G'day

[Sammy D]

I've been busy since we got home and have not had the time to log on until now.

All went very well with the van with no real issues at all, which was another pleasant surprise. After spending the night at soldiers point we went around to one mile beach and spent a few hours there before coming home. The car park is nice and roomy and we found ample space to park the van. The kiddies loved the beach and they were also impressed with soldiers point cp so we might get to return there in the future.

The van towed home really well and I am really starting to get used to the idea of vanning everywhere. Hopefully at the end of next week we will drag it out to Dubbo for a zoo visit.

I will be doing some measuring ASAP so that I can organise some stonestompers but that may not happen until I hook up next week.

 

[bigcol]

mate
that roo bar must weigh in at nearly the same as your Van.....................

 

[Bluey]

mate
that roo bar must weigh in at nearly the same as your Van.....................

I think I saw that car in the latest mad max looks good but heavy

 

[Sammy D]

It isn't as bad as it looks:biggrin-26:. The bar itself is aluminium but the side rails are steel, I don't have a winch so the front bar is actually a lot lighter than it looks. I got the steel sidesteps/siderails thinking they would be easier to weld when they get bent and thought saving weight with the alloy bar was a good option.

I haven't had to touch the side steps but I have re welded the bottom bracket on the bar (it's a long story but basically I was going quick, there was a huge roo and the bar was newish so I thought in the spur of the moment "I'm not slowing down for this one and i will see how the bar handles it" and then with a bang it was all done. Bar had only moved back a smidge but the bottom bracket had cracked so I pulled it off and rewelded it and made it a smidge stronger while I was there:encouragement

I can't remember exactly what the bar weighs but I can lift it by myself quite easily and from memory it was around 50kg lighter than the steel option. They are however worth their weight in gold, ours has now accounted for more than its fair share of fur carriers any of which would have crippled the cruiser otherwise and at legal speeds it will handle anything short of a cow. When wifey and I were first married we lived out west of hillston and it was not uncommon to have a few roostrikes a week, but we have now moved back to where I grew up and it is a lot less common BUT we still visit Hillston regularly and I like the peace of mind a bar gives when the better half and the kiddies are traveling on their own here or there.

 

[chartrock]

G'day @Sammy D, like you, I have an alloy bar but without all the supporting steel. When I bought it I was told it weighed around 32Kg as opposed to about 75-80 for a steel one, both without a winch. I did not want a winch as I am not into risking my $50K investment too far.

 

[The Goodwins]

Nice @Sammy D know your home area as I am a Tamworth Boy.........welcome