Motorhome Camber Issues - Part 3

We have joined the well worn path of many other new Sunliner Iveco owners who have a tyre wear issue, a result of a "Camber Issue". There is insufficient adjustment and the vehicle is in need of a "Camber Kit', fitted under warranty by Iveco to fix the problem. This is a well known common problem that nobody wishes to own up to.

In our case, this has resulted in a worn out tire, the cancellation of our trips to the Blue Mountains and Melbourne and quite a bit of waisted time.

Let's hope this is over by April as we are invited to Antennapalooza and a milestone birthday party.

Timeline so far

6th November 2022 - noted the passenger LHS tire is badly worn on the outer edge suggesting a wheel alignment issue. Investigation on the Iveco Motorhome groups finds this is a very common issue requiring the fitment of a "Camber Kit" fitted under warranty by Iveco Australia. We have already booked an annual service/40,000km Service - only driven 5,000km.

13th December 2022 - Bought to the attention of Iveco Newcastle (IN). IN unable to perform a wheel alignment and request we take our Motorhome to one of their suggested businesses. Unable to find anyone available until mid January, but a family member recommended Spencer's Truck & Bus Wheel Alignment & Spring Service who could fit us in January.

11th January 2023 - Spencer's note the requirement of a OEM "Camber Kit" to be fitted to the motorhome as the are unable to perform the alignment. The supply us a report for Iveco Newcastle.

11th January 2023 - After leaving Spencer's we dropped the report with Iveco Newcastle who tell us that it will be lodged with Iveco Australia for warrantee approval.

30th January 2023 - A phone call to Iveco Newcastle found that the report we logged with Iveco Newcastle on the 11/2/23 from Spencer's Truck and Bus has been "misplaced", so the warranty claim to Iveco Australia was not lodged, delaying resolution a further 19 days. We immediately emailed the report and now we wait.....

11th February 2023 - Called Iveco Newcastle 10:30am yesterday and neither of the two gentlemen who are managing our claim were available to take my enquiry and was told I'd be called back....... Still Waiting. 

13th February 2023 - I will call again.....

The Leyland Brothers

In the mid 1970's Australia TV Viewers watched two poms named Mike and Mal travel around Australia and visit places that many viewers had not seen. The series called "Ask The Leyland Brothers" was very successful running on the Nine Network for 153 episodes between 1976 and 1980. I sure that the viewers dreamed of leaving their dull life in the suburbs behind them and doing what these two families did.

I sure did!

No truckloads of production people following every step in their mega caravans and motorhomes. Production was carried out by Mike and Mal, supported by their wives Pat and Laraine.

By todays standards the production was a bit amateurish and the media used was home movie grade Super-8, but the brothers background in Television and print media in Newcastle NSW, made it compelling viewing. Their pioneering use of Super-8 film made it the new standard used by television of the day!

Later the Leyland Brothers made other TV programming which was equally successful and has paved the way for some of todays TV lifestyle programs.

A later series - Leyland's Australia Episode 1: Brisbane To Rockhampton

I'm sure that the Leylands contributed to todays Grey Nomad movement.

You can read more here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyland_brothers

You can also watch more on Youtube - Search on "Leyland Brothers" 

Today you will find that Mal is still travelling and his daughter Carmen also has the travel bug! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063733774809

''Where the hell are we, Mike?" "Buggered if I know, Mal. ''
Paul Hogan Show 1973–1984, Season 4, Episode 5

A Dog Fence and a Camber Problem

 We are not traveling due to family commitments, but it doesn't stop us preparing and planning the next trip.

A Solution

We have a solution to keeping our dogs safe and secure and are looking forward to trialling this, the Inflatafence. Much lighter and quick to set up, made out of similar material that Military Inflatable boats (RIB) are made from.

Not our photo or Motorhome, but you get the idea - from 

https://inflatablepontoons.com/pages/inflatafence 

We will show our experience with the Inflatafene with our four footed family members here once we get the time. 

A Problem

As you most likely noticed, the bottom tyre is showing excessive wear on the outer edge. This is most likely due to a Camber problem that is often discussed in the IVECO motorhome discussion groups.

