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First camping trip in a kombi... tips?
hummel - December 7th, 2005 at 12:49 PM

G'day all!

Accquired my second kombi 2 weeks ago.. a 1979 Campmobile from its original owner. One of the best condition kombi's ive seen. Runs well etc. Now on friday im leaving for my first trip in the kombi.. well first bigish trip. Heading from S.E suburbs to down near Lakes Entrance in Vic.

Is there anything i need/shoudl take? I've got a set of tools, clutch cable and oil filter and my repair manual. Bear in mind that im not mechanically minded but im prepared to give it a go.

Also, the campmobile has power outlets on the side to plug into power i presume? So its go powerpoints inside aswell.
Is it possible for me to plug my mini bar firdge into the powerpoints inside and then plug an extension lead from the outside of the bus into a powerpoint? I tried this but a normal power lead didnt fit. what gives?

Any other tips and suggestions would be good.

Cheers

[ Edited on 7-12-2005 by hummel ]

Warrenm - December 7th, 2005 at 04:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by hummel
G'day all!


Is there anything i need/shoudl take? I've got a set of tools, clutch cable and oil filter and my repair manual. Bear in mind that im not mechanically minded but im prepared to give it a go.

****Fan belt and oil

Also, the campmobile has power outlets on the side to plug into power i presume? So its go powerpoints inside aswell.
Is it possible for me to plug my mini bar firdge into the powerpoints inside and then plug an extension lead from the outside of the bus into a powerpoint? I tried this but a normal power lead didnt fit. what gives?

The external power point is a 15amp one that is necessary in most caravan parks and has a larger earth point on plug.
Most camping stores sell them and I think SuperCheap does as well
You can then plug into inside points-we usually have a four place extension plugged in-

Bizarre - December 7th, 2005 at 04:50 PM

A Trangia metho stove

Dont buy a crap immitation. Had mine for 25 years (yikes :( )

When all else fails you can still have a warm meal and a cuppa


Oh
If ya taking mechanical things i would get a set of points

Beerboy - December 7th, 2005 at 04:58 PM

Get a couple of those plastics boxes and fill with either your choicce of crap, pegs, dutch tape, rope, screws, nails, then fill one with food maybe, and fill one with a load of spare parts, i went for the lot

plus
points
clutch cable
fuel pump etc
definately oil and water
oh and get a service
i carried brake fluid

depends on far you going, i got vic roads recovery too as that was well worth it.

broke down locally three times so far, silly things.

now I have the confidence that I should be able to fix it to the next town.

petrol?

god I could go on forever ;-)

table and chairs, still haven't got a table

oh yes and beer and wine just in case there isn't a bottle shop ;-)

will be fun though this is a great country to camp in.

fekkinell - December 7th, 2005 at 05:31 PM

i think ive got the worlds most reliable '77 kombi... when i go places i only take me and the van... its got a primus stove with a little gas bottle and some plastic jerry cans for water... as for spares ive never needed them, even on long distance trips... maybe im just lucky.

so yeah... sometimes i just head off and get food etc. upon arrival :)

Mr Bubble Head - December 7th, 2005 at 09:59 PM

TOILET ROLL :rolleyes: :mad: :cry

PurpleT3 - December 8th, 2005 at 07:40 AM

RACV roadside assistance. If you plan on doing alot of travel a reasonable distance from home, the top level of cover can be well worth it. We broke down once and got a free tow for 20km and a nights accomodation. Not bad for $160 a year.

h - December 8th, 2005 at 10:13 AM

yeah take some oil, zip ties and poo paper..
but just dont use em together..
eww..
have as great trip

adnesiac - December 8th, 2005 at 10:19 AM

a few hot chicks never go astray....

mnsKmobi - December 8th, 2005 at 11:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by hummel


Also, the campmobile has power outlets on the side to plug into power i presume? So its go powerpoints inside aswell.
Is it possible for me to plug my mini bar firdge into the powerpoints inside and then plug an extension lead from the outside of the bus into a powerpoint? I tried this but a normal power lead didnt fit. what gives?

Any other tips and suggestions would be good.

Cheers

[ Edited on 7-12-2005 by hummel ]


I'm not sure what you mean by "didn't fit" but you may well have had the same experience as me in that the female end of the power lead was too wide to fit into the socket on the kombi. As I had not done the sensible thing and checked this before I left, I had to whittle the end until it fitted! Other leads that I own do fit so I'm not sure why this one is (was) wider.

Once you resolve the lead problem, yes you can plug in your mini fridge. One other problem is that caravan power outlets are 15 A but your kombi may well be 10A (if it's like mine). This means that you can plug way too much stuff in for the kombi system before the circuit breaker goes on the power pole.

Beerboy - December 8th, 2005 at 12:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by adnesiac
a few hot chicks never go astray....


and a few bread rolls to stick them in.
salad is always nice too ;-)

snifter - December 9th, 2005 at 01:28 PM

Good luck...

I am half way round Ozz in a 75 Kombi and I recoment taking thousands of dollars. It has been expensive but I would not swap it for the world. nearly 30 000ks under the belt and 10 000 more to go. Has taken 13 months and 4 jobs. Try and find a kombi fitted tent. I got a mint one for $200 and adds so much to the comfort. There is just so much stuff you need and so much you dont. All depends if you off road it and how hot it is.

All
the best
Philip

HotRodMatt - December 9th, 2005 at 04:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bizarre
If ya taking mechanical things i would get a set of points


I second that... first time my bus went camping lost the points at the first set of lights on the way there!