T5 Kombi Beach availability

[tapsy]

Just wondering what sort of things you want to plug in that you need so many plugs. I am investigating installing a voltmeter for my leisure battery [T4 camper] & was thinking about a 12 volt outlet as well.

well y'd have a fridge, and you might want to run a external light, or 12v kettle
camera, phone, battery charger etc etc

[gregozedobe]

I love my 12v electric blanket (great to get into a warm bed on a really cold frosty night

[jets]

well y'd have a fridge, and you might want to run a external light, or 12v kettle
camera, phone, battery charger etc etc

I almost always stay where there is 240V, but I can imagine an extra light would come in handy for bush camping.

[tapsy]

I almost always stay where there is 240V, but I can imagine an extra light would come in handy for bush camping.

I'm thinking if we are only staying one night we could save $10 bucks on a unpowered site rather than a powered site adds up over a week or so (a carton of beer or two) and we may want to watch a dvd from the laptop or something.

[jets]

Most of the parks that I have stayed at only charge around $2 extra for power. The time you will save is when free camping & over many nights. The parks are getting more sophisticated with entertainment for families. They want campers to spend their holidays in the same park so that they can get the most dollars from you. I am not interested in all the stuff they dream up, I only want to have a hot shower & somewhere safe to sleep. I believe the councils are now charging the parks higher rates to pay for improved facilities in the respective towns.The park rates can now be $28/night or even more.

[tapsy]

caravan parks

Most of the parks that I have stayed at only charge around $2 extra for power. The time you will save is when free camping & over many nights. The parks are getting more sophisticated with entertainment for families. They want campers to spend their holidays in the same park so that they can get the most dollars from you. I am not interested in all the stuff they dream up, I only want to have a hot shower & somewhere safe to sleep. I believe the councils are now charging the parks higher rates to pay for improved facilities in the respective towns.The park rates can now be $28/night or even more.

Thanks jets, makes sense, hot shower and a safe spot, i'll have to save for that carton on something else

[xtzoutback]

Home safe and sound

Well we're back after our wee road trip to pick up the new Kombi from Burwins in Melbourne. Flew down thursday night from Newcastle, got to the dealers on friday morning and after the fifteen minute instruction demo and a good cup of coffee we (me and the two sproggs who were sneaking a day off school!!!) were off.

Compared to the standard Crewvan the Kombi is quieter. The computer is an addition over the basic van and it is a really handy tool allowing you to improve the driving and gear selection to help optimise fuel economy. (well it was a long drive...a bloke can get bored...)

We stayed overnight at Wagga and had no problems. Enough space and really warm. As I mentioned in another post I found the front wheel drive a little spinny on wet roads compared with the 4motion but I also achieved 7.86l/100km for the trip which is bloody fantastic if you ask me.

It is booked in for a rego inspection tomorrow and then we can plan some trips. I'll post some pictures of both vans soon.

Still great deals available.

Cheers

[Gripper2111]

xtzoutback, good to hear you had a good trip. I'm planning a trip to Esperance pretty soon as the fist descent run for my Beach (about 9hrs each way from memory) and am looking forward to that. Just trying to get it set up as best I can at the moment so looking into fridges etc right now.

Mark

[tapsy]

The fridge reduces the bed to about the width of the main part, without the sliding sponge bit over the drawer near the door. We are both fairly skinny and it works for us, but I would say if you were one of both were larger persons then you would need the original width. This would create a problem of where to fit the fridge, as it cannot go on the floor behind the drivers seat where we wanted to place it, as then the metal drawer under the moving centre seat could not be opened. It would take some creative thinking to place it elsewhere, and the best thing about having it near the sliding door is that when you are sitting under the awning and want another beer, just flip the lid open and get one while standing outside.Brian

Hi we finally got the fridge sorted thanks BrianJ for you imput you have been a great help with your ideas, a photo of out fridge set up is here http://picasaweb.google.com/tarjmahal/KombiBeach

just need a few more 12v points now, and we are getting the 240v input in a few weeks that will also come in handy at powered sites

Only 1510 days to retirement

[unemployed]

12v electric blanket

I love my 12v electric blanket (great to get into a warm bed on a really cold frosty night

Just picked up a yellow beach. Very cold last friday night. where do you get a 12v electric blanket?

[gregozedobe]

Just picked up a yellow beach. Very cold last friday night. where do you get a 12v electric blanket?

Sorry, the manufacturer doesn't seem to exist any more I went looking for someone else a while backand they seem to have vanished (like many Australian manufacturers). I bought mine about 12 years ago.

You could try camping or 4wd suppliers, or maybe from overseas via the web.

[tapsy]

240volt

setting up 240volt input and wondered if it would be a good idea to link a battery charger (maybe under the drivers seat) to the second battery from the 240v feed? i'm not too cluey in the electrical depatment

[jets]

This is the brand of charger fitted to my Trakka.

http://beehivechargers.com/

Mine is the 8 amp but the later ones are fitted with the 14 amp.
You will need to fit something sophisticated than won't overcharge while you are asleep with too high a voltage input.

[xtzoutback]

Pictures as promised

Here are the two T5's looking unusually clean. I'm well known for keeping a good covering of 'sunblock' on the van but the new Kombi made me give 'Jaffa' a fettle.

Happy driving
A

[tapsy]

storage bags

Hi BrianJ

i notice on your small storage bag you have it hanging off the table rail? did those clips come with the bags? I don't seem to have those ones or did you make something up for it?

Tapsy