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shaken but not broken

22/8/2013

1 Comment

 
Having crossed back to Qld via the Plenty/Donohue highways we wended our way from Boulia to Winton and then south (past Lark Quarry) to Jundah.  From Jundah  into Wellford National Park (about 60 km SE of Jundah). Stayed at Boomerang Waterhole for 3 days and paddled about in the kayak - the first time it has seen water on this trip.  From here we went back via Jundah then north to Stonehenge and then turned east to Isisford and Tambo.  Turned north at Tambo along the Developmental Road and went into Salvator Rosa section of Carnarvon NP, then onto Rolleston via Springsure, then a big circle south and west through Injune to go to the Mount Moffatt section of the Carnarvon NP.  After several days at Mount Moffat we travelled back via Injune, Roma, Yuleba, then north from Chinchilla via Wondai, Murgon, Gympie and back to Redcliffe.  All in all we have now done about 3000 km on dirt roads of various quality and 7000 km on sealed roads - much of which was worse!  A week after our return we took the truck back to Gemhunter for some tweaking.

Isuzu:  At the slower pace of 1800 rpm (aboutt 83 km/hr),  the fuel consumption fell to around 15.5 L/100km.  While we travelled slower than most on the dirt,  perhaps the larger wheel diameter made the corrugations a little more bearable.  Embedded rocks,  grids and lumpy bitumen were the uncomfortable bits for us. 

Hot Water System: The apparent leaking caused us no issue just a level of concern as we didn't know if it was a sign of something more significant about to happen.  A bit of tightening and explanation about one source of the drips (pressure relief valve) put our minds at rest.  The heat exchange between the truck and the house HWS is one of the best features of the truck.

Electric Steps:  After the two occasions of blowing the fuse, there was no further issue.  The electrics were tested without any sign of malfunction.  The thought is that the connector plug was affected by either dirt or water.  This plug had been pulled apart looking for any obvious problem while we were away, so perhaps this solved it or it dried out of its own accord.  The product probably doesn't have enough protection given its intended use on recreational vehicles.

Dust: 3000 km - none!

Leaking window:  Two days of rain in Alice Springs saw the toilet window leaking.  Again we were lucky that it was this window in the "wet" area.  This has been fixed by re-doing the sealant.

Air Head Composting Toilet:  Yes there are people who are interested in this!  At one point we had a "hint" of an odour when we opened up after a long travelling day.  We couldn't agree on whether it was from the toilet or the creek outside.  We have finally concluded that the liquids tank should be emptied at least every third day regardless of the volume stored.  The sugar and vinegar process works without issue in that time frame (we've had temperatures up to 30 degrees C).  The truck sat for 10 days at home after this trip with a clean liquids tank and only occasionally did we remember to turn the exhaust fan on for the solids tank.  No odour at all.  So far - very impressed.

Shower: Further tweaking of the shower curtain and addition of some silicon pads under the cedar shower mat have improved the shower use.  While we asked for two drain points in the shower tray, the reality is that the truck is almost never level - as far a water drainage is concerned.  The excellent cedar mat made by Michael sat directly on the base and sometimes stopped water draining.  Lifting the mat a few millimetres off the floor with the silicon pads solved that issue.  It also means that both the timber and shower base dry off more quickly.  The other thing we did not consider is that the shower curtain falls vertically - yes . . .   which can mean not exaclty over the shower tray if the truck is not level.  A small piece of velcro at one corner and the removal of the excess folds of fabric has fixed that issue.  Our original design contemplated a shower area enclosed with a fixed wall.  We are so happy that we abandoned that idea - simple has turned out to be the best choice.  The lack of fixed wall or door means that the floor space is easily used for other purposes eg reaching into the truck cabin, temporary storage of boots, shopping etc.  The point was to maximise usability of available space. Assigning 0.7 of our sq metres solely to a shower space that is used for maybe 10 mins per day didn't make sense.  Hence the shower being our access to the truck cabin.  With only 8 sq m of living space we needed to maximise the "feeling" of space.  The shower curtain is gathered to one corner and 99.9% of the time this space is available both physically and "visually".

