Well folks I thought it about time I updated you about our shakedown trip to Mallacoota. Well the van towed very well behind the cruiser and given all up we towed 3000kg or there about's we got 19lts to 100km so was very happy given the hilly coastal terrain. As I informed everyone we free camped at Genoa for the first couple of nights prior to heading into Mallacoota. This free camp would be amongst one of the best that we have thus far stayed at, with flushing toilets and cold showers. They do however use bore water which is a bit brackish and signage inform the camper not to use for drinking. Our trip into Mallacoota was enjoyable at time's but due to a weather change the wind picked up and made some day's unbearable, a top place tho regardless and the Mallacoota hotel ticked all the boxes regarding a cleansing ale and good food. We also travelled out to the Golf club for dinner as well and personally would not go back the food, was much better at the hotel along with the ambiance of the place. For those that have not been to Mallacoota there is a great bakery with great goodies and two supermarkets's IGA and Foodworks, along with Home hardware and of course some clothing boutiques, which C2 made various donations to.
Upon leaving Mallacoota we headed for Mystery Bay and planed to stay the night but alas upon setting up could not get the fridge started on gas so a phone call was made to the dealer in an attempt to resolve the issue but unfortunately we tried everything to no avail. We decided to then pack up and continue home of which we did. I then contacted the dealer again about the fridge and told him I would be up there in the morning as I wanted the issue fixed no good having a van without gas to run the fridge.
In short once at the dealers they tried to convince me I did not know how to start the fridge, but upon them trying to get it going no joy. So the back was then taken off (of which I never thought of doing) and a wire had popped off a terminal, and bugger me click, click, she started. So YES I learned something else and that's what life is all about, so happy I returned home and have started her several times on gas without and issue and even ran her today for 5 hours to make sure. The photo I have attached shows the offending terminal top left red wire yellow connector.
The shower recess well it was leaking. I could have got the dealer to look at it but preferred to do it myself and on inspection a significant gap could be seen between the bottom of the shower and the recess. Removing the scanty silicone that was there I the resealed the shower with more than enough silicone to plug Warragamba dam . Will wait now for it to cure and run the shower tomorrow and hope that the problem is resolved.
So in closing yep Mallacoota ticked the boxes as much as Genoa and we will return (Dougwe) the van, minor things really but glad we did not just set off for 7 weeks to Tassie without having the shakedown, especially the fridge problem when we free camp a lot. The new tug vey happy given the terrain as stated and the fuel consumption, well it worked only another 2/3 ltrs per 100 more than the old rig so happy with that.
Welcome home Copper1, pity you brought the rain with you!
Its so wise to get these "little" problems sorted while close to civilization/home... it can be a disaster when you are out bush without a signal. And its still a disaster at the time, even though now you know how to fix it easily.
What was Mystery Bay like?
justcruisin01 said
08:39 PM Dec 5, 2013
Glad you enjoyed the trip Cooper & yes its a good idear to try things before we head to far a field. I dont think any sparkies know how to solder a wire there days, if we took away the crimps they be buggered. I would be checking all those wire shown there for tighness of fitting as sometimes they need to be removed & the terminal closed a little with pliers.
Ours was hard to light at one time as the sparker only worked sometimes, removed the vent panel from outside & used a gas lighter while the YL held in the control button. Worked out later that the air gap of the ignighter was to wide, adjusted it & all was fine, the tip tends to burn back after a period of time.
JC.
copper1 said
09:22 PM Dec 5, 2013
Yes Jim you are right no soldering just crimp, yes I will be going all over those leads with a fine tooth comb the idea behind the photo and many of them taken of what goes where, is to hopefully if needed can be used as a reference.
Gerty, Mystery Bay well we did set up and were there for 1/2 and hour, Ok for a stop over but you are under a lot and I mean a lot of tree's but a beautiful view. I know of people who camp there for weeks on end but I don't think we would but that's just our personal opinion, we would prefer Genoa over Mystery Bay any day.
GaryKelly said
08:26 AM Dec 6, 2013
Gas fridges can be a bit troublesome occasionally so I carry a can of compressed air to clean the burner when/if it needs it. Also the panel on the side of the van that provides access to the rear of the fridge is screwed on so I'm having a hinge attached to make it a lockable flap. Access will be a lot quicker and easier, instead of undoing a million screws. Also, lighting the fridge from the rear is a handy backup if the piezo ignition fails.
Dougwe said
08:52 AM Dec 6, 2013
Sounds like a successful shakedown trip all round C1 for sure. Good to see C2 donated to the local economy but you made no mention of C3 mate, how did the little one come up at the end of it all?
Now, as to that photo mate, looks a bit like a home made bomb so make sure when that left hand red wire with the yellow crimper is connected you don't CUT it as that will set the timer off and you will only have 10 seconds to head for the hills or you will be blown to the hills and guess what? I tell you all that for free, just cos you're a mate and I wouldn't want C2 & C3 to get hurt.
