Has anyone got any experiences of a long trip living out of a Kamper? Tossing up the idea of buying a late Bay when we leave la la land up here in North East Arnhem Land and spending 3 to 6 months making our way slowly back to NSW. We will have a 4 and 2 year old with us and are wondering if it will be too much spending that long living out of a kamper?
The wife and I really like the idea of it and the kids would love it, but it would be great to hear pros and cons from others who have done it before.
Thanks in advance
Dave
AA003 ·
I have had a few married couples from Germany travel Australia for 12 months and not had problems.
Bizarre ·
Couple - easy
0-2 yr old. Possible. They don't know any better
4 yr old. That is going to be tough.
Still. I would give it a go if you and your partner are prepared to do it
matberry ·
No experience with the kids but I'd say go for it. You'll have a trip to remember whatever happens 😉
AA003 ·
Bizarre wrote:4 yr old. That is going to be tough.
Valium?
Bizarre ·
AA003 wrote:Valium?
Child, parents or the whole family?
Ben386 ·
Leave the wife and kids behind and go yourself,no probs then.😂
DubbyDo ·
I have to take them, if i dont she will chop up the Beetle and the kids will crap on the seats😁
DubbyDo ·
But seriously, I have been trying to come up with an angle to add another Dub to the family and the wife came up with this idea all by herself👍👍👍
This whole idea is looking more and more to being as reality starting mid January 2014.
Klaus ·
buy a syncro ..air con , heater , 4x4 and plenty of room inside
vassy66T1 ·
My wife and I and our 2 teenage boys did one month from qld to Tassie and back.
Most memorable holiday we have had! (and for all the right reasons)
Go for it!
Ours was in a 1970 Dormobile.
We are going for a week in the snow at the end of June in it and will do another month raod trip at Xmas. 😉
DubbyDo ·
vassy66T1 wrote:My wife and I and our 2 teenage boys did one month from qld to Tassie and back.
Most memorable holiday we have had! (and for all the right reasons)
Go for it!
Ours was in a 1970 Dormobile.
We are going for a week in the snow at the end of June in it and will do another month raod trip at Xmas. 😉
Thanks for the reply, can I ask what were your sleeping arrangements? annexe and tent or all in the camper?
Our hearts are set on a Type 2 the a/c is not an issue and will be really happy to be out of a 4x4. Next big decision will be to go clockwise or anti-clockwise when we leave here
vassy66T1 ·
We put a tent up for the boys when the stops were more than 1 night.
For an overnighter they would sleep up top.
Our annexe was a very basic one (tarp with rope and clips etc)
DubbyDo ·
Cheers Marcus, I was all keen to get the tent/annexe setup from JustKampers but the wife kept telling me we need to keep it as simple as possible. Seeing as we already own a tent its probably stupid to get another just because it will look better🤪 Anyway that is a great idea and the missus will be very happy to hear how you guys did it. Thanks
tar76 ·
Make sure the young ones can see out the windows...they are not blocked by cupboards and cap gear. My old panel use to drive my grommies nuts as they couldn't see, and long trips they would get very bored quickly and car sick!
DubbyDo ·
I gotta start writing a list, this info will definitely help with the whole sanity factor I am thinking
jtkombi ·
we're thinking the same thing except got 3 x kids aged 4, 3 and 10 months. We're looking at getting a teardrop camper to help with storage and quick cooking if needed. Looking at heading away towards the end of the year, start of next. Might do a few tester trips first for a couple of weeks then return home for some space.
Did a trip around NZ South Island 2 years ago in a larger van that had shower, toilet and cooking facilities and after a couple of weeks we hired a house for a 3 days to spread out before we all lost it. It was during winter though and i think the cold was more a factor than the cramped conditions.
DubbyDo ·
Same thoughts, small box trailer for quick setting up. Missus only just realised that you arent likely to get a/c in a 70s Kombi, some quick talking needed to get her to realise that this trip in anything newer would not be the same adventure. Told her that all Kombis come with 2 50 a/c so all will be good😂
vassy66T1 ·
Adventure is way more inportant than A/C!!!
