PJ

mongrel · Guru

PJ

GaryKelly · Guru

I've posted this pic mainly for Bill12's benefit. It's a pic taken of my slide-on when it was on eBay showing the storage bins and awnings. The box trailer was the one used to deliver it to my place (after I told the bloke I had the wrong type of ute, which was a Falcon tub at the time). I thought I hadn't saved this pic - or that it was lost somewhere on my backup drive - then out of the blue, a mate in Texas sent it this morning. Hallelujah! The camper is still waiting to be loaded onto my current vehicle, a tray back Courier, and parked next to a garage preventing me from checking out the awnings. So this pic of the awnings erected is just what the doctor ordered! Once the camper is loaded, I'll take a bunch of pics of the exterior and interior and post them on this forum. But for now, this will explain a few things to Bill who has a similar rig. BTW, this is the old original Freeway before the name changed to Winnebago - same company. There's a gas inspection certificate in the camper dated 1974 so I guess that's when she was built. The interior has been refurbished so it's pretty posh on the inside hehe. Not too flash on the outside but that's okay. There's a solar panel on the roof and the AGM battery goes in the storage bin. It also has air con. Not a bad buy for $4700. I was actually pipped at the post by another bidder and thought I'd lost it. But next morning eBay emailed me to say the other bidder had reneged, so I got it by default. Thank God for that! $4700 was my absolute limit... not a cent more.

bill12 · Guru

Its definitely a similar model to mine ,but I don,t have a backwindow , and the gas bottle storage is in the back rh side. I have mine on trailer at the moment, which I built and its a lot lower than that one.They are great campers if a but fragile as they have wood frames, but I have reinforced mine with a welded steel angle frame, which made it a lot stiffer in the frame.Look forwardto seeing yours on the back of the ute, oneday. Bill

-- Edited by bill12 on Monday 17th of June 2013 08:36:36 PM

bill12 · Guru

woops double post,

-- Edited by bill12 on Monday 17th of June 2013 05:48:56 PM

GaryKelly · Guru

brackets 005-sm.JPG

Thanks, Bill. Another difference is the wide window across the front. Yours is a single and mine's a double, with an aluminium flap. I'm attaching a pic of the brackets I had made to bolt the rear of the camper to the tray. Mine sits higher than yours because of the bottom storage box, so the brackets are designed to bolt into the steel U channel that runs the width of the camper just under the back door.

bill12 · Guru

I use turnbuckle to hold the camper down, and small angle brackets to help. Didn,t move last trip.When are you going to load it? Bill

GaryKelly · Guru

Yep, I'll be using turnbuckles as well... one on each corner, plus 4 chains attached to the uprights behind the driver's cab. As to when I'll get to load the camper, that's the $64,000 question. It'll need to be soon because I need a sparky to connect the AGM to the solar panel and check all the camper wiring. And then a gas fitter to check all the gas fittings. I'm also still waiting on my doc to give the go ahead for an operation on my lower gum so that I can get dentures fitted (a problem associated with radiation treatment last year). There's no way I'm gonna travel Oz with no bloody teeth!

jetj · Guru

Garry,

It looks like a wonderful buy. Hope you get it mounted soon and enjoy it.

bill12 · Guru

Now you can under stand why I want to travel NOW, not when Iget a pension, which looks like 7 or 8 years from now.I am in reasonably good health, and want to go while I can. All I have to do is sell the house and the business, which isn't easy in this economy.I would give you ahand if I was closer.Never mind , I'll just have to waste away on Magnetic island for a while.Will be going for a trip in October, which is too far away for my liking.Keep trying, Bill

Sheba · Guru

How will it be when a Cross-wind hits you though Gary ? I feel it in the Hi-ace, and that's not nearly so high.

Cheers,

Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Tuesday 18th of June 2013 08:55:04 PM

mongrel · Guru

Like you said Gary,take it as it comes..You will work out the best way to handle it I'm sure..Good luck mate..Alan

-- Edited by mongrel on Wednesday 19th of June 2013 12:26:30 AM

milo · Guru

often wonder how these things are held on the back of the utes, how hard are they to get on and off??

GaryKelly · Guru

bill12 wrote:
Now you can under stand why I want to travel NOW, not when Iget a pension, which looks like 7 or 8 years from now.I am in reasonably good health, and want to go while I can. All I have to do is sell the house and the business, which isn't easy in this economy.I would give you ahand if I was closer.Never mind , I'll just have to waste away on Magnetic island for a while.Will be going for a trip in October, which is too far away for my liking.Keep trying, Bill

Dunno what happened, Bill, but I just finished writing a whole explanation with pics and it went haywire. Anyway, out of the blue, a bloke helped me today. No appointment, no warning, no nuttin. He came back later in the day with power tools to do some extra work so the thing now sits flat on the tray between the raised lips of the tray rails - nice and tight, no side movement. I'll put the turnbuckles and chains on tomorrow. So, you never know what's gonna happen mate... and the sale of your house could be the same. A buyer just might turn up when you least expect it.

And Milo? Slide ons are pretty easy to put on or take off. Just undo a few turnbuckles and bolts and Bob's yer uncle. But it takes two to maneuver the truck between the support legs.

PJ-day-one 01.JPG

PJ-day-one 04.JPG

GaryKelly · Guru

Oh yeah... just remembered... the space between the truck roof and the floor of the cab-over is enough to fit a basket type luggage rack to carry an extra spare wheel. Hopefully, the shape of the wheel lying flat will act as a wind deflector.

Sheba · Guru

Sorry guys, but there's no way I could get a unit like that. It looks waaaaaaay too top-heavy for my liking. I wouldn't feel safe driving it.

