My BaseStation
- Thread starter Base23
- Start date
I have the independent suspension so I thought I would check the alignment myself and I found that I had between 4mm and 9mm of toe out on 4 wheels.
I could not find any specification on the Jtech independent suspension but a few different companies recommend 2mm toe IN on the front wheels and 0mm on the rear wheels.
To check the amount of toe I had I used a straight edge across the face of the tyre and measured back to the chassis either side of the tyre.
So I went under the van to have a play. The Jtech suspension only has adjustment for toe and you can not adjust the camber.
I first marked all the bolt factory setting so I could revet back to the original setting if I need to. I then loosened the nylock nut and turned the adjuster bolt on one of the suspension arms and set the toe measurement to the specification that I had.
Tonight I will do a tyre rotation from left to right to help with tyre ware.
Photo of tyre, worn on inner edge of tread
Marked factory setting
4mm to 9mm toe out
This is how much I had to rotate it
My toe is now 2mm in on front wheels and 0mm on rear wheels
Nothing ever goes to plan as one of the side block the bolt rotates against to adjust the toe broke so I had to re weld it back on.
(don't be rude tack welds from factory)
That should work, it's easier if you park each wheel on it's own square of lino or other slippery stuff, wheel will turn easier and less stress on fittings, roll van forward and back and couple of metres with no turning then check as the tyre flex will take up some of the movement, if you had the wheels off the ground disregard the former.............
With dual axle you should rotate front to rear regularly as the rears will scrub.............a steer type tread will offer less rolling resistance and won't chop out as much as a chunky tyre, which serves no purpose other than looks good.
Excellant DIY by the way................GR8
PS: Did you check your measure from a couple of points on the tyre ?????
With dual axle you should rotate front to rear regularly as the rears will scrub.............a steer type tread will offer less rolling resistance and won't chop out as much as a chunky tyre, which serves no purpose other than looks good.
Excellant DIY by the way................GR8
PS: Did you check your measure from a couple of points on the tyre ?????
Will have to remember the lino trick for next time
Rolled van forward and backwards after every adjustment. ( family were getting sick of coming out to shed to help push van)
and yes I did take measurements from different point on tyre, had to make sure my straight edge was not resting on any of the raised lettering of the tyre though.
Cheers
Just sent Coastrv an email and they sent me the latest H version that was only released on the 20/7/16
Thats the way, it can be a pain but most satisfying when you sort it out yourself................the lino works or anything that allows the tyre to turn on the concrete without distorting.
While we were away we we doing a lot of walking so we were drinking a lot water. The drinking water we use comes from my tanks through the factory fitted filtered water tap next to the sink. When we are filling water bottles through this tap the 12 volt pump turns on and off very rapidly and the plumbing pipe work vibrates and is quite noisy as the water flow through the filter tap is slow. Whenever a tap was turned on low we would have the same problem.
To try and fix this problem I am going to fit a Shurflo accumulator (182-200).
I have decided to fit the accumulator to the underside of the van because if it ever leaks it will not cause any damage inside the van.
Before I could fit it I had to sort out the pipe work under the van as I needed a little room to mount it to the underside of the floor. The factory pipe work was a bit messy and pipes all crossed over each other so I decided to remount the water valve and tempering valve so the pipe work runs a little neater.
Before
After
I needed some John Guest fitting and hose to connect up the accumulator but it was a very simple modification. Basically the accumulator just goes inline in the pump outlet pipe.
All installed and looking quite good.
When I now turn on the water filter tap the pump does not cycle and there is no noise from the pipe work.
To try and fix this problem I am going to fit a Shurflo accumulator (182-200).
I have decided to fit the accumulator to the underside of the van because if it ever leaks it will not cause any damage inside the van.
Before I could fit it I had to sort out the pipe work under the van as I needed a little room to mount it to the underside of the floor. The factory pipe work was a bit messy and pipes all crossed over each other so I decided to remount the water valve and tempering valve so the pipe work runs a little neater.
Before
After
I needed some John Guest fitting and hose to connect up the accumulator but it was a very simple modification. Basically the accumulator just goes inline in the pump outlet pipe.
All installed and looking quite good.
When I now turn on the water filter tap the pump does not cycle and there is no noise from the pipe work.