The family will remember it always 👍
Scottkombi ·
Mr Do,
Me and the boss take our two girls away for a week and my van is bulging at the seams and it is a T3 syncro pop-top camper.
We take an Outwell Awning for my big daughter to sleep in as she seems to need to visit the ammenities at least once per night and this stops her disturbing out beauty sleep.
Our syncro only has the rock'n'roll bed, and the large 110L upright fridge built into a cupbaord.
We also have a roof basket built into the poptop front where we fit a roof bag and put pillows/ sleeping bags to remove them from the inside. Plus we have a bike rack for the kids bikes.
Still the syncro drives well with this load and I would much rather this than tow a trailer.
This is our syncro almost fully stuffed:
This is with the roof bag on and about to venture off last Christmas:
Here is the Outwell Awning which is fairly easy to set up and handles the weather very well:
I would suggest getting your van, your annexe what ever that may be and doing a few trial short trips to test if it works then adjust as required before the big trip.
Cheers,
Scott
Ben386 ·
Yeah Skott,but your mad after a week and want to go back to work!🤪🤪😂
It wont be long...
DubbyDo ·
Thanks Scott, great pics. That is a cool looking camping ride (must be the whole VW love affair coming out of me!). At this stage we will be leaving Arnhem Land then spending time at the inlaws farm, Northern Rivers, which is where we will be looking for a camper. Plan is to find one make sure everything is up to scratch then hopefully we will be able to do a couple of trips to test it out before the big one. Thanks again for sharing your pics and experiences
DubbyDo ·
Been trawlin the net to see whats out there, finding that there arent too many campers regoed as 4 seaters. Whats the go with people kids sitting in the back? is it just a case of seat belts being fitted to the rock and roll seat? or should I just narrow my search to a Kombi camper regoed as a 4/5 seater?
Scottkombi ·
Mines actually registered as an 8 seater even though it only seats 5. It was like that when I bought it so I didnt argure - must be the Caravelle heritage.
You can get them registered as 4/ 5 seaters if your rock'n'roll bed is ADR compliant - custom kombi do one that is ADR compliant for splits bays and T3's are almost ready too.
You can also get a crab bar to provide a safe baby seat/ child seat attachment.
DubbyDo ·
Looks like this trip is locked in 👍, the wife is already starting a potential route map. Plan is to purchase a late bay from SE QLD/North Coast NSW early next year, set it up with a trailer and hit the road. I don't know if I,m more excited about the trip or searching for another VW to buy🤖
Scottkombi ·
Buying another old VW is crazy but enough to keep an old VW nutter from going crazy!
Go for it and you even have the wife's blessing so you cant beat that!
DubbyDo ·
Next question for our quest...automatic tranny behind a 2L, good, bad or much of a much compared to a manual? My only real experience of autos behind pre efi vehicles (unmodified) is weazy 186/202 red motors trying to get old Kingswoods moving. But the wife (shit, I hope she never reads this thread!) aint the sharpest when it comes to juggling a clutch pedal and a gear stick. Basically what are the autos like to live with?
DubbyDo ·
The excitement is getting out of control!,,,,Only 4 months till we need to have purchased a Kombi, been looking half heartedly on the net now need to get serious. Will be looking in the north coast NSW SE Qld area but willing to travel( I love that shit), if anyone has or knows of something that would be good for a family to travel in(for at least half a year), let us know... Must be pop top or the kids will kick my shins!!! Preferably mid 70
jtkombi ·
Been a while since I've been on here.
I've got a 1800 Auto, doesn't set any speed records but that's why you drive a Kombi. Driven it fully loaded and have never had any problems, can get up to 100km, even faster with a tail wind and down hill. Up hill can be a killer though. I've never towed with ours but heard that a 2lt manual is the way to go if your towing.
As far as seating goes, a lot campers were only registered as 2 seaters. Ours had the back seat converted to the full width rock and roll seat when we bought it and was told it was registered for 4. When baby number 3 came along we got it approved by an engineer to seat 3 in the back, went to VIC roads to get reregistered and found out it was still only registered as a 2 seater. It cost us about $800 to get it all approved.
