Track Trailer Forum

Our o/c catches are the locking type you have installed. These were standard fitment in our 2012 Mk 3 Canning. We prefer their positive locking mechanism too and have spares the same model as yours I can understand that some may not have the finger/ hand strength the operate them, though

Quote from: Shaker on January 29, 2019, 09:19:09 PM
To be honest, it's got me beat why so many people are happy with bbqs that don't generate enough enough heat to cook without the lid closed. I tried a Weber Baby Q & hated it.

The design of the Q is for quick, gas efficiency and temperature retention (lid down..stop opening the lid and only turn grilled food once!)
Not wishing to sound sexist...but..some men can't leave the thing alone and have to open the lid to turn the food all the time.
Weber pans are EXCELLENT..yes expensive, but they are dual purpose..they take up less room on the grill and you can use them on the TVan stove or even next to an open fire (handle removed of course).
I've made bags for them to protect the Teflon surface from getting scratched up. They fit in anywhere as they won't get scratched.
We use our Q for everything. Roast Duck on the Sandy Blight Junction Rd. We remove 1 gas bottle and move the q where we need it.
When transporting the q..just remove the grll bars and wrap them in cardboard, separate from the Q. Stops them rattling and damaging the aluminium grill, resting points .
We transport ours in a solid plastic box in the back of the car. It's big enough to hold everything we need. It is also in a canvas (waterproof) carry bag which protects it and keeps in any smell there may be. Just remove the tray too and leave it clean.

We made our own and have helped a bit..they do drag when on tracks with deep wheel ruts. But then again...so does the car...but don't impede on anything. We did add some more spray on body armour under the TVan and car...but after a few stony and sandy roads, they need re- coating!
Being a little practical than anything..guards over the shockers worked for a while, but they will cause the shockers to overheat.

Quote from: Kimcam on April 04, 2019, 01:59:23 PM
The return journey to Kangaroo Island for 3 people plus Prado & Tvan is $700.

We live in Victor Harbor..."just around the corner" from KI. We haven't holidayed over there (as a family) , despite how close it is...It is exy..but staying for a few weeks will certainly make it worth while. It is bigger than you think and lots to see...I used to go there every summer with my family, when I was growing up...It was big back then too.
Dad had his own plane back then (he flew his plane to work..1000kms from home)..so we never went over on the old Troubridge Ferry, as it was back then..40 years ago! 
It is a beautiful place..you'll have so much fun!

Quote from: Trex on January 29, 2019, 01:21:21 PM
You can also get a solid half-plate for the weber so you can grill and fry. We use one a lot as you can't easily cook eggs on a grill and it seems pointless to use a frypan on a bbq. There is also threads on this forum of people putting the same gas quick connect on the weber as used on the tvan stove - rectus 21 I think they call them.

The weber pans are great..use them on the stove, fire or weber (of course)..easier to use and lighter than a hotplate.
We keep ours in a plastic tub, in the back of the tojo. Remove the grill plates for travel, so they don't chatter as you drive.
We use our gas bottle on the TVan. ..no bayonette

Quote from: hulbyw on February 24, 2019, 06:28:01 PM
There is a panel that runs down at an angle under the window on the drivers side (inside the van) held on with 2 screws. Try removing that as there may be a plug come loose under that panel. Happened to us. As far as I know the merrit sockets are fused by re setting circuit breakers which are in the power console.
Cheers

Removed the "resetting circuit breakers" and replaced them with new plastic ones. The metal ones arced out!

Quote from: neilv on February 21, 2018, 01:51:23 PM
I have found so many good Ideas on the forum, now I will try to give back.

On our last trip the dust prevented the locks from functioning on the TVan doors. I went to SouthCo to replace them and they suggested locks with special keys and dust covers. The keys do not have the fine tumblers found on the existing locks so are not affected by dust and the dust cap is added protection.

I have also fitted an additional non lockable lock to each door for when we are opening and closing around the camp, no key required, then when travelling or when required lock the lockable lock.

Have yet to try it in the dust but is working fine around the easy camp sites.

The photos should explain the system better.

