The world is whole again

[Chops]

Well, once again, the world is as it should be, and we are as one again.

I noted that I had my permagrin back again as I returned home from Albury.

Winter Wombat camping trip this year was a touch expensive so to speak. We pulled up at the Potato Patch on Friday morning having hit two fairly hefty potholes on the way in. All good, set up the van. And kicked back watching our brethren start to rock up. 👌

Saturday saw us preparing for a trip around the district with the rest of the crew. Shot out the gate, 200 meters up the road we hit another big pothole. 100 or so meters up the road again and bang, I managed to steer us into another. 🙄 Turned into the track just after that to a strange sound and a very rough ride on the front.

Turns out, you can actually break these things,,,, who’d have thunk it? 😳

Im not allowed to try and fix it, cause we’re under warranty still (103500). LR Assist came to the rescue and got us home,, not just out of the bush to the nearest dealer, but over 300 kilometres to our home, us, the car on a truck towing the van. Pretty happy with that. 👍

Chris helped heaps by towing the van out to the road for us,, to help out the towie,, who by the way, was awesome,, he was from Ballan not far from where we were camped. He did a recce run the afternoon before we left. Just as well as my tow hitch is a DO45. This unit is big and solid, with the need for a massive hole in the tow tongue to mount. He had to go back to his workshop and manufacture/modify his truck unit to be able to fit the tongue from my car to his truck. 👌 sweet job.
The trip was cool, he really is a great bloke, and it was good to chat with him. The ride itself though,, my back was ****ed again 😩

So, back at the shop they determine that the front airline has actually ruptured, (in several places) not all that common apparently. Have to order one in, refit and ‘resync/calibrate” the air system.

LRAssist organised me a rental whilst the shop had mine. 🤬 Toyota **** box. Had to drive it to Melbourne and back on the weekend,, what the **** do they see in these cars???

Well,, my babies back in my world, life is fine again, permagrins a happenin, and the worlds a better place.

[Chops]

Just a couple more pics. Unfortunately I forgot to get the airline so I could inspect it myself. They also looked at the “clock spring” in the steering wheel as it’s bought up a fault for the airbags. This is NOT related to the potholes, and has been there for a few months now. I knew it needed to be looked at or replaced, but whilst at the dealers, on inspection it was found that the Llams dial was actually fowling or rubbing on the switch. Adjusted slightly, it’s now ok 👍

[DiscoMick]

That must have been a frustrating experience for you on your first run with the new van, but it sounds like LR Assist really came through, which is great.

[Chops]

That must have been a frustrating experience for you on your first run with the new van, but it sounds like LR Assist really came through, which is great.

Not the first run with the van, we’ve had that now for nearly two years I think, but it’s the first run since this time last year. But yes, frustrating to put it mildly.

[loanrangie]

At least it was only an air line and not the bag, they seem pretty rugged in general.

[dirvine]

Good to hear it was only an airline. I did say that to you after you did it. The lines are not very thick and I could easily squash mine, when I fitted the GOE emergency kit. Maybe time to put that kit on the car.
.
David

[Chops]

Good to hear it was only an airline. I did say that to you after you did it. The lines are not very thick and I could easily squash mine, when I fitted the GOE emergency kit. Maybe time to put that kit on the car.
.
David

Ive actually been investigating this on and off for months ,, best be having a proper go I suppose 😉

[dirvine]

Trouble is that GOE is no longer inn business??? or reliable??? Not sure but if you get it it does give you some piece of mind

cheers David

[discoben]

Don't buy from goe, I'm processing my charge back with bank now after three months of chasing.

[SeanC]

If by the front airline you mean the airline between the front valve block and air-spring then a GOE emergency air-up kit would not have helped. That’s the airline the kit uses. All that was needed was an airline repair kit. I may never get a my GOE emergency air up kit but I do have a GOE airline repair kit.

[dirvine]

If by the front airline you mean the airline between the front valve block and air-spring then a GOE emergency air-up kit would not have helped. That’s the airline the kit uses. All that was needed was an airline repair kit. I may never get a my GOE emergency air up kit but I do have a GOE airline repair kit.

