Setting up for a 4 year trip

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  • LOFTYBOB
    LOFTYBOB
    5 years ago
    Just a quick update on our plans to do a 4 year figure 8 of Australia, starting in 8 months time.

    I flew to Perth and collected the truck/van from the relatives of the deceased estate I bought the truck/van from. Then drove it back to Adelaide over a 4 day period.

    Got home and started to modify the van and truck for what we needed. A 2" lift with new H/D Old Man Emu springs and 6 x shocks went in, and the rear seats were ripped out and replaced with custom roller drawers and a area for the Dogs to sit on top of their mattress and bedding. They have a ramp so they can get in/out of the truck easy.




    5TH wheel has 1,200 watts of solar installed with a 3,000 watt inverter, 3 x 500 watt regulators, and 3 x 260 AH AGM deep cycle batteries.

    We need that much as we fitted a 5KW Fujitsu reverse cycle split domestic A/C to the van to keep us and the Bulldogs cool.

    Fitted a 208L twin dafos compressor fride in 12/240 Volt as well because the three way fridges are shit.

    5TH wheel as a 5KVA generator as well, this with the solar should mean we can avoid caravan parks and free camp as much as possible.


    F250 copped a new Kenwood head unit (Bluetooth/spotify ready) with new splits and a 10" Kicker sub mounted forward of the drawers in the back



    Truck has been completely Dyna matted and sound/thermal foam lined.



    I'll keep updating this post as we get ready for our trip

    Regards Lofty

  • LOFTYBOB
    LOFTYBOB
    5 years ago
    Chomping at the bit mate. We just had another Grandchild born, so delaying a few months.
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    5 years ago
    A great idea... BUT WHY spend 2 out of the 4 years staring at bloody red sand/dirt?  lol 
  • LOFTYBOB
    LOFTYBOB
    5 years ago
    Quoting tussuck on 24 Feb 2019 02:02 AM

    A great idea... BUT WHY spend 2 out of the 4 years staring at bloody red sand/dirt?  lol 

    Most of the long haul sections will be dispatched fairly quickly, but we plan to stay at every medium sized town in Australia for at least a week
  • JFE
    JFE
    5 years ago
    Thanks for posting Lofty - I’m reading with interest and a touch of envy. I especially like how you are catering for the dogs. Nice one.
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    5 years ago
    Not for me, BUT it sounds like a bloody good idea and trip.  
  • -kiwi-
    -kiwi-
    5 years ago
    ya doing it Lofty...…. doin it in style...… bloody awesome, I for one will be following this with a keen interest, good onya mate. im jealous and wish you all the best
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    5 years ago
    Enjoy mate, sing out when your headed to our neck of the woods....let you buy me a xxxx.....LOL
  • binnsy
    binnsy
    5 years ago
    Did a lap in the mid 80s in a full length bus decked out with everything we needed. Took us two and a half years and certainly didn't see it all. Enjoy the trip. You won't want to come home. 
  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    5 years ago
    Quoting binnsy on 24 Feb 2019 09:37 AM

    Did a lap in the mid 80s in a full length bus decked out with everything we needed. Took us two and a half years and certainly didn't see it all. Enjoy the trip. You won't want to come home. 

    I have not done the trip yet and i dont want to come home already....the Mrs lives here!  LOL
  • JFE
    JFE
    5 years ago
    Quoting paulybronco on 24 Feb 2019 09:20 AM

    Enjoy mate, sing out when your headed to our neck of the woods....let you buy me a xxxx.....LOL

    Fark, offer the bloke something better than XXXX. Aldi beer better than that!
  • LOFTYBOB
    LOFTYBOB
    5 years ago
    Final proofs are done and signed off for the Fiver, had to change some of the designs due to production limitations. Black back grounded Phoenix is going on the bonnet of the F250. You won't be able to miss us on our around Aus trip.







  • paulybronco
    paulybronco
    5 years ago
    Subtle ....
  • JFE
    JFE
    5 years ago
    Hope it glows in the dark.
    Looks the goods.
  • LOFTYBOB
    LOFTYBOB
    5 years ago
    Another Update,

    Due to being too close to our maximum load capacity with the F250 (the pin weight of the 5th wheel only left us 500KG's to load in it) I have just purchased a purpose built 5th wheel hauler from Iveco.
    It is a GVM/GCM upgraded 50c 210 6 speed manual, that has air and elec brakes, turntable/goose neck ball/normal tow bar, twin air compressors, air bag suspension, air ride electric heated seats, premium sound system with DVD, TV, Bluetooth, and touch screen, 3 x reversing cameras, Satellite navigation, satellite phone.

    It will allow us to load an extra ton of gear, which will come in very handy.








  • steelo
    steelo
    5 years ago
    I can't keep up!! I'd already gotten used to the F250..
    Still, it's early days


  • keith
    keith
    5 years ago
    Quoting steelo on 14 Mar 2019 06:01 AM

    I can't keep up!! I'd already gotten used to the F250..
    Still, it's early days


    .
    Agree Steel , always room to upsize.
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    5 years ago
    Sheet!, these are all much bigger than the house with foundations I live in.
    Great heckling.


  • steelo
    steelo
    5 years ago
    Going to take a bit longer than 4 years now

  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    5 years ago
    Need to take a big vacuum cleaner with you to clean this one on the road.


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