MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum

General => Introductions => Topic started by: Crookedpete on March 19, 2011, 02:03:27 PM

Title: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Crookedpete on March 19, 2011, 02:03:27 PM
Hi all,

Been lurking here for a while, diligently doing research, whilst patiently waiting for the bank balance to be large enough to accommodate a camper trailer

Have finally taken the plunge and 2 weeks ago bought a second hand late 2007 Lifestyle Explorer with a 12 ft tent, full annexe, water tank, 12V  power etc.

Took my sternest voice to stop the kids from sleeping in it when it was set up in the driveway on the first night home. Had a night away in it last weekend near Canungra and had a ball.

crookedpete and the crooked-clan.      

PS I have been lurking long enough to know the whole "thread worthless without pics" deal. They are coming when I can resize the photos.  .
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: D4D on March 19, 2011, 02:05:42 PM
Welcome to MySwag! Good work on the camper and getting out there. What's on the mod list?
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: randan on March 19, 2011, 02:10:59 PM
Hey welcome crookedpete and whole crookedclan and about time you posted you lurker, come on get the photos up of that camper

 :worthles:

....... just had to do it!

randan
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: shina on March 19, 2011, 02:14:15 PM
G,day Crooked Clan,
nice work on the lifestyle look forward to photos,
by the way welcome to myswag

Cheers Shane  :cheers:
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Crookedpete on March 19, 2011, 02:47:32 PM
Hey welcome crookedpete and whole crookedclan and about time you posted you lurker, come on get the photos up of that camper

 :worthles:

....... just had to do it!

randan

Thanks Randan, should have known it would be you! Here you go....
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Old Croc + plus one on March 19, 2011, 05:07:00 PM
Hi and Welcome to My Swag

More Happy Trails ahead for you didn't know you could order tyke holders for campers see they are enjoying the camper

Cheers
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: GGV8Cruza on March 19, 2011, 07:08:26 PM
Welcome to the Forum Pete, the kids look like they are right at home in and on the camper

GG
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Black Diamond on March 19, 2011, 07:58:30 PM
Gday Crooken Clan, congrats on the purchase  :cheers:

Makes me laugh hearing your story because we were the same when we first got ours  :cheers: except it wasnt just the kids it was me too  8)

Exciting times for the family and many more to come  :cheers: :cheers:

Good stuff  :cup:

BD
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: waz65 on March 19, 2011, 09:18:22 PM
Welcome crookedpete and the whole crookedclan , love the first pic of the kids hiding in the camper , hope you had a great first trip
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: chrisroche on March 20, 2011, 06:51:19 PM
welcome crookeds,

it is like looking in the mirror;
- 3 kids
- 1 x golden retriever
- 1 x 2nd hand 12ft lifestyle

enjoy

Chris
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Heiny on March 20, 2011, 07:06:48 PM
Hi Pete and welcome to My Swag, great set up you have there and Im looking forward to seeing some of your trip reports on here :cheers:
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: skmaint on March 20, 2011, 08:26:53 PM

Hi pete & Family,

Welcome to MySwag....Camper looks great...looks like the kids love it.

Cheers
Simon
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Crookedpete on March 21, 2011, 04:57:05 PM
welcome crookeds,

it is like looking in the mirror;
- 3 kids
- 1 x golden retriever
- 1 x 2nd hand 12ft lifestyle

enjoy

Chris


Hey Chris,

If it's like looking in the mirror, then I hope you are a good looking bugga!    ;D

Pete
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Wandering Tassie on March 21, 2011, 11:46:02 PM
Hi Pete and welcome to My swag. Good to see the family enjoying the CT.

Trevor
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Snow on March 22, 2011, 07:52:29 PM
G'day crookedpete and the crooked-clan and welcome to Myswag. :cheers:
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: timneva on March 22, 2011, 08:14:11 PM
G'day guys.

Funny stuff! My 3 kids did exactly the same first day. You should all have a ball. Nothing better than getting out there amongst it with the family.
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Crookedpete on March 29, 2011, 07:34:42 PM
Photos from our second trip away (in three weeks). All having a ball.  Off again this weekend.
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: djb955 on April 01, 2011, 01:36:53 PM
Hi Folks,

Enjoy the CT and the great outdoors.  Enjoy all the memorable moments you'll have taking your chillun's to see some top spots.

cheers,

David and Sally
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: tonyo on April 01, 2011, 02:03:06 PM
Welcome to the Crooked Can. Looks like you;re already having a great time camping - love the pics. Keep them coming! :cup:

Cheers,
Tonyo
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: ralphedward on April 02, 2011, 09:46:43 PM
Enjoy it all Crooked Clan,

My kids used my camper before I did, whilst set up in the driveway (I wasn't happy 'cos I wanted to sleep in it first (I'm just a big kid with grey hair). 

