2 year review Ute and Camper

Hello All
Over two years have passed since buying my Ute and Camper........WOW how time flies.

In September 2012 I purchased a Great Wall V200 Diesel 6 speed Manual Ute, that Ute clocked over 80,000km last week and had 47,000km on it when I left home on March 3rd 2014. A lot of these 80,000 kilometres have been with the camper on the back.
Suffice to say, it hasn't had an easy life. 

so far this trip

The Camper weighs 480kg dry, with all my stuff in it I estimate it to be somewhere around 600-650kg, but fully loaded with 140lt of fuel and 95lt of water when heading to the Cape or Savannah Way I estimate it to weigh 800-900kg. This means that when I get to my worst roads I am at my heaviest. 
The poor Ute has suffered high humidity, high temperatures, bulldust, potholes, river crossings and corrugations and really hasn't missed a beat.
I tell people the Great Wall is like wine and gets better with age and work, yes it is slow in the hills but the economy makes up for this in my mind.
It has crossed the Dividing Range multiple times in 35c plus temperatures and handles it in its stride. Twice during very hot humid weather the Airconditioning iced up, once in Darwin at 35c and 55% humidity and once in the Blue Mountains with similar weather. Turning it off for 10 minutes fixes this and gets it working again.

The only alterations have been a snorkel and upgraded tyres, otherwise it is standard.
Before I left I had BFG Rugged Terrain tyres fitted, this has proved to be an excellent choice, having now done over 33,000km on the BFG's, on some pretty average roads and tracks show minimal signs of wear. 
When the factory tyres were on the vehicle felt fairly skittish on gravel, and I always drove in 4 wheel drive on the dirt, since the BFG's were fitted it feels great and I only use 4 wheel drive as intended.

BFG Rugged Terrain

  Please note.........I have no sponsorship deals in any way (I wish I did haha) so all my opinions are mine, and are not biased in any way by loyalty towards anyone I wish was sending me money.
The Great Wall has proved itself time after time to be a comfortable, capable workhorse.
In worst conditions..............headwind and 90-110kph speeds It gives me 12-13 litres per 100k
in good conditions..............lower speeds 80-90kph and no headwind it consistently gives me 9.8-10.5 litres per 100k economy with the camper on.
Full tanks don't seem to affect the economy a great deal, so in expensive fuel areas I tend to fill both tanks and save a few dollars.

My only gripe is the Dealer Network and the Importer. The Dealer Network if a long way from good and from what I am told, are lacking support from the Importers.
The servicing prices are outrageous and are more in the Luxury Car bracket than a budget Chinese Ute............on the other hand Spare Parts prices are quite reasonable.
I have one more Warranty Service left, and once that is done my Ute WILL NOT be going back to Dealerships and this is coming from someone who worked in Dealerships for over 20 years.
A worthy product  let down by poor backup and service unfortunately.

In November 2012 I drove to Hervey Bay in Queensland to pick up my new Palomino Bronco B600 Slide on Camper from PalominoRVAustralia
After a 3 week trip back home to Victoria the camper spend the next 15 months being carted around the Victorian High Country, Broken Hill, The Flinders Ranges, The Painted Desert, The Oodnadatta Track and much much more.

picking up the camper

Since then it has travelled to Palm Valley, Rainbow Valley and Chambers Pillar followed by Kakadu, The Savannah Way to Cairns via Lorella Springs, Cape York and the Bloomfield Track from Cooktown to Cape Tribulation as well as in and out of every nook and cranny all the way down the East Coast.
As you may well gather, I have well and truly torture tested this Camper. 

Native Dog Flat behind Benambra Victoria

I have had the Camper in everything from 40c to -4c and my only real complaint is that my Fridge still thinks it is a Freezer. I have it set on minimum and anything under 14c freezes all my drinks.............my solution is to turn it off while travelling on cool days and switch to gas on cool nights. 40c days it gives me icy cold drinks.....not bad for a Dometic 3 way Fridge.

Palm Valley NT

I have had 2 failures with the Camper, after Cape York, the electric motor mounting bracket for the exhaust fan failed, but after all the rough roads and corrugations I really cant blame it.
Second failure was the Tap Mixer in the sink, the spout swivel bound up but I don't blame it either. Some of my water fill up locations have been pretty average at best for water quality.
The replacement parts were supplied promptly by Kevin, Tanya and Rob at PalominoRVAustralia  whose customer service far exceeds my expectations, Great Wall could learn a lot about Customer Service from PalominoRVAustralia.
A good value, quality robust product backed up by exceptional Customer Service.  

