New Stuff

Submitted: Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 20:51
ThreadID: 25361 Views:3279 Replies:6 FollowUps:4
This Thread has been Archived
On my last trip (CSR) I tried some new stuff.

I don't use this much but on this trip I needed a Roof Rack Bag. It was a last minute buy and ended up with a bag from Bushranger. This bag is made of a tough vinyl, the same stuff they make the exhaust jacks out of. This bag proved to be very tough and water proof. On the trip we had a wet day and the other canvas bags ended up with wet gear inside but mine was dry.

The other thing was a extra UHF radio. I purchased a GME TX 3200. This mounted next to the TX3400 on the top shelf. Why the two? The 3400 with the extra 10 channels in it is on scan all the time with channel 16 removed from the scan program. The 3200 is used for convey work and we use channel 16. When the 3200 is receiving or transmitting I don't get any feed back from the other radio because it does not pick up channel 16. This works well and allows me to listen to any other party on the radio.

Already mention this, the reversing camera. Don't know how I drove with out it before. Makes reverse parking a lot safer. The corrugations have not effected the camera which is mounted on the roof rack and the screen is still good mounted on the top shelf.
The top shelf is getting very crowded with 2x speakers, 2xUHF radios,2x map reading lights, diff lock buttons and the screen.

The item that I am very pleased with is the rear bar twin wheel carrier. The reason that I am pleased with it is because I made it myself.
The stub axles, hubs and catches were all obtained locally and were the expensive part. 4mm thick steel was obtained from work, a mate bent it, then it was taken home and all the parts put together with the help of mig welder. The hubs had to be machined as well as the steel tube for the wheel carriers. This was all done at work on a mill. Having the steel tube milled to length and the angles milled all the same made the assembly a lot easy.
Cutting the holes for the LED tail lights was done at home as well as fitting up to the rear of the vehicle.

The Coopers STT are still going strong with no punctures and they have seem to have slowed down on the wear rate.
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Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 20:59

Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 20:59
Me again,
The post is not finished, I will post some photos tomorrow.
With the money I saved on making the rear bar I purchased a new Lap Top and I am still getting used to it. Hence the submit button was hit by mistake.

Wayne
AnswerID: 123864

Follow Up By: Well 55 - Friday, Aug 05, 2005 at 07:56

Friday, Aug 05, 2005 at 07:56
Wayne, I'd be interested in learning all about your Lap-top, as we are heading down that path very soon.
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FollowupID: 378881

Follow Up By: Wayne (NSW) - Friday, Aug 05, 2005 at 08:34

Friday, Aug 05, 2005 at 08:34
Well55,

Started looking at a end of model run out and ended getting a latest model instead.
A lot of the specs don't mean much to me but here goes
Intel Pentium M processor 745 1.8 GHz
Memory 80GB 5400RPM
Then there is a lot of other stuff about bells and whistles. The thing is also wireless so that with a router on the big computer in the office I can use this lap top any where in the house. We also got a wireless card for my old lap top which I have given to my daughter Eliza so that she is also on the net. Belinda gets to use the big computer in the office so that we don't see each other very much but she emails me when dinner is ready.
This laptop, HP Pavilion dv1135AP NB XC3551, what ever that means has a 14" WXGA High-definition Bright View Widescreen LCD panel, in other words it is easy to look at the screen.

We shopped around a bit but not to the extent that we got confused and got the laptop with the most for the dollars that we were willing to spend, bit like buying 4WD stuff.

Next week it will be an old model with another one to take its place,but if you keep waiting to see what is coming up next you will never buy one. I am happy with it so to me that is all that matters.

Even after buying this and building the rear bar I am still in front money wise if I had bought a new Kaymar Rear Bar.

Wayne
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FollowupID: 378886

Reply By: Footloose - Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 21:01

Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 21:01
The rear carrier sounds excellent. Any pix ?
AnswerID: 123866

Follow Up By: Wayne (NSW) - Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 21:06

Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 21:06
Footloose,
Hope to have some tomorrow.

Wayne
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FollowupID: 378852

Reply By: Member - Jason F (NSW) - Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 21:38

Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 21:38
I purchased the Bush ranger roof sack just prior to my Big Red trip and was pleased with its performance. The only thing I didn't like about it was the zipper is just a little on the small side for my fat fingers. Certainly keeps the rain out.

Regards
Jason
AnswerID: 123873

Follow Up By: Wayne (NSW) - Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 21:48

Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 21:48
Jason,

I put a key ring on the end of the zipper. That fixed my fat finger problem.

Wayne
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FollowupID: 378865

Reply By: Moose - Friday, Aug 05, 2005 at 13:20

Friday, Aug 05, 2005 at 13:20
Wayne
A good post. I't nice to actually hear reports on other people's experiences with various products/setups. And I know that with what you do the items are getting a fair dinkum workout and not just being used in a bloody caravan park! Are the STT's the new design?
Cheers
Moose
AnswerID: 123958

Reply By: bru55el - Friday, Aug 05, 2005 at 14:18

Friday, Aug 05, 2005 at 14:18
Rear bar sounds excellent!!

Would love to see some pics of the build/finished product!!!
AnswerID: 123966

Reply By: flappa - Friday, Aug 05, 2005 at 14:40

Friday, Aug 05, 2005 at 14:40
Good to hear the Bushranger Bags have improved.

Until recently they were VERY ordinary , confirmed by the number of returns to ARB.

Southern Cross were the roof sacks of choice.
AnswerID: 123968

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