It’s a couple of months later than normal but we are on our way at last, heading to Far North Queensland via Victoria. If the intention is to get to a warmer climate as soon as possible why would we travel to Victoria first? It’s because of our new car so, be warned, this first blog is mainly about the car.

After our 2021 trip we decided to upgrade our tow vehicle so we sold our 12-year old Landcruiser 200 and bought a RAM 1500 DT, taking delivery in February 2022. It’s a very comfortable, modern touring ute and quite different to anything we have had before.

Pre-purchase research revealed that we would need some upgrades to do what we want it to do. In particular we need a bull bar, long range fuel tank and suspension upgrade. The bull bar and fuel tank add extra weight, meaning that the RAM would be over weight so we need a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) upgrade to remain legal. The suspension upgrade is also needed because the weight of the fully loaded vehicle and the Tow Ball Mass (TBM) causes the back of the RAM To drop and the front to rise, both by about 60 mm.

Two logistical problems existed; firstly the closest licensed GVM upgrader for our model RAM is in Castlemaine, Vic and secondly there is a 3 to 4 month delay in getting the parts. This meant a 2-day, 630 km trip from Adelaide to Castlemaine, where we have been for 3 days. The car is with the installer and it should be ready in a couple of hours for a test run, with and without the caravan.

Castlemaine and it’s Big4 caravan park are quite nice – but the weather is freezing. This morning we awoke to -1 degree outside the van, frozen water hoses and frost everywhere. At least we have a heater in the caravan so we were comfortable inside. The clear, calm nights are followed by sunny days with a maximum temperature of 12 degrees.

After waiting another 24 hours the car is finally ready, but too late in the day for a test run with and without the caravan. We allowed an extra day for just such a delay so we will do a test run tomorrow morning as we depart the caravan park.

The test run went well. Fully loaded, the RAM and extra fuel now weighs 3.6 tonnes, including 300 kg tow ball Mass (TBM), and the caravan (unchanged) weighs 3.6 tonnes, excluding the TBM. Our combined weight is therefore 7.2 tonnes. The RAM’s authorised GVM is now 3.8 tonnes, towing capacity is 4.5 tonnes and authorised Gross Combined Mass is 7.7 tonnes so we are legal.

Two days later we are in Cobar, well on our way north to sunny Queensland. Night temperature is 8 degrees and days around 20 degrees so we are feeling better already. Looking forward to seeing friends in Mackay and Airlie Beach.

That’s all for now. Hope everyone keeps well and happy.