Heres our ready for action, good luck with the search
dmbvw ·
In my experience kids are very flexible, they can adapt to different situations better than most adults. Have a great time on the road, it is a blast.
DubbyDo ·
JTKombi, that looks the ducks nuts, that's the sort of thing we will be looking for, love it.
Dmbvw, how did you go passing a B Double like that on the highway coming the other way? 🙄
DubbyDo ·
What has everyone done in terms of storage for their longer trips? . We are looking at getting an enclosed 7x4 trailer to carry the bikes, larger items and be a kitchen in the rear. Would love to hear how others have set theirs up
OZ Towdster ·
Just keep in mind that if your keen to do this in a semi stock bay then think minimal minimal minimal as they are not the most powerfull of things and the type 4 will not be very happy towing a trailer especially in that time of the year with 40 plus ambient temps which will be in to the 120 deg C oil temps which with long hours of it , you could find your self on the side of the road , which to put it blankly could be a disaster at best .
Don't take this the wrong way , i'mm not trying to talk you out of the adventure as it will heeps of fun ( hell i'mm about to drive a Dune Buggy accross America ), just loose the trailer , you'll be suprised as to where you can store gear .
As for your Kitchen , if the bus dosn't have a kitchen already , even then i'ts probaley past it , for my baja bus i'mm planning on a big draw that pulls out when the sliding door is open with a simple fold down leg on the outer end to support it when out , all of which will work in fine with your younger kids that don't need any leg room yet .
Anyway just my thoughts for tonight
Andrew
DubbyDo ·
Thanks Andrew, the whole slide out kitchen idea is worth looking at. While the thought of towing a trailer is not the best I don't see how we can get around it with the things we will need to take due to the length of the proposed trip. Keeping it as light as possible, fitting an oil cooler and temp gauge will be high on the list of priorities regardless of whether we end up with a trailer or not, also the plan now is to do 6 months in Tassie over new year to the start of Feb then back to the in laws to work through our experience and ditch/add gear as needed, then at the start of March slowly make our way north for the winter.
And I think if the days start getting to hot we won't be going far anyway, maybe a bit of night time travelling, it will be good not locked into a timetable for the first time in our lives🙂
dmbvw ·
Definitely don't have a timetable, you don't need one and it is great to just go day by day. You don't need heaps of gear for longer trips as you just use the same stuff over and over. You can buy the everyday consumables as you go. We took the trailer mostly as accommodation for a family of 5 but are thinking how we can do without it next time. If you can all sleep in the bus, with 2 littlies and a poptop it should be easy, then really try not to take a trailer. They tell me that it is better to cross the Nullarbor from west to east, and try not to be in the top end in the summer months, we were up there in June-July and the weather was magnificent.
DubbyDo ·
West to east is the plan ( if we make it that far) at the very end of winter/ spring( is that even a season in oz???).
One of the reasons we want to get out of here is because of the summer months, build ups just plain suck now
DubbyDo ·
Also dmbvw, tried looking up on the map where upper lower mid north coast is, is it anywhere near the western edge of east central Australia?😁
dmbvw ·
Sorry, forgot you were already up that way, they told us all about the build up, doesn't sound pleasant. Your timing seems spot on from what I can tell, haven't been over west yet though.
It is more like the northern part of the southern zone of the western sector of the eastern area of the central district of the coastal fringe. Cheers.
matberry ·
Sounds like you guys are right in the middle of the northern southeastern westside of nowhere
grinderman ·
Hi Dave, your trip sounds fantastic and will be something your family will remember forever (well........maybe not the kids). Back in 2000 myself, my wife, 3 kids and 2 dogs made a trip from south west victoria to north queensland in our 1970 dual cab kombi. We had a canvas covered 2 section steel mesh cage on the back with all our belongings. The advantage of the dual cab was that we could load up all our gear in the back section and not have to fill the cabin. We put plastic water tanks and spares under the back seat and a few crates under the kids feet (ideal for young ones). We found the simpler the set up the better with 15 -20 minutes being the average time to set up camp with all of us sharing a two room tent and a simple fold out table, small portable barbeque and a 2 burner stove. A quality esky is essential although 12 volt fridges have come down in price but you will need an extra battery etc. If you are taking a trailer make it a light one and put light truck tyres on everything! I found the more you put on the roof the worse your fuel consumption will be, I was losing about 50km per tank with a toolbox mounted to a front roofrack so streamlined is the go. For christsake dont even mention air matresses unless you like sleepness nights.
