Where we're gonna be...

[Dot]

P1260146.JPG

As long as they don't come home like this.

[Swisslulu]

That photo is awesome Dot.

Kudos to you John (Riverlander). What a great friend you are to those only recently met. Hope to catch up with you and Faye again in the next couple of months. (Hopefully with no repairs needed).


Cheers
Lesley
Our blog: http://nussbaumerweb.wordpress.com

[T1 Terry]

P1260146.JPG
As long as they don't come home like this.

It'll have to rain a lot while we are away The river is dropping at a savage rate now, the wind held the level up for quite a while but now it's calm again the jetty posts that were in the water when I thumped them in now have 2 rows 1.5 mtrs apart on dry land. The island is now part of the mainland

T1 Terry

[Greynomad]

Arrived home safely.

Departed Loxton at 07:30, arrived home (after 740km) at 17:45.
Several 'Canine Comfort Stops', driver changeovers & a lunch-break along the way.

En route, I received a call from the bloque who imported the Chevy Workhorse chassis for Winnebago/Avida.
He said the lower wishbones were no longer available, and I'd have to have one made. He also opined that a probable cause is people inflating the front airbags to 100psi. I assured him that the previous owner recommended no more than 50~60psi, a recommendation I have followed.

I updated him with the info that the mechanic who spotted Girt's problem had been searching the internet, and found a US supplier... who was out of stock. But plans a production run in three months.
He was surprised, but pleased.

His solution was to have the wishbone pushed back into alignment, welded & plated. He says others with this problem have done this, and had no issues with roadworthy certification.

I still suspect the railways attempt to hold it down. If they dogged it down without air & then started the motor prior to un-tying it in Adelaide it would have built up air & ????? oooops!

[Bruce, the airbags are independent of the motor... no air brakes etc., just valved air lines (which I had installed) running from the airbags to a convenient point in the engine bay so I don't have to lie under Girt to check/adjust air pressures.]

As Girt is safely ensconced in John's big shed (thanks John!), I plan to contact the US supplier and determine exactly when he will be making the wishbones, cost thereof, and cost to airfreight to Oz.

Armed with these details, I will then consult our nearest VicRoads Roadworthy Inspection person and check if the Victorian colony agrees with its northern neighbour's attitude to a repaired (rather than replaced) suspension component.

Only then will I be in a position to make an informed decision on how to proceed... even if in means waiting three months to see Girt mobile again.

At least there is now the hope that I will not be left with an unrepairable $100,000+ pile of scrap.

[supersparky]

Ray, Have you considered that there may be a second hand wishbone available in the US. If the guy is still making them, then someone is using his stock.

[jon_d]

Best to check the other side too.

I'd suggest talking to an engineer and not a clerk in Vic Roads.

They'll add a note the the history.

[Greynomad]

Consulted a Victorian RWC licenced inspector, who says welding & plating would not pass a RWC in Vic, although it's legal in NSW & SA).
And no, David, I don't want to risk a s/h part with an unknown history... could be replacing one problem with the same or another one.

Also found (through a friend whose husband is working in highway construction in USA) a place which has the wishbone in stock now! This place also recommended replacing the knuckle joints at the same time, so all necessary parts will be shipped out fairly soon.

See you sooner than expected, John...

[BruceS]

Wait till you see the freight bill!!
I recently had an item worth $40 shipped that cost $63 freight!
Still cheap seeing a new one is around $600.
Yours will be much more seeing my parcel was less than half a kilo.
No wonder the Chinese are winning the race!

[Greynomad]

Wait till you see the freight bill!!

I know, Bruce... that's the part I'm dreading.

Years ago I bought 2 T-shirts from USA for $12 each. Total cost was $55!!

Don't yet know what the wishbone weighs, but it's 1/4" pressed steel, about 18" x 24" (whatever that is in the New Money), plus assorted extra (steel) components, and if I want to see it this year, it has to come by air-freight!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
for parts, plus
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
for freight.

[homeless]

Could have just weld it and change you rego to SA then no worries.