Chookduck's Ultimate Xplor

[chookduck]

Well after 15 years the Trak Shak has moved on to a big family.  Put a deposit down on an Ultimate Xplor today - pickup in Jan/Feb 2014.  Are there other Ultimate Xplor owners out there?

[oldmate]

Well after 15 years the Trak Shak has moved on to big family.  Put a deposit down on an Ultimate Xplor today - pickup in Jan/Feb 2014.  Are there other Ultimate Xplor owners out there?

You won't  regret it. We don't have an xplor, we got our xtrk 12 mths ago and love it. I don't think there are any xplor owners here but there are a few elite owners, that the xplor replaced. There are a few xplor owners popping up on the ultimate forum now.

Very cool, what extras, colours of lounges did you pick??

[chookduck]

Oldmate,
Option we added included bed lights, main awning (2.5m x4m), under bed room, enduromat, combo 240v/USB board, mozzie door net(freebie).  We already had an EMP underlay from the Trak Shak. Went for the dark grey fabric.

They are also trialling a mod to the main awning that extends it around to cover the area outside the galley. Sort of a circular arrangement. We are having some extra Velcro put on our awning to potentially add that new awning once it finishes trials. They had it set up at the South Coast Camping caravan show this weekend.

Do you know of any DIY mods other Ulti owners undertake?

[kiva]

Do you know of any DIY mods other Ulti owners undertake?

Sign up for Ultimate's forum. Plenty of info there.

http://www.ultimateoffroadcampers.com.au/forum

As for mods, when we had our Xtrk, I always wanted to put some LED lighting in the various side hatches and front storage nose cone. I never did, however a few weeks ago I saw an Ulti that had done so and it is something that would definitely be worthwhile. If I recall, there was also a removable solar panel attached to some Rhino bars on top of their Ulti, providing passive charge when the camper was all folded up, yet easily removable for when set up at camp.

[oldmate]

Yeah, there are heaps of mods owners do to make it suit themselves. One of the most common would be a shelf in the kitchen. I haven't done any mods to ours apart from marine carpet to the boot. I will add a shelf one day, and I am coming up with a design for a stone guard for the nose, a tricky one, but it is at the "in my head stage " lol. I know what I want to do, just have to work out how to do it.

The main awning is good, we use it every trip, and really doesn't take that long to through up, once you have a system worked out

Once you get o the owners forum, there is bucket loads of info, mods for you To go through

Edit:  you need your build number to register for the ultimate forum. I sign up before we got our trailer but it didn't get approved by them until handover day. By the time I got back to the caravan park after handover I was on the forum.
Are you going to the factory for handover?

[chookduck]

Kiva and Oldmate,

Thanks for the info.  I assume since I only paid my deposit on Friday arvo that the Ultimate Admin people will catch up with me this week coming.  Then I'll jump on the Ultimate forum site.

The Xplor comes with a light in the gull-wing boot.

I live in Canberra, so Moruya is just a drive over the Clyde Mountain away - approx 2.5 hrs by the highway or a couple of days the interesting way - so yes to the factory pick up.

I note your comments on a stone guard and also that the protection on the Ulti drawbar and nosecone is 'sacrificial' so it will wear away with use. Any views on a Stone Stomper or similar?

Also, have to add a brake controller and Anderson plug.  The Anderson plug is not a big deal - plenty of cable kits with plugs and lugs on ebay for around $80-90.  The Ultimate guys recommended a Tekonsha P3, providing you can mount it out of the way of your knees.  The P3 seems to get a pretty good wrap on various posts in MySwag.  Seems it will fit fairly nicely on the lower centre dash console in front and slightly right of the gear shift on my 80 series.  Any views on this one too?

[KingBilly]

Not an Ulti owner but have the P3 and can recommend.  Congrats on the purchase BTW.

KB

[Coolblue80]

Can't comment on the camper but I have an 80 series & fitted my P3 in where the ash tray lives.

[oldmate]

I use the p3 and have no problems hitting knees on it.

I have friends in Canberra so that was our 2nd night in the camper when we went and picked it up. Was a nice drive over the mountain.

There is a few people that use a stone stomper that I know of, but most don't seem too concerned, and lots have travelled far and wide

[chookduck]

The old RV80 Cruiser is now ready for the Ultimate Xplor.  Mods done over the last month have seen a second battery installed, redarc SBI12 isolator, Tekonsha P3 brake controller and an Anderson plug near the trailer plug at the rear.

For those interested the auxiliary battery kit was  purchased from FNB4WD http://www.fnb4wd.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=83_84_279&product_id=305 which included the following:

    Steel Battery Cradle (with Battery Hold Down Clamps)
    Redarc SmartStart SBI12 Dual Battery Isolator
    FNB 4WD Dual Battery Wiring Kit:
        35mm² Positive (Red) Battery Cable x 2.5M
        35mm² Negative (Black) Battery Cable x 2.25M
        10mm Split Corrugated Protective Conduit x 4.75M
        Cadmium Plated Positive Battery Terminal
        Cadmium Plated Negative Battery Terminal
        35mm, 8mm Eye Metal Crimp Terminals x 6
        20/10 Red Heat Shrink x 4 Pieces
        20/10 Black Heat Shrink x 2 Pieces
        Self Tapping Screws x 2
        Cable Ties x 8
        Basic Wiring Diagram

Pictures below show the install.  Had to relocate the windscreen washer bottle and the vacuum sensor on the air filter drum.  The secondary battery fitted was a SSB HVT-70ZZD 105AH 780CCA DRYCELL AGM BATTERY DEEP CYCLE DUAL PURPOSE - so is a deep cycle that can also be used for cranking.  Next thread will show the electric brake and anderson plug install.