Just a hint..to keep the rubber covers in place..turn the rubber cover to make it open away from the front..that is..side ways. This will stop them being ripped out/ off from passing trees or bushes...as per the pics..second one is wrong..First one, hinging away from potential damage or loss, is the correct way

Quote from: Wetjala on September 20, 2018, 10:54:10 AM
Interesting comments about the Merit plug. I heard a similar thing from the ARB salesman who sold me the 60l: that the Merit socket is prone to failure due to overheating in some installations and, if memory serves me correct, their preference now is to use the Engel style connections (don't quote me on that though!). My older 47l came with the standard cig.lighter plug that would convert to a Merit plug (by removing a section at the tip of the plug) that the 60l didn't which is how the conversation came up with the salesman when I queried this.

Whilst I haven't experienced any issues to date I reckon I will be retrofitting the Merit with an Engel-style socket in my T-Van to mitigate any potential problems in the future . . to be sure, to be sure! (wouldn't be a happy chappy if things went pear-shaped while in the back-blocks somewhere!!)   

We had a Engel plug on our old Engel..removed it as it was loosening in the socket and overheating (it actually melted as it was making poor contact in the socket...Friends changed theirs to a merit..fridge works fine now. Either Merit or Anderson plug is the way to go.
Another thing to check is whether the cord isn't under too much tension, when sliding the fridge out.

We don't have a permanent light and are very happy not to have one! We do use a strip light which has a dimmer switch and stretches from the kitchen to the hatch door.
We now have it in a 2 in one, yellow & white, for insect invasion protection.
That is the big downer, when your only light source is attracting insects!
Just a thought anyway.
More flexibility too. It just rolls up and tucks away in the TVan boxes.

Quote from: Gumb on October 12, 2018, 07:29:05 PM
At that price (cost of shipping) you'd be better off making it a short holiday and driving over. I think putting on the Track boxes will add to the resale but other versions may not...unless they are really well done.

I agree..The FB mountings are not a quick and easy job as the tooling required for some of the original fittings, isn't what most people have in their workshop!.

Quote from: Gumb on October 10, 2018, 11:08:36 PM
Kimberley have at least found another buyer so they may kick on but this also happened to them earlier this year so it's second time around. Pioneer got saved by being purchased by Trackmaster.

With Ultimate, do you mean the fibreglass Ultimate camper which looks like a boat or the camper trailer version. The latter being the subject of a photo recently where the chassis parted company with the body on an outback road, with a picture posted online.

A very sad day for this  Ultimate and BT50 owner, on the Gary Highway

Hi Cam.
For a price range of a Mk 3..you are looking at $45,000, for a Canning, with a front box
A Murranji features, we find, are not worth the extras they originally came with. If you're lucky, you'll find one second hand Canning  that has had some of the more useful features of the Murranji. ..such as tent windows, extra water tank. The Mk 3 kitchen is all we need and the increased width and roof height (not as much as 4's and mk5's though)..and the full length bed (no bed, length extension).
An annex is not a big must have, if there isn't one with it..some people have sold theirs as they never use it.
Same suspension/ stud pattern as your vehicle saves you needing to carry more than 2 spares. We have found that invaluable...also takes the weight off the front of your TVan, if you can have/ store 2 on your vehicle. (Prado's you can't have 2 spare wheel carriers though, I do realise)

Hope that helps.
Robyn

Quote from: Danno47 on October 08, 2018, 10:02:40 AM
Patriot campers use them with success, don't know about wheel travel but my biggest problem would be all the extra complexity weighed up against a simple coil when in the middle of nowhere.

No other suspension system has the flex that TVan has..springs and shockers are "simple"..airbags would get wrecked VERY quickly on the tracks, the TVans were originally designed to travel..that's where no other trailing vehicle can go.

Quote from: MarkA on September 29, 2018, 12:44:37 PM
I know this is an old thread but I thought I'd share the fix.
and to do this they pull the small back check poppit from the central inlet. This allows the spring and retaining clip to free float inside the pump. Mine had jammed under the pump backcheck and allowing water to free flow out when the electric pump was running.
Simple fix remove the spring and clip as they do nothing, reseat the poppit and who hoo.  No more leaking pump.  And it only took me 4 years to get round to fixing it.  How good am I ?

Track clearly modify there pumps by blocking the normal household inlet

There are actually 2 models of the same pump, one of which is used if there is an electric pump to the hand pump itself...or if the pump is only manually operated
I don't remember which is which, but I do know there are 2 models of the same pump.

Hi all. Someone disputed the fact that we were the first to cross from the Colson to Geosurveyor Hill and south to The Geocentre Of the Simpson, with our TVan..They said Hema had?
Has anyone ever found anything about it?
I know they did some of the Track to the Geo's, but there isn't anything I can find.
Cheers
Robyn