Last bit of advice is my right arm thermostat. As we all know the natural position for your arm in a non airconditioned vehicle is on the top of the door with window down and my respect for the temperature sensitive air cooled engine means that the hotter my forearm feels.......the slower I drive. Found this out the hardway with a cracked case after a high speed run up to karumba in the gulf country. Admittedly my speedo was dodgy so I was unaware of my 120kph in 35c temp until a guy following me in a cruiser asked me at a servo "is that thing hotted up? cos your flyin". Turns out my bus was 'hotted up' alright .........in a bad way! So take your time.
DubbyDo ·
matberry wrote:Sounds like you guys are right in the middle of the northern southeastern westside of nowhere
Actually we are just North of down South😎
DubbyDo ·
grinderman wrote:Hi Dave, your trip sounds fantastic and will be something your family will remember forever (well........maybe not the kids). Back in 2000 myself, my wife, 3 kids and 2 dogs made a trip from south west victoria to north queensland in our 1970 dual cab kombi. We had a canvas covered 2 section steel mesh cage on the back with all our belongings. The advantage of the dual cab was that we could load up all our gear in the back section and not have to fill the cabin. We put plastic water tanks and spares under the back seat and a few crates under the kids feet (ideal for young ones). We found the simpler the set up the better with 15 -20 minutes being the average time to set up camp with all of us sharing a two room tent and a simple fold out table, small portable barbeque and a 2 burner stove. A quality esky is essential although 12 volt fridges have come down in price but you will need an extra battery etc. If you are taking a trailer make it a light one and put light truck tyres on everything! I found the more you put on the roof the worse your fuel consumption will be, I was losing about 50km per tank with a toolbox mounted to a front roofrack so streamlined is the go. For christsake dont even mention air matresses unless you like sleepness nights.
Last bit of advice is my right arm thermostat. As we all know the natural position for your arm in a non airconditioned vehicle is on the top of the door with window down and my respect for the temperature sensitive air cooled engine means that the hotter my forearm feels.......the slower I drive. Found this out the hardway with a cracked case after a high speed run up to karumba in the gulf country. Admittedly my speedo was dodgy so I was unaware of my 120kph in 35c temp until a guy following me in a cruiser asked me at a servo "is that thing hotted up? cos your flyin". Turns out my bus was 'hotted up' alright .........in a bad way! So take your time.
Thanks dude, more good info. Taking our time is what this trip is all about, hoping to break the whole thing up into small stages, driving at night in hot remote areas, that sort of stuff. Cheers again
grinderman ·
I have just done 1600km in the last 2 days in western queensland (where i am working at the moment). Coming back to Charleville from Cunnamulla we got smashed by a big roo down the side of my work van and it was only 5.30 in the arvo, so I wouldn't recommend any night driving. If your bus is in healthy condition and you fit an extra oil cooler then you will be fine, just keep it under 90kph on the hot days.
DubbyDo ·
Dawn and dusk is definitely the worst time for wildlife. Gettin used to real kangaroos again and not little wallabies will take a bit of time. Shit getting the kids to swim in a creek again without worrying about crocs is going to take forever.....
DubbyDo ·
The excitement is building, flying to Sydney next week to look at a potential purchase with a back up to look at in Cairns on the way home. Have really missed driving the Beetle while its engine has been getting rebuilt, will be great to have one in the shed getting overhauled and one to drive.
DubbyDo ·
What's the deal with fitting an external cooler to a 2L in me of these, do they need drilling and tapping for full flow like a type 1?
grinderman ·
I think you can get an adaptor that fits between the case and the factory screw on filter with an outlet for a cooler and a return fitting all in the one.
