3 1/2 Year Review plus Budget Travel Tips and Me

Hello All
 Its that time again to review how the Ute and Camper are handling the punishment. This Blog I have also decided to try and incorporate some Budget Travel Tips and also how my lifestyle has affected me personally.

Ok here goes, we will start with the Ute........

Great Wall V200 Diesel 6 speed manual
Purchased new in September 2012
Current mileage 129500km
Over the past 3 and a half years this poor Ute has been punished.....

In November 2012 with about 3500km on the odometer I headed to Hervey Bay to collect my new Camper.
Since then it has carted the Camper over a vast majority of Australia with a minimum of fuss or drama.

so far this trip

 I have had a couple of small issues with the Ute, but considering the punishment it has endured fairly minor and I think acceptable.
After a couple of recalls early on, it has settled down and just gets on with the job.
On the Gibb River Road, in The Kimberley last year a universal joint failed and flogged out the rear tailshaft centre bearing.
Back in Victoria earlier this year I discovered the Steering Rack ends were worn and were replaced.
Other than that it has just required regular servicing.
While down South I also checked all the Brakes. The front Disc Pads have now done 90000km and still have plenty of meat on them.
The rear Brake Shoes are the originals and have now done close to 130000km and are about 50% worn.
In Darwin after 100000km of crap roads I had the suspension replaced with upgraded suspension and a 2" lift.
I chose Pedders Track Rider suspension and so far so good. With the Camped loaded it handles the rough stuff like a dream.

SUMMARY
The Ute is holding up extremely well considering what I do with it. It still drives as well today as the day I picked it up. the trim and interior is as good as new with no signs of wear.
I am happily surprised how well it has done considering that the majority of time it has 800kg plus on the back climbing mountain ranges and crossing desert in hot and dusty conditions.
A good tough very comfortable reliable ute.  

Palomino Bronco B600 Slide on Camper.
Purchased November 2012
http://www.palominorvaustralia.com.au/ 

 Everywhere the Ute has been, the camper has too. I would love a dollar for every corrugation it has been over.

at Wonnangatta Station

 The Camper has endured wild storms, torrential rain, dust, corrugations and heat with minimum fuss.
A couple of small issues only, but with the exceptional back up service and support provided by Kevin, Tanya and Rob at palominorvaustralia nothing is a drama. Quite a few places I have had dealings with over the years should take a leaf out of their book.........

The bracket which supports the fan motor in the exhaust fan over the bed does not like corrugations. I am on my second bracket, which I have already repaired. To solve this issue I now insert a foam spacer which supports the weight of the motor over rough roads. Since this I have had no issues.

with the roof up

 I find the camper great for my needs, with the low transit height and then pop up the roof, it gives me a good space to live safe from the crocodiles and snakes.
 It also gives me the capability to go off road with a little bit if comfort.

Middle Lagoon Cape Levique

The camper also provides me with a bit more security than a camper trailer while giving me the option of dropping the legs, removing the camper and running around in the empty ute.
The other thing I like is that I can break camp in the rain and the sides fold in on themselves....meaning nothing inside gets wet.

SUMMARY
The Camper provides a versatile comfortable package and shelter from the elements. It has survived the dirt roads, tracks, beaches and corrugations better than I could have ever hoped for.

Budget Travel Tips
Some of you may be well aware of these anyway but I will cover these for the newcomers.

Fridge............I have the 12v/gas fridge in the camper, I supplement this with a Waeco 39ltr freezer. A lot of people make the mistake of running the freezer on maximum setting. This will kill your battery. On a 40c day trying to keep your freezer at minus 18c will take everything you have and you will constantly be low on battery. 
I run my freezer on minus 5 or 6c this will keep everything frozen and your solar panels and battery will thank you.

Solar..........one of the best thing I did was to disassemble my 200w fold up panels and permanently mount them on the roof. The downside is you need to park and camp in the sun but otherwise I am getting full 200w charge while driving up the road. This has allowed me to free camp and unpowered camp a lot more often.

Wikicamps.........This is the travellers bible.........if you haven't got it get it. Wikicamps is a real time App on your phone or tablet giving up to date prices, comments and photos of free camps, budget camps and caravan parks Australia wide. If you download the offline content you can even use it well away from phone coverage. A true must have.

Laundry........I use a sealable canoe type 25ltr drum three parts filled with water. In goes the dirty laundry add a bit of Wool Wash (does not require rinsing like detergent) sit it in the camper and when I arrive at my destination the washing is done.......simply wring out and hang out.

Showgrounds and Farm Stays.......I opt for a lot of these. Usually a showground is $18-25 per night for a powered site as opposed to a local caravan park $35-$50 plus per night. The plus is the people are usually very friendly and use aren't crammed in like sardines.
Farm Stays.....Usually priced around $10-$15 per night. most are unpowered but provide toilets and showers normally in a rural or bush environment with plenty of space. With Farm Stays you are helping a local family and not supporting a big greedy corporate chain.

Distance and destinations........Don't over cook your destination............if you need to travel 700km plus a day to get there you have chosen the wrong destination. Its no fun arriving and setting up after dark and 700km. Slow down and enjoy, a big day for me is a couple of hundred kilometres and I usually only travel every couple of days. This cuts my fuel cost considerably. just a few weeks ago I filled with $100 of deisel in Goondawindi and refueled in Noosa Heads over two weeks later. See what I am getting at........instead of spending $100 per day on fuel that lasts me two weeks.

Me..............
Well I have changed a lot since travelling I think.
I am more relaxed and stress is non existent.
I lose weight....being more active doing walks into places is all good for your health.

you get to enjoy this

The major thing I have noticed is that I have become a lot less material. I live a fairly simple life and want for nothing as long as I have money for food and fuel life is good. You can keep your new Iphone6 it doesn't impress me much. And your new car means very little to me.
Sometimes sitting in a camp somewhere in the middle of nowhere a new Landcruiser will pull in towing an apartment block on wheels.........I look, I think....wow how good would all that room be..............then I think.............I am happy and at least I own everything I have.
To me the KISS principle works
Keep It Simple Stupid.

Bye for now