Thread: New addition to the garage

Originally Posted by Striker

When I built the van, there was space provisioned in the rear for four or so car batteries, to run some 12 volt systems. Unfortunately I ran out of money while the van was being built, and these were never fitted.

Once I can catch up on everything, I still plan to fit them. That should help somewhat with the balance of the trailer.

--Striker.

four largish car batteries is close to 100kg, which, a metre or so behind the van axle would exert a reasonable moment to lighten the load. Have you thought about getting a couple of cheap plastic water tanks and using them as ballast in place of the batteries? As Davidsonsm points out, 300kg is far too much, indeed you are running a compliance risk as well if you are involved in an accident... just saying ...

It's been a little while since there was any kind of an update. The car has been running fairly well, for the most part. Still having some problems with the temp needle going up, but the OBD2 dongle hasn't arrived yet, so I can't live-monitor the temperatures yet.

I'm currently up in Queensland, and the P38 made it here with nothing to report, though I am feeling a little sorry that my cruise control isn't working.

On the back of the vacuum unit that pulls on the cable, there are two barbs. There is no hose on the bottom one, and if I get the hose, I've got no idea where it goes to.. Ideas anyone?


On a bad note, there were a few drops of coolant on my carpet this morning. Heater core issues in my immediate future, I guess.

--Striker.

Striker - the coolant on the carpet by your left leg, is likely heater O rings, which is a more straightforward fix than the actual heater.


If it is leaking - keep checking your coolant level. Glad to hear you made it to QLD with no dramas. Did you get that ball weight down yet?

Originally Posted by davidsonsm

Striker - the coolant on the carpet by your left leg, is likely heater O rings, which is a more straightforward fix than the actual heater.


If it is leaking - keep checking your coolant level. Glad to hear you made it to QLD with no dramas. Did you get that ball weight down yet?

Great to hear it might just be an O-ring. Is this something I should get looked at fairly immediately, or is it safe(ish) to leave it for a week?

The food van is still in Sydney, I'm on holidays at the moment, but I'm organising a couple of sand bags for the time being, to drop in to the cavity where the batteries will go in the future.
I've also changed from a solid tow-ball tongue, to an adjustable, to allow the hitch to sit lower, and lessen the pressure on the ball/back of the car.

I did have an EAS fault on the way up here, it faulted before I hit Mooney Mooney, and I just drove it up like that. When I got here, I borrowed a windows laptop, and cleared the fault with the help of the software and cable that PaulP38a gave me (thanks again Paul!).

--Striker.

You have the option of bypassing the heater if the leaks develops. Keep checking the coolant level.

To bypass, buy some 3/4" elbows from a plumbers merchant and use a union to make them in to a U shape. With some hose clamps, you can bypass the heater, where the hoses enter/exit the firewall under the bonnet.