It all works!



1 Comment

WELL SHAKEN

1/8/2013

2 Comments

 

We have now done about 6000 km of which 1300 km has been on dirt. We arrived in Boulia today. In summary: Brisbane west to Morven, north via Longreach, Winton, Mt Isa, Camooweal, Tennant Creek, Alice then west via the gorges to Kings Canyon, Yulara, Alice again then east to Trephina Gorge, Ambalindum, then the Pinnacle track to Gem Tree then east via the Plenty Hwy to Tobermory and today Boulia.

Isuzu: Ambles along hour after hour and seems at its best on dirt. Although to be fair most of the uncomfortable bits have been more to do with the state of some of the sealed roads in Qld. We adjusted the tyre pressures for the dirt and stuck to the suggested max speeds - frequently lower at times - certainly slower than everyone who passed us! So lots of dust and lots of corrugations - and no dust in the cabin to speak of. Inspected the air filter today and a bit of dust.   Will be interested to see how the fuel consumption fared although as previously noted, it is difficult to consistently fill the tank.

Hot Water System: our attempts to stop the dripping with an application of new plumbers tape were not successful. The dripping continues whenever we fire up the system but after watching over several uses is not any great loss of water - so will leave it until we get home.

Electric Steps: We went fossicking at Gem Tree - gem hunting in the Gemhunter - and the steps failed - fortunately in the closed position while we were at the dig site. Checked the fuse when we got back to camp and yes, the fuse had blown. Replaced the fuse - all fixed. The next day the fuse blew again when we stopped for lunch along the Plenty highway - this time the steps were locked down. Changed the fuse again and got them closed. Can't see anything obviously wrong but only had 2 fuses left so we have not been using the steps during the day just in case they fail in the down position somewhere along the road. It's a big step up and down! Probably won't get any attention until we get home and hope that replacement of fuses remains the answer.

Dust : no dust has made its way into the house over the dirt roads.

That's a funny noise! After fixing the steps the first time we set off again looking forward to another couple of hours of corrugations. A loud noise was suddenly reverberating through the truck cabin. Checked the door between the house and truck - no, properly closed and secure. Checked the rubber boot that joins the house to the truck - maybe it had somehow rattled loose. No - all good. Then we found that one of the actuators (that lift the roof) was loose and despite only a small amount of play on the pin the noise was being magnified through the rear wall of the truck cab. Sounded like something major was about to fall off! Deborah stopped the vibration (and the noise) with two strategically placed rubber bands. For some reason, this one has developed a lot of play around the washers near the securing pin at the bottom end. Hope they are good rubber bands.

MaxTrax : we strapped them underneath the rear bar as an afterthought - meaning we didn't design a place for them and didn't want them inside the rear locker. They were secured with two webbing straps and never showed any sign of the ratchets loosening. We had no cable so locked them on with a bicycle D clamp - which was readily at hand before we left home. Yesterday, we drove into Tobermory Homestead with them dragging on the ground. Both the straps had snapped sometime after lunch - more likely the vibration effectively cut both straps and the only thing that kept them attached was the bike lock at one end! We now have 4 MaxTrax with one end worn away but not enough to affect their use.

Airhead Composting Toilet - any smell? Still nothing although today after we set up at Boulia had a few moments when there was a suspicion of an aroma when we opened the house. Turned on the associated fan just in case - which we may not have done in the last day. Waited for a bit and still some vague suspicion of some smell - neither of us were sure. In the end we just had to know so Deborah opened the solids tank and gave it the direct sniff test - no smell even at that close quarter. We expected some trial error in managing the system, for example we don't know how often to put the fan on. The guidelines I think said put it on occasionally. We have now concluded in the absence of any other source, that it is most likely the semi stagnant waterhole in the creek bed immediately beside the camp site.

2 Comments

    Author

    We are in our mid-50's and it's time to mostly give up work - maybe after we pay for
    zatruck!

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