Homemade caravan update

Submitted: Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 19:58
ThreadID: 132413 Views:4261 Replies:7 FollowUps:2
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Time to fill you all in on our trip from Central Victoria to Darwin.

First is the economy from our manual Hyundai 130 2008 diesel towing the 450kg tare 650kg gross 3.2mtr long caravan. Ranges from 8.5 to 9.2 L/100km cruising at 95-98kph.

The caravan has performed well except the drawbar. Regular readers will recall the van was originally built very lightweight for a trike and went overweight. This meant the drawbar was made from only 50x25x2.5mm RHS with 3 trusses under it. We got to Tambo after that horror long stretch from before Roma where the road gets you sea sick, to find the bended section of the drawbar was cracked. It was repaired with another section of 50x25x2.5mm RHS under it.

That might have done ok but in effect the welder cut it one side and just welded it on not really making it fool proof.
At Cloncurry a team of experienced welders (thanks WW) welded thick plate each side (fishtail welding) and it isn't going to break. Very good job.

At Isa we purchased a 90W folding solar panel. The 120W roof mounted one couldn't cope running the CF18 small chest fridge in the heat as well as my CPAP etc. Does ok now but am planning another roof top one in the future. More the merrier.

So you learn every day something new. This time its - never skimp on a drawbar. Don't put a bend in a drawbar.

The van creates a lot of interest.

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