Cheers,

Sheba.

GaryKelly · Guru

Things are only top heavy if that's where all the weight is, Sheba. It's an optical illusion. The top is only a shell. All the heavy stuff is below the camper waistline. Anyway, it's been around since 1974 so I figure if it can stay intact for that long, it should be okay hehe.

GaryKelly · Guru

Yep, I used to feel it in the old Kombi. You'll have to ask me that question when a cross wind hits me. Sheba. I guess I'll handle whatever happens as best I can, but if I can help it, I won't be driving in windy conditions. If a wind springs up unexpectedly, I'll pull over rather than battle it. But it'll largely be a suck it and see situation, gathering experience and knowledge as I go. I don't have the option of buying the perfect rig - or even a better rig. Getting this far with PJ has cost me every penny I have, and a lot of heartache. It's a compromise, but I'm happy with it.

Sheba · Guru

Hope all goes well for you Gary. Now that it's fitted, when do you start ?

Cheers,

Sheba.

bill12 · Guru

Looks great , mate! Whenst he cellarbration?You will get used to the different driving aspects-with the helper springs on the back, it won't be too bad. see ya on the road , soon , Bill

GaryKelly · Guru

Cellar Bration. I like that, Bill. Hehe. I'm still in a bit of a tizz from yesterday. Everything happened so fast! Yes, I will get used to driving it in varying conditions. I understand some people's concerns with its height but it's a bit like learning to walk in stilettos hehe. Ain't so bad after a bit of practice (not that I know from personal experience, you understand). As to when do I start, that depends on the doc and the op on my lower gum so that I can get dentures fitted. Meanwhile, I'll sneak out when no one is looking for a trial run - maybe a few overnighters or a couple of days locally. Electrician and gas fitter are next. And yesterday, a mate in Texas bought me a prezzie... one those rear-view camera setups that clip onto the interior rearview mirror, and that don't need reverse gear to operate. Thanks for the encouragement everybody - if I were any more excited I'd be in a straight jacket. Stralya here I come! Soonish.

bill12 · Guru

Good idea, that doing short trips first. I went to Brisbane, and took delivery of my rig form the owner at 10pm! Then drove down to Logan to stay at my sons place. It was good as there were no problems, even on the trip back to Townsville and the island. Dougwe, and perhaps Bowlerbear arecoming over for a visit , tmrow, so I should be busy with visitors.Great weather here at the moment.As Capt. Mainwaring said"DON'T PANIC"! Bill

Duh · Guru

Look good Gary, make sure you don't go to drive through Macka's or a bottle shop though, like someone I heard about, took the aircon clean off their motorhome along with a bit of the roof. Pic shown not the one, but gives you some idea;

PS: What does PJ mean? I think you did tell us at one point but the memory has faded ! wink Carol's Van.jpg

GaryKelly · Guru

Thanks for the warning, Vic. I hope I quickly get used to my new height restrictions. I figure clouds should be okay, though. As to what PJ means, I know it seems a bit odd to people because of the age of my rig and its lack of 'wow', but it's taken me so long to get my act together for all kinds of reasons that when it all began to finally happen for me I decided to call her Pride and Joy. To me, that's what she is. PJ for short. As one mate said to me, 'the view from yours looks just as good as it does from a rig with all the bells and whistles.'

Duh · Guru

Good name Gary and very appropriate! biggrin

It's easy to forget your high roof sometimes, get very complacent behind the wheel (me that is).

With the Hi Ace, I had the height of the vehicle on a card on the driver's sun visor, so If I passed under a subway or something I could double check the height clearance (just in case I forgot how high my van was, LOL). Also some underground carparks can be a trap, nearly got wedged under one that didn't give a correct height restriction to part of the carpark.

Happy travels for you and PJ Gary !! biggrin

Mark · Senior Member

Get out there and enjoy your travels Gary, it's the only way to find out what it's gonna be like smile
I do share the same concern as Sheba, not so much the height/weight issue because I think your answer on that is spot on, the weight should be at the lowest point to keep the centre of gravity down, (it's amazing how many people with caravan and motorhomes don;t think about this, even the TMOF struggles with storing stuff sometimes) but, the effect of crosswinds, is more pertinent, I know in my own rig as soon as the wind picks up the whole set-up handles completely different and you will experience a huge amount of side force with your set-up.
Make sure that you adopt and stick to your plans to pull over if it gets too windy, also by dropping your speed by 10kmh will help.
Hope you get on the road soon, once you've got your nashers sorted out.
Enjoy your travels and be safe, that's what it is all about.

Mark

Sheba · Guru

Duh wrote:
With the Hi Ace, I had the height of the vehicle on a card on the driver's sun visor.

The previous owners of mine, stuck it on the lower right-hand corner of the glass of the Instrument Panel.
Handy to be able to check.
Cheers,
Sheba.

Duh · Guru

Thanks for the tip Sheba.....I've just made one up for my Transit, may place it where you have yours if the dials allow it.. smile

GaryKelly · Guru

Can't forget mine - 3 meters (or about 10 feet). I took my first test drive in the rig today and I don't mind admitting being nervous hehe. I described it - and took a pic of the rig parked in the Mall car park to prove it - on my blog. Click on the link below, go to Waffle and click on Waffle045 (June 23).

-- Edited by GaryKelly on Monday 24th of June 2013 08:27:28 AM

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Gary, are you going to sleep up there over the cabin? you'll have a great view out the window, being so high! Love the meaning for PJ, good one.

GaryKelly · Guru

Yes, Gerty, that's my boudoir. Best thing is I can see out, but the windows are too high for anyone to see in, so I don't need to pull the curtains. :)