Thread: Grey Nomads - things I've learnt in the last few days.

Originally Posted by Sprint

Who in thier right mind travels specifically to Emerald just for the trip? I was under the impression you were on a longer trip than that. Either way, its still a fair hike from Bracken Ridge, especially if things go sour mechanically.

Considering the parts and service ability of the area, Emerald *IS* off the beaten track..... the nearest place with anything resembling a decent supply of landrover parts in stock is Rockhampton....

Obviously not well enough if an overheating issue sprang up during the trip....

Quite possibly...... I've waved at a few Defender drivers recently who havent waved back.....

I must remember to run my travels plans by you..........

I have a preferred supplier of landie parts........to date I haven't needed parts on the road. Rocky has always been a back up plan if I'm in the area

I never said it overheated......well without going back throughout the thread.......pretty sure I said it's running a tad hot. It's something I have managed for the last seven years

I rarely wave......and unless you were near emerald last week you wouldn't have waved to me

My God, some of you guys crack me up. But I'm starting to work out why southern tourists drive the way they do up here.

The paved shoulder on these highways is about 60mm wide, and after that it's washaways, culverts, grass, and that nice round slippery gravel we have here, so pulling over isn't an option unless you slow down to second gear. Every winter we get, as well as the usual several million bikky-dippers, people on horses, people pushing wheelbarrows, people on camels, or riding bicycles, walking, driving huge vintage single-cylinder tractors towing caravans, or sideshows driving slowly to save fuel, wide loads of all sorts, and there are quite a few single-lane bridges to take turns on, too.

Sometimes the roads can be busy enough that you don't get a chance to overtake for some time, or there's smoke everywhere and you can't see, or you hit the few spots that are too hilly or curvy.

So in the end the best thing is to learn to take it easy.

I can't believe I read through this whole thread.

I always believed caravanning was not about the destination or the trip, but how many people you could hold up on the way.

Jeff

Originally Posted by Jeff

but how many people you could hold up on the way.

haha, good one. i'l have to use this one in the future

Originally Posted by weeds

I have a preferred supplier of landie parts........to date I haven't needed parts on the road. Rocky has always been a back up plan if I'm in the area

Preferred suppliers and backups arent always convenient or where you need them to be, when you need them. And just because you havent needed parts when you're on a trip, doesnt mean there wont be a time when you will.

Originally Posted by weeds

I never said it overheated......well without going back throughout the thread.......pretty sure I said it's running a tad hot. It's something I have managed for the last seven years

You needed to reduce your speed to keep the temperature down, that tells me that there was either a risk or certainty of overheating if you had continued without slowing.

Do you know why your cooling system isnt operating properly?

Originally Posted by weeds

I rarely wave......and unless you were near emerald last week you wouldn't have waved to me

considering I work there 12 days out of every 14..... :-P

Originally Posted by Chucaro

I agree with you Kelvin, I do not know have the chance to drive on the old Hume or Pacific hwy behind an old Kombi.
During the 70's I remember the VW vans holding the traffic for many kilometers and there was no hope in overtaking them.
We do not have these problems now.

your worst nightmare

Originally Posted by Sprint

Preferred suppliers and backups arent always convenient or where you need them to be, when you need them. And just because you havent needed parts when you're on a trip, doesnt mean there wont be a time when you will.

You needed to reduce your speed to keep the temperature down, that tells me that there was either a risk or certainty of overheating if you had continued without slowing.

Do you know why your cooling system isnt operating properly?


considering I work there 12 days out of every 14..... :-P

My rig and trailer is one of a kind, well the trailer is........easy to spot

Originally Posted by goingbush

your worst nightmare

What a fantastic setup!

My brother had a '61 or '62 Kombi camper that he sold about 10 years ago, all he could get was $500! It had a broken crankshaft.

Poor bugger.