Category Archives: Close to home

Close to home

First trip away on the new Lithium House Batteries at Kaiaua.

Our handy go to place for a weekend without huge cost is Kaiaua and its fantastic right next to both the Kaiaua Hotel and the Fish and Chip shop.

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We left Auckland late on the Saturday morning on the way to our son, Alex’s new house in Mangere Bridge and it’s looking great. It’s really nice to see him in his own house and he is really chuffed with it.

After an hour or so, we thought we’d better hit the trail towards Kaiaua to avoid the worst of the motorway Kings Birthday traffic and cut across to Manukau and went out the back way through Clevedon.  We celebrated with a coffee stop in a Clevedon Cafe!

The Kaiaua NZMCA park from up the hill.
By the creek

An hour or so later we were rolling into the Kaiaua NZMCA park and there was plenty of room left. It’s a seriously nice part of the world here with the water just outside the gate and plenty of places to walk and a trail which runs from here all the way to Matamata via Thames if you’re really keen 🙂

We started off by visiting the pub and having a G&T out in the Garden Bar.

The Garden Bar

It was a fairly drab old day with the clouds hanging over us and the odd peep of sunshine coming through but not enough to seriously do any meaningful charging, so I was expecting to see it how the two new Lithium Phosphate, 150AH batteries went. They do have a Bluetooth arrangement where they connect to an app on the phone and show you what’s happening.

At 4:30pm, the Sail GP was on, so the TV was on through the Mi Box which we’ve recently installed. (better quality picture than the dome) This would bring a bit of a drain but with the sun popping in and out on the panels, we really didn’t use much.

By the time the Racing was over it was dark, and we headed over to the Fish and Chip shop for Fish and Chips. Really nice Fish too.

Back with Rafe, we watched a Netflix movie through the Mi Box again and at the end of the night when I switched everything off, we’d only used 20 Amp hours. Unbelievable. Somehow on the AGM’s we would have used heaps more than this and the voltage would have dropped too. The Batteries were showing 13 volts at the end of the night!!

My birthday was only a few days before this so lunch was a plate of Mussels with a G&T each at the Pub!

After lunch, we walked down to the pink dairy and checked out all the Motorhomes parked in the free parking by the beach. Fiona wandered over and bought Ice creams, so we sat there and soaked in the ambience 🙂 A lovely spot.

The Pink Dairy

We went back to Rafe to watch the Sail GP second day and then it was back to the Pub for a birthday dinner, and it was stunning. I had a Rack of Lamb which was melt in your mouth…!!

The Lamb.. yum

That night we didn’t really use a lot of power, early to bed so only the Router, the TV until about 9pm, the odd flash of the water pump during loo flushes and making cups of tea and a few LED lights but we did get a few peeps of sunshine during the day … about 8 Amp hours.

The next morning, I checked on the batteries and we were 20 AH down for both days!! Amazing.

The Bluetooth App showing the two batteries on the last morning before we left.

For all the people I discussed this with beforehand who all said, “It will change your life” and take the stress out of not being plugged in and the ability to use power without thinking about it. They’re all right. It’s amazing and I wish I’d done it earlier.

Enjoying the coast

By the time we got back to Devonport we were fully charged off the alternator, so the system works!  A great weekend too.

Rafe’s tracker map to Kaiaua – Armada GPS
Close to home

Magic on the Waterfront at Sandspit

After getting the new Lithium Phosphate batteries installed, I was busting to get out and see how they went. Fiona was at work for the next few days, so she suggested I head away and check them out.

Click on any Image to enlargeI was thinking of heading up to the NZMCA park at Dargaville as I haven’t been there for a while but after checking the cold weather forecast and looking at some of the off-peak deals, I thought I’d check out Sandspit. Not too far and I could plug in for the freezing temperatures to come 🙂

First thing in the morning

I was right on the waterfront and with only two other Motorhomes or Caravans there, we had the place to ourselves… but being plugged in, I wasn’t checking the batteries. next time!

Click on the Gallery below for an Enlarged Slideshow

Down towards the wharf
Restored schoolhouse
The campground
Looking out to the wharf
Sunset
In one of the old storage sheds 🙂
Ye Olde Laundry, there’s a new one too!
Boat Parking
Baches you can stay in
Couldn’t really get closer
Nice parking

We’ve been here several times before, but it is such a magic spot and being right on the waterfront was amazing. I went for several walks over the couple of days I was there to both the Kawau Yacht club and up to the top of the hill above the campground.