Hi @Base23 , we are looking at cvp's in Alice Springs for October and have read a few unflattering reviews about the ensuite sites at the Big 4 McDonald Ranges. What did you think of them (other than the site being too small!). Was it clean and worth the cost? We have also been considering the park across the road from Big 4 as they have ensuite sites too but we don't know much about this park either. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Wanda
The big 4 was a great park, staff were helpful and plenty of facilities. The ensuites were dated but they were clean and had everything you needed. They do not clean the ensuite during your stay but if you run out of toilet paper you just ask and they give you some. When we were at the park there were 2000 other guests so I think the ensuite was worth every cent.
Thanks for that, there are so many reviews around it's good to have one from someone who has been there recently. We really want an ensuite site because we will be staying for about 9 days attending the Masters Games. As for the toilet paper, well that's not a problem, personal preference dictates we always byo!
Cheers, Wanda.
Mac range is much better than the one across the road cleaner looking. Lack of backpackers. Pancake breakfasts on weekends.
Just a small mod but on the weekend I rotated the bolts that hold the cables for the expanda bed end.
They were factory fitted with the bolt thread towards the canvas and when the bed was folded the thread would touch the canvas and I was scared the one day they would rub through.
Factory
Bolt thread now not near canvas
They were factory fitted with the bolt thread towards the canvas and when the bed was folded the thread would touch the canvas and I was scared the one day they would rub through.
Factory
Bolt thread now not near canvas
While we were away up in Uluru and Kings canyon we had a few power outages in the parks and because I have wired my inverter to power the complete van it caused a few problems. We were using the A/C during the times the power went out and the inverter would just kick in and we would not even know the power had gone out until about 10 minutes later when the van battery was flat and alarms would sound. This also was a problem with the hot water heating and using inverter power.
So I am rewiring the van so that the A/C and hot water service and not connected to the inverter.
To do that I have had to pull apart the pantry cupboard to get to the 240v wiring and add a few extra cables.
This is how it was wired
This is how it will be
This is the mess
Will get some CMS cables today and complete the wiring tonight.
So I am rewiring the van so that the A/C and hot water service and not connected to the inverter.
To do that I have had to pull apart the pantry cupboard to get to the 240v wiring and add a few extra cables.
This is how it was wired
This is how it will be
This is the mess
Will get some CMS cables today and complete the wiring tonight.
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Wow, inverter running the HWS that would suck the batteries inside out I would have thought..................been checking power usage while camped on the block and was nearly using as much as our old house !!!!!!!!!! by shutting hings down it has dropped to a better level the HWS was chewing up 60% of the power and the AC for heating was taking the rest with the fridge being very efficient on 240 compared to 12v, now run the HWS on gas instead....
Going by the pic of the wiring did you do a Jayco wiring course ?????
Going by the pic of the wiring did you do a Jayco wiring course ?????
Yes HWS uses about 1600 watts so that does not take long to flatten battery.
I would normally run the HWS on gas when free camping but we were in a caravan park and connected to mains so had it on 240volt. It was because on the caravan park power outage that I noticed that I had a problem with the inverter kicking in.
That wiring is all Jayco. (very messy) I have not touched it yet just pulled it apart to see what I needed. It will be a lot neater when I have finished.
HWS is like having the kettle running non stop, you will need patience and panadol to play with that wiring I reckon...........I've taken to leaving the gas turned on for the fridge so if the power goes off the fridge will run on gas, I reckon if it blows up then I can go van shopping again and lost tucker will be the least of my problems.
Picked up 3 CMS cables and some double adaptors so I could rewired the van last night. Now the hot water and A/C only work when connected to mains power.
Basically I split the power in to 2 circuits after the factory circuit breaker, One run feeds HWS, A/C and battery charger and the other feeds goes through the inverter to supply all other power points.
Hot water service and setec battery charger power points had to be rewired on a separate run with the A/C
Had to pull a lot apart to change what power point was feed with what power but now I should have no problems when free camping or during power outages.
Basically I split the power in to 2 circuits after the factory circuit breaker, One run feeds HWS, A/C and battery charger and the other feeds goes through the inverter to supply all other power points.
Hot water service and setec battery charger power points had to be rewired on a separate run with the A/C
Had to pull a lot apart to change what power point was feed with what power but now I should have no problems when free camping or during power outages.
I found that the hinges on the 'trap door' to the boot rubs on the bi-fold mattress and was actually starting to wear a hole in the mattress. Ended up putting Duct tape over the hinges. Any one else found this?
Will definitely check the bolts on the Sea Dragon next time but fairly sure they are already turned.