how did i miss this thread?? this is a great setup :) top job Cuppa
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how did i miss this thread?? this is a great setup :) top job Cuppa
G'evening Cuppa.
Great build, good onya mate!
Regards,
RLI
Cuppa, I finally spent the time to see the rig that is at the top left corner of your posts.
I love what you have done regarding hot and cold water, and the storage and facilities that you have installed.
I have been researching solar and other things and thanks to one of your posts, and I now don't think this one, have some more information on sola and how I want to set mine up.
I'm travelling from SA to Wodonga at the end of April and will be there in May.
I'll check the map to see if I will pass your way, as I would love to see your rig up close and talk about the effort you have put in.
Might be out of the way at a guess, but when there is an opportunity to expand ones mind with awesome stuff like this I cannot have enough.
Thanks for the kind words Lieney.
I reckon it unlikely you'll be passing by my way en route to Wodonga, but if you want to detour south you'd be most welcome to visit. We have plenty of room for camping. We will however be away camping during the first weekend of May. (3rd to 6th).
Having now used the camper for some time away with both of us, I am quite pleased how it's turned out, & MrsTea has given it her approval. However , as always there are compromises, & and things I wish I'd done a bit differently, but nothing major. Basically just stuff to adapt to, rather than change. Par for the course for a fit out made up as I went along. I had an overall picture in my mind of what I wanted, but the means of achieving/constructing this was a process of evolution. I wish I could have planned all of the construction before getting start red, but my head just doesn't work like that. I'm better at working out that sort of stuff when I physically have it in my hands in front of me.
The main issue of course is being over the GVM, but this is now hopefully in hand.
I have changed the water pump yet again, now on the 3rd pump & finally got one suitable. It is a lot smaller, draws only a maximum of 3 amps, & has a flow rate of just 4.3 litres per minute, with a max pressure of 35psi. Initial opening of the 'tap' (trigger gun') needs a little care as 35psi will still cause 'splash back' (if running it into a cup for example), but as soon as this initial pressure is relieved flow is ideal. As hoped for the hot water remained hot for 3 days, & was still luke warm on day 4. Camped for 5 days saw us use about half the contents of the water tank, but we could have been a fair bit more frugal. With the under tray 30 litre tank utilised, I am confident we could make our water supply last for two weeks as planned.
I was particularly pleased with the solar. With the 35 litre freezer set on minus 17 throughout the day & turned up to minus 13 once the sun had gone in each day, & the 60 litre fridge set on minus two, plus minor stuff like recharging the iPad, lights etc we found the batteries were fully recharged by between midday & 1pm each day. On the day we drove home we arrived home with fully charged batteries. The main thing I found I want to change is to our chairs. Basically I enjoy my comfort & found that the lack of somewhere to lay down in comfort during the day unacceptable (kitchen needs to be closed to access the bed). MrsTea has a reclining chair, but my one isn't. Being able to recline made a huge difference & it was sometimes a squabble over who got which chair. I have just ordered two reclining chairs for the Patrol, both with alloy frames, (OzTrail Cascade 5's) almost half the weight of our existing ones. Nothing fancy, but allow for laying back with feet up (Eee looxury lud!).
The rooftop tent was great, but possibly needs a new mattress. The tent was *much' easier to put up with two of us, going up in 2 or 3 minutes. MrsTea pushes on one side with an extended tent pole, whilst I pull down on the awning. Very quick compared to struggling by myself. Once open two guy ropes attach to the side of the vehicle & that is basically it. Two poles & two more guys pegged into the ground give the full awning. Packing the tent away took a bit longer, but practice will speed this up.
The sliding plastic box system worked quite well. We kept the boxes out once camped & have decided that the extra camp table we were going to buy is not necessary as a couple of boxes piled one on top of the other make a reasonable table. Tools & spares & recovery gear now fit into 3 plastic 'tote trays' in the driver side under tray 'drawer space'. Took a while to find some the right size & of durable construction. They have cord attached to them to retrieve them, which worked well. I have junked the long drawer I made to store the OzTent under the tray on the passenger side to save a bit of weight, finding we can slide the tent in, inside it's original bag.
Probably the biggest issue was remembering where stuff was stored, often requiring a number of boxes to be opened to find what was wanted. This will improve with familiarity.
The driving cab will undergo a few changes when I finally manage to get a single passenger bucket seat at a reasonable cost.
Cuppa
Good to hear it worked well for you, like hearing about other people's setup and stealing the ocassional idea.
Top job cuppa. So did you reduce the payload or up the GMV?
Kallen Westbrook
Owner of
Westy's Accessories
Both KallenQuote:
Originally Posted by Westy's Accessories
The GVM upgrade is in train, & I'm hoping to have it sorted within the next week or two.
Cuppa
so how long before the big trip Cuppa ???
Ah, that's the big question Bob. No fixed dates as the hope is that when it happens it won't just be a 'trip', but rather a complete change in lifestyle. A few small things like fixing up the house here & selling it, buying another more easily 'leavable' home base etc etc need to happen first. Realistically we could be looking at a few years away still. In the meantime we prepare & save every $ we can. One step at a time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob
We are dreamers, but have found previously that sticking with our dreams has eventually enabled them to come true.
Cuppa
I'm trying to get the wife to do it now... While the kids are young and not in school... But she's worried of the might be's.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuppa
Kallen Westbrook
Owner of
Westy's Accessories
That was our plan years ago, but the Pyramid building society crash put paid to that...... & we were so close!Quote:
Originally Posted by Westy's Accessories
There are plenty of young families out there doing it, & when you are younger it is easier to 'rough it' a bit more.
