Anyway, we had a good time and took some nice photos.
10/11/14 - Echuca Vic
Visited Echuca, about 40km NE of Lockington, last time we visited here we still lived in Adelaide, back in the 80s. It sure has changed a lot, like so many other places we visit now after many years it has become really "touristy". IMHO it has lost its' charm.
Anyway, we had a good time and took some nice photos.
Anyway, we had a good time and took some nice photos.
9/11/14 - Lockington Vic
Next we moved to
Lockington, where we had never been before, quite an interesting little
town with a very nice Travellers Rest low cost camping facility, managed
by a lovely helpful lady, Dorothy.
A different idea for the bathrooms.
I bet Scotland can't compete with this "monster"
Some nice old buildings in Lockington, this is worth visiting.
A different idea for the bathrooms.
I bet Scotland can't compete with this "monster"
6-8/11/14 - Rochester Vic
Of on our first trip after all the excitement of purchasing and getting things organised. Stayed relatively close to home as this is really more of a "shake down" trip to make sure things are as they should be.
First stop Rochester in the Rochester Caravan Park on the banks of the Campaspe River.
Quite a nice little park with a fair percentage of permanents in both caravans and cabins, but kept neat and tidy.
Rochester was the birthplace of Sir Hubert Opperman, the famous Australian road cycle champion.
The Rochester Railway Station is also the Visitor Information Centre.
First stop Rochester in the Rochester Caravan Park on the banks of the Campaspe River.
Quite a nice little park with a fair percentage of permanents in both caravans and cabins, but kept neat and tidy.
Rochester was the birthplace of Sir Hubert Opperman, the famous Australian road cycle champion.
The Rochester Railway Station is also the Visitor Information Centre.
There are some nice old buildings in Rochester.
Sept-Oct '14 - Changes and additions
Next came the task of getting our 5th wheeler, now named Miandrin (a combination of the names of our 3 children), set up the way we wanted.
New name on the back.
Even though there was a space for a microwave, it was not supplied with one, so picked up a simple model that fitted in with the rest of the decor on Ebay (new).
There was a couch supplied (real American thing!), but one of the reasons we wanted a 5th wheeler was so that we could have recliners and sit in comfort, something sadly lacking in our previous caravan (and most caravans on the market).
Also installed some easier locking pins on the electric legs, the ones supplied were very hard to operate, so I imported some spring loaded ones from the US.
As we like camping away from caravan parks, solar power is essential, so a solar panel was added (similar to the one on our previous van).
Of course this had to be wired via a suitable solar regulator to the existing battery.
As we now have both grey water and black water tanks we needed a suitable means to empty these. Imported some snazzy concertina hoses with a bayonet fitting that clicks straight on the gate valve of these tanks.
When we used this for the first time it became obvious that a means of flushing was needed, so another visit to Amazon produced this handy gadget.
Another of the advantages of the Space Cab is the extra room in the tub which allowed the installation of a fairly large lockable toolbox. This now holds all the tools, recovery gear and things like extra jacks etc.
New name on the back.
Even though there was a space for a microwave, it was not supplied with one, so picked up a simple model that fitted in with the rest of the decor on Ebay (new).
There was a couch supplied (real American thing!), but one of the reasons we wanted a 5th wheeler was so that we could have recliners and sit in comfort, something sadly lacking in our previous caravan (and most caravans on the market).
Also installed some easier locking pins on the electric legs, the ones supplied were very hard to operate, so I imported some spring loaded ones from the US.
As we like camping away from caravan parks, solar power is essential, so a solar panel was added (similar to the one on our previous van).
Of course this had to be wired via a suitable solar regulator to the existing battery.
As we now have both grey water and black water tanks we needed a suitable means to empty these. Imported some snazzy concertina hoses with a bayonet fitting that clicks straight on the gate valve of these tanks.
When we used this for the first time it became obvious that a means of flushing was needed, so another visit to Amazon produced this handy gadget.
Another of the advantages of the Space Cab is the extra room in the tub which allowed the installation of a fairly large lockable toolbox. This now holds all the tools, recovery gear and things like extra jacks etc.
29/08/14 - Shepparton - Bendigo Vic
We were somewhat apprehensive about the registration process as we had heard a lot of stories about imported 5th wheelers (which all turned out to be so much hogwash!). Never believe everything the so called experts pronounce on caravan forums!
Even though Australia is supposedly one country, when it comes to things like registration it is really 6 countries, with each State jealously guarding their fiefdom (and their revenue!).
So a transfer from another State (bear in mind that all this had already been done in NSW!) is treated as a new registration and the vehicle, the 5th wheeler in this case, has to be fully inspected and measured as well as proof of ownership produced etc. I guess it keeps our bureaucrats employed.
As it turned out this all went smoothly and the service received at the VicRoads office in Shepparton was first rate.
So, with more money handed over and new (Victorian) number plates fitted it was off to Bendigo.