Down towards the wharf

It’s a great place to come if you want to do the Kawau Mail Boat trip.  We did that a few years ago and it’s a fun day out.

The View from the top
The big chair on the top of the hill

The top of the hill is great as you can see for miles out beyond the Marina and there is one of those huge chairs up there where you rest and take it all in 🙂 Stunning view but it’s a steep walk!

Nice walking along the waterfront

I also went for a bit of a trek along the beach past the cabins on the waterfront which is nice too.

There used to be a lot of old historic shop fronts and artefacts which due to maintenance have gone but the artifacts remain in glass cases by the Dining room.

One of the old cottages you can stay in

A lovely place and very good value with nice people.

Rafe’s tracker map to Sandspit – Armada GPS
Close to home

Big Upgrade for Rafes Batteries – Lithium Phosphate

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I’ve been umming and ahhhing for some time about this mainly due to Rafe’s 10-year-old charging technology and what it might mean with keeping the new batteries in good shape. The other worry was my old saying from boating, “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it”, where the agm setup was working fine, just not enough of it.

Jonas at Zion Motorhomes has been telling me on several occasions how good these new French batteries are and how they work happily in a Gel mode that will still stir up the Lithium the way it’s meant to be stirred!

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Great parking

Because we are in Devonport and Zion are in Pokeno, I’d decided to stay at Pukekohe for the night to avoid the traffic on the Monday morning.

Jayco corner 🙂

After lunch on a warm sunny afternoon, I checked into the Pukekohe A&P society’s campground by the railway station. It’s a neat place with all the facilities at a very reasonable price and we’ve stayed here several times over the years.

After plugging in and settling down the Truck, I went for a bit of a wander around the park. The shops are just over the road through a railway tunnel and the main street not that far further on.

A great night there with a couple of trains rumbling past which is fun.

Rafe all ready to go

In the morning, I headed off to Pokeno and my first stop was at the Truck stop for some Diesel and then onto Zion Motorhomes for the Batteries.

Mark taking out the AGMs

They were going to swap my 4-year-old AGM deep cycles for some sparkling new Lithium Phosphate 150 ah batteries that would both fit under the driver seat. I’m always a bit apprehensive when disturbing something like there is usually a surprise extra somewhere or something gets broken in the process 🙂 Yes, I got a surprise, but nothing got broken.

Out they come

Because Rafe’s charging system with the alternator wasn’t that clever, it worked by being directed by the Start battery in terms of what was required for charging. If the house battery needed it too, it got charged at the same time but never got fried if it was already full, it just went without on a trickle basis.

New batteris

It needed a Booster unit that integrated with the German Electro block management system and gave the house battery what it needed and at a consistent voltage. Pretty good really and it should probably have been there all along, so I saw it as a necessary upgrade.

The Electro block under the passenger seat with the Booster behind charging.

I’d promised the AGMs to my son Drew for his boat as his boat house batteries had seen better days and these ones were good so free to a good home and off, they went 🙂

Drew’s ne Batteries and the Driver’s seat

Mark was the Technician on the job assisted by Jack and several others when required.

Jack and Mark sorting out the charging systems.

The driver’s seat came off, the old batteries came out and the new batteries took their place all without any drama. As Mark went, he was testing the various charging systems. Changing the Solar regulator to Gel, the Electro block to Gel and adding the Booster unit to the back of the electro block.

Being a new system on quite an old charging system, there were a few moments where what was showing from the Bluetooth app on the phone wasn’t quite what was expected but it very quickly all came together.

New Lithium’s getting set up.
New Batteries in and charging off the Alternator

So, the conclusion … I haven’t been away yet to really try it all out but it’s a massive upgrade for the whole electrical system.

Fiona likes watching her TV and things electrical in Rafe haven’t really had a real outing so we’re looking forward to being able to turn things on now and not be too concerned about power. You might recall my recent blog on the change we made to the TVs with the Mi Box. This will save a lot of power with the TV’s. The stereo and the subwoofer can be turned up and the lights can all be turned on 🙂

The pros:  We’ve gone from 200ah Agm to 300ah Lithium Phosphate with a much greater DOD ( depth of discharge) which means instead of being limited to about 90ah of power on the Agm setup, we now have full access to 240ah without damaging the batteries.  The batteries charge much faster so the solar panels charging should take roughly the same time for a moderately bigger charge.  The batteries are about 1/3rd lighter.  They’re guaranteed for 5 years and will last a lot longer than the agms. These smart french batteries will work happily with a gel charging setup so less to change for most of us!