Sunliner are responsible for their content and leave IVECO to look after theirs. The Camber issue will be reported to the Newcastle IVECO Service Centre, who according to others experience will refer us to a truck suspension specialist and will pick up the tab if a Camber Kit is required to fix it.

Why this is not picked up and fixed before delivery?

Lucky we are not going anywhere.......

A Day Outing in the Motorhome

 

We decided to take the motorhome for a day trip to Stockton. We would have normally gone though Hinton, but there are major roadworks and road closures happening.

We took the four dogs with us and had a leisurely drive via Raymond Terrace to Stockton. Not far from the ferry wharf and overlooking the Hunter River at Newcastle we fond a nice park. 

The dogs enjoyed their walk, but the weather was  nice except for the strong winds.

I took the Amateur Radio callbacks

VK2RNC 2M call backs of the VK2WI ARNSW morning news were taken by Paul VK2APA/P set up at Stockton Park overlooking Newcastle. Thank you to those who called in.

... and due to the wind we dined indoors.

 

Our Trip West - Day Five - Willow Tree to Home

  Map of our Travels

Day Five 9/4/22

Morning at our camp at Willow Tree

The pack is worn out from too much excitement and walks!

Buffy is keen to get going once she awakes.

Our neighbour is quiet.

Ready to move on.

Murrurundi NSW 2338

Murrurundi NSW 2338

Murrurundi NSW 2338

Paradise Park - Murrurundi 

Paradise Park - Murrurundi

Paradise Park - Murrurundi

Paradise Park - Murrurundi. Some nice walking trails, but we need to be back home on time to pick up Chappie from his holidays at Kip Pet Resort.

Golf course with a view! next to Paradise Park - Murrurundi

Murrurundi NSW 2338

Burning Mountain Rest Area

Burning Mountain Rest Area

Burning Mountain Rest Area

Now the last leg to home via the New England Highway 

through Muswellbrook and Singleton

Bayswater Power Station on the New England Highway.

Not far now to home!
______________________________________________________________

We were way too ambitious to do this trip in five days and needed a couple of weeks at least to do our trip justice. 

Next Time we now know where to go.

Our Trip West - Day Four - Baan Baa to Willow Tree

 Map of our Travels

Day Four 8/4/22

The morning view at Baan Baa

Where are off to today?

Emptying the Bog at Boggabri

Motorhome life is excellent, but like all things has an unpleasant side to it. The toilet cassette is showing it is almost full which means a trip to a dump point. Fortunately there are plentiful and the CMCA also helps to fund them.

Boggabri's Jubilee Oval looks a lot more country than is Sydney cousin.

Gee, the grass looks so green!

Back on the road to find a spot for Brunch. 

We arrive at Gunnedah and find it a little overwhelming at first, after the little towns and bush camps. We found a quiet spot to set up for a BBQ brunch - Woolshed Reserve.

Cody is chilling out!

After Brunch we need to explore the town. The Tourist Information Centre is loaded with ideas and it hits us that we are touring wa too fast to see what the places we have visited, truely have to offer. We spot the CMCA RV Park  a self contained camp which we will consider using when we return to the region.

The former Meggitt Ltd Silo site at Gunnedah is one of many Silo Murals around Australia.

There is even a Silo Art Trail, see https://www.australiansiloarttrail.com

Core of My Heart. [a.k.a My Country] By Dorothea Mackellar 

The love of field and coppice,

Of green and shaded lanes,

Of ordered woods and gardens,

Is running in your veins —

Strong love of grey-blue distance,

Brown streams and soft, dim skies …

I know but cannot share it,

My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping plains,

Of ragged mountain ranges,

Of droughts and flooding rains.

I love her far horizons,

I love her jewel sea,

Her beauty and her terror —

The wide brown land for me!

The stark white ring-barked forests

All tragic ’neath the moon,

The sapphire-misted mountains,

The hot gold hush of noon —

Green tangle of the brushes

Where lithe lianas coil,

And orchids deck the treetops,

And ferns the crimson soil.

Core of my heart, my country —

Her pitiless blue sky,

When sick at heart, around us

We see the cattle die …

And then the grey clouds gather,

And we can bless again

The drumming of an army,

The steady, soaking rain.

