Why can't anything be easy???

Finally, some of the things I have been hanging out for have happened.

1: The dual battery system has been installed in the Discovery..

The battery box had to be made up to suit the spot in the back of the car, and because it is internal to the cabin, an AGM battery had to be used. Not much change out of $400 for the battery alone. Unfortunately, the location under the bonnet allows for only a 50AH battery to be installed, and I need at least 75AH to run the fridge and accouterments. Also the location under the bonnet is too close to the turbo housing, and the life of a battery is minimal.










Anyway, here is the end result of the installation... The lads at the local Battery World get all of my major work.

2. The new ammeters and voltage mete are in the van, and the bagged "Bed End Fly's" have been sorted out. I had the original awnings bagged up and this allows them to stay on the outside of the van (in situ) but a slight design error caused them to fill with water in big rains, so drain hols have been added. It is not the purpose of the bags to do anything but hold the awnings for use later and keep them out of the internal van storage spaces. So it works well..

3. The primary job today was to get the roof rack finalised, and that has been done. Jerry can holder, 2nd spare, fluids box, and Maxtrax have a place, and so does the big swag. Absolutely nothing was straightforward witht he roof rack, but in the end it is working well (I hope)

I am still toying with placing the Maxtrax on the spare wheel on the rear door.. Time will tell..

Tomorrows goals are to finalise some of the minor maintenance on the van, and have it stocked and ready to roll. Also the final location and tie down system for the crates in the cabin of the care needs to be finalised.

Just a few more days now, and I am getting a little edgy, but the weather has held out, and the list of things to be done seems to get longer... Oh well, roll on next Saturday!! (Friday Night)

Registering an EPIRB

Given that I wrote about registering an EPIRB in the post earlier today, I figured I should do it. It is something that I can do without going outside.

I guess I should explain why I have an EPIRB. An EPIRB is a distress beacon. It is a small electronic device that, when activated in a life-threatening situation, assists rescue authorities in their search to locate those in distress. EPIRB: Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon

Recently the older beacons that worked on 121.5Mhz stopped being detected by satellites. The newer 406Mhz beacons work now. The new beacons are now registered to a particular person/vehicle/vessel/aircraft. This allows authorities to make contact with the owner or one of the emergency contacts should there be an activation. This can help in the reduction of false alarms and quick resolution of them.

I, of course, chose the beacon with a GPS unit on board, so that the location of the beacon is transmitted along with the identity code of the beacon if it is activated.

Anyway, to register, there is an online link to do so, and after filling out the questions about my wife's mothers maiden name and the current value of the GDP of Australia... Well it seemed like it, I received a letter telling me that it was all OK.

The kicker is, that now I find out that if a fine may result if a current sticker is not affixed to a beacon during a safety equipment inspection. The things you find out by mistake.

Oh well, provided the sticker arrives before departure I should be OK, or I have to keep a copy of the letter in the pouch of the EPIRB.

One week out!!

Preparations have been a little difficult for B and F this last week. The dreaded "Lurgy" has struck us down, and the weather has not allowed for an easy follow-up on finalising the van pack.

Having said that, the van has had some work done on the canvas, by way of fixing a zip and making covers for the fridge vents.

The van is at Springers getting a slight modification to the solar panel install. The panel and the remainder of the install was outstanding, but the meter installed was not as expected. Springers have been very accommodating with replacing it with a more suitable one, one that allows the incoming current flow and the outgoing flow to be measured. The only addition is another voltage meter, with a mometary on switch, to allow voltage to be measured. The whole story of battery condition is all about voltage and current draw. While not wanting to sound like an advert, I can highly recommend this company.

The Discovery had it's major service last weekend, with all fluids being replaced including brakes flushed, diffs flushed, transmission topped off, radiator flushed, and a general check all over. the front end got a bit of a tighten and all.

I managed to find a 2nd spare for the Disco last week, and a suitable lump of rubber to install on it as well. As luck would have it, British Off Road was able to supply a matching rim... Whoo hoo.

Tomorrow the Disco goes in to get the long awaited auxiliary battery installed. It has been a pretty difficult job getting a suitable box made and placed. Once that is done, and the fridge is in place the final pack of the truck can start.

The Rhino roof rack, while a brilliant system is proving to throw up a couple of hiccups, but we will overcome, provided this flu starts to resolve I will sort it out this weekend. The Landrover spare tyre will not be able to use the standard wheel bracket, so the J hook needs to be employed... The Maxtrax are yet to be secured. I need to secure a poly box to carry fluids and oils, and tie down the swags (for the couple of nights away from the vans).

One week to go, and I have to admit to a lot of excitement building. Many of the little things like emergency drugs (antibiotics, anti-emetics, and stuff like that have been finalised.

I have to register the EPIRB and upload mapping data, and a myriad of other stuff to boot....

So bed for as long as this cold/flu forces me to be there, then up and at 'em.

Muuuch more to do

The days are just slipping by, busy but quickly. I have had the snorkle and luggage barrier fitted (see pics) and the twin rear wheel carrier and the long range tank go in on Monday. The caravan is fitted with the new hydraulic "jockey wheel" (stand, actually) and it works a treat. The caravan had a matress transplant. The new one is muuuch more comfortable than the old one. Part of the old one is now doing duty as a "spring" under the Waeco fridge/freezer (freezer for this trip). The Nally bins fit, Maxtrax fit, toolbox fits, emergency water jerry fits. Bewdy!

We have also configured the back of Max (the LC 200) to take a bed (of sorts) for the trip to the Mitchell River Plateau. We don't need a tent now and the majority of the old caravan mattress is put to good use. The "model" in the pic is very comfortable and isn't that what it's all about?

More bewdy!

The caravan cassette toilet is being converted to Biomagic additive - more environmentally friendly and much easier to manage. It's great stuff.

More on the trip prep after we get the carrier and tank fitted.

JB

Two Weeks out..

I have to say the excitement is building.

J&M are getting the long range tank installed and the other installs done, and we are awaiting the battery box to be fabricated so that the dual battery can be installed for the car.

The packing of boxes and making sure that all of the little tings are included is going on.

Data downloads for the GPS marks and the itinerary detail are being worked on ad infinitum.

Soooo much to do, and so little time.

14 days and counting!!

Departure looming.

Time is drawing closer to departure dates, and planning is really kicking in.

Vehicle modifications, 12v solar for one of the vans, itinerary development and the finner details are all kicking in.

It seems that most of the spare time from now until departure will be working towards departure.

Bring on the 4th of July... Our own little independance day....