[elantraelite]

How did the other repairs go? Glad you're back on the road!

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[eye30]

OK update

Picked up the i30 this morning and within 8 kms started a tucking noise. Noticed the new accessory belt had frayed on one side. Returned car.

The diagnosis is one of these....faulty new belt......somehow it wasn't correctly installed .....a rock or similar item had been lodged in a pulley track and caused damage, that it was not detected when all pulleys were cleaned.

All pulleys this arvo were inspected again. All good. Aircon friction on compressor was checked. There us a bees dick of movement in the tensioner pulley not to cause an issue ( it has dine 315,000 km).

They will installed a new belt from Darwin in the morning and I am buying a second belt just in case.

My gut feeling is the new belt was a little narrow allowing it not to glide within the pulley confines and therefore move about.

But what would I know lol.

Did they not test it before they returned.
Hope fix was foc!

[tweety]

Turned out the serpentine belt was faulty. They did allegedly test drive the car. I drove it several kms to the van park and the belt fraying on one side was clear.

The new belt was fitted this morning and I bought the second belt ordered for a spare.

We drove from Katherine to Hall's Creek today 870 kms. No problems.

So hoping the rest of the trip goes well.

[Dazzler]

Great news Tony! 

[tweety]

We drove 1555 kms in 2 days. Katherine to Broome. No problems. Got 9.2 L/100 kms cruising at 98kph.
No pics sorry. 

[Doggie 1]

What a great trip.
Hope you're taking lots of pics.   

[tweety]

I'm not a photo man. Did enough of that lol

What I'm concerned about now is the revelation of 500kg max tow weight for non braked caravan.
Tare if 450kg obviously I'm over. I'd be about 650. I plumb forgot about the unbraked factor. A member if a caravan forum that uses a i30 to tow a Avan that has brakes alerted me.

[rustynutz]

Oops!

Your secret is safe, I won't tell anyone... 

[Doggie 1]

We won't tell.   

[Dazzler]

Yeah, just between you and us 7000 members. If anyone asks I'll just say a tweety bird told us..

[elantraelite]

Hmm yes you'd definitely need to have brakes on the caravan.
Our Jayco Swift weights in just under a tonne. The Electric breaks work wonders! They're only on a quarter of the strength as you could feel them pulling the car back too much when braking.
Might need to get something fitted for insurance purposes and most importantly your safety

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[tweety]

Errrrrr... Thanks for the jokes guys. Your turn will come

Yes electric magnet brakes as on my previous motorcycle camper were great. Hook a relay to your stop lights and away you go. They never locked up.

My other option when I get home is to prepare my V6 JBA falcon convertible for towing. It doesn't have a minimal tow weight so in that case can tow up to its 1100kg tare.

A towbar isn't available so will be a custom one.

Leave the little i30 for the runabout.

[Surferdude]

^
Now THAT would look spectacular on the road.

[The Gonz]

 

[tweety]

That's it. Except mine being older than the one in the pic it doesn't have the window frames, plastic windows.

Owners building this kit car often use Toyota  3y 2 litre engines so the Buick v6 will power it along.

We are at Coronation Beach Western Australia and moving south. The crdi is performing well, 9.2 L/100 km.

I reckon 98% of tow cars are 4WD now. White Ute's and wagons and white vans. Wonder if they get discount on their white good insurance?

Owners look in amazement at our tiny van " how do you get a shower and toilet in that..? My van is 22 ft long and it doesn't have one."  And the economy, explaining to me they are happy because they get 18L/100km. I just don't understand any joy towing large rigs. The parking, the purchase cost, the fuel. Horses for courses.

We have TV but not working, need a set top box. Got my forums each night if I have reception. I like cooking. Had a bag of fresh prawns from the wharf for lunch.

Living the dream in a homemade van on a shoestring budget.

[Dazzler]

Awesome stuff Tony!

DynaLink have just released this 12V/240V very compact STB which even picks up the latest MP4 channels (including 84/Life)

A2809 - Dynalink Compact High Definition DVB-T 12 Volt Set Top Box - Altronics

It even has an IR extender so you can hide it in a cupboard or behind the TV!

Only $79.95 at Leading Edge and maybe Jaycar too...

 

[The Gonz]

Are you running a 12VDC/240VAC inverter for your domestic appliances? If so, you won't be limited to 12V devices, although bypassing the use of the inverter is more energy efficient. Also, have you gone hi-tech and fitted a solar panel to your caravan?

[Doggie 1]

Great post, Tony.
And you are proving the big boys wrong.   

[tweety]

Hi the Gonz

We have 120W on the roof 90w mobile solar. More than enough

100amo battery.

Is that an RAAF uniform? Is it you?.  I joined in 1973 at 17yo. Apart from excitement in the cyclone Tracey relief effort it was not my thing. But proud all the same

Doggie 1,  some tourists buy a $90,000 land cruiser, $80,000+ caravan, pay huge fuel bills and have to reverse the damn thing. And they marvel at our little rig.

[Phil №❶]

I have a friend with a Pajero (translate to ->tosspot) + big van . He does use it but I wouldn't think of doing what he does.

With that much investment, I'd rather pay for a decent room.

[Surferdude]

I have a friend with a Pajero (translate to ->tosspot) + big van . He does use it but I wouldn't think of doing what he does.

With that much investment, I'd rather pay for a decent room.

Agreed.

[The Gonz]

Hi the Gonz

Is that an RAAF uniform? Is it you?.  I joined in 1973 at 17yo. Apart from excitement in the cyclone Tracey relief effort it was not my thing. But proud all the same

Squadron Leader Fernando C Gonzalez

[tweety]

A few years if service behind you. Well done. Tony

[this guy]

Hi all,
...
We will be driving our i30 now with 304,000km on the clock.
...

@tweety slightly off topic, but have you had the car since new? Doing some random reading about modern diesels it becomes apparent that they are prone to failure for 3 main reasons: turbocharger, dual mass flywheel (DMF) and injectors. Luckily the 1.6 CRDi's don't have a DMF. Has your engine had any major work done to it in the past? 304,000km is a fair number of k's. Just trying to sus out the longevity of the i30 diesel...

[tweety]

At 296,000 I think, the torbo broke. Filled enginecwith engine oil. Replaced turbo. Has has one set of brake pads in all this time but I do country kms. At Karratha the thermo fan connector failed. Not bad for all this time. Am at Augusta, could be out if range.

[cleid]

Great thread. Got any pics of the van build and interior?

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[Dazzler]

Great thread. Got any pics of the van build and interior?

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@tweety  (Tony?) hasn't been on since October! I'll PM him as be interested to hear how he's going with his recent projects...