Thread: Coming to Australia Bluey's Rebuild- Part 10

Hi everyone

well I hope someone's taking some notice!

Yesterday we put the house up for sale so there's no going back now. We've had poor weather lately - a bit cold but nothing compared to the trials you've had. Rosy can't wait to get back to Oz now as she hasn't been able to take Abby (our 16 month old daughter) out and about without looking like the Michelin man for ages!

Anyway the economic climate is poor but we shouldn't loose too much profit on the house. Everyone seems to be talking themselves into a recession. The house has lost value but not that much - as long as it sells we can still do our Europe and Oz trip.

I am now doing the last few jobs - these still include the big one like fit the child seat - but everything else is pretty easy.

I have "built" a tool box into the passenger side jerry can holder - this holds the bottle jack, wheel brace, air compressor, tool box and tow rope. The other side will carry a jerry can of fuel or water and a jerry can of petrol for out stove.

I have made and fitted an internal "roof" rack so that with the to be manufactured cargo barrier in place we can still hoyer coats etc. behind us out of the way. I have fitted the last of the Mobile Storage Boxes in the back and have linked the roof lights(still switched) to the main beam circuit.

At the moment I'm thinking of an easy way of strapping the Oz Tent and two bikes to the side Bluey. The tent isn't a problem but the bikes are! We would like to take our bikes so that once camped we can explore afield on the bikes. I'm thinking that with one pedal removed the bikes will sit fairly flush to the sides of the motor - sticking out no further than a spare wheel as with British Army Land Rovers.

I've fitted marine foldable stainless steel steps to Bluey so you can climb up to the tent or roof rack without a ladder - I think I could strap the bikes to those if I can think of a way of taking they're weight somehow.

I realise now that Bluey is not Austalian customs friendly even though I tried my best. I went for a galvanised chassis so that I didn't have to coat it in wax or anything but I have used split convaluted tubing to protect any extra wiring which Oz quarantine don't like but I'm willing to strip it out once I get there as it will protect my wiring in the meantime and I don't mind your quarantine laws!

Hopefully if the house sells we should be in Oz at the end of the year - see you in Perth!!

Andy, Rosy, Abby

Good on you mate, just do it