JohnnyDrama's 120

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Nice Build up thread JD. Thoroughly good read.

[johnnydrama Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close johnnydrama]

Long time no update ... Had an average second half of the year so haven't really gotten up to much. I was supposed to go on the PP Simpson Trip but a few snags got in the way at the last minute so I had to bail - made up for it by grabbing the kids and heading up the Flinders for 5 nights. Got a few photos the trip which show the car in it's current trim. Rhino Rack Pioneer platform is now on, as is the Foxwing awning.
I'm really glad i went for the pioneer platform - mostly because I couldn't fit into my work carpark with a rack with raised sides and ends The foxwing is brilliant. While we were away we had a bit of both rain and high winds and I was pleasantly surprised with how solid the awning was.

Also - after getting rid of the camper I upgraded to a few swags. Got myself an ARB King Single, and a Swagit Double (Travelander) for the kids - both were in the $400+ range so not cheap - but the build quality on both is excellent and IMO they both represent value for money in the "glamour swag" category. I love the ARB - the canvas is a bit more ... plasticcy... than the "real" canvas on the Swagit - but it's stood up to rain perfectly so far. Very comfortable, stable, and lots of nifty pockets and zips and things inside. Takes about 5 minutes to get setup up if you're taking your time with a beer in your hand. For an extra $80 you can get a bloody brilliant ARB roof rack back which fits the swag perfectly. It's got a bunch of webbing tie downs so it fits to the roof rack "permenantly" while you're travelling and you just throw the swag in, do up the bag and you're good to go. Great product - i actually used it to put all the non-essentials in while camp was setup too just to tidy up the place.

The Swagit has much better quality canvas - similar really high build quality, but the mattress isn't as good, it takes up a CRAP TON of room on the roof rack - you'd never fit it inside a car, and it's a real struggle to put back in the bag when you've got bedding in it - it is faster to put up than the ARB. All up - both swags plus the ground covering is about 10 minutes for 1 person. Would be about 5 minutes all up now that the kids know what they're doing. I went with a double because the kids said they didn't want to be in singles by themselves - but if i had my time again - I'd have just gone with singles for them as i reckon it'd be more convenient for packing the car. The Swagit double (which is essentially a queen size) would be absolutely perfect for a couple on the road - but is overkill for the kids.

Here's a pic of the car loaded up and ready to roll on the trip (and no - the RAA van is not for me )


I went for a webbing based tie down from Rhino Rack to hold the 2nd spare - it works for both a tyre on a rim and without a rim whereas the metal screw in fitting requires a rim. Also a Rhino Rack gas bottle holder - it's incredible how much those Rhino Rack accessories cost ...

Because it was my first trip away with the kids flying solo - I stayed where we would have a few amenities just to make life a bit easier so we got a camp site at Rawnsley Park; it's a Caravan Park / camp ground / eco tourism place on the South Eastern tip of Wilpena Pound, about 5 Hours north of Radelaide.

Swags and Foxwing in action - if anyone ever asks me what mod they should do first - I've moved roofrack up the list of priorities since having it. Getting firewood, cleaning up the campsite by leaving stuff on the roof etc - a good investment IMO.



Pic of the car and kids in front of Rawnsley Bluff. I have been to Rawnsley Park / Parachilna / Wilpena maybe 15 times in my life from the 80's onward, and this was the greenest I have ever seen that part of the Flinders.



While we were up there did a day trip on one of Merna Morna's 4WD trails. We went for the first track which has you start on the Moralana scenic trail and then break off north along the edge of the pound: http://www.mernamora.com.au/tracks.htm. Wasn't the most challenging drive but was a fantastic day trip - i rate it much better than the SkyTrek trail we did the year before.