The only con:  the cost is more  but that is technology for you 🙂

The Bluetooth info from the phone.

A pretty painless exercise and Mark did a fantastic job. Thanks guys.

Rafe’s tracker map to Pukekohe A&P Showgrounds – Armada GPS
Close to home

First New Home

After 18 months of open homes and saving madly for the 20% deposit you need these days, my son Alex has just moved into his first house. I can remember when Fiona and I first got ours and what a great sense of achievement it was to be there on the first night. Of all the open homes they looked at with his two sons, that was their favourite too.

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Big parking area next door for the busy periods.

After spending the Saturday unpacking boxes and watching the moving guys, we retired to Rafe outside for a tea which Fiona had made and heated up in Rafe. We then left him to it and set off for the NZMCA park at Ardmore where we spent the night.

Magic spot in the middle

Arriving at 8pm and opening the gate at Ardmore, we quietly drove in and looked for a park.

The parking spaces have all be changed since I was last there and there was little or no light at the time, so we popped into a site in the middle.

Front row views of the airfield
Part of the view from the front row

After a visit to the local Cafe for breakfast, Fiona left in the car and headed back to Alex’s to help unpack and set things up in his house. I left in Rafe and headed to Pukekohe for the night for my Monday morning appointment at Zion in Pokeno for new Batteries.

Rafe’s tracker map to Ardmore NZMCA Park- Armada GPS
Close to home, Preparation

Even after 10 years, Miracles do happen !

Our Motorhome Rafe is just coming up to 10 years old so it’s no surprise that there have been a few things I’ve had to replace or upgrade in the last couple of years.

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The LTE (Internet) aerials when they were installed, with the Dome.

A couple of months ago we were down in Kaiaua in the NZMCA park when our Apollo 400 dome finally popped its clogs. When it was two years old, I had to pop into Apollo to have a belt for the LNB put back on after it fell off, so I was aware that the dome has been superseded 2 or 3 times by various dish receivers and there were no parts available in NZ. Over the years since then, we’ve had nothing but a trouble-free run with only location-based issues.

I’d sort of resigned myself to the fact that it was a doomer and time to bin it as we use the Netspeed Internet system for anything we want to see anyway and cast onto Chromecast on the 10-year-old TV’s 🙂

The 4G + router in Rafe’s cupboard.
Aerials on Rafe’s roof

My son Drew has just upgraded the TV on his boat Rorqual (used to be mine) and replaced it with a smart TV and told me about MI Box that he had on the old TV which essentially turns it into a smart TV.

Sounds like me I thought so after he gave it to me, I installed it on one TV and then bought another for the second TV.  What a difference. Easy to load anything and you can add apps as well like Three Now and TVNZ. It’s essentially an Android device and done by Google. The new one is badged Google TV. The Dome was now mentally consigned to the bin and unnecessary.

In our latest Dethleffs Get together in Rotorua, I had a problem with my Dometic fridge not wanting to play the game.  Same age. As soon as we plugged it in elsewhere it burst into life and ran faultlessly. I’ve had this problem here before.  Same campground so thought it was time for a check over anyway.

“There’s a wire lose!”.

Vantage RV in Silverdale originally installed and setup all this stuff when Rafe was brand new 10 years ago so after arriving early one fine day, they got ready to take the dome off and bin it and check over the fridge along with cleaning the back and the flue.

Once the lid was taken off the Dome, the Technician wobbled a couple of the signal wires when one looked a bit lose. Being a Dome it was like new inside. After taking a few connections off and cleaning them and reconnecting, I was told to go and turn it on… off it went 🙂

The Vantage Technician putting the cover back on.

Amazing so he climbed down to get some different sprays and protectants and gave it a quick going over. On with the cover and a couple more tests… perfect! So, it got to stay on the roof 🙂 Can’t believe it! So, we made the decision to keep it!

The Dome with an aerial. One on the other side too.

The fridge got the big tick as well after testing it and cleaning it.

