GaryKelly wrote:

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Good looking ute, QK. Very swisho! I wonder if all those ute people get their wheels from the same manufacturer... they all have those little holes. Mine does too and it's a Ford/Mazda.

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 Thanks Gary. I'm sort of "dipping my toe" in the world of the diesel engine, but so far I'm very impressed. It was originally owned by a plumbing supply company from Murray bridge. I was a bit cranky that it didn't have a tow bar, but as a friend remarked.............. "at least it hasn't had the guts pulled out of it!"

As for the wheels, they probably do get them from the same manufacturer. A lot of Aussie built cars had wheels made by ROH.

I'm currently exploring the option of building a pop-top camper for the back with my eldest son who is a cabinet market by trade and also into caravans. Traditional timber frame with aluminium cladding, insulated and with ply and melamine interior. Keeping weight to a minimum is the most important issue,  so any help with ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, I had one of these..a dual cab...great ute and pulled well, good luck .

bloomoon wrote:

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Hi, I had one of these..a dual cab...great ute and pulled well, good luck .

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 Thanks Bloomoon. Before I do too many k's in it, I need to have it thoroughly serviced as who knows at what intervals it was done by the previous owner. It has a service sticker on the windscreen saying 208,000klm, but they may have been servicing it every 10,000klm and I think to be on the safe side it should at least have an oil filter and oil change every 5,000k's.

My intention is to change the filter and oil myself every 5,000klm and have it serviced by a professional every 10,000klm. My shift manager who has had diesel Hiluxes for years told me that's the best thing to do with them on advice from his diesel mechanic and he's never had any trouble. He just like to update every so many years.

florinhill wrote:

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I actually spent most of yesterday afternoon and this morning trying to track down aluminium caravan siding/cladding and it certainly is surprisingly difficult to find. I emailed a Ballarat caravan place who also does repairs and they'll sell it to me............ at $180 per 6.5mt length!! Considering that aluminium is usually sold by weight, that sound excessive to me, but it's an area I haven't had cause to visit until now and maybe that's a reasonable price to pay?

re the above , go to your local roofing firm and get them to quote on zincalume sheeting, comes in all colors and is easy to work with, reasonably light weight.

 

enjoy you project.

 

Bob

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 Thanks Bob. It's an idea and a lot cheaper too. I know from having bought it fairly recently, but I really want a professional look that only comes with caravan cladding. Using a timber frame means that a flat sheet will show every little buckle in the timber, especially when moisture and heat does it's thing.

I'm still emailing and looking around. I've discovered that you can buy caravan cladding from any caravan repair place. It's just a matter of finding one at the right price.

I went to a metal supply place and its called "trimdeck". It was a lot cheaper than $180 a meter.Another name for it is "custom orb". Ring up some steel suppiers such as bluesteel or who ever is in your area. It can save you a lot of money. I used 25mm square duragal tubbing , about 2mm wall, for the frame of the last one I built. It went up to the top of the Cape, and to Fraser island ,and acroos the Tanimi desert,a few times , with no problems.And steel is easy to weld with a home welder, and cheap rods.I would have liked to have it pro fiied out as I'm not the best carpenter.I hope this helps. Bill

Gerty Dancer wrote:

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Congratulations QK,,, whether you want to carry your home or tow it, that truck will do fine I'm sure.

Just one thing, in the interests of your privacy on the www, black-out your number-plate in the picture.

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 Thanks Gerty. With regards to the number plate thing, I did toy with the idea of blacking them out. I have an inbuilt sense that I should, however I've wondered on more than one occasion just how anyone on the WWW might be able to misuse the info. People see those plates all the time when I'm out and about. Unfortunately there's probably something about it that I don't understand, so if you or anybody can tell me why I really should black them out, I'll dump that picture and try to put up a modified one. I'm not really sure how you do it anyway. I'm guessing others use "paint" or something similar?

QueenKombi wrote:

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Woo-hoo! I did it! Now I know how to black out a number plate. Thanks Gerty for making me try

Too easy

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 Well, I thought it was to easy to be true. I keep editing the original post by removing the link to Photo bucket with the number plate visible and take the link to the new picture, but when I go to the post, the original picture with number plate attached is back!! What the hell???

All fixed now QK, well done. I've found it impossible to remove a photo or alter it in "edit" after posting.

I'm also planning a change of rig. Whether to just change my tug to a more sturdy vehicle, with better ground clearance, and probably diesel, or... update the caravan to a newer model as well, or...just go with a ute and slide on/glide on. One rego being the most attractive of this choice.

So many pros and cons to weigh up. Decisions decisions.

Baz421 wrote:

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QK

There are some suppliers around for aluminium plate (common sizes including 2400x1200x a range of thicknesses and Grades.

See links below and maybe phone one u like and get the "feel" of prices and thickness best suited to your application, they can advise you also on what GRADE TO BUY ie 5005.

Aluminium alloy 5005 contains nominally 0.8% magnesium. It has medium strength, good weldability, and good corrosion resistance in marine atmospheres. It also has the low density and excellent thermal conductivity common to all aluminium alloys. It is the most commonly used grade of aluminium in sheet and plate form.

https://www.aluminiumtc.com.au/store/category/browse/sheet_and_plate/stucco_plate/

http://www.directaluminium.com.au/products/sheet-plate-products/

http://www.ullrich.com.au/rolled/finishes/textured.php

Hope this helps  cheers Baz

 

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 Big thanks for your effort Baz. Haven't had time to look into it all, but one of your links tells me I've already been there. Lots of options there.

Thanks again,

Aime.

Hi, I find every 5-6000 is good.  Air filter longer..maybe 15000 depending on road conditions. if it is mostly bitumen this is good period.

feel sorry for me...my engine is changed with oil every 5ooo klm and oil filter. Engine holds 18 litres all up.