Starcraft Andrew's 20.62-3 Starcraft Outback

[twscoot]

Yes I do use a WDH. Even with Quadralift on the Jeep Grand Cherokee a WDH tends to tighten up the whole towing platform. I also use it on my previous 16.49-2 Expanda.
Set properly, there is no risk of dragging bars on the ground. Indeed the bars I have used for now almost 6 years have never touched the ground.

 

[twscoot]

After far too long a hiatus, we are back out again. Love it. 10 minutes to setup. Towed like a dream behind the Jeep up Cunningham's Gap (oil temp 118C) and now settled for the night near Warrick.

Photos to follow once we are into the trip.
Travel safe everyone.

 

[twscoot]

Some of you will have followed my concern with the 'max towball' number on the compliance plate.

http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/compliance-plates-stating-max-towball-weight.3930/

On delivery, the number was increased from around 205kg to around 235kg.

A recent requested upgrade changed this to 300kg as a quick weigh at home on uneven ground knew this was still way too low (and max towball weight is meaningless anyway in my mind).

Yesterday I had the chance to actually measure the towball weight with a full load on even ground.

We have no tool box, evenly loaded gear and not many extras, one extra battery about midway between front axel and ball, full tanks, a full fridge and clothes for four.

The weight was a smidge under 300kg.

No problem for us or the car but worth people knowing.

 

[twscoot]

If you've got kids and want to get them to sleep by staying out of the van one of these gas heaters is fabulous at night in a no camp fire park whilst drinking a red from the Jayco cellar...!
No good for more than two people but on a still night they are excellent.
Cost: about $110. Mr Heater Portable Buddy.

 

[twscoot]

A short sullage hose is a good silage hose....

Mine is in four sections.

The poly pipe into the chassis rail means it glides in easily.

A couple more sections in the bumper held closed by the screw on cap of the final piece of ploy pipe along the top of the bumper.

 

[twscoot]

And my in depth statistical analysis of the last four caravan parks we stayed at reveals.....
2 parks required 1 x 2 metre section of sullage hose - and oh how well the sink drained!
1 park required all 4 sections to get it away into a grassy section well away from our neighbour.
1 park required 2 sections - and oh how well the sink still drained!

 

[dagree]

And how well did it drain with all 4 sections ?

 

[twscoot]

And despite the previous cruel taunts about the lighting colour.....
I love the 'bar' now with an added dimmer adjustable (portable) warm white light below.....

 

[twscoot]

And how well did it drain with all 4 sections ?

Glad you asked! All good. You see having only what you need means no unnecessary bends in the pipe.
A superb modification if I may say so.
Now back to the bar....

 

[dagree]

Just recently cut our hoses down to different lengths for that same reason

 

[twscoot]

A favourite of mine is a wine glass holder above the sink.
1- Gets them out of the way.
2 - Stores them when camping.
3 - And they drip dry - straight into the sink
The trifecta modification!

 

[Marv_mart]

Glad you asked! All good. You see having only what you need means no unnecessary bends in the pipe.
A superb modification if I may say so.
Now back to the bar....

And what do you use as joiners for your sections?

 

[twscoot]

And what do you use as joiners for your sections?

One of these barbed poly joiners.
http://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-19mm-barbed-joiner-1011045b_p3126219

 

[Bushman]

One of these barbed poly joiners.
http://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-19mm-barbed-joiner-1011045b_p3126219

I use a couple of these to join mine, works a treat also.

http://www.bunnings.com.au/holman-50mm-pvc-coupling-_p3140887

Don't ya hate it when you end up 6'' short of the sullage point and ya have to add another section because you cant move the van closer.

 

[Marv_mart]

One of these barbed poly joiners.
http://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-19mm-barbed-joiner-1011045b_p3126219

Yeh, ok but if they are barbed, how easy is it to pull them apart again?

 

[twscoot]

Yeh, ok but if they are barbed, how easy is it to pull them apart again?

If you have one weetbix for breakfast a bit of strength needed. Two weetbix.... piece of cake!
Seriously - not difficult at all.

 

[twscoot]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. At 5'10" I thought the standard bed length would have been fine but I wanted just a little more.

I removed the bed head (just on one side figuring it was more than likely a future buyer would probably again be a family) and refashioned the whole storage setup.

The slope of the front wall meant that at the top of the bed head dropped, I gained length in the bed.
You can see from the picture with the foam I added I managed to gain 16cm in length. Sheet over the top - you can't tell.

The second simple 'modification' was to stop the spread of light from the bedside lamp for the midnight reader (*%#&&!&@). A toilet toll with black tape worked a treat! Slide it off when not needed.

 

[twscoot]

Our next trip requires four bikes to come with us (three normal and one tandem) so I knocked up this indoor rack which I can use with the single Thule pro-ride 591 bike roof rack not being used this trip. (They are a fabulous rack).

The tandem and two normal bikes will go on the roof.

The 'feet' have felt on the base and to the sides. It's very stable but I'll add a strap across the bike.

Just another option for those seeking bike transport options.

 

[dagree]

Great idea @twscoot :encouragement:

 

[twscoot]

A beautiful thing...

After a sensational stay at Clarkes Beach Byron Bay we are off to the Sunshine Coast for holiday number two.

4 bikes (three on the roof), a boot full of gear. Jeep tows this combination very well.