Track Trailer Forum

$29,750 ono

It's all set up for that winter migration to Cape York, the Gulf, Kakadu, the Kimberley region, Central Australia, the Pilbara ....

It's time to move on from our much loved Tvan. It has served us unbelievably well and without fault. Over the years it has been regularly serviced by Track Trailer at their facilities in Bayswater (including new brakes and wheel bearings as required). New Cooper tyres and Sunraysia wheels were fitted about 18 months ago. New rear deck springs were installed at the same time. It is registered through to November.

Kitchen:

Classic kitchen with stainless steel, slide-out 2 burner kitchen, including sink and plumbed water, 2 x 4kg gas bottles, 12V merit plug beside kitchen locker, separate LED light for over kitchen

Power:

50W rooftop solar panel
MPPT charger
Battery charger
Battery power display
3 x internal merit plugs
2 x external merit plugs
2 x 120Ah AGM deep cycle batteries

Interior Refinements:

Roof storage system
Side wall storage pockets
3 speed fan with timer
Fabric lined bed head and roof over bed
Bed tie down rails (pair)
Full length underbed lockable Drifter drawers (carpet lined)

Water:

70L water tank
Electric pumped water to kitchen
External hand pump beside rear hatch
Portable Companion Aquacube hot water system

Tent & Canvas Expansions:

Rear insect screen (30 second setup)
Ensuite tent

Outdoor Living:

Sail awning
Awning roof, kitchen end wall
Separate 2nd end wall with window upgrade
Separate front wall with 2 x windows & door
Separate draught skirt

Wheels & Tyres:

3 x Sunraysia white steel wheels (Nissan Patrol offset)
3 x Cooper Discoverer S/T LT285/75/R16 tyres (have done around 12,000 kms)

Other Storage & Extras:

4 x Jerry cans storage
Maco Mule ratchet jockey with pneumatic tyre
Rear wood rack
Interior lights fitted with LED low power consumption bulbs
Rear light assemblies replaced with Narva LED waterproof units

Email: chris_a@outlook.com for enquiries.

Received the following email from my sat phone provider yesterday. Have to say I selected the phone I have based on the long expiry duration on offer at the time of purchase. This has been eroded from 2 years to 30 days over the last few years. Any thoughts on how this might impact the decision to purchase a replacement sat phone in the future?

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO PREPAID SERVICES EFFECTIVE 1ST MAY 2016
Please be informed that important changes to the Inmarsat Pre-Paid Services will take effect globally by Inmarsat as of the 1st of May, 2016
Inmarsat recently held a partner conference in which they announced changes to the current Pre-Paid Services. 

An updated Critical Information sheet will be released shortly, however please see changes they have made below:

Current Voucher   Current Expiry   New Update    New Expiry
25 Units   30 Days   (Time extension only)   30 Days
50 Units   90 Days   50 Units   30 Days
100 Units   180 Days   100 Units   90 Days 
200 Units   180 Days    Now 90 Days
250 Units   180 days   180 Days
500 Units   180 days   365 Days
1000 Units   365 days   365 Days
Please note this has been changed by Inmarsat and not MGLSAT and we would ask that you vent your frustrations with them directly as we are also directly effected on our personal sat phones as you are.  Please don't submit your complaints to MGLSAT about these changes, we made our feelings known at the conference as did other Inmarsat Partners from around the world.

This now would cease the ability to top up 6 month recharges and roll over to achieve a yearly benefit and in fact being on a monthly subscription plan would now be around $200 cheaper!!

Unfortunately for all of us Inmarsat is still the best system, and cheaper to operate even after the changes than Iridium or Thuraya Networks, and Inmarsat know this.

MGLSAT encourages you to provide any comments directly to Inmarsat: (We have!!)

GlobalCustomerSupport@inmarsat.com

Tel: +44(0) 20 7728 1020 (UK)


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Looking for the long annex wall and shorter tent-end wall to complete the annex set up on our Mk II Tvan. We already have the annex roof and kitchen wall.

We are heading from Melbourne over to explore the Pilbara region in the middle of 2016 and would welcome any recommendations on camp sites between Broome and Geraldton. We will be venturing inland to spend time in Karijini and Millstream-Chitchester National Parks.

Dales campground in Karijini seems the best of the options available - central to the walks and swimming holes. We have also noted that Warroora Station beside Ningaloo Reef gets positive feedback on other forums. Any suggestions for the Francois Peron National Park? Has anyone stayed at Murchison House Station near Kalbarri?