So now we have an easy backup system for TV. One of the downsides of the Dome though is that unlike its more modern counterparts, it doesn’t completely turn off after connecting to a satellite, powering a solenoid to keen the signal feeding into the TV’s. This draws roughly .75 of an amps per hour so with the TV, it makes freedom camping with TV not to be background noise!

The Mi Box on the back of the TV
The Screen. It’s just like a real one.

The upside with the Mi box is minimal power use, hi definition TV (better than the Standard from the Dome) and easy selection of programs including Netflix! They are a little more than $125 depending on where you buy them from.

Out of the box, it was simply a case of plugging it into the USB port for power and an empty HDMI port for the signal.  Turn the TV on, set it to the port and there it was. I had to set it up for an internet connect and a google account (so I could download apps like three now and TVNZ on Demand) and we were all done.

But wait, there’s a remote control too!

Best of both worlds now 🙂

Close to home

Sculptures Onshore – a treat for the eyes.

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A wee break from a motorhomes but this was a special event 🙂
We’re due to go away again soon 🙂

The sun was shining and there was an Art Show on at Fort Cautley which is the old Army base above Narrow Neck beach.

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Great tree

It was a sculpture exhibition and is its first time back after a 5 year break due to Covid with the proceeds were going to Womens Refuge.

This got some attention.

I was quite looking forward to this as it was the first time the historic fort buildings and gun emplacements were being used as part of the exhibition.

Part of the Historic Fortifications

There were some nice pieces. The Lady lifting the rock got plenty of interest.

Click on the Gallery below to see the show

Liam with his Dog
A Kaleidescope of plants
Part of the Historic Fortifications
In the Fort cd’s
Secondary school art
3 little pigs
Neat Dolls house
The Giant Whale Tail with the view
Rotating Blocks

There was a giant whale’s tail, and it was nice the way the old gun emplacement was decorated with coloured petals. Grandson Liam took a shine to the bronze dog just inside the entrance.

The coloured petals by the Gun

There was some really interesting stuff here and it was well worth the walk in the sun. The view next door couldn’t be beaten either 🙂

Carpark with a view

A fun day out a few minutes from home.

Close to home, Preparation

Getting rid of the Judder

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Anywhere you look on the Internet these days, you’ll find lots of stories about judder in reverse in the Fiat Motorhomes.  Some of it is true, some of it not.

Over the last two years or so, I’ve noticed that Rafe has started to do this more and more so early this week, I rang the good guys at Italian Autos in Otahuhu to see if someone could have a look at it.  I was stressing that it might be the clutch or the flywheel about to let go!

I turned up early in the morning and Barry had a minute free to have a quick look at the problem.  He turned it around and reversed up and down in their driveway and very quickly said, “Nothing wrong with the clutch or flywheel but it would probably improve things with a new Gearbox mount.”

Click on any Image to enlarge.

Fiat Heaven

Yippee I thought, they’re a bit less serious. So, I booked it in and after getting up early to get through the traffic, I arrived a few days later just as they were opening up for the day.

Rafe was picked up from the carpark and driven onto the hoist and after only lifting it a few feet from the floor, Engineer Eugene got underneath on a trolley and 40 minutes or so later, it was all done! Amazing.

Eugene under Rafe with the new Mount on the floor behind him.

The difference is remarkable!! It’s a beast of a part when you’re looking at it but very important in the scheme of things.

Apparently, the 3 litre Iveco (and Fiat) motor swings on two mounts at the top on either end. This Gearbox mount deals with the torque at the bottom and they are prone to wearing out, as every time you accelerate or decelerate, they’re under immense loads.

The rear mount

All done and all good. I can’t speak highly enough of the friendliness and efficiency of the guys there. Thank you and thanks for making it stress free 🙂

 

Close to home, Waikato

It is all go at Pukekohe

It has been a while since I was last out here in Pukekohe, a few years perhaps but boy it has grown. There are new houses everywhere you look, and the town has grown too.

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I checked in with Sarah at the Pukekohe A&P grounds where they’ve provided Motorhome parking for some years now.  She very kindly showed me where everything was and after parking the van, I went for a walk over the road to the Z Zone.

I stopped in at the local Hollywood Bakery for a coffee and then popped into a few local shops. before heading back to the park.

When I first started coming here about 8 years or so ago, it was all grass with lots of mud when it was wet and a couple of power poles.

Ian was the man in charge, and I understand he is still involved. He has done a magnificent job over the years of developing this into a really nice area to stay.