Luv ya tug - I had a white NP, now have a black NS (I prefer white)

Regards
Mark
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: waz65 on April 05, 2011, 01:41:16 PM
Photos from our second trip away (in three weeks). All having a ball.  Off again this weekend.
Mate , where are these pics from ? if you don't mind telling looks like a top spot to visit
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Crookedpete on April 05, 2011, 04:15:15 PM
Mate , where are these pics from ? if you don't mind telling looks like a top spot to visit

In order, from the beginning of the topic the photos are from

1. My driveway    ;D
2. Spring Gully Stays near Canungra
3. Charlie Moreland campsite in Imbil SF near Kenilworth.

Have just been to Sandy Creek Campin near Woodford. Had a good time there. A couple of photos follow.
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Crookedpete on April 05, 2011, 10:44:13 PM
..... What's on the mod list?

I'd always reckoned after a few trips away I'd quickly work out what needed modifying. But I've resisted the temptation of jumping in straight away.

After the first trip, I figured a second battery was needed, as we only got 16 hours out of the 2 year old 105 AH battery before the Waeco 50 litre dual zone fridge turned itself off.

But this last trip, by keeping the kids away from the fridge and LED lights, using a gas light a bit in the annexe at night, keeping the kids out of the fridge (and by turning the fridge voltage cut out setting from medium to low - doh), we got over 40 hours out of the battery. Did I mention keeping the kids away from the fridge?  As most of our camping will be on weekends at the moment, this ought to do for a while. Doing a recondition on the battery with the new Ctek charger may have helped. So new/second battery goes down the list for the moment. 

I am debating waiting until the finances allow for 2 new batteries, since I keep reading that having an old (more than say 50 deep discharges) battery and a new battery together is not ideal for the battery life of either battery.   

So the next modification has to be the hitch. The standard 50 mm ball hitch only just clears the spare tyre when hitching up. The standard ball hitch also leaves little room to open the rear door of the tug. The dish-licker occasionally needs to get out for pit stops too, though she'd have a bit less trouble fitting through the available door opening if she shed a few kilo's.  ;D

So a new hitch is the first planned mod. I am currently leaning towards the Ozhitch, because it has good offroad capabilities, won't clash with the tug spare when hitching up and seems to be the lowest profile of the reputable offroad hitches on the market -  meaning the rear door will now only hit the stoneguard rather the hitch!  Welcome any feedback on this!

LED trailer lights might yet make the mods list too - though probably after the batteries. It seems the rig only has to drive near some dirt and I'm changing bulbs.  :-[   

pete
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: BigJules on April 12, 2011, 10:29:53 PM
G'day & Welcome. Belatedly.

Terrific to see photos of people out there enjoying camping with their families.
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Crookedpete on April 19, 2011, 09:15:51 PM
Hi Jules and thanks,

People here are crazy about pics. What is it with that anyway? So here is a few more from our latest 3 nights away at Flanagan's Reserve last weekend, including a  photo of my second ever beer damper in the new  - birthday present - camp oven. (First damper was cooked the night before,  ended up cutting the severely blackened edges off and re-cooking the very doughy centre  - greatly overestimated just how hot the camp oven was) 


Pete
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: tropicbird54 on April 19, 2011, 09:25:19 PM
Another very belated welcome to Myswag.
Thanks for sharing your trips with us. Love seeing you all having such a great time out bush.
Hubby and I have just had our 2nd outing in our camper and I really must put some photos on here too.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers
Sharyn  :D
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Johnno convert on April 22, 2011, 03:36:38 PM
Welcome Pete. My youngun is always on about when are we going away next in the CT. Great family stuff!
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: duggie on April 22, 2011, 09:19:05 PM
Hello Crookedpete and your tribe,
It is great to see that you and yours are enjoying the camp trailer life. Welcome to the forum and welcome to the camp trailer world. Great pic's. cheers duggie
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Johnno convert on April 23, 2011, 09:14:40 AM
Here is some good reading on LEDs including where to get the LED strips, what colour will suit you, how many LEDs per metre, how to mount etc. Heck you may even have some better ideas ;D feel free to post them! http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=4587.0 and http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=12481.0
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Crookedpete on May 25, 2011, 11:00:02 PM
Another great trip away last weekend, after a couple of weeks with other weekend commitments. The S.E. Qld locals will recognise the destination, which was pleasantly very quiet and not as cold as we had expected.  Even the storm on Saturday didn't dampen our spirits.

The Crooked Clan
Title: Re: The Crooked Clan
Post by: Old Croc + plus one on May 26, 2011, 10:10:49 AM
G/day Crookedpete
 good to see you enjoying the outdoors with the family the kids will remember these family camping trips all there lives my grown up Kids refer to the camping trips we did all the time in fact they remember them better than they did there school work.
Happy Trails
Cheers