[chookduck]

The Tekonsha P3 was pretty easy but fiddly to install.  I decided to use the mount where you can unclip the controller and store it away in its pouch.  So, installed the mount under the dash in front of, and to the right of the gear stick.  Located here gives me good visibility and does not interfere with my legs.  Ran a 6mm twin core wire (for trailer plug and also the stop light), along with the 6 B&S twin core for the Anderson plug, inside a 19mm irrigation pipe (the ones you use in the garden) and tied to the right hand chassis rail out off the way from any foreign objects and the exhaust pipe.  Tried running it inside the chassis rail but lost patience fiddling around so cable tied it to the rail instead.

Attached pictures show the Redarc SBI12 isolator installed, the Tekonsha P3 and its mount, and the Anderson plug on the rear.

Lessons learned during these mods:
1. Shop around and get quality gear.  There are some good Ebay stores selling great gear - just do your research both on the ebay shop itself and the seller.
2. Don't scrimp on cabling - I used 35mm2 for the batteries, 6 B&S for the Ando plug, 6mm for the brake controller.  Result - negligible to zero voltage drop from the front to the rear of Landcruiser.
3. Take your time and plan, plan , plan.  When you have it figured out where you want everything - plan again.
4.  Get a good solid crimping tool.  Got mine from Rhino Tools.  Does 6-50mm crimps - outstanding - did all the cables and the Anderson terminals.

So, now the Cruiser is ready for the Ultimate Xplor - just have to wait until February.

[KingBilly]

Nice work 

KB

[chookduck]

A month to go until we pick up the Ulti Xplor from Moruya.  Have even finally decided on the all important question of lounge seat and cushion cover colours!!  Last minute change of cushion cover colour from Kente Nero to Aspire Flame (I just know everyone is impressed by this!!) after going to the Queanbeyan 4WD Camping show last weekend.

I can see a Brindabella, Long Plain, Broken Cart Trail, Blue waterhole, Yarrongabilly trip coming up real soon.

[ian_baker58]

A month to go until we pick up the Ulti Xplor from Moruya.  Have even finally decided on the all important question of lounge seat and cushion cover colours!!  Last minute change of cushion cover colour from Kente Nero to Aspire Flame (I just know everyone is impressed by this!!) after going to the Queanbeyan 4WD Camping show last weekend.

I can see a Brindabella, Long Plain, Broken Cart Trail, Blue waterhole, Yarrongabilly trip coming up real soon.

I remember the 'wait' period when we picked up #1135 (Elite Silver) in May 2012...  You'll find the forum full of ideas, tips and mods, and of course opinions!  The great thing is that there's eons of experience on the forum in 4WD, Ultimates and touring/trips etc.  If you can't find what you're looking for just ask and you'll get answers from genuine and passionate Ultimate owners...

Since May 2012, we have done around 25,000k including Fraser Island, some local trips to the Vic High Country and last year a 15,000k trip through the Tanami and Kimberley with two other Ultimates (which was around 60 nights in the camper - many of them one-night stays). 

So looking at your bucket-list on the trips - you should get a lot of fun and great camping in your Ultimate...

You'll always find the good folks at Ultimate in Moruya very helpful and ready to assist...

BTW - I have a P3 in the LC200 and like it.

Best regards,
Ian Baker

Drysdale River Station JUL 2013

[chookduck]

Thanks Ian.

I plan on doing a bit of a picture thread on the Xplor since they are a relatively new model.  Just can't wait tho.

[chookduck]

26 days to go.

[ian_baker58]

 

[Swannie]

Very exciting chookduck. Can't wait for the pics
Swannie

[chookduck]

14 days till we off for Moruya and the pickup.

[oldmate]

 

Hahaha just wanted to be the first to do it 

[chookduck]

There will be pics.  I have 10Gb of camera memory and I'm not afraid to use it!!!

[oldmate]

This was our pick up day 

now i am just teasing

[ian_baker58]

There will be pics.  I have 10Gb of camera memory and I'm not afraid to use it!!!

Great - look forward to seeing some pics in due course!

Hope your handover day goes well.  A bit to learn about your new Ulti....

Please say hullo to the good folks at Ultimate from me (I'm pretty well known there these days  ).  We were there in August for a 22k service on #1135 after the Tanami/Kimberley trip...

Safe travels to and from Moruya...

BTW - we've found the food at the Moruya Golf Club definitely worth a visit if you're overnighting there..!

Best, IanB

One dirty Ulti and LC200 (on the way out of Tunnel Creek NP in W.A. - it rained!)

[chookduck]

So, only 5 days 4 hours and 20 mins to go until pickup.
Things to do:

1.  Take lots of pics to post back on MySwag
2.  Stay at Riverside Caravan park for two nights - booked
3.  Go to golf club for nosh.  Have been to the Nepalese restaurant before and its pretty good too.
4.  Put Xplor up down up down etc.
5.  A few quiet drinks.

[oldmate]

So, only 5 days 4 hours and 20 mins to go until pickup.
Things to do:

1.  Take lots of pics to post back on MySwag
2.  Stay at Riverside Caravan park for two nights - booked
3.  Go to golf club for nosh.  Have been to the Nepalese restaurant before and its pretty good too.
4.  Put Xplor up down up down etc.
5.  A few quiet drinks.

Lmao. Yep I start found the mins also in the last week 

Also a nice little cafe, from the van park, go over the bridge and it at the end of the bridge on the right hand side. We had an awesome lunch there.