO for nearly four months, just four days short of that mark. It was great to pick her up and bring her home to repack and prepare for our upcoming trip.
