Hi All,
We're a family from Fremantle, WA that are mad keen 4WD travellers and bush campers. We have a 2008 LC200 petrol extensively modified for travel and have owned an Australian Off Road Campers Odyssey Signature Export for about 3 years.
Our recent travels are summarised here:
http://www.hseq.com.au/A_Holiday.html
We're leaving for Cape York on Saturday 31st March 2012, coming home to Perth around 18th July. The route may depend on the wet and how late and savage it is, however probably Perth to Alice via the Gunbarrell - we'll have another quick look around King's Canyon, Ormiston, Palm Valley etc before driving 'around' the Oodnadatta track, Lake Eyre, up the Birdsville to Brissy for some trailer servicing and theme park fun for the kids. Straight up to Cape York - we'll tackle the easy bits of the Telegraph as we're keen on zero damage so we can get home...around the Gulf, Savannah Way, Kakadu, Darwin, Kununurra, Bungles, El Questro, Gibb River Road, Cape Leveque, Broome and then we'll probably head south via Telfer and Rudell National Park....not sure after that.
Looking forward to learning from you all and getting some travel tips as well as contributing if we can.
Going to order a Stone Stomper next, a little late considering the wear and tear on the trailer, however the next trip will mostly be on dirt and we're keen not to break things. Heard some good reports of these when fitted to a 200 series. New shocks on the trailer and probably replace the 3 yo OME on the Cruiser just in case. Besides I need some spares....
So far the trailer has performed superbly without any real issues. I think the fridge slide bolts dropped out on the Mitchell Falls track, we've replaced the rear LED stop lights because the stopping bits weren't bright enough, oh and the CTEK charger failed in 46 degree heat on the Great Central Road when it was constantly cloudy and the solar panel wasn't doing its thing... snow collapsed our annexe in Tassie, and a recent flooded trip to the Murchison left us with some mould on the canvas..(lesson learned - keep way from wet - sun is good when camping)... a ding in the side from a big tree on a narrow dog legged track on the Holland Track..(operator error)... other than that I'm convinced this Camper Trailer of the Year is as rugged as they come!
We've fitted space cases to the front woodrack for chairs and extra dry food - overnight set up time is about 8 minutes before the first drink. Extra water tanks mean we can manage two weeks before IGA and a washing machine are needed..;-). We carry a Honda 10i for the rare times...
Looking forward to hearing from you guys and if you're heading to the Cape at the same time drop a line - we'd love to find a like minded traveller especially for security during the tough bits at the Cape!
Mike and Amanda...