The family that sticks in my mind was Mum, Dad & two kids travelling in an old beat up old FJ (I think) Cruiser. Running it on used veggie oil. Met them at Uluru. They had just come across from Laverton, had been to the hotels/cafe at Uluru & managed to get a heap of used cooking oil & were in the process of straining it for use. It was a hard way to travel, but they were out there & doing it, rather than sitting home watching the idiot box. The kids, both under 6 were having a ball.
There are folks from all walks of life out there seeing the country, from those in the huge mansions on wheels, to the pensioners who camp up between pension cheques, & then move on as their shoestring allows..... & everything else in between.
When we eventually take off again (when, not if) we expect to have a reasonable 'nest egg', but hope to dip into it as little as possible, finding casual work, & house/farm sitting as much as we can. Some folk sell up everything, but we all need more or less in terms of a security blanket. For us it is essential to have some sort of homebase we can return to if our health dictates the need.
One couple we met had worked the season at a beautiful & remote resort, making beds, cleaning toilets etc. low hourly rates, but all food accommodation provided (along with living in a fantastic place & a few perks - like free tours etc). When the 5 month season finished they had saved enough to continue travelling for the next 7 months.
We had lots of worries about the 'what if's' before our big trip ..... But it's amazing how silly most of them seemed once out there & doing it. Worries about extended family - stay in touch just the same. Nowhere is more than a day or two away in an emergency. Worries about mechanical breakdown - tell me about it - ours was about as bad as it gets - thankfully we had budgeted for an 'emergency kitty' which we hoped not to use, but which paid for a replacement motor in Katherine. Worries about safety - often a big one for some - all I can say is that in 18 months on the road we never once felt threatened or unsafe - it's a state of mind as long as you use a modicum of common sense. There are probably many other worries, (believe me , I'm a worrier!) but they really all just melt away once the reality of life on the road kicks in.
As a result of my blog, we had all sorts of people following our trip, & it wasn't uncommon to receive invitations to visit from strangers when in their neck of the woods. Often this was because one partner wanted to 'prove' to the other that 'normal' people were in fact able to travel like this & survive! As part of the 'convincing' process.
Maybe suggesting to your wife that she read my, or other travellers blogs might help.
All our circumstances are different, but for most, us included, if you don't do it before the kids start school, it is likely to be a long long time before you do manage it.
All relationships differ too. I was the one who drove the desire to travel. MrsTea wasn't keen, she has always tended to be a 'homebody'. However she recognised it was my dream & reluctantly agreed. When I got cold feet shortly before taking off, it was her that pushed to keep the dream alive.
After the first few weeks of adapting to being together 24 hours a day & life on the road in general, she started to enjoy the thrill & freedom of a different million dollar view each morning. By the end of the 3rd month, we were both knew that when referring to 'home' we meant our bus. The trip changed her outlook, although still a homebody she now recognises that 'home' does not have to be in one place, & the dream to travel more is no longer just mine, it is our shared dream.
We only get one life.
Cuppa.
@ Kallen if you're trying to convince the Wiife ,do as a few of my mates have done,
They ring Mobile home rent places. they say want a winnebego taken from Adelaide
to Broome they pay you fuel money and a time of when to have motorhome there.
Great Lurk Two BFFs been doing it for 2 yrs nows. been all over Aust.
Thank cuppa. And would love to be afford to that td..
Kallen Westbrook
Owner of
Westy's Accessories
Hi Kallen,
Get the wife to have a look at this site http://www.livinontheroad.com.au/
This is my nephew and family and have been traveling with 4 children under 10 for some time, although they are now semi permanent for about 12mths or so.
They love it and think it the best thing they ever did, unfortunately I was always to worried about the 'what ifs' as well.
Nice looking rig buddy
Great thread cuppa and really enjoying it, the position switch is for when a Telstra tech tries and drives off with the passenger side tray door open. It would activate an alarm.
WOW!!!
I might go back to my cave and hide for a few years.
Really impressed
Cuppa
I have a small problem. Whilst ripping out all the ex-Telstra wiring for the POD I disconnected the alarm wiring on the passenger side door. Can you help with a wiring diagram. I think the door switches should be wired in parallel with the squawker alarm but not sure. I have tried a few different ways and after a couple of fuses decided to test the grey matter to come up with a solution. My solution was to seek the guidance of another podder.
bindoonblu
Hi bindoonblu,
Short answer is "I'm not sure". It's late & time for bed. Am leaving for a camping weekend first thing in the morning. Will be back home Monday evening. With a bit of luck another podder of the Telstra flavour may be able to help before then, but if not I'll see if I can suss it out when I get back.
Cuppa
Hi Cuppa
Just read the thread from start to finish. Rather inspiring. I was looking for ideas on storage and ideas in general for fitting out my ute and have learnt a lot and will use some of your ideas as my set up will be a far more basic. The kitchen and water specifically were excellent for my use. Your advice on 12volt and solar in this and other threads is also excellent. Well done
Peter
Thanks Peter. There’s a bit more to read at http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...New-wheels-etc
and http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...light=glovebox
I have also fitted ST bucket seats & console, had the GVM upgraded to 3900kg, replaced steel winch cable with Dyneema rope, fitted a CB radio, dimpled & slotted front brake discs with EBC Greenstuff pads, Tyre Dog TPMS & a dash cam, & a new Pioneer head unit with JL component speakers.