Australian CamperTrailers
national meet at Bardine 2011

monday

12volt, batteries & solar panel workshop

    Jamie Hazelden is owner of Dynamic Solar Solutions on Queensland's Sunshine Coast & a keen member of the Australian CamperTrailers Group with his modified Landrover 130 & Cub flipover camper trailer. He & Shane Adams presented three workshops again this year, the first on 12volt power, solar panels & batteries. This is a topic which is discussed within the group & very often misunderstood. To get hands on, face to face information from a professional is a great asset to the group members.

    Jamie explained the different types of batteries, their uses in off road vehicles & camper trailers which can be very different to normal everyday car batteries. The usual camping application is a high draw over a number of days using a 12volt fridge, camp lights & perhaps a Cpap & running or recharging accessories via an inverter.  

    Recharging 12volt batteries can often be a problem when camping away from 240volt power. Solar panels are becoming more common these days as a means of recharging 12volt batteries in the bush. Jamie showed the different types of panels available, setting up a panel to the optimum size for your requirements & how to include a solar regulator into the system between the panel & battery. It was pleasing to see most had a good grasp on the subject at the end of the workshop.

fridge clips for the kids

     Wendie Hume held a workshop which kept the kids amused for some time. The activity involved decorating magnetic paper clips which can be placed on the fridge. As you can see the kids were enthusiastic & produce some many & varied decorations.  

campertrailer walkabout

    Dave Cook hosted the first of two camper trailer walkabouts. Members gave a brief talk on what they liked about their camper trailer, points they don't like & modifications they have done or they would like to do to make camping all that more enjoyable.

Safari Can

    Longtime CamperTrailers members Gary & Karran Roberson have been working hard on designing & manufacturing a jerry with a difference & were keen to show the group what it was all about. The full width lid of the Safari Can can be removed which opens avenues to possible uses of the humble jerry other than just storing water. The container is designed to fit in jerry can holders or as panniers on motor cycles. Gary demonstrated some of the uses and options available to Safari Can users.

craft & chat

    Carol held a craft & chat morning so the ladies around camp could meet each other over some knitting, crocheting or just a cup of tea.

cobb workshop

    Jill Skinner showed how the popular Cobb Cooker can be used in camp as an alternative for cooking a range of food traditionally cooked in the camp oven. With the use of heat beads as a heat source the Cobb can be used as an oven, a barbecue, a smoker or a stove.

    Jill was cooking the evening dinner & went through the steps of what was needed, lighting the heat beads, placing the roast in the Cobb & placing the lid on top.

trivia night

    Dave & Jan Cook assisted by Dave & Joy Wilkinson held a trivia night for the third year. As you can see by the photos below the event was well attended & a great success. There was plenty of friendly rivalry between the tables as teams sort the winners trophy which was donated by Jamie Hazelden of Dynamic Solar Solutions. There was a gold coin entry & $198 was raised for the Baradine Hospital Auxiliary.