DubbyDo ·
That'll be Gold if that's the case👍
Have bought a 74 model, fly down to Sydney on Wednesday to pick it up and drive it back to northern rivers to sit in the shed till we leave here in a couple of months.
The whole family's so excited it hurts!!!
This thread could turn into a "don't do this when travelling in a Kombi blog", I can't wait to see where it goes.......
DubbyDo ·
Pics to come, surely someone on here will know it, hopin I haven't bought a dud
karmann141 ·
Hi Dave,
Just stumbled across your thread - trip sounds excellent. I can highly recommend a trailer but then I do have a Subaru engine. I haven't towed it with the VW engine.
You can only fit so much in a Bay Camper and I must admit I hate having loose items on the floor or anywhere.
My half Beetle trailer fits all the extras - table and chairs, annex, poles bicycles,skateboards, fishing rods, surf boards, xtra water, fuel and 3Kva generator - nice to have 240V power in some isolated areas. Dual battery setup is a must have to run your fridge overnight.
Met a couple in Agnes Water on our last trip who were on the last leg of a round Aus trip in a dual cab ute (no trailer) with 3 primary school aged kids - they had a minimalist rule - every thing they took had to have 3 uses. A cup was also the cereal bowl and used for all drinks. Thought that was a pretty good philosophy for travelling light.
Have a great adventure, I'm envious.
matberry ·
Hey Dave, congrats on the purchase.
For the cooler, I have a few second hand sandwich plates here if your interested, feel free to call as there are a few pros and cons regarding thier installation.
DubbyDo ·
Let the fun begin, which it did starting with a 17 hour drive to get from Sydney to Lismore @##$#$%!! No tools till I found a Supercheap in Kempsey. Found the mechanical advance was sticky, removed dizzy cleaned and refitted, all sorted.
The 2L that is fitted was rebuilt 2 years ago but once you put it in 4th feels like an asthmatic 90 year old sloth would have more go!! Will give it a major tuneup when I get back down in December but have to say I thought being a 2L it would be able to maintain speed on a slight hill.
Apart from these teething problems once you get behind the wheel you cant help but feel good! love it.
Scottkombi ·
Think I saw this on Gumtree a while back - looks impressive with the raised stance - would be useful in the NT no doubt - should make for a great touring wagon once the donk is sorted.
You are right a 2 should climb a hill no worries.
First chance you get rip out that 009 and toss it in the bin then get the right vac advance dizzy to match your carbs.
Happy travels.
matberry ·
Good news Dave, x 2 on the advice above too
DubbyDo ·
Has the stock dizzy fitted, looks exactly the same as my 1600tp one. Has vac advance fitted, it was when I checked the timing and noticed the mark jumping about that I thought about pulling the distributor and checking it. Found the diaphragm was all good but holding the shaft and moving the rotor showed that it was sticky, stopped in a different place and sometimes didn't return at all. Good clean out and it was like a new car. Still feels gutless once you get it in 4th. Will see how it s after a full tune up, plugs, points, valve clearances check carbs etc.
Lovin the fact that if you do break down chances are very good at you will have it going again in short order, no Tech 2, or Intelligent Tester in sight👍
DubbyDo ·
On another note, first breakdown about 18 km to the Newcastle turn off ( points), a feller turned up to see if I needed help (NRMA was already bringing a new set of points), didn't get his name but he said he was an ex Volksy mechanic and had owned heaps, though no late Bays.
Don't know if he's on this forum but if he is, Thanks mate
DubbyDo ·
Next question, what's the go with bedding up the top? I have the slats to make the bed area, is there a place they are meant to live with the top unpopped? What do people use for a mattress and where do they put it when on the move?
My wife being the organizer needs to know all this stuff in advance (probably because she is the sensible one )
karmann141 ·
The slats should just fold back and stack if still covered in the original headliner material - should fit neatly under the closed roof. The mattress bases are stored behind the back seat and take up allot of storage room - another reason for a trailer.