Looking forward to your feedback.


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Well it's that time of year again when the insurance on our 2005 Tvan is due. Premium is $575 with a basic excess of $200 plus an off-road excess of a further $200 for a policy with CIL Australia Pty Ltd.

Interested in what others are being charged and what they are getting for their premium.


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Have been looking at the Fobo TPMS system on line and was wondering if anyone has experience using this product. Also wondered if it might work on the wheels of my Tvan - concerned that the Bluetooth range might not be enough to get a reliable signal through to the tow vehicle.

http://www.fobotyre.com.au/assets/full/fobotyre_black.jpg

Also wonder how robust they are on the likes of the Birdsville Track with  the increased chance of being hit by flying rocks.


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Had cause to replace the old lead acid batteries in my Tvan with two AGM batteries yesterday. The old batteries eventually gave up - nothing showing on the battery gauge in the Tvan - unable totals a charge and nothing showing a battery meter when the batteries were tested individually.

Replaced the batteries and reconnected the the battery wires - both batteries are full of charge when tested individually but nothing is showing on the Tvan battery gauge and internal lights are not switching on.

Where should I start to diagnose the problem?

Went out to retrieve something from the Tvan at the weekend and noticed the power meter was on zero. Only three weeks ago it was showing fully charged batteries (2 x 120 ah batteries).

Tvan has a 50 watt solar panel on the roof and has been parked outside with no (known) drain on the batteries).

Is this a sign that at least one of the batteries has died?


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Following a technical glitch with the recent operating system upgrade on our iPad we have lost our packing and pre-trip preparation list that had been developed and refined over a number of years.

Viewing this as a chance to take a fresh look at compiling a new list. What do others include in their checklists?


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Planning a trip up the Oodnadatta Track and interested to hear of preferred bush camping options between Farina in the south and Finke in the north. We won't be heading off until the cooler months return.


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We have the Hema apps loaded on our iPad and use them for trip planning before we hit the road. Map coverage is excellent and details are reliable. When on the road, Wikicamps is our app of preference for finding nearby campsites for overnight stops.


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Just back from 4 weeks touring through outback NSW and QLD. Finding that the kitchen slides are no longer extending far enough to allow for the rear wind shield to fold into the upright position without hitting the open hatch cover (hope that makes sense).

Has anyone else experienced this problem and how is it remedied? Can the drawer slides be adjusted to allow them to extend further?

In the early stages of planning a trip up the coast from Melbourne to Port Macquarie around Easter time 2015. Looking for recommendations on must stay camping locations / sites along the way. Our preference is for quiet bush settings away from the crowds (which I know is a bit of and ask at Easter time).


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Currently sitting back in Noosa reflecting on the journey we have been on to get here. Departed a very cold Melbourne three weeks ago driving through persistent rain showers as we passed through Heathcote, arriving in Echuca for a late lunch. Light rain continued to fall as we crossed the Murray River and continued on to our eventual campsite on the banks of the Edward River just east of Mathura. Found a great campsite by the banks of the river at the end of a good gravel road.

Heavily overcast skies greeted us when we rose the next day and it wasn't long before we were back following the "Long Paddock" up through Deniliquin and on to Hay. Camped out next to the Murrumbidgee River just to the west of Hay in a free camping area popular with other travellers.

We continued following the Cobb & Co Highway north from Hay where the Highway gave way to a good quality well graded gravel road. Collected a load of firewood along the way to try and keep the chill of the evenings at bay while preparing and enjoying dinner. Topped up with fuel in Willcania at the servo off the main road to the south of town, before back tracking slightly to pick up the gravel road that took us into the Paroo-Darling NP and a great overnight camp site by the side of the Darling River. Unfortunately the Darling hasn't looked good for a number of years and it was in a particularly sorry state. It no longer flows at the moment and is now consigned to being a series of disconnected billabongs frequented by the ever present inland pelicans.



A beautiful clear morning greeted us by the Darling River and with few exceptions, similar weather has followed us ever since. From the National Park, we made our way north-east, following the twists and turns of the river system. The gravel roads remained with us all the way to Trilby Station, south of Bourke on the western bank of the Darling. Trilby Station has a mix of excellent bush camp sites along the banks of the river along with sites around the station, with access the hot showers and bathroom facilities, BBQs, a camp kitchen and a large fire ring with plenty of room to sit around and have a yarn with fellow travellers. There is plenty to see and do around the station and it was worth staying a few days to take some of it in.



