New Member Melbourne. Gearing Up for The Big Lap

[Budge]

Hey All.
Just looking to gear up my 2010 STX Dual Cab Man Diesel. for The Big Lap with wife and 3 kids (8,5,3) in 2011. Already have ARB Canopy & Trades Racks. Getting ARB Bull Bar & Spots shortly. Together with Black Widow cargo drawers & 70lt Long Ranger Tank.

Wanting advice from others who have kitted up as a tourer as to merits of:
1/ Nissan Genuine Towbar - looking to tow 2T van
2/ Type of Brake controller
3/ How many extra batteries required - what amps?
4/ OME constant 200kg load 2 inch suspension pack.
5/ Type of air-compressor?

With GPS & Satellite mobile phones - do you need the UHF Radio?

Any advice would be great.
Cheers

Budge

Former Patrol GUIII 3.0 Turbo-Diesel owner. Loving the flexibility and economy of the Nav.

 

[Old.Tony]

Welcome to the forum!

1) Don't do it. The Nissan hitch only mounts on the vertical axis and will not withstand the stress placed on it by a load leveler. Get the Hayman Reese hitch.

2) Get a proportional brake controller. I have a Tekonsha Voyager which is ok, you might want to look further up in the range though.

3) Depends on your demands and how you're charging it. What kind of work are you making it do? Our caravan survives on a 100Ah Gel Cel running a Waeco 140L fridge that draws about 6A on a 50% duty cycle (so in 24 hours, it draws 12*6=72Ah). We have an 80W and a 64W solar panel and a 240V generator for backup. The car feeds power in which is inverted and drives a C-Tek charger while we're in motion.

4) Someone else has to help, but I've not heard a lot of bad stuff about OME.

5) Get a bloody good one. Expect a price tag OVER $300.

If you have a satellite phone you don't need a UHF radio but might find a hand-held one useful, particularly if you put "UHF 18" on the back and someone behind you notices something wrong with the vehicle, they can let you know.

 

[Old.Tony]

I forgot to add something very important.

ALL power wires heading down to the van MUST be 6sqmm or better. Make them run a separate earth too.

Even your brake controller should have this gauge of wire. My van is a tandem axle so there are 4 braking wheels, they draw about 6A to apply full brakes = 24A that has to travel 6m of car + from connector to the wheels. If the wiring isn't heavy enough it WILL cause the wires to heat up, perhaps enough to cause damage.

Oh, make sure they put 30A thermal fuses in the front - one on the power line, one on the brake controller.

 

[scottybobcat]

Welcome to the forum mate.The trip sounds great.I would definately buy a UHF as they come in very handy listening to the truckies and finding out Hazards up ahead and also listening out for the coppers.Dual battery a must with an anderson plug to the rear to charge your batteries in the van as you drive.You will want at least 2 spares for the Nav and the caravan.Proporsional beak controller a must for electric brakes.(does your van have elec brakes)A roof basket for carrying spare fuel and gas bottles,high lift jack etc A gun license and powerfull rifle if you are doing the top end(protection against crocs and any other nastys)

 

[Budge]

Thanks Dave and Scotty.
Invaluable info at this stage.

After reading heaps of tales and your advice - the nissan hitch will become scrap. HR here we come.
Need to look into brake controllers and power needs.

Sold on the UHF will investigate options. Incl mounting positions as the new nav dash is too clean with a double-din stereo. Coz will also need to mount break controller, gps, ipod etc somewhere...and I can't find an overhead console for this model - with the bluetooth mic and receiver in the way...

The 6mm cable is a great tip for the batts.

Thanks for your help.
Cheers
Budge

 

[scottybobcat]

The D22 roof console are supposed to fit.I have one in mine which can hold UHF,maps and the like.Where in Melb are you.I can show you what I have done.
I can show you my brake controller aswell

 

[Krankin]

to another Vic....

was going to metion give OT a call, but I see he allready got to you.

I would put my vote for the OME susp upgrade, will be doing mine with next years tax return,
little bit dearer than the rest, but I like the whole package.

A UHF is a given, regardless of Sat phone,

I could vouch for the ARB compressor

.
Jim.