No with the EAS kit I have you isolate all the compressor hoses to each airbag and use the blue hoses supplied by GOE. They directly connect to each air bag. Then you disconnect the fuse to the compressor. You have the "cheaper" EAS kit. Thats why I did not buy it as I felt it was not a sure thing. Also I felt it would be a bugger to set up should something happen out in the bush. Mine is unclip the pipes in the engine bay and/or near the tow bar and clip in the schrader valve supplied, and start pumping with your own compressor. Lot easier and quicker to do.

[Chops]

So I picked up the car, but forgot to ask for the offending pipe.
Today I was able to go pick up the van, so I called in to see if it could be had. Unfortunately they only had one piece left which they used to show the apprentices. All good, I’ll take that thanks to show my mates.
Its a bit hard to see, but this is only one piece of damage,, apparently there were also pin holes for a fair section of the pipe. I’m not sure on the actual length of the whole section of pipe.

I will be organising to fit up a “kit” in the not to distant future.

[dirvine]

Marcus the trouble is GOE is out of business so no longer makes the kit. I have the fitting instructions and I think Enzed would have all the parts you need to make up the kit. PM me with email and we can discuss off line.

[SeanC]

No with the EAS kit I have you isolate all the compressor hoses to each airbag and use the blue hoses supplied by GOE. They directly connect to each air bag. Then you disconnect the fuse to the compressor. You have the "cheaper" EAS kit. Thats why I did not buy it as I felt it was not a sure thing. Also I felt it would be a bugger to set up should something happen out in the bush. Mine is unclip the pipes in the engine bay and/or near the tow bar and clip in the schrader valve supplied, and start pumping with your own compressor. Lot easier and quicker to do.

I understand how the kit works and how it is fitted. I don’t have the cheaper EAS kit but the airline repair kit that has some airline and two inline connectors to replace a section of airline that has ruptured. If the OPs rupture was before the valve block then than EAS kit would have helped. If it was between the front valve block and air spring and had the EAS kit fitted it would depend exactly where the rupture was. If it was between the front valve block and the join where you connect the external compressor the kit would help. If between the join and airspring the kit wouldn’t have helped. Whatever the case an airline repair kit would would have sorted the problem.

[loanrangie]

The push fittings are quite common so it would be easy to put a kit together.

[dirvine]

As I said mine replaces the piping to the airbags with blue hose supplied by GOE. This hose is far stronger than the OEM and as such I doubt it would rupture especially when looking at Chops picture. Mine is NOT a repair kit it replaces the hoses to each airbag.

[SeanC]

As I said mine replaces the piping to the airbags with blue hose supplied by GOE. This hose is far stronger than the OEM and as such I doubt it would rupture especially when looking at Chops picture. Mine is NOT a repair kit it replaces the hoses to each airbag.

See what you are getting at now re: supplied tubing. Yes it appears stronger and less chance of rupturing. I didn’t think you had the repair kit. Just saying a repair kit would have sorted the OPs problem.

[PeterJ]

Thanks for the information chops, the really excellent news in your tale of woe from my perspective is that LRAssist recovered the van as well. Before I took out the policy I read in the fine print that they would not recover anything being towed, I checked with them and they confirmed that that was ideed the case. I took it out anyway and now heartened to hear about your experience. I guess it will depend on who the contractor is and where you are, but [emoji4] around.

[Bohica]

Why did you get a small van.[wink11]

[Chops]

Oh well, you know how it is,, the Mrs doesn’t want to be seen to be lashing out too much on luxuries etc,, 😳 so we kept the van size down somewhat 👍

[dirvine]

If you want to go to a smaller and "a proper New Age off road van" I would be happy to swap...even throw in the generator if you like

[wardy1]

Glad to hear all ended up well mate

[Chops]

If you want to go to a smaller and "a proper New Age off road van" I would be happy to swap...even throw in the generator if you like


Naa,, it’s ok thanks David,, we’ll struggle on with what we’ve got,, you know how it works, you make your bed you lay in it,, 🤪