Member - Markthemilko

Bought an ex Thrifty Toyota 2007 V8 ute VDJ 79 series in Sep 09. Took it to Northam for Steelstuff to build us a 'camperback' with wing doors and a rear ledge for 2 spares. I fitted it out with basically on the lhs a kitchen: slide-out Engel 60lt fridge, & fixed 40lt freezer (powered by a second battery), a slide-out benchtop with 2 rows of 3 drawers above for food & cooking gear. Primus stove travels on the bench but can be parked on a slide-out rack from under the spare wheels. On a ceiling rack above the fridge we store tent accessories- fly screen, end door, floor saver & fly sheet We put the Oz tent RV2 alongside the kitchen so the awning goes over the open wing door giving us shelter 'in the kitchen'! On the rhs I fitted another 90lt ex Toyota ute sub tank on the floor up front and boxed it in. Added another deck 23cm (9in) above the floor, and store 4 plastic crates (40cm (16in) x 65cm (24in)) underneath - 2 for clothes, 1 for turfer winch, and 1 for spares (tyre repair kit, serpentine belt, fuel filter etc.) We store more food, as well as a chainsaw, on the deck The tent is stored on the edge of the deck. In one ceiling rack we store a blind taup, spinifex bonnet cover, 10m tow strap in safety bag, and on another below it 2 bags with our bedding. and alongside it a bigger one our mattress folded in half. Our spare start-battery also sits on the floor in its' own box.
A half roof rack sits on 3 bars, and the kayak sits on the other half.
Underneath we have an 80lt stainless steel (drinking water) and an 80lt plastic tanks. In 2 underfloor tool boxes we store lhs: 2 jacks & plate, wheel changing gear, jump leads & compressor; rhs: tow chain & strap, tree protector, 3 rated shackles & fuel gloves - I hate diesel on my hands!
Replaced the rear suspension with a 3 leaf Parabolic set. Insulated cab floor under passenger feet (above the exhaust pipe!) and added felt across the floor under the mat. Made a stout radiator grill in case we ever had to 'bush-bash'.
We live in Perth and have travelled (Nov 09)to Karinjini Nat Park and Mt Augustus, Monkey Mia.
In May 10 we travelled on the CSR with 3 other 4WDs to Wolfe Creek Crater, then south to William Creek to see Lake Eyre - by plane, & drove to the shore! South to Gawler Ranges & home. (about 8,000ks in 6 weeks)
In Aug 11 we drove to the Gold Coast via the Great Central road, Oodnatta Track, & Innamincka. stayed 2 weeks there (Sue was 10 pin bowling in the Nationals!) North to Hervey Bay & saw whales. Great beach north of Yeppoon, west to Longreach, Winton, Diamentina Nat Park, Bedourie, Birdsville, Annandale ruins, Cooper Pedy. Took 6 days to cross the Great Victorian Desert on the Anne Beadell. Broke a suspension bolt across the grease hole! Used the winch to align the bolt hole & had an ok bolt to get us home!! Great trip 14,000ks in 8 weeks!
Next trip: Cape York in September 12!
had to abort this trip as my dog was runover & I had to turn back to find a vet. Tanks is ok know after some surgery!