PUMA goes camping...

[slt]

Well, I've had the PUMA 130 for a couple of months now, but last week was my first trip for I actually bought it for, my photography/adventure platform. I thought I share a couple of photo's I've taken.

Bigger images on my Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gunther2/) page.

Cheers to all!

First play in the dirt... (HDR)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/04/142.jpg

Crowded camp site...
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1382.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1383.jpg

Under the Southern Cross (30 sec, high ISO, moonlight)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1384.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1385.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1386.jpg

New England NP
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1387.jpg

Guy Fawkes River NP/Ebor Falls
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1388.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1389.jpg

Mount Barney
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1390.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1391.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1392.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1393.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1394.jpg

[slt]

And a short clip...

YouTube - Trayon Camper Setup

[nice1guv]

What an awesome looking 130! :eek: and clearly very well kitted out. :D

Love the photos - the stream one is my favourite, so serene.

The time lapse video is tops, 2mins and it's all done - nice!
Had Benny Hill music in my head whilst watching!

[slt]

The time lapse video is tops, 2mins and it's all done - nice! Had Benny Hill music in my head whilst watching!

I've composed it at 6 frames/sec, so all up it took me 11 mins. or so. But this was my first set up in anger, and I fumbled with the tie-downs a bit. After doing it half a dozen times I've got it down pat to about 5 mins.

And I think I'll redo the clip with Benny Hill music :D

[fraser130]

Great looking rig!
I wish I had one - oh wait - I do!!!:):)

So what were your thoughts on the Trayon on it's first trip?

We're off for the weekend next weekend to give ours a first test to see what needs done for summer.

Fraser

[catch-22]

I love the pic of the sun on left, fence in middle and trees on right. Amazing. The eye is not drawn to anywhere in particular......Well done!!!!


Edit: OK just went to your flickr site and the pic is called 'morning has broken.'

[slt]

Thanks Fraser! Gave everything a good test and it all worked really well :). The 2 55Ah batteries ran the fridge for a good 48 hours without charging (as you had suggested) and by that time I was back on 240V. The only change I've made so far was to replace the existing rather FIRM mattress with a Coleman queen-size air bed, which fits perfectly and is much more gentle on my dodgy lower back muscles, and I think will also be beneficial in warmer weather. Looking forward to your first observations.

By the way, at the Expo in Sydney last weekend I ran into a couple more people who had carried Trayons on 130s (all with only good stories to tell). Given that there's a few of us around now it almost warrants a 'Trayon' sub-forum in the Camping area ;)

[dmdigital]

Nice setup up. Bit fiddly I thought at first to put up but on reviewing I'd have to say it's not bad at all.

How do you find the tent on the back though? Is it annoying if you are setup and have to drive somewhere?

[dullbird]

I thought you could drop stilts on the trayon's so you could unlatch them and drive away ?????

[Chucaro]

Great photos, the last 3 have that "magical light" that we landscaping photographers love.
Thank you fopr sharing.
The Defender setup?..........SUPERB :BigThumb:

[fraser130]

I thought you could drop stilts on the trayon's so you could unlatch them and drive away ?????

That's right Dullbird, it takes me about 15 mins at a slow pace to attach the legs and jack it up to drive away.
I'm working on a motor arrangement to do it for me at the moment!;)

Fraser

[slt]

How do you find the tent on the back though? Is it annoying if you are setup and have to drive somewhere?

One of the disadvantages of a slide-on vs a trailer of course. Whether it will be annoying or not I can't tell yet, since I haven't been using it long enough, but it has taken me less than 10 minutes to pack up and just over 5 to set up again. Plus it has its own legs to stand on, though I think that's more fiddly than just packing up, so I would only use them if I was planning to stay somewhere for a bit longer (or to 'hog' a camp site ;)).

[slt]

Great photos, the last 3 have that "magical light" that we landscaping photographers love.

BTW Chucaro, Mount Barney (http://www.mtbarneylodge.com.au/), where those shots were taken has an excellent variety of bird life, and it's an great camp site to boot.

[Chucaro]

BTW Chucaro, Mount Barney (http://www.mtbarneylodge.com.au/), where those shots were taken has an excellent variety of bird life, and it's an great camp site to boot.


Thank you, looks like that it will be another spot to visit in the future ;)

Did you know the Capertee Valley (http://www.bmbirding.com.au/valley.html)? Is is one of the best spot in Oz and close to Sydney.
Cheers

[slt]

Well, back in Sydney :(

Was really pleased with the Puma's performance down the Pacific Highway. 970km in 10.5 hours. Two pee stops only and the tank still 1/4 full :cool: (I do have the 155l Long Rangers in case that doesn't seem to add up :D). The grinding noise from the gearbox (now identified as the synchro hubs) is still a worry, though it only sets in once accelerating through 95km/h and disappears at 105 ... so I spent much of the trip on 110 :D

Spent a freezing last night of the trip on the Springbrook Plateau in the Goldcoast hinterland and the day before went to visit the Natural Bridge for a shoot. Not entirely happy with the result; not enough water in the creek and wrong time of day, but never mind, gives me an excuse to go back one day...

Thanks for looking!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1044.jpg

And finally another close-up of the camping setup:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/10/1045.jpg

[Chucaro]

That pano it is a top shot!!! even if the light was a bit harsh on the BG
The rig.........awesome mate :)
You will develop a severe case of itchy feet very soon :D

[slt]

You will develop a severe case of itchy feet very soon :D

Thanks Arthur! You're 100% correct, I feel like just like jumping back in again ... there's at least 300km worth of fuel left ;)

Hate the thought of going to work tomorrow :(

[austastar]

Hi,
nice snaps, and an interesting look at your gear.
Thanks for sharing.
The moonlight shots are interesting in their natural tones. Have only done a little bit of night work since getting a digital and still have to sort out the noisy pixel problem.
More reading on that yet.
So much more potential than film with the dreaded reciprocity failure on the different layers, though it can give some eerie effects.
cheers

[slt]

Spent a few days in New England and stumbled across a neat little place called Dumaresq Dam, which is about 15km north of Armidale (away from the highway). Surprisigly scenic, it's a great stop for anyone needing to stop over for a night or two on the way north/south. Best of all, camping is free, and even though it was right in the middle of the shool holidays, it was well below its capacity of about 25 sites. Here's a few pix:

Morning Fog Lifting
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/01/831.jpg

Spot the Puma! (amongst the grey nomads)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/01/832.jpg

Picnic anyone?
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/01/833.jpg

Mars Rising!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/02/1071.jpg

There are a few more pix on my Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gunther2/) stream...

[PSi]

Awesome pix, awesome truck.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

And a short clip...

YouTube - Trayon Camper Setup (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9klNVDPbWc)

Great video. What was the actual elapsed time?

[dullbird]

really like the last one you should of entered it in the comp:)

[slt]

Great video. What was the actual elapsed time?

11 minutes. It was actually my first set-up in the wild, back in October. I've got it down to 6-7 minutes now.

[NevilleBr]

Great rig, it is what I am looking at doing sometime in the future.

[Disco44]

What happened to the Pics? All i got was they were unavailable ???????????

[austastar]

Hi,
that can happen if they are moved or renamed on the host site.
It breaks the link.
cheers

[newhue]

slt, I think I love Iceland after you beautiful images. Congratulations on you passion.
To be fair to the country, how long to visit and give it a good nudge. 2,3,4 weeks? I imagine it's a pricey destination, may as well have a good look if I go.