DubbyDo ·
Thanks Karmann141, just need to get some mattresses made up and the rock and roll bed frame covered, can anyone recommend somewhere in the North Coast area (NSW)
DubbyDo ·
Beetle went on the barge last weekend, only 2 weeks of work left before the adventure starts. I want to drop it down a bit, even as low as standard because it sure catches the wind the way it is. I had a quick sticky under the front before I flew back up here and didn't see any adjusters on the beam, are there raised spindles or do they get flipped?
matberry ·
I'd say it is std height. I have a beautiful camper here now, handled like shit on the hiway so I checked the REAR alignment.....15mm toe-out !!!!
The owner had no idea...."it's a kombi" they say !!
DubbyDo ·
Found the reason for the loftiness, has had plates welded to the beam mounts, going to see if I can drop it back into the original holes, fingers crossed. Also the guy who sold it to me said it was a rebuilt 2L but the engine suffix is CA which from what I can see on th interweb is a 1700. Are these like type 1 engines where it is a straight forward crank and barrel change to get the extra capacity?
DubbyDo ·
Squashed up pic but its nearly 3" between the bolts and the original holes
matberry ·
Engine # on the actual block can be different to the one on the fan hsg, so check the one to the rear of the clip-on breather on the top of the engine.
Change crank, rods and pistons/barrels to mahe a 1.7/1.8 into a 2.0
DubbyDo ·
Started doing the tune up and found some massive vac leaks in both throttle shafts, need to get some new carbs of some sort solex or webers. Does anyone have a set of carbs that are in good nick for a 1.7/1.8L?
DubbyDo ·
On a side note, have been driving the kombi around for the last couple of days and can't wait to jump back in the Beetle for a squirt when it gets down here. The 1641cc is gonna feel like the King of Speed😂😂😂
matberry ·
I have a new set of 40 IDF Webers for type 4 available if you want to go that way Dave.
DubbyDo ·
Sorry Matt, pics wouldn't load via pm so here they are.
Got underneath and found that due to the rear being raised almost as high as it can go the cv boot s have split, found receipts in glove box for at least 2 more sets of boot Replacements in the last couple of years. Guessing having angles like that won't be helping with the lack of power either!
DubbyDo ·
Anyone have an oxygen mask???
matberry ·
Hey Dave, the gear shift bush is further fwd, at the end of the shift rod.
DubbyDo ·
The farm is starting to look like a cool place to be😎 don't think the in laws are as happy as me, then again, they are Subaru people so they just don't get it.
Back to the origin of this thread, Sanity. Looking decidedly shaky at this stage, finding more and more that needs to be done and time is flying by. Picked up our new trailer the other day which also needs decking out and our 2 kids who are turning into bigger ratbags every day. Will be interesting to see if we can hold it together and get it finished before the ferry leaves to Tassie
matberry ·
Progressing....... good luck with it all Dave
Scottkombi ·
Love it - a true test of a blokes stamina (and marriage!)
DubbyDo ·
Did a trial run towing the trailer today, had to move furniture and crap from the farm into Casino to the storage shed, Kombi was pretty much packed to the roofline and the trailer was jammed full. You could hardly tell the difference, which is good because its not starting from a bar set too high. All up there was way more weight than what we will be taking on our trip so things are looking up.
Except when I shut the sliding door the little lock hooks all broke off and now the front left wheel bearing is rumbling😠, seems I find some new issue every time I touch it. Shhh, don't tell the missus but I do like the excuse to fix things so our trip goes smoother😉
mnsKmobi ·
matberry wrote:Engine # on the actual block can be different to the one on the fan hsg, so check the one to the rear of the clip-on breather on the top of the engine.
