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Hahaha maybe one day ;)

Thanks! 🤩

Let us know how it works out!

Yeah I know... We try to avoid glass when camping off-grid. Might have to wrap a beer glass in a towel though.

You should, it works well!

Thanks! I envy your skill - no way I could build one myself. I love that people do, though. Enjoy your squaredrop!

I saw some photos of someone also doing that - doesn't the "post" through the middle of the roof get in the way? Do you tie it off somehow? This seems like a great idea; I'm just curious about how you do it!

😎

Ahhh Mrs Balls Chutney - yeah we do have some of that in the cupboard somewhere! Cheers!

I haven't seen one either. Even if you don't ever convert the bed to a table, having this bit is a big win for me too!

It was. You should have joined us!

Actually, yeah - we have since found one at Anaconda, probably the same thing in a different box :)

Yeah that’s him! I did look him up afterwards to check 😃 I knew “unique“ wasn’t right so I’ll take that as a win 🤣 - Jason

Ta! We had some fun making it :D

Yep - that's exactly what I expect :)

@@tiatucana HAHA cool bro

Nah - it's not designed for that sort of power requirement. I actually made a video about that! th-cam.com/video/H-cNDG2YDIA/w-d-xo.html

I didn't mention the window between the bed and kitchen - but you're right - love that too! Good call!

This one just came off the shelf, so we didn’t choose the colour or get a custom size. As for the measurements, I’m suspicious that they have changed a bit since we got ours. Contact Song - he’ll give you the right measurements for your one.

It sure does. And they sure do! :)

Cheers! It's hard to go past, to be honest.

I think that’s probably more important than all the other things combined. 👍

Haha cheers! I probably should work out how many kms we have done in a year and a bit. It would be a decent number though. The "pro" bit comes in a couple of years when we go full-time and do the lap. That's the plan, anyway!

We had a Subaru XV when we started. It did okay, and if we were just doing short trips & weekends away, it would have been fine. It did struggle a bit up some steeper hills but generally it did the job. But we're doing (and planning) longer trips, including about a 7-8 week road trip later his year. So we got a Ranger - for the power, the space, and the ability to go places the Subaru wouldn't. So it really depends on what you're planning. Cheers!

Bless your heart! This is exactly what I was hoping to learn. You're the best! Safe travels :) @@tiatucana

Glad you enjoyed it!

Well with that sized Potjie you might be on to something! 😁

That's why it's for lunch and not dinner! Teardrops are too small for that :D

@@tiatucana LOL!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks! 👍

That Joolca one looks huge! The extra space would be useful having the kids with you too I'd expect.

Yes, it is huge! Probably too big for many people's needs.@@tiatucana

I use mine every trip - but it's only because I'm really lazy :) It's for the stabiliser legs and drilling the pegs in for the awning. Fingers crossed - I haven't actually had to do any repairs like that yet, but the day will come no doubt.

Yes, like you mentioned in the video you will use that air pump one day. Another thing I now carry is a backup valve stem. I have had to replace many of the years. My theory is that in the winter as the trailer sits and pressure changes somehow the valves come lose. Because it seems to be my shakedown trips early spring when I have valve issues. OR my second theory is that my pump is faulty and tends to pull out my valve stems, but either way the backup valve has saved me a couple of trips back to town. @@tiatucana

Yikes - haven't had that happen before, but we're in a much warmer climate so we have a different set of weather-related issues to deal with :) Having spare valves on board is probably a smart idea, though, and they don't take up much space!

@@tiatucana How about AC? Is that something folks feel they need in your climate?

Larger caravans almost always have a/c. Teardrops; not so much. We did have the option to install it when we bought it, but a/c uses a lot of power, so you can't use it off-grid (or boondocking - not a word we use in Australia) without a huge battery bank. Like 400-600 amp hours or something crazy like that. Seeing as how that's mostly what we do we didn't bother getting it. We're used to the heat so it hasn't really been an issue for us thus far.

I like the fix at the end with the tent poles. So simple.

Yeah I did wonder about the struts - or some way to brace them. But the tent poles do the job for the time being :)

Gas struts seem to be one of the first areas of maintenance most people have on their trailers at about the 5-10 year mark. I find people either adjust them or bump them up a size. Another thing I am starting to learn more about from teardrop ralliies is that the gas struts actually put a lot of pressure on the sidewalls. And this in turn becomes the first place trailers have some sort of separation at the seams. So it is now an area I am more mindful of. Basically when I am looking for caulk gaps or seams the galley walls are now an area I really look closely at even though there is no caulk there. sorry for the random bunny trail here. It is something that has been in my head that I have never got to share with anyone. I'm guessing this is more common on home builds because their hatches tend to be a bit heavier than manufactured trailers. @@tiatucana

Oohhh interesting. Didn't think of that.

I was able to answer my own question. Tucana. It is beautiful!

Hey - this made my afternoon! :D Really appreciate these comments. You know what's like when you're first getting going. Cheers Drew!

@@tiatucana I remember like it was yesterday! I can quickly tell from your video style and presentation that you are heading in the right direction. I didn't binge all your videos just to be nice. I was truly interested in everything you had to say. Keep it up!

Hahaha we'll see :D We shot a few on this trip that I haven't edited/uploaded yet but maybe for the next trip... ;)

Yeah it was - one of the "Quick Cups" like these www.sunrice.com.au/products - not sure what flavour/variety Yolinda used here but that's the basic concept. Easy!

It’s a Subaru XV. I think it’s called a Crosstrack in some parts of the world. (?)

We didn’t tape over any of the vents, something many do when travelling those dusty roads. We have since tested a marine vent we added to the side, to see if there was enough positive air pressure to keep the dust out. It worked fairly well inside the main cabin. But the kitchen needs more work:) The road from Windorah to Birdsville was pretty dusty th-cam.com/users/shorts9Bq0uuK5HcQ?feature=share

Thanks Cameron, it sure did 😃

Pretty sure it was this one: www.clarkrubber.com.au/products/43440-comfort-deluxe-full-size-3-fold-mattress-double And of not, it was this one: www.clarkrubber.com.au/products/15812-comfort-deluxe-compact-3-fold-mattress-double One of them, anyway!

Thanks! :D

I did one site review (Jambin) but yes, I should do more. Thanks!

You’re welcome!

We've since upgraded to a Ranger, but I think low 12s from memory. 12.1, 12.2... Something like that. The XV did okay, but the longer we went and the further we went, we decided that a bigger vehicle was more practical for us. If it's just shorter trips and long weekends then a car that size is fine.

Thanks Sean! Can't speak highly enough of Song's after-sales service actually. First class. The Tucana hasn't been bothered by the sand and dirt - any more than anything else subjected to those conditions of course. It's got a few more stone chips on it now (we just got back from Birdsville) so I feel a stone protector solution is in our near future...

@@tiatucana thanks for the reply, I have optioned a stone guard on my order. I will be towing with a Subaru outback, I think it will do the job.

Dunno… it’s made for water so hard to say. There’d be something similar available that would I’d guess.

Haha cheers!

That's often the way it works, isn't it? See an idea somewhere, and think "hmmm, I can kind of make that work on mine too!" I do that all the time :) Cheers @rangertommy!

@@tiatucana Exactly! Cheers to you both!

Agreed! The perfect combo!

@@tiatucana With enough of these camp/meal combos will redefine the "pub crawl" to a family event :)

Yeah good question. I haven’t seen any. Not only lighter, but easier. I was a bit sceptical at first but putting this up and taking it down is a piece of cake.

It looks great as is mate.lots of room for thought and innovation thanks again