We made our way north from Trilby, loosing the dusty gravel track just prior to arriving in Bourke. Topped up our supplies at the local IGA before continuing the journey north to the NSW / QLD border. The country is looking very dry with the emus outnumbering the stock out this way. Only the feral goats outnumber the emus! We passed through Cunnamulla before pulling in to the free campsite on the grounds of the state school at Wyandra where the residents have got together to provide donation based facilities including toilets, a shower, camp kitchen and large fire ring.

The next day our journey north took us to Charleville where we found a half decent coffee being served in the local bakery. Our journey took an easterly turn as we made our way into undulating country. We followed this easterly path through to Roma which is clearing riding high on the back of the coal-seam gas industry. We've never seen so many white Prados and HiLux vehicles in the one place - the Roma airport car park waiting for the FIFO workforce to return from their weekend back home on the coast.

Our final stop for the day was in the Carnarvon Gorge National Park. The camp grounds managed by the National Parks are only open during school holidays and booking ahead (on line) is necessary. Showers and toilets are provided and are well placed among the designated campsites. The scenery and bush walking here is excellent and a few days are needed to take it in.



After revisiting the walk to Big Bend and many of the side walks, we packed up and headed to the coast, just south of Agnes Waters to a campsite in Deepwater National Park for an overnight stop. The track south through the National Park is a single lane, through soft sand that were far easier to negotiate once tyre pressures were reduced. The camp ground can be approached from the south via a well maintained 2WD gravel road but we would have missed out on seeing much of the stunning coastal scenery. Being school holidays, we were glad to have pre-booked our campsite. In the morning we stretched the lungs and explored the beach before resuming our trip south to Hervey Bay.



We took the opportunity to explore the various inlets and beaches noth and south of Hervey Bay finding some gems, especially Toogoom with a great cafe by the boat launching ramp. From Hervey Bay we have driven further south to Noosaville where we are reacquainting ourselves with the many cafés and restaurants to be found in the region. Kayaking and walking everywhere will hopefully counter the indulgences!



Hopefully we see more amazing sunsets before following the Newell Highway back to Melbourne!


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Planning a trip for the middle of the year and looking for bush camping options north of Bourke in NSW as we head up to Carnarvon Gorge National Park in Queensland. Any suggestions?


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We are planning a trip for late June and July from Melbourne up through Mildura to Mungo National Park then on to Mutawintji National Park north east of Broken Hill. From there we plan to head over to Gundabooka National Park just south of Bourke before making our way north to Canarvon Gorge National Park then across to the coast at Hervey Bay where a side trip to Fraser Island is on the cards.

Interested to hear from anyone who has visited Mutawintji and Gundabooka National Parks to get a sense of the best camp sites and things to do while there. Also interested in advice on places to camp between Bourke and Canarvon Gorge National Park.

I'm looking to purchase solar panels to keep the twin 110 a/h batteries on my Tvan charged up. The option I am looking at comes with a 20A MPPT( Max Power Point Tracking) solar charge controller, solar regulator. What are the pros and cons of connecting this to the batteries via the Anderson plug on the Tvan vs connecting it directly to the batteries?

We're off to the Kimberleys in a few weeks with 2 nights planned for Broome to stock up, etc.  We are getting conflicting information regarding the caravan parks in Broome.  Our efforts to book a site have been greeted with "sorry we don't take bookings at that time of year" through to a recent Camper Trailer Australia article that suggested Broome is booked out during the peak (dry season) months and without a booking you are unlikely to get in.

Can anyone help clear up this contradiction and make recommendations regarding the options available in Broome?

Looking to replace my current Prado GXL D4D with either the current model Prado GXL D4D or the Patrol ST diesel.  Any pros and cons I should be taking into account when trying to decided between the two.  Have been very happy with the Prado but find that the new models are getting more and more expensive - questioning whether they are still reasonable value for money and hence, looking at the Patrol. 

Currently tow a Tvan series II and have an extended trip to the Kimberley region planned for 2013. 

We're off to the Kimberley region next year including a number of days camping and exploring the Bungle Bungle National Park.  We see that sites can be booked online but there is very little information regarding the individual campsites (all 80+ of them).

Looking for guidance on the better campsites at the Bungle Bungles. Just looking for a site with shade (if that is possible) and a great outlook that will accommodate our Prado and Tvan with annex.