On the Landcruiser 79 series, the Clearview mirrors utilise the existing mirror holes, but on the 76 series, additional bottom holes need to be drilled.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Clearview Towing Mirrors
We previously used a set of these mirrors on our Nissan Patrol. After hearing that Clearview Towing Mirrors had just introduced a new set for the Toyota Landcruiser 70-79 series, we ordered a pair. When you hook up your caravan, all you need to do is pull the mirror head outwards. The mirror extends by another 100mm, allowing you to see clearly down the side of the van. The mirrors are much larger than the standard ones and provide much clearer vision for safer towing. They are built robustly for Australian conditions and will not vibrate when travelling at highway speeds or when overtaken by road trains.
On the Landcruiser 79 series, the Clearview mirrors utilise the existing mirror holes, but on the 76 series, additional bottom holes need to be drilled.
On the Landcruiser 79 series, the Clearview mirrors utilise the existing mirror holes, but on the 76 series, additional bottom holes need to be drilled.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Bushtracker factory visit
Monday 30th April:
This is the first time we have towed our Bushtracker with our new Ute, and the experience has been very enjoyable and effortless. We left home just before lunchtime and drove to the Yelgum rest area, just north of Brunswick Heads on the NSW North Coast. We have stayed here before when travelling to the Sunshine Coast and the Bushtracker factory, which is where we were heading again.
We are having our VAST satellite decoder converted from 240V to 12V and upgrading our internet aerial. We also have a minor issue with our door that needs to be fixed.
Of the many accessories we fitted to the Ute, one was a Scangauge II. This compact unit serves as a scan tool, digital gauge, and trip computer, providing real-time feedback while also tracking data. With the new Scangauge II, it is now possible to add up to 25 extra gauges to the 12 that are usually available for most vehicles.
I have set up some XGAUGE's to use while we are travelling. For example, I can now report the following for today's drive:
This is the first time we have towed our Bushtracker with our new Ute, and the experience has been very enjoyable and effortless. We left home just before lunchtime and drove to the Yelgum rest area, just north of Brunswick Heads on the NSW North Coast. We have stayed here before when travelling to the Sunshine Coast and the Bushtracker factory, which is where we were heading again.
We are having our VAST satellite decoder converted from 240V to 12V and upgrading our internet aerial. We also have a minor issue with our door that needs to be fixed.
Of the many accessories we fitted to the Ute, one was a Scangauge II. This compact unit serves as a scan tool, digital gauge, and trip computer, providing real-time feedback while also tracking data. With the new Scangauge II, it is now possible to add up to 25 extra gauges to the 12 that are usually available for most vehicles.
I have set up some XGAUGE's to use while we are travelling. For example, I can now report the following for today's drive:
Distance travelled today: 262 kilometres
Time spent driving today: 4.1 hours
Average speed today: 63 kilometres per hour
Average fuel economy: 16.4 litres per 100 kilometres
Fuel cost today: £66.60
Fuel used today: 43.2 litres
The most surprising figure of all is the fuel consumption. Our Patrol, equipped with the Chev V8 diesel engine, was very fuel-hungry, averaging just over 23 litres per 100 km.
Wednesday 2nd May:
We collected the van from the factory later than planned, and with the likelihood of more heavy rain, we decided to stay overnight at the caravan park in Forest Glen. Not long after we set up, the couple who were at the Bushtracker factory for a handover of their new van arrived at the park and parked on the site next to ours. Mark and Julie had driven from Perth to pick up their new 20-foot van.
Thursday, 3rd May:
After several days of rain, we woke up to a lovely day. We left late in the morning and travelled through Landsborough, Beerwah, and on to Kilcoy. We stopped for morning tea at Moore before tackling the Blackbutt Range, where work is still ongoing after all the land slips caused by rain over twelve months ago.
I had never been to Oakey before, but we had a special reason for visiting. Outside the council chambers, there is a statue of Bernborough, who, like Black Caviar today, thrilled the public in the years shortly after the Second World War and was trained by my grandfather. Our plan for tonight's camp was Yarramalong Weir, but with the threatening-looking skies and black soil, we thought the showgrounds at Millmerran would be the safer option.
Friday, Saturday 4th and 5th May:
Today’s drive was very short, covering just 125 kilometres, and we are now camped at Texas, just outside town, on the Dumaresq River. Lovely days with cold nights—the first morning down to 6 degrees. Thank goodness for the diesel heater! Unfortunately, the town, with a population of 900, appears to be in the early stages of decline, with many businesses closing on the main street. We did our best by buying groceries and magazines.
Today’s drive was very short, covering just 125 kilometres, and we are now camped at Texas, just outside town, on the Dumaresq River. Lovely days with cold nights—the first morning down to 6 degrees. Thank goodness for the diesel heater! Unfortunately, the town, with a population of 900, appears to be in the early stages of decline, with many businesses closing on the main street. We did our best by buying groceries and magazines.
