Fraser Island Sep 2016, 14.44-4.

[Robbo1979]

Heading over to Fraser Island for the Sep school holidays and this will be the start of the trip write up. The first big trip since taking ownership of our Expanda 14.44-4 in Jun this year.

Currently we are cooking some prepared meals (something we have done since our Savannah Way trip of 2011) and getting everything that we want to take, out, so we can start to decide on what we really need.







And we really need all the above....………………

I've started thinking about rust prevention. What have others done to their van? And tips will be appreciated.



Heading out for a fish ( photo from last years trip).


I think set up will be a bit quicker this year in the Expanda

 

[MDS69]

Good luck with your trip. Looking forward to your planning and updates. Doesn't your van have a galvanised chassis??? So rust prevention might not be necessary.
Also what are you towing it with and are you going up the centre or along the beach. I would like to know how you go if you went up the beach. We stayed at Catherdral Beach CP last time in a soft floor CT and I reckon it would be a battle trying to get in there off the beach if it is chopped up like it was when we visited.

 

[DRW]

I have always wanted to go to Fraser with a hard floor camper/van, the father of a work mate has the exact same van as ours and takes it up so i cant see any problems if the tow vehicle is up to it and i assume it is, enjoy

 

[Drover]

If you can make it to the barge at Innskip the rest should be easy.

 

[Robbo1979]

Good luck with your trip. Looking forward to your planning and updates. Doesn't your van have a galvanised chassis??? So rust prevention might not be necessary.
Also what are you towing it with and are you going up the centre or along the beach. I would like to know how you go if you went up the beach. We stayed at Catherdral Beach CP last time in a soft floor CT and I reckon it would be a battle trying to get in there off the beach if it is chopped up like it was when we visited.

Thanks. Yeah galvanised, just wondering if others have taken any extra measures (plan on keeping this van for a while). I used fish oil on the car last year and never again, I still have sand stuck to it. I will head up the beach, personally I wouldn't go through the the middle while towing (especially during school holidays), trying to move out of the way of other vehicles is bad enough without doing it with a van on the back. I'm not sure how long it's been since you stayed at Catherdral but the entrance has wooden slates which makes getting off the beach and in quite easy. Getting on and off the barge is another story but all part of the fun.

 

[Drover]

Beaches are wide and flat at the moment, just get the tides right.

 

[Drover]

Oh and when you spray with fish oil you really need to let it set for a few weeks before hitting the sand, lets it get a layer of dust then sand don't stick, as for the van I've sprayed both of mine with either chassis black or sound deadener not so much for rust protection but any water damage as the underneath of the floors doesn't seem to have much of a paint job.

 

[MDS69]

Thanks. Yeah galvanised, just wondering if others have taken any extra measures (plan on keeping this van for a while). I used fish oil on the car last year and never again, I still have sand stuck to it. I will head up the beach, personally I wouldn't go through the the middle while towing (especially during school holidays), trying to move out of the way of other vehicles is bad enough without doing it with a van on the back. I'm not sure how long it's been since you stayed at Catherdral but the entrance has wooden slates which makes getting off the beach and in quite easy. Getting on and off the barge is another story but all part of the fun.

Yeah it was 2011 we stayed. We went up and back on the beach and haven't seen the inland road. Where are you staying this time.

 

[Robbo1979]

Oh and when you spray with fish oil you really need to let it set for a few weeks before hitting the sand, lets it get a layer of dust then sand don't stick, as for the van I've sprayed both of mine with either chassis black or sound deadener not so much for rust protection but any water damage as the underneath of the floors doesn't seem to have much of a paint job.

Thanks Dover exactly the tip I was after, I was on the same page as MDS69 with the fact the chassis was galvanised but thought I would ask the experts, having only owed a Van for 3 months figured there'd be some great preventative measures out there. 14 years in the aircraft maintenance industry tells me that preventative maintenance is the key to longevity of any vehicle

 

[Robbo1979]

Yeah it was 2011 we stayed. We went up and back on the beach and haven't seen the inland road. Where are you staying this time.

Back to Catherdral for the third year in a row, the whole park has a dingo proof fence too, great for the kids. Probably a bit more expensive than 2011 though (would not have been a cheap fence)

 

[Drover]

I think your pretty right with the gal chassis, something that Jayco seem to actually a good job with, but giving underneath a good spray with a protective coating is just good general care I think but a damn good wash down afterwards for sure.................getting damn expensive to go over to Fraser nowadays barge fee and permits.

 

[burnsie]

Hey @Robbo1979 looks like a great trip, we were just on Fraser for the past 4 days and unfortunately had to take the barge back today to civilisation , we didn't pull our van over there but did use a spray on product called INOX MX3 on all underbody and engine bits, use it on most 4WD trips, makes it much easier to clean the car afterwards, we also stopped off at a car wash place this arvo in Hervey Bay which has a underbody cleaner which sprays jets up under neath which was cool, saved me getting underneath and hosing it.

Not sure if anyone else has fitted any electronic protection like the CAT Systems or Coupletec to a van before, always had these on the 4WD and seem to help.

BTW, this was our first time on Fraser and it was fantastic (not sure if we will make it there again, being from Perth), not many people at all and we were able to drive around the island without too many other vehicles, I am sure it would be a different story during the holidays.

Enjoy the trip

 

[MDS69]

Back to Catherdral for the third year in a row, the whole park has a dingo proof fence too, great for the kids. Probably a bit more expensive than 2011 though (would not have been a cheap fence)

When we were there there was no issue with dingos in the CP but goannas were another story. Have they fixed the amenities block up. It was atrocious. From memory the CP had just changed hands in 2011 so if they have a new fence hopefully they have spent money elsewhere as well.

 

[Robbo1979]

When we were there there was no issue with dingos in the CP but goannas were another story. Have they fixed the amenities block up. It was atrocious. From memory the CP had just changed hands in 2011 so if they have a new fence hopefully they have spent money elsewhere as well.

My experience with the amenities block is not great but considering we go in the school holidays and it is very busy they do a great job keeping it clean and with plenty of hot water. Apparently this year they are under new management so I hope they keep this up.

 

[Robbo1979]

Some recent purchases for the trip.
McHitch auto coupler, and
4 new Cooper AT3. Anyone with review on either? good or bad.

 

[mfexpanda]

We have the Mchitch it's magic love it

 

[Robbo1979]

And were on our way................

 

[DRW]

And you will have a ball!

 

[MBC004]

A couple of days of average weather but looks like it should be good from now, have fun

 

[Robbo1979]

Trip completed and unfortunately I'm back at work

Some photos






I'll endeavour to write up a trip report over the weekend.