Good to see you all got back to base camp safe and sound and the offending fridge and shower sorted.
I think by reading part of your report you did some research as well. I will give you a call soon.
copper1 said
09:17 AM Dec 6, 2013
Yes Dougwe C3 loved it all the freedom within a leash length anyway. Yes my research is completed it will be a toss up between Genoa and Mallacoota ?? as it will be time depending IE how long will the length of stay be. So yes we will speak at some stage and see what's our best plan of attack.
Well folks I thought it about time I updated you about our shakedown trip to Mallacoota. Well the van towed very well behind the cruiser and given all up we towed 3000kg or there about's we got 19lts to 100km so was very happy given the hilly coastal terrain. As I informed everyone we free camped at Genoa for the first couple of nights prior to heading into Mallacoota. This free camp would be amongst one of the best that we have thus far stayed at, with flushing toilets and cold showers. They do however use bore water which is a bit brackish and signage inform the camper not to use for drinking. Our trip into Mallacoota was enjoyable at time's but due to a weather change the wind picked up and made some day's unbearable, a top place tho regardless and the Mallacoota hotel ticked all the boxes regarding a cleansing ale and good food. We also travelled out to the Golf club for dinner as well and personally would not go back the food, was much better at the hotel along with the ambiance of the place. For those that have not been to Mallacoota there is a great bakery with great goodies and two supermarkets's IGA and Foodworks, along with Home hardware and of course some clothing boutiques, which C2 made various donations to.
Upon leaving Mallacoota we headed for Mystery Bay and planed to stay the night but alas upon setting up could not get the fridge started on gas
so a phone call was made to the dealer in an attempt to resolve the issue but unfortunately we tried everything to no avail. We decided to then pack up and continue home of which we did. I then contacted the dealer again about the fridge and told him I would be up there in the morning as I wanted the issue fixed no good having a van without gas to run the fridge.
In short once at the dealers they tried to convince me I did not know how to start the fridge, but upon them trying to get it going no joy. So the back was then taken off (of which I never thought of doing) and a wire had popped off a terminal, and bugger me click, click, she started. So YES I learned something else and that's what life is all about, so happy I returned home and have started her several times on gas without and issue and even ran her today for 5 hours to make sure. The photo I have attached shows the offending terminal top left red wire yellow connector.
The shower recess well it was leaking. I could have got the dealer to look at it but preferred to do it myself and on inspection a significant gap could be seen between the bottom of the shower and the recess. Removing the scanty silicone that was there I the resealed the shower with more than enough silicone to plug Warragamba dam
. Will wait now for it to cure and run the shower tomorrow and hope that the problem is resolved.
So in closing yep Mallacoota ticked the boxes as much as Genoa and we will return (Dougwe) the van, minor things really but glad we did not just set off for 7 weeks to Tassie without having the shakedown, especially the fridge problem when we free camp a lot. The new tug vey happy given the terrain as stated and the fuel consumption, well it worked only another 2/3 ltrs per 100 more than the old rig so happy with that.
Its so wise to get these "little" problems sorted while close to civilization/home... it can be a disaster when you are out bush without a signal. And its still a disaster at the time, even though now you know how to fix it easily.
What was Mystery Bay like?
Glad you enjoyed the trip Cooper & yes its a good idear to try things before we head to far a field. I dont think any sparkies know how to solder a wire there days, if we took away the crimps they be buggered. I would be checking all those wire shown there for tighness of fitting as sometimes they need to be removed & the terminal closed a little with pliers.
Ours was hard to light at one time as the sparker only worked sometimes, removed the vent panel from outside & used a gas lighter while the YL held in the control button. Worked out later that the air gap of the ignighter was to wide, adjusted it & all was fine, the tip tends to burn back after a period of time.
JC.
Yes Jim you are right no soldering just crimp, yes I will be going all over those leads with a fine tooth comb the idea behind the photo and many of them taken of what goes where, is to hopefully if needed can be used as a reference.
Gerty, Mystery Bay well we did set up and were there for 1/2 and hour, Ok for a stop over but you are under a lot and I mean a lot of tree's but a beautiful view. I know of people who camp there for weeks on end but I don't think we would but that's just our personal opinion, we would prefer Genoa over Mystery Bay any day.
Now, as to that photo mate, looks a bit like a home made bomb so make sure when that left hand red wire with the yellow crimper is connected you don't CUT it as that will set the timer off and you will only have 10 seconds to head for the hills or you will be blown to the hills and guess what? I tell you all that for free, just cos you're a mate and I wouldn't want C2 & C3 to get hurt.
Good to see you all got back to base camp safe and sound and the offending fridge and shower sorted.
I think by reading part of your report you did some research as well. I will give you a call soon.
Yes Dougwe C3 loved it all the freedom within a leash length anyway. Yes my research is completed it will be a toss up between Genoa and Mallacoota ?? as it will be time depending IE how long will the length of stay be. So yes we will speak at some stage and see what's our best plan of attack.