 

[Al]

In regards to the UHF, be aware that come Jan 2011, all UHF radio sold must be 80 channel ones to comply with new regulations. All 40 channel ones (sold at the moment) will be phased out then illegal to use after Jan 2016. If you can wait till Jan to buy UHF i would.

 

[Dion]

All 40 channel ones (sold at the moment) will be phased out then illegal to use after Jan 2016.

Yet another law I am going to enjoy breaking.

 

[scottybobcat]

In regards to the UHF, be aware that come Jan 2011, all UHF radio sold must be 80 channel ones to comply with new regulations. All 40 channel ones (sold at the moment) will be phased out then illegal to use after Jan 2016. If you can wait till Jan to buy UHF i would.

WTF and what is the point of that.40 chanel UHF illegal how do you police that.Thats like saying an old TV or video player will become illegal.
What a pack of cock heads.another money making scheme.

 

[Al]

UHF CB Australia - News - Repeater Locations - History - Sales & More in case anone wants more info

 

[Old.Tony]

Don't mount your UHF antenna on an alloy bar. Nissan reckons it's enough to crack the chassis. Mount it on a steel bar = no worries.

God I'm stilling aghast over that. It'd be funny if it wasn't real.

 

[WoodyD40]

Hey All.
Just looking to gear up my 2010 STX Dual Cab Man Diesel. for The Big Lap with wife and 3 kids (8,5,3) in 2011. Already have ARB Canopy & Trades Racks. Getting ARB Bull Bar & Spots shortly. Together with Black Widow cargo drawers & 70lt Long Ranger Tank.

Wanting advice from others who have kitted up as a tourer as to merits of:
1/ Nissan Genuine Towbar - looking to tow 2T van
2/ Type of Brake controller
3/ How many extra batteries required - what amps?
4/ OME constant 200kg load 2 inch suspension pack.
5/ Type of air-compressor?

With GPS & Satellite mobile phones - do you need the UHF Radio?

Any advice would be great.
Cheers

Budge

Former Patrol GUIII 3.0 Turbo-Diesel owner. Loving the flexibility and economy of the Nav.

Gidday Budge

I have a genuine Nissan h/d tow bar in my shed - i took it off for an ironman step bar. - if your local to melbourne, i'd like to get rid of the nissan tow bar. it does bolt on the side AND also the underside. Send me a PM if your interested.

Type of brake controler ? Hayman reece

Extra battery ? 1 extra, as big as you can get (at least 100amp)

OME ... yup - good idea

Compressor - a good high output one. I would go a name brand (ironman or arb) and not a cheap one. U dont wont it stuffing up on you in the bush. I got mine as a boxed unit from ARB, packes away neatly in the back of the ute - and everything is contained IN THE BOX always. Get a tyre repair kit too while your at it.

UFH radio - YES, a big YES. so you can talk to others on the road, about track conditions / road conditions etc.

 

[Dave]

Thanks Dave and Scotty.
Invaluable info at this stage.

After reading heaps of tales and your advice - the nissan hitch will become scrap. HR here we come.
Need to look into brake controllers and power needs.

Sold on the UHF will investigate options. Incl mounting positions as the new nav dash is too clean with a double-din stereo. Coz will also need to mount break controller, gps, ipod etc somewhere...and I can't find an overhead console for this model - with the bluetooth mic and receiver in the way...

The 6mm cable is a great tip for the batts.

Thanks for your help.
Cheers
Budge

Lol, I didn't even say anything and I got thanked.

Must be that Sig Tony. Lol.

Dave.

 

[Jason]

Hi Budge, welcome to the forum.

 

[Old.Tony]

Bugger, I will have to change that now!

 

[Dave]

Na put it back Tony.

Oh and welcome old mate.

Dave.

 

[Bosshog]

Apart from welcome Budge, my only comment would be get as big (Amp hrs) second battery as you can. I am using a 105Ah and my 80L waeco, GPS, UHF, inverter and external lighting system will drain it in under 2 days and normally I'd be thinking about starting the Ute after a 1.5 days parked up in order to ensure the battery remains in good condition. You can never have too much power!