Core of my heart, my country,

Land of the rainbow gold —

For flood and fire and famine

She pays us back three-fold …

Over the thirsty paddocks

Watch, after many days,

The filmy veil of greenness

That thickens as you gaze …

An opal-hearted country,

A wilful, lavish land —

All you who have not loved her,

You will not understand …

Though Earth holds many splendours,

Wherever I may die,

I know to what brown country

My homing thoughts will fly.

Dorothea wrote this poem whilst homesick in England. 

Dorothea lived in a time where many thought colonial Australia was inferior to "Mother England". Core of My Heart [a.k.a My Country] quickly became Australia's best known poem where schoolchildren once were taught remember and recite the second stanza.

She also lived in the Gunnedah area.

[first published in The Spectator (London, UK) on 5 September 1908; it was originally entitled “Core of My Heart”, although it was later re-titled as “My Country”. The poem was published in some newspapers in 1908-1909 as “Core of My Heart — My Country”, and in 1910 as “My Country”. It was included in Dorothea Mackellar’s first book of poetry, The Closed Door and Other Verses (1911), under the title of “My Country”..]

We also visited Pensioner's Hill Lookout and appreciated the view of Gunnedah along with the artworks depicting the history of the area.
Pensioners Hill gets its name from being a shanty town during the Great Depression.

Pensioner's Hill Lookout

Pensioner's Hill Lookout - depicting Red Chief, a famous local Aboriginal leader.

Pensioner's Hill Lookout - Coal Mining 

Pensioner's Hill Lookout - The Rainbow Serpent a part of the Aboriginal Dreamtime

Pensioner's Hill Lookout - The city of Gunnedah 

Curlewis Grain Storage

The Mooki River, on the Kamilaroi Highway at Breeza NSW

Further on the Kamilaroi Highway at Breeza

"Who'd A Thought It" Lookout at Curlewis

"Who'd A Thought It" Lookout at Curlewis

"Who'd A Thought It" Lookout at Curlewis

"Who'd A Thought It" Lookout at Curlewis

"Who'd A Thought It" Lookout at Curlewis

Our camp for the night Willow Tree Freedom Camping Ground. The camp has toilets, showers, drinking water and some powered sites. Payment is by donation.

The community has a bowling club that is the hub of the community and is supported by volunteers. The club was rebuilt after being totally destroyed by fire and reopened three years later in December 2019 after a huge community effort.

We had a great meal and chatted with other travellers and locals.

Next - Day Five - Willow Tree to Home

Our Trip West - Day Three - Hickeys Fall to Baan Baa

 Map of our Travels

Day Three 7/4/22

Next Morning

We moved on and just 1.3km down the road is Spire View Rest Area

Feathers Cafe at Coonabarabran

Feathers Cafe at Coonabarabran

Feathers Cafe at Coonabarabran
Note the Happy Chihuahua 

Feathers Cafe at Coonabarabran

A chance diversion down a well graded rough road we discover a wonderful place

Pilliga Pottery Creative Farmstay has varied facilities and activities, There is the pottery, farm animals at Barkala Farm, a pool, the Blue Wren Café, 60km of bush-walking tracks and a guided bird watching tour.

Accommodation available from campsite, the Old Schoolhouse fantasy castle, two of the six choices for style and size of accommodation. Pet friendly, too!

Pilliga Pottery Creative Farmstay100% off grid with its own water supply and solar system. 

Website: https://www.barkalafarmstay.com.au/ 

Barkala Farmstay 

The Old Schoolhouse looks like a fantasy castle!

A wonderful self sufficient campground with showers, toilets and café.

Pilliga Pottery grounds - Tiles no doubt made at Pilliga Pottery

Pilliga Pottery grounds with the the Cafe and pottery

Pilliga Pottery grounds 

Pilliga Pottery Shop

Pilliga Pottery

I'm sure we will be back one day.

Back on the Newell Highway at Bohena Creek and a little rain.

Baan Baa Railway Hotel

We stayed the night diagonally across from the Baan Baa Railway Hotel next to the Rural Fire Service depot. We found the odd passing train quite pleasant.

An excellent meal at the Baan Baa Railway Hotel

Next - Day Four - Baan Baa to Willow Tree