Savannah way turnoff to Lorella Springs

After a union of the Camper and Ute the combination has surprised me..........with the extra weight on the back the Ute is surprisingly agile off road. I have taken it across the Bloomfield Track, which is pretty steep in spots, through sandy bogs on the Savannah Way and station tracks on Lorella Springs Station. Although lacking ground clearance with a slow approach and lower tyre pressures it constantly surprises me where I can get it.

Jardine Ferry crossing Cape York

 My Achilles heel is my power supply, my 200 watt solar panels are enough to keep me going indefinately, but when I get 6 days of hot humid rainy weather in Cairns my Waeco Freezer knocks the battery around, when the solar panels aren't much good.

Sometimes at camp, I look in envy at the caravans nearby, and think WOW all that space and storage and then I think, they can't go where I can without unhitching and using a lot more fuel.............so all said I am pretty satisfied with my choices. It suits my needs, maybe not your needs, but mine and that is what is important.

Now for a whinge...........I hope some caravan park owners read this....................REMEMBER WHERE YOU ARE !!!!!!!!!
Today I was quoted $45/night single powered site at Batemans Bay!
Get over yourselves.........this is ONLY Batemans Bay! 

This is Batemans Bay NOT the Maldives..............................

Cairns $45/ night, Sydney $39/night, Townsville $35/night, Airlie Beach $39/night, Surfers Paradise $44/night, Batemans Bay $45/ night......................you work it out!
This type of Highway Robbery will stick in my mind and next time I will avoid this place.
During my travels I have visited several places which over estimate their appeal...........Bowen in North Queensland and Batemans Bay are, in my opinion ..........................

Beer Destinations that charge Champagne Prices

On departing Batemans Bay, i decided to top up with fuel..................looking at the bowsers sent me in to a spin........................Diesel at Woolworths 20c/ litre more expensive than Nowra 50k up the road. I filled up in Canberra instead for 17c/litre less than Batemans Bay. 
No that is not a typing error!

These places need to realise the public will eventually get the message and go elsewhere like me and then they will be the first to whinge about free campers.
I will make sure next time, that I am fueled up, stocked up and been to the loo and zoom through Bowen and Batemans Bay without even a second glance

I was told at a Customer Service Training exercise many years, that if a customer has a good experience he will tell 10 people.
If he has a bad experience he will tell 50 people.............well I am doing my bit right here.

This brings me to another subject.............this humble blog, which started as a online diary for friends is currently running at nearly 1100 hits per month, and this blog alone approaching 14,000 views, along with my other older blogs well over 20,000 views in total WOW.
Thank you to my loyal viewers, i appreciate the support and feel free to leave comments online. Your feedback is welcome.

I don't think my life is that interesting.................
If you see me on the road say hello.
After Christmas with Family I hope to head across to the Spectacular West for next Year's adventures
See you in the great outdoors :-)
 

Lithgow to Berry via The Blue Mountains

Hello all
I sweated it out in Lithgow and had a laundry day as the temperature crept towards 40c. at least here it cooled down pretty quickly once the sun set, and the nights were cool.

Hassans Lookout Lithgow

Hassans Lookout looking towards Katoomba

My plans changed after a phone call from my sister, telling me of the Victorian State Election this coming weekend.................Having been travelling since March I was totally unaware of the need to Vote. OK too late for a Postal Vote, next option...............surely there are Voting centres somewhere here.................yep you guessed it.....................right in the CBD of Sydney on the 25th floor. Bugger!!
Next plan, there is also a Voting centre in Canberra CBD, this sounds a lot better than the centre of Sydney.

So it was off over the Blue Mountains and head down the South Coast, then up Kings Highway to Canberra before Friday.
As I headed up through Victoria Pass the humidy and the heat just kept rising, and by the time I got to Penrith it was clocking 36c and 57% humidity.

Wedding Veil Falls

The Blue Mountains

I didn't spend a lot of time around Katoomba, but let's just say I was bitterly disappointed by what I saw.......................Shame Katoomba Council Shame the parking meters outnumbered the trees...............these idiotic Councils want us all to come but want to screw us when we get there..................metered parking stretched back 5 streets from the Three Sisters so there was no escape..............what must our overseas visitors think? Or maybe I am just back in civilisation and disilllusioned.

Govetts Leap

I drove through Sydney two years ago, when I bought my camper home from Hervey Bay, so I had no desire whatsoever do subject myself to Sydney traffic again. I headed over towards Woolongong and Grand Pacific Drive. Last night a massive storm just miised me but blacked out 15,000 homes in Sydney. All I copped was some good lightning and about 30 minutes of rain.