On the subject of money, the registration in NSW for this 5th wheeler costs over $1000pa, in Victoria it cost us $76.
Even though Australia is supposedly one country, when it comes to things like registration it is really 6 countries, with each State jealously guarding their fiefdom (and their revenue!).
So a transfer from another State (bear in mind that all this had already been done in NSW!) is treated as a new registration and the vehicle, the 5th wheeler in this case, has to be fully inspected and measured as well as proof of ownership produced etc. I guess it keeps our bureaucrats employed.
As it turned out this all went smoothly and the service received at the VicRoads office in Shepparton was first rate.
So, with more money handed over and new (Victorian) number plates fitted it was off to Bendigo.
On the subject of money, the registration in NSW for this 5th wheeler costs over $1000pa, in Victoria it cost us $76.
28/08/14 - Shepparton Vic
Part of our agreement with the dealer in Narrabri was a subject to registration in Vic clause, so we wanted this out of the way as soon as possible and before we got back to Bendigo.
We tried to get this done in Cobram, first town over the border with a VicRoads office, but they were fully booked so they booked us in in Shepparton for the 29th.
This meant we had to camp overnight in Shepparton, my first experience of manoeuvring the 5th wheeler in a relatively confined area. All good!
We tried to get this done in Cobram, first town over the border with a VicRoads office, but they were fully booked so they booked us in in Shepparton for the 29th.
This meant we had to camp overnight in Shepparton, my first experience of manoeuvring the 5th wheeler in a relatively confined area. All good!
27/08/14 - Eumungerie/West Wyalong NSW
As it was too late leave Narrabri by the time the hitch was fitted and all the financial details finished (ouch!), we camped at the Narrabri Showground overnight and spent the next day making sure everything was in order before setting off for home.
Took some photos at Eumungerie and this one shows the distinct advantage of a Space Cab over a Dual Cab, turning circle wise.
As we were here reasonably early we decided to push on and stopped at the West Wyalong Showgrounds.
Took some photos at Eumungerie and this one shows the distinct advantage of a Space Cab over a Dual Cab, turning circle wise.
As we were here reasonably early we decided to push on and stopped at the West Wyalong Showgrounds.
25/08/14 - Narrabri NSW
Well the big day arrived, after yet another 1050km trip we are back in Narrabri to pick up the 5th wheeler.
First the Hayman Reese hitch has to be fitted to our Colorado.
Some special brackets fitted to the chassis to support the hitch....
......and some rails inside the tub, the hitch is removable.
All set to go
First the Hayman Reese hitch has to be fitted to our Colorado.
Some special brackets fitted to the chassis to support the hitch....
......and some rails inside the tub, the hitch is removable.
All set to go
21/08/14 - Some mods before pickup
Before we could return to Narrabri to pick up the 5th wheeler a brake controller had to be fitted.
I used the Tekonsha Primus IQ previously fitted to our Commodore and it was a reasonably easy install, found a nice little shelf under the steering wheel where it came to hand easily.
The next job was to fit some towing mirrors and after having used about 4 types of towing mirrors, none of which particularly appealed, it was decided that after spending this amount of money on a rig we would get a pair of Clearview mirrors. I had earlier driven another Colorado which had those fitted and was very impressed.
ARB Bendigo quoted us $110 to fit these and after watching the Clearview video I couldn't see the value in that, so decided to the do the job myself.
So, off with the original mirrors.
And about half an hour later the Colorado had a set of "dumbo ears" as my granddaughter calls them.
Wouldn't mind having a full time job fitting those at $110 a pop!
I used the Tekonsha Primus IQ previously fitted to our Commodore and it was a reasonably easy install, found a nice little shelf under the steering wheel where it came to hand easily.
The next job was to fit some towing mirrors and after having used about 4 types of towing mirrors, none of which particularly appealed, it was decided that after spending this amount of money on a rig we would get a pair of Clearview mirrors. I had earlier driven another Colorado which had those fitted and was very impressed.
ARB Bendigo quoted us $110 to fit these and after watching the Clearview video I couldn't see the value in that, so decided to the do the job myself.
So, off with the original mirrors.
And about half an hour later the Colorado had a set of "dumbo ears" as my granddaughter calls them.
Wouldn't mind having a full time job fitting those at $110 a pop!
18/08/14 - Lilydale Vic
After a quick dash down the Newell Hwy back to Bendigo and a weekend to recover, it was down to Lilydale to inspect the Colorado Space Cab, yes it is RED!
After quite a lengthy haggling session a deal was struck on the trade-in of the Hyundai Terracan, quick trip to the bank to get a bank cheque and we were off back to Bendigo, we were very impressed with the ride.
After quite a lengthy haggling session a deal was struck on the trade-in of the Hyundai Terracan, quick trip to the bank to get a bank cheque and we were off back to Bendigo, we were very impressed with the ride.
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