First ever trip - caravanning revelations!

[Sweet Pea]

thanks Gilmorehappy I'm having a hunt around the forum so I'll keep a look out and I'll certainly pop into big W. Yes the blinds were a bit of a crack up every time those slippery suckers defied the fingers.

 

[davemc]

yep the blinds not sure we like them better then the old style..
Here is the youtube again

 

[Gilmorehappy]

Another newby project; storage parking. While these rigs have long travel suspension designed for uneven surfaces, I cannot help but want to be kind to the rig and park it with even load on all wheels. Ours has a driveway with quite a slope, and when standing back looking at the front wheels taking most of the load, and looking also at the towers of leaning timbers and bricks, I couldn't help but scratch my head and think of a solution.

Being a carpenter by trade, timber was my go- to thing. It's cheap, can be cut, is strong, and with all those toxins soaked into it, it should be durable.

See below pictures which got the van nicely level with even weight on al the wheels, thereby assuaging my feelings of guilt thinking of those bulging front tyres and groaning suspension!

 

[davemc]

nice home made ramps.. Thats a bit of a slope
Ours is sloped on one side 15cms so have a few sleepers to even it out.

 

[Gilmorehappy]

good write up @Gilmorehappy, and it's not just newbies that feel this way, I felt the same way every time I took off with the van. It took me 30-45mins to get used to the weight again, and then getting out of Brisbane onto the open road helps me relax a little.

I find on the longer trips fatigue is definitely more of a factor when towing. I find the concentration required is much higher, where 8 hrs drive without the van is no big deal, the same trip with van in tow, and I'm knackered. The same goes for busy towing on the coast roads with traffic, speed changes, up hill and down, whereas driving out bush is much easier, though dealing with large semi's and Road trains on narrow roads with dodgy road edges then becomes fun.

All part of the wonderful experience of caravanning, and wouldn't miss it for the world. Its great

Congrats on the new rig by the way ....

Thanks @Holden_man you're right about being extra tired after towing. I found new respect for the heavy vehicle drivers, even if a caravan combo is a fraction of the size! And yes looking forward to getting onto those quiet backroads you mention!

 

[Gilmorehappy]

Thanks, it was nice

nice home made ramps.. Thats a bit of a slope
Ours is sloped on one side 15cms so have a few sleepers to even it out.

yes quite a slope and these ramps were the best I could come up with in response. Good thing is anyone can make them at a fraction of the cost of steel ones from auto shop. And, you make them to suit the slope. Plenty of internal blocking and a heap of big bugle screws should see them easily cope with the loads.

 

[davemc]

one question with the ramps how do you stop them sliding down the slope while backing onto them?

Towing and tired both Sarah and I swap every few hours, it helps the Disco only gets 300ks before it gets thirsty 370-400k it be dry as a bone

 

[Gilmorehappy]

one question with the ramps how do you stop them sliding down the slope while backing onto them?

Towing and tired both Sarah and I swap every few hours, it helps the Disco only gets 300ks before it gets thirsty 370-400k it be dry as a bone

The timber grips very well onto the surface below. No chance of slipping. That's another reason didn't,t use steel ramps. And, the plastic wheel levellers were a fail too as they always slipped out for us. could picture the whole rig slipping down the drive on those plastic levellers, like some sort of sick toboggan sled. There's a saying, steel on steel no deal, but I think it is also the same for plastic on concrete or steel on concrete too!

And, the disco, can't beleive the thirst! Colorado carries 75 L which should have it running bone dry 500 kms min. Pretty happy with it. :hat:

Would like @Willow4 to have a go towing, but I think she would prefer quiet style roads to start with. Glad you can take turns!

 

[davemc]

Sarah towed the first couple of times the Disco is big for me driving compared to my Mini
Long roads are easy, its closer to the city which your blood pressure rises and your palms sweat.
Also need to remember down small streets how wide you are so watch for trees and stupid signs that hand out a bit.

 

[Gilmorehappy]

So, I know the expectation around first trip photos. On that count, I fail dismally. Picture the exhaustion after the initiation drive as earlier recanted, and think about the choice between taking a photo or grabbing a beer after the aforementioned experience!

But the main purpose of the trip was the last round of the junior masters series held at different locations across nsw all year. So proud of my boy Harry, who after recently coming out of a plaster cast led the 13 and under age group for scratch with five over, and finishing well on day two to take out nett with 11 under handicap!

BUT, there were some photos taken by other, more conscientious family members. Borderline not of caravanning, but here goes;

First photo is the goulburn war memorial, an impressive stone structure perched atop a stone hill. Great monument and sombre reminder!

Second photo Harry took; this 'no smoking sign and authentic federation light with energy saving bulb, with heritage reproduction brick' caught his eye at the 'trappers bakery' where exceptional egg and bacon rolls with bbq sauce can be enjoyed. Recommend all traveller to stop there for that roll!

Jack in the yellow shirt can point his eyes in different directions opposite of cross eyed, see the remarkable photo, whilst dining.

 

[Marv_mart]

Gilmorehappy congrats on your first trip. We too left on Friday for our first trip after picking up our Starcraft from Jayco Sydney November 4th. We traveled to Gerroa on the South Coast and when we left at 9am and it was already 30.c which for us is a very hot day as we rarely get over 28.c and assumed the lovely South Coast would be cooled with a sea breeze but we were wrong. It was 42.c very with a very hot stiff wind blowing.

Back to the trip. Out Nissan Pathfinder simply ate up the hills and performed very well in low or high gears. Traffic was heavy on the M7 but as mentioned above the most annoying thing was cars that sped up to get past us then pulled right in front and slowed down. Very dangerous. We sat on 100 when the speed signs allowed but didn't feel we needed to go any faster.

I was a tad apprehensive that something would go amiss with the Starcraft as we've all heard the horror stories but we only had one problem and that was with the gas fuse valve thingamy on the two gas bottles. They both read empty so wouldn't let gas through to the van yet when we'd picked up Starcraft everything gas was turned on and working and the bottles were and still are full. Dear husband simply removed the fuses and we had gas so on the first service we'll have them checked or replaced.

Our caravan was immaculate inside and out when we picked her up and once away we used everything we could and everything worked well and she didn't let us down. We can't wait to get away again but will leave it till after summer we think.

Can't work out how to post photos.

With the gas fuse, once the bottle is turned on, if nothing shows on the gauge, press it down firmly to reset it and Bob's your uncle. Cheers

 

[Gilmorehappy]

Great write up @Gilmorehappy. You've squeezed in most of the testers on the first outing .... a wet drive, and setup in torrential rain and the trainings complete. Well done mate. Glad you made a great lifestyle choice

Hi @Crusty181 , finally got the torrential rain driving done, and on poor roads to boot! Feeling a bit nervous but survived it in holiday traffic. I think many more hours of experience needed; either that of a tow vehicle that's not so much lighter than the tow!