Hangliders at Stanwell Park

I headed up to Bald Hill Lookout at Stanwell Park and spent a bit of time watching the hangliders before heading down to The Sea Cliffe Bridge.

Sea Cliffe Bridge

Sea Cliffe bridge was built after the old road alond the rock face was constantly blocked by falling rocks, and now stands out from the cliff and, in parts out over the ocean.

Sea Cliffe Bridge

Visibility, after last nights storms was prett average at best.

Sea Cliffe Bridge

Sea Cliffe Bridge

Tonight I am at Berry Showgrounds, as I head down to Batemans Bay, then up the hill to Canberra to vote.

Bye for now.

Armidale to Lithgow via Hill end and Sofala

Hello all
As with all my plans, they are variable, and the basic plan is...........I have no plan. So after waiting for the heat to subside a little in Armidale I headed towards Tamworth.

Tamworth didn't do much for me , so I headed south towards Mudgee, yes a change of plans, I had planned to head down to Gloucester and Barrington Tops but decided on Hill End and Sofala instead.

 

Doing both Gloucester and Hill End would have meant quite a large double back, and with Christmas approaching fast I didn't want to lose that time. Pulling up in Mudgee, to use the Conveniences, upon returning to my vehicle I found two people waiting for me...........it was a couple I had camped with early March at Port Pirie South Australia. They had been waving frantically all down the coast trying to catch my attention. We had crossed paths a few times and they will be at the Rosedale Vic freecamp for Christmas, so I hope to catch them again then.

Historic Hill End

 Hill End was established in the 1870's during the gold rush and once boasted 52 Hotels. right in the town is a National Parks Campground for $10 per person per night powered, with Hot Showers $1 extra all within a few minutes walk of the Pub. So park up and walk the Historic Streets and Avenues lined with European trees.

Hill End (notice my Camper in the Campground in the backgound)

Hill End

Hill End

Top marks to the NSW Parks service for looking after this town and providing excellent facilities.

Hill End

Hill End

Hill End

Hill End

After a couple of days in Hill End i headed to Sofala, another Historic Settlement not far away.

Sofala Main Street

Sofala

Sofala

 

 The day was high 30's and a howling Northerly as I headed towards Newnes in the Wolgan valley on the Western side of the Blue Mountains.

Wolgan Valley

The road into the Wolgan Valley

I headed down into the valley with the wind howling. Newnes was once a large Shale mining area and is now a very popular Camping destination.

Newnes

Newnes

Newnes Pub 1907

View from the Newnes Hotel

I had planned to camp there but with howling winds, 40c temperatures and one narrow windy road access I though better of it with the extreme fire danger.

I ended up at Lithgow for the night. Tonight I plan to study the maps and decide my next move.

Bye for now,.

Bellingen to Armidale (The Waterfall Way)

Hello all
After sitting in Bellingen for 2 days waiting for the rain to clear, I headed up the hill to The Waterfall Way.

First stop was Griffiths Lookout, on a clear day you can see over 100km to the coast.

I contiued up to Dorrigo, and Dangar Falls for a look.

Dangar Falls

Dangar Falls

Dorrigo is a pretty little settlement but not very stay friendly. There was a campground adjacent to Dangar Falls which felt a bit creepy and the only caravan park in town wanted $30/night and for that you have to pay extra for showers.........suffice to say there was only one caravan in that park, so I pushed on.
Next stop was Ebor Falls, just outside the little hamlet of Ebor.

Ebor Falls

Looking downstrean at Ebor Falls

The countryside right through here reminds me very much of the Snowy Mountains and the Victorian High Country but 20c warmer. The altitude reflects this with a lot of this area between 1000m and 1500m above sea level.
With the promise of a cool night I headed to Thungutti Campground in the New England National Park.
After a quiet night in a full campground I headed to Point Lookout.

Walking track to Point Lookout

 Point Lookout overlooks the World Heritage listed Gonwona Rainforest Wilderness area.

Point Lookout

Point Lookout

From Point Lookout I headed to Woolomombi Falls, my map says these are the highest in Australia a title also claimed by Wallaman Falls in Queensland

Woolomombi Gorge and Falls

While impressive I think Little River Gorge and Falls in Victoria is ever bit as good.

I ended up in Armidale where it topped 38c today.........I want to see Tamworth as it was probably the early 80's when I was last there but today was 40c there.........so tomorrow I am having a laundry day and waiting for it to cool a little.
After Tamworth the plan is to head towards Glouster and Barrington Tops
Stay tuned.....bye for now.