We are off!!!

Well at last we are off we are currently in Port Auguster after the trip across the nullabor
The first night being just after Southern cross boy was it cold -3

After fuelling up in Norseman we spent the second night on the ninety mile straight at an over night stop we made it to Eucla on one tank although we chickened out and put the Jerry can of fuel in 15kms short of the mark night 3 just after Eucla at peg 55 as you can tell not much happening on the Nullabor as usual

There be whales in the bight bit hard to see in the pics though it was much too cold to spend much time here and last time we enjoyed a much better display by the whales

So night 4 just past Ceduna and now into Port Augusta we will spend 2 nights here then we will start to get into unfamiliar territory after Petersbough car ran well and van towed well currently returning 18 l per 100kms catch you all soon

Not long now!!!

Final preps van polished 4wd polished will service the weekend before leaving
Caravan suspension greased wheel bearings checked Breakaway battery checked started packing hooray!!!
Oh S#%t checked the deep cycle battery on a load test fully charged with the solar showing 13 volts
connected a 12 volt 50watt globe should draw 2 amps well 15 minutes and the battery was at 10.5 volts must have a stuffed cell So another expense purchased a 120 ah agm battery at least I now know it will last
 I am getting very very very excited now catch you all soon
     
Late entry decided to buy a 600lb weight distribution hitch the rear of the car sat too low on previous trips           will fit asap
When will all this spending Stop???                          

Another trial run

Our campsite at the rear of the rock

           

 

 

 

 

Views from the rock

 

 KOKERBIN ROCK

Well along comes a long weekend so that's a great chance to test the gear before the big trip We only took the rooftop tent as we know the caravan works for us But where to go Marion has found a spot called Kokerbin rock near Bruce rock WA Well it turns out to be a great little spot for a weekender flushing toilets and water available and all for free It is the third largest monolith in Australia after Mount Augustus (largest) and much to most peoples surprise Uluru (second) All went well the equipment performed well power lasted Friday night though till Monday morning with only a half hour idle of the engine The solar panel had been lent from me by my daughter for her holiday to Karinjini that made a great opportunity to test the battery set up on a weekend without it The only thing that failed was the dometic portable toilet which leaked flushing water  thankfully it did not leak the other tank!! It has been returned to the shop pending replacement from the manufacturer I hope!!











This week I have also made a new polycarbonate stone protector for the back window the old pajero one too thick to bend round the curve of the land cruiser window One millimetre thick polycarbonate purchased from Masters hardware is used this is  easily cut with tin snips 3m dual lock Velcro purchased from eBay to attach to the window and stick on furniture felts to act as spacers from the window looks like it will work great
 The caravan is also polished while the weather holds no rain this weekend we are almost ready 4 weeks to go

planning continues

The dual battery system is finnaly split the Factory battery now forms part of three batteries in the vehicle and one in the caravan
A 120 watt solar panel is purchased testing started 24 hrs past 80litre waeco fridge still running on 100amp hour battery but looks like the cheap controller supplied with panel needs replaced with a mppt one however it was 42 degrees today running fridge at -12degees will keep testing
The fridge is surviving well three full days and battery shows full at the end of the day looks like its ready for the trip but will still change the regulator at a later date well havent posted for a while Fitted a fridge switch to the caravan switch to prevent my aux batteries from losing to much on small stops easy to fit 5 minutes work Fitted a anderson plug to the rear of the vehicle to allow the solar panel to be pluged in without going under the bonnet or in the car also fitted an anderson plug with housing onto the battery box so that the lead for charging the battery cannot be pulled out leaving battery un charged at the end of a days driving

Planning the Trip

ONLINE COUNTDOWNS

Planning for this trip started straight after returning from Tasmania
That was march 2010
The trouble is  27 months needed to pass before Queensland can take place.
So plenty of time for planning
First thing its a new replacement vehicle The pajero just was not quite up to the task of pulling the 2009 Sterling 21ft outback around oz It did the job for Tassie but will be retired.
August 2010 purchase of a 2005 update turbo diesel gxl Auto

Pildappa rock SA

Bye bye trusty old Pajero you have served us well with over 280000kms over 55000kms towing the Swan camper then the Freedom poptop then the sterling all over oz Broome , Darwin , Ares rock Sydney , Hobart Melbourne I think you get the gist

A new vehicle has now been purchased all the old equipment from the Pajero now needs to be ripped out and fitted to the Landcruiser ABR dual battery system , electric brakes , 12 pin trailer plug for caravan , uhf radio and aerial a rooftop tent was purchased at the 4wd show ARB simpson 3 and a tracklander tenttopper roof rack optional awning and annex this allows us to carry on with the 4wd when the caravan cannot go any further ie Cape Yorke A Sahara snorkel also is purchased for water crossings Extending the diff breathers on the front and rear diff transfer case and transmission are planned soon

The existing double din in dash cd stacker had to go to make room for the uhf a alpine single din with bluetooth and ipod connectivity is fitted Dual lock velcro from 3m is purchased to allow fitting of the custom cut polycarbonate screens for the rear window to protect from stones thrown up when towing on dirt

A manual isolator for the second factory fitted battery under the bonnet has been purchased when this is wired in it will isolate the battery from the start battery it is then looped through the dual battery isolator to join up with the deep cycle battery kept in the back of the vehicle powering the waeco fridge in the back

A overnight trip to Dryandra sw wa is taken to test the recently installed equipment all works fine A toilet for the back of the landcruiser is also purchased for use away from the caravan