Roadside Assistance

There are a whole bunch of awesome businesses ready and waiting to come to our aid when we experience a breakdown while on our way from A to B.  As we draw closer to the holiday season, having the backup of a roadside assistance team in our travel plans is a jolly good idea.  According to some of the latest stats from Australia’s NRMA (National Roads and Motorists’ Association Limited), even a brand-spanking new car can still have a breakdown.

A few years ago, I was doing a lot of travelling between office sites and, in the space of 6–12 months, I had had a spate of three-or-so callouts.  Two were for the alternators giving out, and I forget what the other was for – possibly a dud battery.  I also remember a time when I was barely out of my teens, that I had locked the keys in the car, and a very skilful bloke came and unlocked the car within seconds.

The NRMA is one of those roadside assistance teams that are ready to come to the rescue.  New cars are great when they work fine, and most do for most of the time.  NRMA recently stated that car technology is improving, and now there’s even cars that drive themselves, but still these cars have the potential to break down. Over the last year, the number of call outs that the NRMA have had for new cars aged between 0–3 years old has risen by 43% compared to the previous year.  Over the entire year there were 103,262 new cars in Australia that needed the NRMA breakdown assistance service.

In a 2017 NRMA survey, cars that were between 11–20 years old had the highest number of breakdowns, followed closely by cars aged 4–10 years old.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, the car’s batteries were at the heart of most of those breakdowns.  During that year, 25% of the callouts were for dud batteries.

Across the ditch in NZ, the AA found out that, in relatively recent years, their number one callout for road assistance was also for a flat or faulty battery.  Batteries can go flat for various reasons but most commonly they are faulty because the car has been unused for a while, or only used for short journeys.  Also, there may be a faulty component in the battery system or the car’s charging system (maybe the alternator has worn out).

The NRMA also came to the rescue of plenty of people who had locked themselves out of the car (5%).  It’s easier to lock your keys in the car than you think!  Number two for AA was for lost keys!

The third most common reason for AA to be called out was for damaged tyres and wheels.  The cause of a damaged or flat tyre is most often due to hitting a sharp object, but other reasons include the tyre’s valve failing, the tyre’s hitting a kerb or a deep pothole at speed, or even just old age.

AA found that AdBlue was the next main reason for their callouts.  Most modern diesel vehicles use a Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) method for lowering harmful nitrogen oxide emissions from exiting the exhaust system.  AdBlue (also called urea or Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)) is an additive that helps with this process, and it requires to be kept topped up for the car to work properly.  The modern diesel engine won’t start if it runs out of this stuff, so it’s important to keep it topped up.

Number five for AA callouts was for the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).  Again, the DPF is a part of the exhaust system on vehicles with a diesel engine.  The DPF traps fine particles of soot and burns them off into a less-harmful gas.  Generally, long hot running keeps this filter clear, but it may get blocked up if you do lots of short journeys.  The car won’t run properly, and a warning light comes up on the screen if the DPF isn’t functioning as it should.

Engine oil issues accounted for AA’s next most common callout.  Having the wrong level of engine oil inside your car’s engine can damage it.  And that gets expensive!  Having too much oil can be just as risky as having too low a level of oil.  Make sure you do check your engine oil.  Even Toyota’s, as they start to cover moderate kms, can start to use a bit of oil between services.  Learn how to regularly check your engine oil using the dipstick.  Your vehicle’s handbook will give you a good guide for checking the level of oil in your engine, as well as a guide for adding the correct amount of oil for topping up your car’s engine.

Faults with the car’s alternator was the next biggest issue.  If you experience persistent battery problems and dim headlights when your car’s engine is idling, you could have a fault with your alternator.  If your ignition warning light comes on and the engine temperature rises quickly, the belt that drives the alternator and the water pump may have broken.  If this happens, then stop right away and get help!  If you don’t, the engine will quickly overheat and self-destruct itself costing lots of money in repairs or even a total engine replacement.

Starter motors fail as they age.  Although starter motors are usually tough and robust, they do fail eventually.

The ninth most common issue that required AA was for problems with the car’s fuel system.  Never start your engine if you’ve accidentally put the wrong fuel type in your car (diesel instead of petrol or vice versa).  Also, fuel filters can get clogged up causing rough engine performance.  The fuel filters also require servicing and even replacement for many cars.  But then if you don’t have any fuel in the tank, then the car won’t go either!

Tenth most common reason for a callout was for the car overheating.  In this case, there could be problems with the engine or with the engine’s cooling system.  If there’s steam coming from your engine or the temperature warning light is on, just pull over and stop.  A hot engine is a recipe for costly damage.

In light of all these things, it is wise to have a roadside assistance team there to back you up at any time of the day or night, whether it is the holiday period or just an everyday commute.  NRMA, RAC, and 24/7 Roadservices Australia are three roadside assistance teams that offer us a great service.  Of course, there are others as well.

Here are some quick tips if you have a breakdown while out on the road:

• Turn on your hazard lights as soon as you sense something’s wrong.
• Slow down and pull off to the side of the road.
• Stop in a safe place and put the parking brake on.
• Once you are safe, call your roadside assistance team.

