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Author Topic: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?  (Read 3909 times)

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Offline algreary

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Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« on: April 17, 2014, 03:10:01 AM »
Hey all imported Forward Fold Camper owners, this post is half curiosity and half my wife and I wanting advice.

Just wondering if anyones taken their FFC into any rough stuff, which roads, what they strengthened or modified before they went, and what they didn't, but damn well wished they did. Any hurdles with the length, ball weight wind? Oh yeh, and if it completely fell apart, that would be useful to know in advance as well.

My wife and I have one and it will be going up the OTT this year no matter what negative advice we get, so any positive advice on mods or success stories would be brilliant.
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Offline woolgoolgaoffroad

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Re: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2014, 07:02:32 AM »
Morning
I have done some medium off-roaring with my mdc ff trailer and it seems to handle it ok so far. As you stated the drawbar length may be an issue. The biggest concern I have is the ball weight as it is very heavy. But apart from that I think the trailer would stand up to most stuff thrown at it. Just make sure you go over the trailer with a pre check - nuts bolts etc
But how rough are you looking at ?
I would be happy to take mine to the cape or do the gibb pretty sure the suspension and other parts would be fine
« Last Edit: April 17, 2014, 07:07:07 AM by woolgoolgaoffroad »
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Kev

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Offline wilson79

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Re: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2014, 07:46:43 AM »
Quote from: algreary on April 17, 2014, 03:10:01 AM
Hey all imported Forward Fold Camper owners, this post is half curiosity and half my wife and I wanting advice.

Just wondering if anyones taken their FFC into any rough stuff, which roads, what they strengthened or modified before they went, and what they didn't, but damn well wished they did. Any hurdles with the length, ball weight wind? Oh yeh, and if it completely fell apart, that would be useful to know in advance as well.

My wife and I have one and it will be going up the OTT this year no matter what negative advice we get, so any positive advice on mods or success stories would be brilliant.

Hi Algreary,

What brand FFC do you own?
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Regards,

Wilson79


My camper, http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=39588.msg711354#msg711354
2014 Ecomate Traveller FF

My Tug, OCT 2016 VDJ200 VX Landcruiser
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=54907.msg955281#msg955281

Offline dazzler

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Re: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2014, 08:15:37 AM »
Quote from: algreary on April 17, 2014, 03:10:01 AM

My wife and I have one and it will be going up the OTT this year no matter what negative advice we get, so any positive advice on mods or success stories would be brilliant.

Perhaps the advice, sometimes negative, is so you can check things that others have found to have given trouble.

Such as putting a set of nyloc nuts on the U bolts so they don't come loose on your trip to the cape.

Or maybe carry a few cans of harden up.  They sell it everywhere nowadays.
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Offline muzza01

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Re: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2014, 09:45:39 AM »
It would help if you gave us a brand of your CT.

This may be taken as negative advice but I will tell you anyway.

At an apsolute minimum, If fitted with the below,
Chinese poly block hitch (replace with a reputable brand)
Chinese no name wheels (replace)
Chinese tyres (replace)
Get springs tested and replace if recommended
No Name brand shockies (replace)
Chinese hubs and wheel bearings ( replace hub with Alko)
Fit bash plate over water tank

If you don't do the above, take a big cheque book with you.
My advice is free, you can take it or leave it.
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Offline McGirr

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Re: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2014, 06:54:10 PM »

With over 6 trips to the Cape I have seen many cars and campers come to grief.

As mentioned it doesn't not matter what brand or make camper you have but basic maintenance and carrying spares will always help.

We used to hire campers that would do at least 8 to 10 trips to the Cape per year. I don't think there is any negative comments but just advice from people who have done trips up there to offer recommendations to help answer your questions.

Feel free to call me any time 0407287620 to offer some advice.

Mark
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Offline woolgoolgaoffroad

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Re: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2014, 07:15:16 PM »
I have seen that mdc took a ff camper to the cape. Jump onto their website and have a look
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Kev

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Offline algreary

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Re: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2014, 03:28:08 AM »
Thanks guys.

Mine is a Leisure Matters Cruiser.

Quote from: woolgoolgaoffroad on April 17, 2014, 07:02:32 AM

Morning
I have done some medium off-roaring with my mdc ff trailer and it seems to handle it ok so far. As you stated the drawbar length may be an issue. The biggest concern I have is the ball weight as it is very heavy. But apart from that I think the trailer would stand up to most stuff thrown at it. Just make sure you go over the trailer with a pre check - nuts bolts etc
But how rough are you looking at ?
I would be happy to take mine to the cape or do the gibb pretty sure the suspension and other parts would be fine


This is good news Woolgoolga, im off to the old telegraph track which i believe is a pretty good workout.

At the very least i'm going to tighten all the bolts, reinforce the stone guard, check and pack the wheel bearings and apply more rubber to the door seals, but if there's anything else known to be a problem by owners or close friends of owners I would gladly follow the advice. The nyloc nut advice i'll definitely keep in mind as i tighten everything.
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Offline kenny

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Re: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2014, 06:04:26 AM »
Remember not to over tighten the bearings. Have a look at this wep site
http://www.campertraileraustralia.com.au/features/technical/1203/replacing-wheel-bearings/

Sent from my GT-S7500T using Tapatalk 2

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Offline dazzler

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Re: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2014, 10:18:37 AM »
Quote from: kenny on April 18, 2014, 06:04:26 AM
Remember not to over tighten the bearings. Have a look at this wep site
http://www.campertraileraustralia.com.au/features/technical/1203/replacing-wheel-bearings/

Sent from my GT-S7500T using Tapatalk 2


What a great link.  He even does the palm on the grease trick.  Sweet.
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Offline Mandrake

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Re: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« Reply #10 on: April 18, 2014, 06:42:11 PM »
Took our Pinnacle hard floor on a 16000 km trip - Savannah Way - Tunnel creek - Broome - Bungles -- Had to replace shocks in Kununara with holden shocks and continued on our way ..
The Tunnel creek track is what killed the shocks from Gibb RR to the highway ...
Independent suspension on the Pinnacle may have helped too ??
Recently sold it for a Jayco Penguin - a little luxury now - getting too old to fold and peg -
Mandrake
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Offline algreary

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Re: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2014, 12:55:39 PM »
Quote from: Mandrake on April 18, 2014, 06:42:11 PM
Took our Pinnacle hard floor on a 16000 km trip - Savannah Way - Tunnel creek - Broome - Bungles -- Had to replace shocks in Kununara with holden shocks and continued on our way ..
The Tunnel creek track is what killed the shocks from Gibb RR to the highway ...
Independent suspension on the Pinnacle may have helped too ??

Mandrake


Just had a look at the Pinnacle and see that the suspension is different than that of the FFCs, so hopefully won't have a problem on the first trip... :-[

Quote from: kenny on April 18, 2014, 06:04:26 AM
Remember not to over tighten the bearings. Have a look at this wep site
http://www.campertraileraustralia.com.au/features/technical/1203/replacing-wheel-bearings/




thanks for the tip Kenny.
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Offline Mandrake

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Re: Where have you taken your imported but Australian assembled FFC?
« Reply #12 on: April 22, 2014, 01:06:46 PM »
If you have the el-cheapo looking red shockers - I'd consider changing them before hitting the rough stuff ... Mandrake
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