Today's 224-kilometre drive takes us through Bonshaw, Ashford, and Inverell before we camp at Guyra at "Mother of Ducks Lagoon".
Monday 7th May:
It was a very cold night, with the van's temperature at just 4 degrees at 6 am, so we turned up the heater once again.
Another short day's drive today of 189 kilometres, mostly downhill, passing through Ebor and Dorrigo before reaching flat country at Bellingen until we arrive home, which is a further 34 kilometres away.
Our average fuel consumption for the week away has been 16.5 litres per 100km, and considering some of the hilly terrain we've crossed, we are thrilled with this figure.
It was a very cold night, with the van's temperature at just 4 degrees at 6 am, so we turned up the heater once again.
Another short day's drive today of 189 kilometres, mostly downhill, passing through Ebor and Dorrigo before reaching flat country at Bellingen until we arrive home, which is a further 34 kilometres away.
Our average fuel consumption for the week away has been 16.5 litres per 100km, and considering some of the hilly terrain we've crossed, we are thrilled with this figure.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Latest and final additions
Tuesday 3rd April:
The following items were installed on the ute: a set of Airbag Man Firestone ride-rite airbags, an Engine Saver, a TM2 Engine Watchdog, and a Thermoguard digital EGT gauge (pyrometer) kit.
The following items were installed on the ute: a set of Airbag Man Firestone ride-rite airbags, an Engine Saver, a TM2 Engine Watchdog, and a Thermoguard digital EGT gauge (pyrometer) kit.
The engine Saver is a device that monitors the coolant level in an engine. Very few engines come with low coolant alarms as standard equipment from manufacturers. When the coolant level drops due to a split hose, a stone through the radiator, a faulty pump seal, or simply because the radiator cap wasn't replaced correctly, this device is designed to alert you before any engine damage occurs. A screw-in sensor replaces the nylon air bleed screw in the top radiator tank.
ThermoGuard EGT Gauge (Exhaust Gas Temperature) offers an accurate digital readout of EGT and, as standard, includes the ability to record and display the highest temperature recorded.
Wednesday 4th April: We have been considering rear view cameras for the ute and how to connect the existing Axis CCD camera at the back of the van. After reviewing several options, we decided to replace the current stereo/CD unit with a 7" Alpine high-resolution LED WVGA display that is also compatible with iPod and iPhone.
The final addition will be the purchase of a flexible RAM mount that attaches to the bolt holding the seat in place, along with a RAM holder suitable for the iPad. The iPad has all our Hema, Great Desert Tracks, and Australian Topo maps installed, providing us with complete moving map coverage wherever we are.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Finally the canopy!!!
Monday 5th March:
It feels like a lifetime ago that we ordered our canopy, but in reality, it was only the 22nd of December 2011. The tray has now been removed, and the ute looks bare without it.
Tuesday 6th March:
We drove to Warwick today, booked into a motel, and then dropped the ute at the factory so they could start early at 06:00 on Wednesday morning. The forty-three-kilometre drive from Woodenbong to Legume is a real ball-tearer without any weight in the back, and with 600 kilos of suspension, our brains were bruised by the time we reached Warwick.
We drove to Warwick today, booked into a motel, and then dropped the ute at the factory so they could start early at 06:00 on Wednesday morning. The forty-three-kilometre drive from Woodenbong to Legume is a real ball-tearer without any weight in the back, and with 600 kilos of suspension, our brains were bruised by the time we reached Warwick.
We are now booked in to have the fridge wiring completed and our reversing camera installed.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Our new canopy
These are the plans for our new canopy. The manufacturing process has now begun, and we hope to start installation in the first week of March. Hopefully, the time will pass quickly!
Pictorial view:
Pictorial view:
Side view:
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Our new purchase
We have finally replaced our GU Patrol with a new 2011 GXL Toyota Land Cruiser V8 turbo diesel ute. We were interested in purchasing a merlot-coloured one, and while browsing online one evening, we came across a brand-new one for sale at the Toyota dealer in Moruya on the NSW south coast. A phone call the following morning and a holding deposit secured our new 4wd.
We had several weeks' wait until the tray was manufactured and fitted, so we headed to ARB here in Coffs Harbour to get quotes on accessories. While discussing what we wanted, they noticed the Patrol was for sale and asked if they could take it for a test drive. Upon returning, they made an offer, which we accepted. They were very impressed with the amount of equipment in the Patrol, but mainly by the Chev V8 diesel we had installed.
On our way back from Moruya, we stopped at Berrima Diesel in the Southern Highlands to have a Taipan stainless steel 3" mandrel-bent exhaust fitted, along with a Safari snorkel head and a Dyno Tune. We have now fitted the following options: bull bar with side rails and steps, Hayman Reese towbar, dual battery with Redarc 20 AMP in-vehicle charger, centre roof console housing a GME Electrophone Tx3540 - 80 channel UHF, IPF 900 Xtreme spotlights, window tinting, and a GVM upgrade to the suspension, which includes replacing existing components with new OME parts and provides a 2" lift all round.
