Built in 1995, Vin Rouge has so far clocked up about 210,000 kilometres. It's mostly original apart from a replacement clutch, new brakes and a bespoke exhaust. And of course, the timing belt has been replaced two or three times. Servicing takes place at half the recommended distances and anything not quite right we try to sort out before it gets to be a problem. At least, that's the plan. Mainly it works and the only times we've had problems is when a battery suddenly gave up the ghost and on the Stezelecki Track when the corrugations shook one of the rear brakes to pieces.
Before shipping Vin Rouge to Australia, we upgraded shock absorbers and springs were fitted along with armoured flexible brake pipes.
Vin Rouge has been 'Australianised'. Modifications include:
- tinted windows (essential in Australia)
- dual battery system
- additional pair of driving lights
- two rear working lights
- snorkel (mainly to minimize the intake of dust)
- extended axle and gearbox breathers
- High-lift jack with a chain arrangement to convert it to a simple winch
- fairly comprehensive recovery equipment
- two fire extinguishers
- three first aid kits (comprehensive, a snake bite kit and one for the back pack when we're walking)
- satnav. Just an ordinary Tom Tom.
- UHF radio with an additional speaker so the thing can be heard
- two bridging ladders mounted on the side of the vehicle. These double as security screens and also provide shade for the windows
- shovel mounted on the off-side wing
- long range fuel tank (we can now carry about 110 litres of diesel)
- Cooper ST Maxx tyres (six wheels and tyres - we carry two spares, one on a swing away bracket on the back door, the other on the bonnet on a home made bracket)
- locking wheel nuts
- air horns (handy for scaring away roos and emus)
- rock sliders to provide additional protection from side impacts
- steering and differential guards
- two gas tanks held in home made metal brackets on the back of the vehicle
- deadlocks on all doors
- sand flag - provides visibility in sand tracks
- heated seats and sheepskin seat covers - keeps bums both warm and cool
- home made drawer system that holds recovery gear in the back of the drawer, domestic stuff in the front, and chairs and other things alongside.
- 70 litre water tank, plumbed to a tap on the rear door
- EvaKool fridge/freezer
- Hannibal roof rack, roof-top tent and awning, equipped with LED lighting
- Galley (two burners and a grille) mounted on a fold-away shelf on the rear door
- Twelve plastic, stacking boxes for holding all our stuff (two each for clothing and one for shoes, three for food, two for tools and spare parts and two for domestic stuff)
So, loaded and ready we point south (or will do in early February 2013) when this blog will start.
The plan is to initially head south. That'll take us towards Sydney, a trip we've done several times before. We'll avoid main highways, taking smaller roads in preference. After Sydney, we'll continue south then follow the coast westerly to Melbourne. Then we'll probably take the ferry to Tasmania and have a look around there for a few weeks before returning and continuing westerly. We'll see how far we get before we find it necessary to return to Brisbane. We might cut through the middle of Australia, continue on round the outside, or leave Vin Rouge somewhere, fly back and then resume the adventure after a break. The great luxury is, of course, time. We don't have to meet a schedule. if we like a place, we can stay a while, if we don;t we can move on. there is one date that is fixed. We do need to be back in Brisbane in June. That's when Mike clocks up his allotted three score years and ten. He reckons anything after that is a bonus. John, Anna and Leilani will be coming over from the USA and we won't want to miss them.
It's an exciting prospect.
Good luck and have fun
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