Our trip to Tamworth was delayed due to a problem with the Bushtracker. On Friday we picked it up after a $925 brake repair/service, parking it outside our house. We hooked up Sunday afternoon, but when I tried to move the van, it would not go forward or backwards!
We ruled out any problem with the hand brake, as that only applies to the rear wheels. I jacked up the van and could not turn any wheels. Finally I realised the problem could be the caravan breakaway system. This is designed to activate if the van separates from the tow vehicle. During the brake service this had been found to be faulty, but a couple of squirts of silicone lubricant had it working properly. There were no issues when we drove the van home.
I touched the small breakaway unit on the A frame, and discovered it was burning hot! The laser thermometer recorded temperatures of 130°C+. The bulge on the side was new.
I was worried there could be a fire, or the electrical system could be damaged, so sent a photo to the service manager Sunday afternoon, asking if I should cut the wires. He immediately phoned me and said I should cut one of the two wires, but when I did the other wire broke. The brakes released immediately!
After an early morning trip to Big Wheels for a caravan wheel alignment, I took the van back to the service centre to have a new breakaway unit fitted. It was lunchtime by the time I picked up Anita and the critters, and we packed away last minute items.
We stopped at Beaudesert to touch all wheels to make sure they were not running hot, then stopped at the Aratula Bakery for a late lunch. Away from the coast the temperature had increased from 28° to 33° so we didn’t linger. There was a small bushfire on the way up Cunninghams Gap.
Given our late departure we decided to overnight at the Big 4 Caravan Park at Warwick. No drive thru sites were available but we were able to reverse onto our allocated site, and set up the lazy way with a couple of bits of timber under the rear wheels of the Toyota to level the van on the hill.
We parked Bluey and Tilly in the shade until the air conditioning cooled the van down. I let Blue visit our neighbours who are also heading to Tamworth. He lay down and enjoyed some attention from strangers. Tilly made a fleeting visit to that group, before wanting to explore further.
We escaped into the air conditioning where Blue, Tilly and Anita had a long nap. I cooled off by dipping my feet in the pool.
Committed Travellers 