We have just returned from visiting http://www.csmmanufacturing.com.au/storage-solutions.html at Warwick in Queensland and paid our deposit for an aluminium canopy. The canopy takes between 6 and 9 weeks to produce. It will house our Engel fridge, generator, chainsaw, and all our camping equipment, which we now carry in both the van and the back of the Patrol, and will grant us much more freedom when we are away.
We had several weeks' wait until the tray was manufactured and fitted, so we headed to ARB here in Coffs Harbour to get quotes on accessories. While discussing what we wanted, they noticed the Patrol was for sale and asked if they could take it for a test drive. Upon returning, they made an offer, which we accepted. They were very impressed with the amount of equipment in the Patrol, but mainly by the Chev V8 diesel we had installed.
On our way back from Moruya, we stopped at Berrima Diesel in the Southern Highlands to have a Taipan stainless steel 3" mandrel-bent exhaust fitted, along with a Safari snorkel head and a Dyno Tune. We have now fitted the following options: bull bar with side rails and steps, Hayman Reese towbar, dual battery with Redarc 20 AMP in-vehicle charger, centre roof console housing a GME Electrophone Tx3540 - 80 channel UHF, IPF 900 Xtreme spotlights, window tinting, and a GVM upgrade to the suspension, which includes replacing existing components with new OME parts and provides a 2" lift all round.
We have just returned from visiting http://www.csmmanufacturing.com.au/storage-solutions.html at Warwick in Queensland and paid our deposit for an aluminium canopy. The canopy takes between 6 and 9 weeks to produce. It will house our Engel fridge, generator, chainsaw, and all our camping equipment, which we now carry in both the van and the back of the Patrol, and will grant us much more freedom when we are away.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Strathbogie to Home
Friday,Saturday,Sunday 21, 22, 21,22,23 October:
We were so impressed with the "Police Paddocks" that we returned for another three days. We used the clear creek water for washing and also to fill our tanks for showering.
We were so impressed with the "Police Paddocks" that we returned for another three days. We used the clear creek water for washing and also to fill our tanks for showering.
We visited All Saints Winery, where we sampled cheeses and wines, purchasing a variety of products items.
While there, we had lunches in Rutherglen and on Sunday enjoyed lunch at Vahalla Wines, where we had wood-fired pizzas with a bottle of cold Mascato overlooking the vineyard. We also befriended Graham, who has been visiting this area for twenty-seven years and camping for up to four months at a time. During this period, he has become friends with the landowner of the neighbouring property, who allows him to collect yabbies from his dam, which he uses for bait. One of his secrets to catching Murray Cod is to use Aldi's tasty block cheese.
Monday 24th October:
We were now on our way home. The morning was just beautiful, but by 11 am, we were driving into a severe headwind, which made driving difficult. So, we cut short the day's drive at midday and decided to camp at the caravan park in Junee. We had previously camped there nine years ago. We had lunch at the chocolate and liquorice factory, housed in an old flour mill, and took some of the treats they produce away with us.
Monday 24th October:
We were now on our way home. The morning was just beautiful, but by 11 am, we were driving into a severe headwind, which made driving difficult. So, we cut short the day's drive at midday and decided to camp at the caravan park in Junee. We had previously camped there nine years ago. We had lunch at the chocolate and liquorice factory, housed in an old flour mill, and took some of the treats they produce away with us.
Tuesday 25th October:
We left Junee heading for Ponto Falls #1040, which is situated nineteen kilometres NW of Wellington. The campsite is right beside the Macquarie River. We had heard reports that there may be severe thunderstorms in the area, and considering we would need to navigate a quite steep track out the next morning, I went to see about camping on higher ground. However, after nearly stepping onto a large brown snake, we decided that the river flats were the best spot. We experienced thunder and lightning during the evening, but no hint of rain.
Wednesday 26th October:
We continued through Gulgong, Cassilis, Merriwa, and Denman before spending the night at Broke #206, which is situated in the Hunter Valley wine region west of Cessnock. The camps book describes the site as being next to the river, but it's not possible to see it, and after my effort yesterday with the snake, I was not very interested in making my way through the scrub.
We continued through Gulgong, Cassilis, Merriwa, and Denman before spending the night at Broke #206, which is situated in the Hunter Valley wine region west of Cessnock. The camps book describes the site as being next to the river, but it's not possible to see it, and after my effort yesterday with the snake, I was not very interested in making my way through the scrub.
We spent our final two days camping at Booti Booti National Park, which is just sixteen kilometres south of Forster and located on the coast. We stayed at the "ruins campground" #107.
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