AJ120s 2009 D4D and DIY camper trailer

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Thanks for all the positive comments, glad you like my handiwork! Making these things is one thing, making them efficently enough to make a living is a whole different ball game. Plenty more custom projects in the pipeline, so keep an eye out for the updates.

And a few gratuitous pics while I am posting, cause everyone likes pics!










Cheers Andrew

[pradi2 Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradi2]

sent you a pm aj120 email wouldnt work 4 me

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Go Pro Camera

I picked up a GoPro camera to record some of our adeventures, obviously I went for the motorsport edition, although might look into some additional hardware for hiking trips!

First impression is it seems like a good piece of kit, well made, nothing about it looks cheap and nasty. Best I sit down and RTFM (read the fn manual) and then see what we can record, hopefully some teasers for the GTG on our next recce!






Cheers Andrew

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Nice one Andrew. The Hero 2 is soooo much easier to use than the original version. The symbols actually make sense now.
My problem is I keep taking stills when I think I'm starting the video

[MrsAJ120 Member Find all posts View Profile Close MrsAJ120]

Best I sit down and RTFM (read the fn manual) and then see what we can record...

What the hell? Are you sick? I thought RTFM was against your religion??? I'm shocked!

[ondaboat Coopers Pale Ale Find all posts View Profile Close ondaboat]

What the hell? Are you sick? I thought RTFM was against your religion??? I'm shocked!

Looks like your out of a job Trish, he's learnt how to read the manual.... oh no whats next!!!
I thought themanual was a spanish bloke?

[Shan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shan]

Nice buy Andrew !! I hope you bought a car charger and a additional Battery with it as well.....
Ohh and a Fast 32GB card.....

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Nice buy Andrew !! I hope you bought a car charger and a additional Battery with it as well.....
Ohh and a Fast 32GB card.....

I only bought the basic pack at this stage, charging is via USB so I have numerous options there, gps has a USB cable that might work, also we have 240 USB adaptors and I can use the invertor, also have 12v cigarette plug adaptors to USB for the Ipad. A spare battery might be a good idea once I get the hang of things, and an SD card is still on my to get list, I have a mate that runs a computer store so no doubt he can help me out on that score.

Cheers Andrew

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Make sure you get a 2nd battery. The Battery BacPac is great as it allows you to charge the battery separate from the main unit.
Charges easily from the 12v plug within the time one battery lasts while filming.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Ostrich Wing Awning

Most of you guys in Australia have probably never heard of an Ostrich Wing Awning, and none of you would have seen one in the flesh unless you have been OS (or with me on the weekend) as the one now bolted my Prado is the only one ever imported into Australia, hey someone had to be the first.

After speaking with and reading many reports about the Foxwing awning I came to the conclusion that they are great but........ there is always a but when people talk about the foxwing, they need a full setup in anything but absolutely still weather, so not ideal for a 15 minute smoko stop on the side of the road, and lots of people have reported them breaking in even slight winds.

So onto the Internet and after a lot of research I found the Ostrich Wing Awning from African Outback Products that soundeed like it would be a better bet than the Foxwing. So I took a punt and imported one from South Africa, and to say that it is brilliant would be an understatement!! It is just fantastic, set up time is around 30 seconds, pack up takes maybe a minute but with practice I will do both quicker, but most importantly it is very stable in the wind and strength wise compared to the Foxwing....... well there is just no comparison really its like comparing a toothpick with a crowbar, the Ostrich wing is so far in front in this respect its not funny.

It's always a worry sending money to an unknown company on the other side of the world and hoping they will do the right thing, absolutely zero issues dealing with Liz from AOP, she was very helpful with my enquiry, and to be honest the African end of the deal was really really good, Qantas on the other hand managed to loose my awning for nearly 2 weeks when it got as far as Sydney, and I can't say I was at all impressed with the import brokers in Adelaide who ended up slugging me more than they quoted, they quoted a price and then added GST after the deal was done. But I now have it and its fitted and its fantastic. I should say thanks to Matty who collected it from the Airport for me before another Australian company started charging me for storage, by the kilo per hour.

OK what does it cost? It will vary depending on the excahnge rate at the time and where you live, I was quoted $780AUD for the awning then add another $500+ for air frieght and assorted charges for import brokers and others who sem to do little for their money and you are well into the 4 figure mark, In my case I was keen to have it installed before my upcoming trip across the Simpson via Madigans line. After mentioning the time frame for this trip and Liz asking for information about the trip, they offred me a very substantial discount as they were keen to have thier product tested on one of the toughest trips in Australia, and as i mentioned at the start; as it is the only one ever imported it will be the first across the Simpson, and Madigans. I should also mention that the discount was offered AFTER I had agreed to purchase it at full price, so I can't speak highly enough of the service from AOP.

Weight is around the 23kg mark, only a couple of kilos heavier than the foxwing from my research.

Setting up the Ostrich Wing

5 seconds



10 seconds



20 seconds



30 seconds



Cheers Andrew

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

Can't wait to see the photos, Andrew. I've just finished repairing the foxwing and to be honest am almost afraid to use it again.
I got a brother living in South Africa. I might see if he can ship me one out.

Cheers.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Ostrich Wing Awning

The Ostrich Wing Awning mounting kit is designed to go with AOP's own roof rack and it isn't compatible with the Rhino system on my Prado. It was a pretty simple job to make up a mount using most of the original mounting hardware and adding a piece of tube to bolt it to, they also come with a brace for the pivot end which I had to make my own version of, once again not overly difficult.







I had thought I would have to move or modify my PVC tube, however it turned out to be absolutely perfect and even gives a bit more support to the one part of the frame that is slightly weaker than the rest, it doesn't get any better than perfect!






I have also now added pics to the previous post.

Cheers Andrew

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

to say that it is brilliant would be an understatement!!

WOW you weren't kidding. That certainly looks the goods way beyond the Foxwing. Just look at that bracing. Do you know if they plan on selling them here in the future? Would be a large market for them.

Cheers.

[adamr7 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close adamr7]

Certainly looks sturdy. Ive been very happy with the foxwing, but the key is to peg it down well. Now the ostrich is in Australia, is it called an emu?

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

Am I seeing it correctly that it only has one leg. If so thats brilliant