I've gone soft

Gday Glenn,
Would have loved to be up there ... but my son is getting married that weekend. I'm not sure I've earnt enough brownie points to cover that one :-)))

Gday Ed,
Yep, I've not really towed much before but thanks to Exploroz, I know it all already..... :-)))))

Don't you have any spare rooms for your poor old mum and dad or do we have to tow this "bed on wheels" from Adelaide? Have fun today!

We thought you must have bought it because you were having severe withdrawals from Dora :-)))) Looking forward to seeing it in a few weeks.

Gday Trevor,
Hehehe....Yep, its shaped like a lemon too :-))
We'll have fun....better get out there now

Bill,

I think Phil is going to wait until Mick has completed his build up including the mandatory testing before he gets a new one LOL

Cheers Kev

Gday Bill,

Yes, perverted and sick but true!
Yep, thought about an Ultimate like yours, but it was waaaayyy too soft :-)))

I was toying with the idea if an upgrade to the Bruiser but I reckon my model is better... just need to make the brake work a bit better (slotted rotors to go on) and I'll treat it to a 3" exhaust and Dtronic - then I'll have at least the same power and torque as the V8!

And Kev, Micks new beast looks pretty flashy - I guess he couldn't find a white one :-)) He's adding an extra axle in front of the hitch, so pretty much the same!

cheers
Phil

Phil,
Congrats on coming to the darkside

Seeing you broke your aerial, I will send you a new universal aerial shown below.

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As for the new V8, there is talk at work about importing 6cyl cruisers from South Africa for use underground as the maintenance costs on the V8's is very very high. A couple of mines I am told have already purchased some. Some for Mt Isa and O.D. I am led to believe.

Rockape

Agree there is no reason to change from the older 6 to the newer V8 - unless the older 6 is worn out. Buying new, there is no choice for on road use except one of the common rail diesels. Seems the mines can work around the Euro IV emission standards the government has imposed on us. The rest of us can't. I notice the South Africans can also buy petrol powered 79 series with 6 cylinder 4.0 litre 170 kw engines. That might be a more interesting engine for here but perhaps, like the diesel 6, it can't meet current Australian emission standards.

Changing brands does not help either.

My former boss has one of the older 6 cylinder 79 series. He was planning a year long trek through Africa. We were talking one day about the pre and cons of the V8 then new on the market. The V8 issues were all known even then (I bought a V8 a year or so later) We both agreed that the older 6 was the better vehicle for touring Africa and also there was no point "upgrading" from the 6 to the V8 if the 6 was in good condition, like his was Fuel issues, spare parts and so on were also a worry with the V8 in Africa as they had not changed to that model then or since. He shipped his cruiser over in a shipping container.

This is a long round about way of saying the emissions standards are what is behind the engine we get to "choose". That is government decision and not always what the manufactures, fuel companies or drivers would want.

One of the ironies is the vehicle manufacturers cop the blame for all the injector problems etc when it was an inevitable consequence of government mandating Euro IV compliance before the fuel distribution system or the manufacturers were really ready for it.

That said I love my cruiser and as it has a far more pampered life than its mining cousins it should outlast me.

PS Phill G has gone soft :)

Flynnie

Flynnie, yep I'm soft!

Rockape,
Don't worry about sending the aerial - I found a supplier in Adelaide.
Looks futuristic eh....
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Ok I give in.
Heres the best bit .... sorry about the dirt :-))
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And it looks like a Tvan:
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Here is the soft bit:
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And its got the electrical bits - the fan is neat - they used a volt converter to change the speed. Ands its got the 240V and charger etc
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I'll go back out and play......

Nice one Phil, looks to have plenty of factory options or it is a high spec model. Curtains, fully lined interior, stereo, 4 reading lights, roof storage and side pockets, stereo, looks like bed extension as well. We have the innerspring deluxe mattress in ours, worth every cent. Have fun tidying it up.

Krakka

Phil!! Just think of all the extra junk you can take away with you now!! Michael

Gday Krakka,
Yeah, its got almost all of the Tvan options. Went through the canvas and its got fully enclosed awning and draft skirt. I'm still fixing stuff - water tank was leaking from a crack caused by one of the tennis balls that secure it, so its been patched with sikaflex. I had the kitchen out and have added a marine 12V waterproof cig socket next to it, just below the hella socket.

Michael,
Yep, extra junk could be taken - the canopy on the truck is going to look half empty now! I need to be strong! :-))

Cheers Daza,
Actually, its got these huge yellow grab rails on each side of the mattress - what are they for?????? And the roof is lined with this velour stuff....not sure whether mirrors were an option!
Speaking of that.... I wonder how couples get on in the Tvan - 230mm travel in the suspension....would have to rock a bit....wonder if they hit their heads....hehehe

Gday Alan,
I'm hopeless at waiting - I expect you've had the 5 month wait. Getting new would have been good, and I was tossing up about it, but this one came up. Would have been nice to get the later stove and kitchen, the right axles etc etc Have fun when it arrives!!!

Hey Ruth,
Bugger, you found me out....
We're in town all March so I've emailed you
Cheers
phil

Gday John,
I'm not getting rid of the swags! We'll do more weekend trips in it, and take it to the GVD and WA deserts. Probably leave it at home for the Simpson trips!
I reckon I need to learn how to back it before doing Blue Rag. Naaa - wouldn't dare try it :-)
Is that a "tow track" or a "test track" :-)))
Kathryn didn't make it to the tennis - all looked too hard, but she flew to Melbourne to check out our daughter's new place, and help her with the shopping.

Got plenty to do with the Tvan. I want it to track as close as possible to the 79series (pretty narrow track), so will have to change the axles (it came with a narrower set of those big fat arms!)and may as well go with 5 stud hubs. Just working that out now.

Cheers
phil