Change crank, rods and pistons/barrels to mahe a 1.7/1.8 into a 2.0
It also could be a 2l with a 1700 case. Only way to be sure is to take a head off and measure the bore and stroke. See here for stock values:
From that table you can also see that if you do have the stock 1700 you can go all the way to 1832 by replacing your p&c's with 2l ones!
matberry ·
^^ no you can't, piston pin ht. is different and dish is different which will lower the CR
DubbyDo ·
Have the receipt with parts fitted from vintage vee dub, had new 93mm pistons and barrels fitted when it was rebuilt, this makes it 1800 at the most
DubbyDo ·
Beetle now in storage after a great run from Lismore to Coolum and back, no issues and more than enough grunt to keep with modern traffic ( passing a lot of it, within the speed limit of course🤪) and looking a hell of a lot cooler than a Dunnydore or Foulcan with 50" chrome rims and a sound system straight out of a nightclub.
First thing to do was pull the IDF's off an fit them to the Kombi. Aaaaahhhhh, I found the missing horsepowers, woohoo. Pulls a lot better in top and the engine bay looks groovy, now just need some straight cuts and a bigger cam😂
DubbyDo ·
And Merry Christmas to everyone, hope you all get a chance to enjoy your Vee Dubs in one way or another over this couple of festive weeks
DubbyDo ·
Hah, after years of doing it I finally get to do a "Field Service"😂🤪
DubbyDo ·
Can anyone in Devonport/Launceston area repair a Komkbi box that is jumping out of fourth so bad that you cant even hold it in?
DubbyDo ·
Been a while, found a new gearbox through family of people we visited in Devonport(luck didn't transfer to the lotto ticket) fitted it and have done the last 5weeks almost driving all over the place with no hiccups at all. Down the guts to Southport/Ida Bay, across to Strahan then back down the guts to Cygnet and lastly up the east coast to Bicheno, in Launceston now for the next 3 nights then back on the boat to start the next stage. Tassie is the best place to go Kombi touring ( without a trailer for the under 2L's!!!)
vassy66T1 ·
Glad the gearbox went well dude
Tassie is a magic place to tour.
DubbyDo ·
Been a while, made it back up to Darwin via Glasshouse Mountains, Tin Can Bay and Gladstone. Rebuilt a 2L before we left and it is pulling the Kombi and box trailer like a trooper! However, the 6 rib box is getting louder and louder(bearings, what is it with this kombi and gearboxes?).
After 6 months with 4 of them spent living out of it I am getting closer to the answer of the original question, we still have our sanity but it is getting shaky! I think, for us anyway, 12 months is a bit ambitious with the 2 kids, 3 months is probably a more realistic holiday. Saying that it is without a doubt one of the best things we have done, passing another Kombi and getting the big smiles and waves just out of Elliot(NT middle of nowhere) was the ducks nuts!
vassy66T1 ·
Awesome!!
I agree 12 months with the whole fam bam is a bit of a stretch 😉
DubbyDo ·
In Denmark WA nearly ready to take on the final stretch back to the East coast, Oz has got so much to see and do 1 year isn't nearly enough. We have found the answer to our original question though, house sitting and lots of it🙄. Every time we pull up now the kids ask if we are staying in a cabin!!! They have grown so much since we started last December, they don't even fit in the pop top anymore so have to sleep on the floor, till 3am anyway when they crawl into our bed.......
DubbyDo ·
So, after 20000+ kms and only 588 from home the dreaded valve recession has caught me. Just going onto the tow truck now. BUGGER
DubbyDo ·
Sad as I am not to be doing the last leg in it the A/C in the truck is beautiful on this stinker of a day.
vassy66T1 ·
Epic!
Shame it couldn't hang on just a bit longer
DubbyDo ·
tar76 wrote:Make sure the young ones can see out the windows...they are not blocked by cupboards and cap gear. My old panel use to drive my grommies nuts as they couldn't see, and long trips they would get very bored quickly and car sick!
Not sure if you are still on here, been a while for me too but was just randomly browsing through this post and your comment cracked me up. After doing almost all of Tassie twice and anti clockwise round the mainland we bought the missus a new car in Dubbo. the kids jumped in it for the trip to the Blue mountains to stay with family when she asked them what was the best sight of the trip to which they replied "the Blue Mountains, couldnt see anything else!!!". note to self, put proper windows in if using a panel van for a camping trip again😂