New Member : Chesh

Chesh

New Member
Jun 26, 2013
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Morning all,
My name is Paul. Im a Professional Firefighter in Melbourne in the MFB. Cathryne (my wife) and I own 2009 16.49 Expanda Owner, towed by a 2011 SR5 Hilux. We bough our Car and Van for our FIRST REAL family holiday which we leave for in less than 4 weeks. We have done a lot of free camping up the Murry River at Tocumwal over the past 5 years. We started in a Millard Aerolite. Was a terrible van. Towed by a 2004 Holden V8 Calais. We bought the Expamda 2 years ago EXTREMELY cheap and couldn't knock it back. The Hilux was bought so we had a brand new car for our Holiday and something that could do some offroad.

The Van.
The Original owner did the underslug axle which it needed as my 4wd sits quite high
I have installed a reverse camera on the van to make reversing a bit easier, as we know the loves of out life are not always spot on with instruction...hehe. We have the Queen size bed either end and the bunks / lonuge in the middle. The original owner had the 120 lt fridge installed as an option. I also replaced the standard TV with a Kogan 12V 22 inch Led. All the lights have been swapped to LED to save the all important 105amp hr Battery while camping. I have a small problem with the Griller not lighting. I think its the Thermo Coupling or the flux capacitor. Other wise we LOVE the Van.

The Tug
2011 Toyota SR5 Diesel Hilux. Purchased brand new from Lemans Toyota Footscray/Tottenham Victoria. I have added a few things to it. Most of which I have done myself.
These include: Payed for installation
MCC Winch Bar (No winch yet)
I installed
Lightforce 240 Blitz Hallogen spot lights
Uniden 80ch UHF and aerial
Redarc SBI1220 Battery isolator
Saftey Dave reverse camera and Monitor
ARB Battery Tray
105AMP hr Battery
Power to Rear canopy and rear anderson plug via 13mm2 twin core Cable.
The plans are to modify the "Lux" so we can do the cape in the next 5 years.

Thats us..... We leave late July for 3 months touring QLD and NSW with our sons Lachlan 8 and Kai 6. As long as we get the Van back after the Dog burried out of the canvan end a few months ago and the Repairer is stuffing us about abit.......Insert angry face here.

Regards
Paul and Cathryne Chesher of Kilmore Victoia.
 

Soaring

Well-Known Member
Jan 30, 2013
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Melbourne - Eltham
Welcome to the forum Paul. I've spend heaps of time up Toc, but not for a couple of years. No doubt have seen you around. We have an onsite van at Timeout.
 
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MolongMick

Active Member
Oct 6, 2011
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Welcome guys,
Sounds like a great set up you have.
Wow 6 months on the road, that will be fun, I too will be heading off in about 8 weeks for our trip through Qld to Cooktown then down the coast, we might bump into each other.
Have fun and once again welcome.
 
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Xpandafan

Seriously Likeable!
Aug 24, 2012
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Kealba, Victoria
Welcome to the forum, Chesh :welcome: Sounds like a great set-up you've got there, and an exciting trip you've got planned. A resolution of that pay deal would be nice before you head off. Love the slogans on our local MFB appliances.
Re your grill...yep reckon it is yer flux capacitor. Can you light it manually or not at all? Assume the stove top gas jets are working OK with the ignition switch. Maybe worth having a local appliance repair guy have a look at it. Not essential, but would be nice to have the grill option while you're away. If it's just toast you're worried about,
we now always use a cheap 4-slice stove top toaster when free camping rather than grill.
394421234.205064.png
 
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Chesh

New Member
Jun 26, 2013
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Welcome to the forum Paul. I've spend heaps of time up Toc, but not for a couple of years. No doubt have seen you around. We have an onsite van at Timeout.
Thanks mick. We normally free camp at Toc at Weiss beach. Love that place. Hurry back summer!!
 

Chesh

New Member
Jun 26, 2013
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Welcome to the forum, Chesh :welcome: Sounds like a great set-up you've got there, and an exciting trip you've got planned. A resolution of that pay deal would be nice before you head off. Love the slogans on our local MFB appliances.
Re your grill...yep reckon it is yer flux capacitor. Can you light it manually or not at all? Assume the stove top gas jets are working OK with the ignition switch. Maybe worth having a local appliance repair guy have a look at it. Not essential, but would be nice to have the grill option while you're away. If it's just toast you're worried about,
we now always use a cheap 4-slice stove top toaster when free camping rather than grill.
View attachment 15107

thanks for your support for the MFB xpandafan. But the government are not in a hurry to sign any EBA's at the moment. Anyway. The stove works fine. Just the grill won't stay lit once you release the dial. We bought a toaster to get us through and won a weber Q200 inn a prize draw. So we should be ok. Or should I say the wife should be ok with cooking. lol.

Cheers.
 

Chesh

New Member
Jun 26, 2013
9
5
3
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Welcome guys,
Sounds like a great set up you have.
Wow 6 months on the road, that will be fun, I too will be heading off in about 8 weeks for our trip through Qld to Cooktown then down the coast, we might bump into each other.
Have fun and once again welcome.

if you see a blue hilux with personal plates CHESH2 Say hello. UHF will be on. I hope you enjoy your trip too

cheers
Chesh.
 

Burnsy

Well-Known Member
Mar 26, 2012
2,663
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Newcastle
Welcome Chesh, don't worry too much about the grille....takes about 10min to make toast! Some pics of your setup would be good when you get a chance.

Cheers.
 
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chartrock

Forum Patriarch
Staff member
Sep 26, 2010
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Gold Coast Hinterland
Welcome to the forum Chesh. Sounds like a great setup, mate, and 3 months on the road is a terrific holiday. Good luck with your wages claim, we have 2 sons involved with urban brigades and one of them works on the despatch board for the Qld firies 000.

Enjoy your trip through NSW and Qld, certainly lots to see. :applouse:
 
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Bushman

Forum Moderator
Staff member
Nov 9, 2010
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Wollondilly Shire NSW
:welcome: Paul and Cathryne , now that you've admitted to heading off soon, you leave yourself open to having to do regular trip report/updates,, We love pics around here.
 
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Chesh

New Member
Jun 26, 2013
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Thanks for all the post on my thread. This fourm seeing like it has a lot of like minded really nice people. Why can't we have towns like that!!!

I started a travel blog a few weeks back on the lead up to our trip. I will post a link in a new thread. Most if it is just berating the bloke fixing my van. Lol.
 
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