Now there are Toilets, showers and a coin operated Laundry in the new(ish) amenities block. There is a circular gravel road which runs past many of the sites and on past the dump station. So no more muddy exits 🙂 .. Ans all at a reasonable price too.

The Amenities block, now with a Laundry
And a Dump Station!

There are a lot more power points all set out with plenty of space on big sites. It’s a fantastic setup.

Click on the Gallery below for an Enlarged Slideshow

The Amenities block, now with a Laundry

Just across the road is one of Pukekohe’s big shopping areas with the Warehouse and several other big stores. Pukekohe’s main street is just a few steps further on.

Having not been here for a while and seeing the changes, Ian, Sarah and the crew have done a fantastic job providing some Motorhome and Caravan accommodation in an area where there wasn’t any.

Here’s a link to my previous visit where I got to talk with Ian some years ago.

Rafe’s tracker map to Pukekohe – Armada GPS
Close to home, Great Beaches, Waikato

Bliss on the coast, a new Favourite!

Matariki weekend started with big traffic queues, so we thought we’d wait until Sunday and catch the traffic going the other way. Keeping it close and keeping the fuel costs down, we thought we’d head towards the Kaiaua NZMCA park with the superb hospitality provided by both the Pub and the Fish and Chip shop.

We last popped in here for our first time a few months ago.

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Interesting weather

We arrived at Kaiaua NZMCA park around the middle of the day on what was a grey day. There were already several 5th wheelers, Caravans and a few Motorhomes there but there was plenty of room.

As I got out of the Motorhome to register in the shed, I met Mia and Hans who were right next door to us in there new Benimar from Taupo. They were veteran Motor homers who have travelled extensively through Europe in a Motorhome. They spent a year travelling and some of their adventures sounded amazing.

Not long after this came Steve and Caroline in their 8m Delaware from Whitianga. Nice to meet them too.

The Marina

After checking out the river next to the park, we headed to the Pub next door for a pizza lunch. It was superb and very good value.

As we walked into the pub, we walked past a whole lot of vintage Morris’s out in the carpark. A lot of car and bike clubs come here for lunch in weekends and do a loop back up the coast.  Lovely seeing the old cars.

The Morris club dropped in too!

We went for a walk around Kaiaua after that ending up at the pink shop up the road a bit.

The Pink Shop
Kaiaua Beach looking down towards Rays Rest

 

Later in the day, we headed over to the Pub where we met both Steve and Caroline. Hans and Mia were sitting at another table and came over and joined us and we heard about their amazing trip through Europe including Turkey. Fascinating!

Click on the Gallery below for an Enlarged Slideshow

New arrivals
Fiona coming back from the pub
Next to the park
The Marina
The Pub
Ducks in the river around the park.

Hans and Mia joined us next door for a fabulous meal at the famous Fish and Chip shop right next to the pub.

The Fish and Chip shop
The NZMCA park from the bridge

It’s a great little village Kaiaua and the park is fantastic. Being this close to Auckland, it’s an easy escape for a few days which is exactly what we were looking for. It was a real bonus meeting some interesting people as well.

Rafe’s tracker map to Kaiaua – Armada GPS
Close to home

The Easy Fresh Air Options.

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I was a bit unlucky to catch a bug doing the rounds, so we couldn’t get away over Kings Birthday weekend.  It then hung around for another week 😐

The following week came around and Fiona suggested I get out of the house and escape in Rafe and get some fresh air! Yippee ..  What a great idea!

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Just over the road early in the morning.

The easy bolt hole from Auckland, the Hot Pool at Miranda or the Kaiaua NZMCA park and blob out by the coast. It’s just lovely to be back out on the road.

Click on the Gallery below for an enlarged slideshow

The dog area
The pool
The bike trail to Kaiaua

The weather forecast was awful, and it was cold, so the easy choice was a few days at Miranda.

Miranda is close and easy, especially when it’s a bit on the cool side with not too much driving and not too much diesel. On the way, Rafe clicked over 100,000k’s too!

The new Childrens area

A few days in the pool meeting some nice people was fun.With the NZMCA park at Kaiaua, it’s great to have some extra options with Motorhome accommodation and right next to the pub and Fish and Chips too. !

The irony of the trip is at the end of three days, I still wasn’t quite right  but it was really nice to get away at a great place.

A nice few days in Paradise!

Rafe’s tracker map back from the Miranda – Armada GPS