Trouble in Weipa

We pulled up in Weipa for lunch when a local (Dan) stopped and told me my caravan wheel was faulty. The actual wording he used was a lot more colourful but meant the same. The pic shows the crack in the chassis beam to which the suspension was welded. The other side of the van was also in trouble as only 3 of the 8 welds that held the suspension were still intact.
Dan recommended GG Contractors to fix it. After going through the RAA, GG Contractors brought a big truck, loaded the caravan and took it to their yard. They reckoned I  had about 100 metres to go before it all fell apart.
To cut a long story short, GG Contractors replaced the broken chassis member with a much stronger C section beam, web welded and full length welded the suspension back on, making the van significantly stronger than when it was new.
All done in 3 and a half days, and all paid for by RAA Insurance, including 3 days emergency accommodation.

The Tip of Cape York

The Tip of Cape York, far north Queensland. It has been an adventurous trip with some highlights and some lowlights. Travelling around 5000km so far, we have been on roads not travelled before, been to Hells Gate Roadhouse on the Savanah Way and up to the Tip. Some things shook off by the rough roads, CB Antenna snapped, screws worked loose, clamps on the awning fell off and one of the batteries in the caravan fell out. We got the battery and the cover back, re-wired it and everything worked. Going to get a new antenna from the same place Dave and Bec got theirs from as they lost an antenna too,
We did the 5 beaches 4 wheel drive track from Somerset Beach near the Tip. The Landcruiser did its stuff very well, low range 2nd gear, centre diff lock on and turn-assist enabled so the Landcruiser just went wherever I pointed it. The Micky Thompson tyres never slipped once even though there were steep ascents and descents with some deep, soft sand and rocks.
Heading back south tomorrow, looking forward to putting normal pressure in the tyres when we get off the dirt roads

Karumba

Got to Karumba last night, it is on the southeastern corner of the Gulf of Carpenteria in Queensland. One of my bucket list things to do is to travel the Savanah Way from Cairns to Broome and on this trip, we have covered a new section from a little way over the NT Border through Hells Gate to Karumba. The Hells Gate Road House was a great stop, roast lamb for dinner and a couple of drinks finished off a good day of travel. The road was not the best and we did spend some time cleaning bulldust from the van, it gets in everywhere. Today in Karumba we spent hours filling gaps with silicon, taping over vents and doing some minor repairs to the van. Screws worked loose, a clip on the battery box disappeared and a couple of wires under the van had to be cable-tied to keep them clear from flying rocks. Apart from those minor problems, all is going very well.