Christmas Tree Pick-Up

Bringing the Christmas Tree Home

Christmas is sneaking up on us with just 20 days to go!  It got me thinking about the Christmas tree.  My son has struggled to find any decent wild pine in his area or any pine that he can pinch a branch off for his Christmas tree this year.  Instead, his go to for this year has been a glitzy artificial $12 tree from Kmart, not that great for the environment.  Yes, it looks pretty cool, flashes and changes colour, showing off the star on top nicely, but there is fun lost in this plastic answer to what is a quintessential feature of Christmas.  There is, however, fun to be had making the effort to go out and choose a real tree.  Yes, that tangible, fragrance, with real leaves, real bark, and real spiders.  This is the classic scent of Christmas that matches the delicious ham and turkey, custard and Christmas pudding, way better than any fake alternative.

All around the more populated areas of Australia there are numerous places that sell gorgeous live Christmas trees.  From Tomalong Christmas Tree Farm, in New South Wales; to Chrissy Trees 4 You, in Queensland; to Adelaide Hills Christmas Trees, in South Australia; to Sunbury Christmas Tree Farm, in Victoria; to Santa’s Shaped Christmas Tree, in ACT; to Christmas Trees of Wanneroo, in Western Australia; or to Richmond Christmas Tree Farm, in Tasmania – these are just some of the places you can visit for bringing that perfect look and smell of Christmas back home for Christmas.  Now is the time to head out and find that tree to decorate.  Most places will offer a delivery service, but you can also do a pick-up of your own.  Picking the tree up yourself is the most entertaining way of getting the tree and taking the kids/family/friends with you makes for an enjoyable and often humorous excursion.

This leads me to answering the question: how does one best bring a Christmas tree home?  I mean they can be up to 12 ft tall, fat, and even a bit cumbersome.  If you do have a trailer or a ute, then these vehicles are the best for an easy diy for Christmas tree collection.  Take a rope or a tie down to make sure the tree is properly secured for the homeward journey.

But what about if you don’t have trailer, a ute, or even a truck or van?  Well, the next best thing is to secure the tree to the roof of your car.  If your car comes equipped with the roof rack, then you’re good to go.  If you don’t have a roof rack, then you can pop a soft sheet over the roof of your car and position the tree on top before tying it down using tie downs.  The tie downs can be anchored by lowering the windows enough for you to fasten the ends of the tie down to the grab handles inside the car or even on the lip protruding from the top of the door – if there is one.  Just make sure that you are legal and that the tree doesn’t have too much of an overhang past the ends of our vehicle.

The other thing to keep in mind is that your field of vision can’t be blocked.  Placing the tree trunk end at the front end of the car and the top of the tree pointing rearwards ensures that, as you travel back home, the wind drags neatly over the tree without whipping against the branches, potentially damaging the tree and the perfect look.

Most everyday hatchbacks, sedans, and wagons are good for carrying up to 75 kg on the roof.  Others can carry more.  SUVs, vans, and dual cab utes can usually handle 100 kg.  However, do check your manufacturers recommendations before trying to put a heavyweight monster on your little Toyota Yaris.  You can shrink the tree by lopping a bit of the bottom off the tree without losing out too much on the perfect shape.

Another way you can transport your freshly cut Christmas tree back to the house is inside the cabin of your car.  If you’re not too prissy about the interior of your sedan or small hatch getting bits in it, and not too dismayed with a 6 ft tree rather than a 12 ft one, then sliding the tree through the front passenger door, over the lowered backrest, and through onto the rear seat is possible.  Of course, a station wagon or hatchback can swallow a tree through the boot space and over the lowered rear seats.  If it’s a sedan, then the top of the tree may need to poke out through the lowered front passenger window, particularly if it’s tall.  Obviously, the smaller the tree, the easier it is for you to get the Christmas tree inside your car to transport home.

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to start decorating, and the first thing to go up has to be the tree!

What to Check Before a Road Trip

As we approach the festive season, no doubt many of us are planning to get away. Whether it’s a much-needed holiday, or a family catch-up, this is the time of year where we load up the car and hit the roads. But how much preparation do we do before we go?

Here’s a small checklist of the things you should pay attention to.

Tyres

They may get the least love, but they are the sole reason a car can roll along a road. Tyre pressure is important; you should check this before any long drive and when the tyre itself is cold.

The right pressures are printed on a placard stuck somewhere on your car, generally inside where the doors close. Underinflation can lead to premature wear on the outside of the tyres, while overinflation can have the centre of the tread wearing.

The tread itself is important, with a minimum depth required in order to squeeze out any water you may drive through. There are also products that can be sprayed onto the sidewalls of the tyres that keep them clean and the rubber nourished, so it doesn’t dry out and leading to cracking.

Radiator

This is the box that sits in front of the engine and circulates cooling fluid through the engine. The whole idea is to try and keep the engine cool on the road. Water is only a part of the mix you need, with coolant also necessary. It is fantastic at working its way through the radiator and engine to keep it cool.

The radiator itself needs to be without leaks, otherwise you will run into all sorts of issues. It may be worth getting a good quality flushing agent to try and clear out any junk or goop that’s accumulated in the system.

Engine Oil

An engine needs oil to spin without overheating from friction. There is a dipstick on the side of the engine that, when pulled out, should be coated on some of its length, with clean oil. If it comes out black and maybe a bit smelly, this is not a good thing.

Clean oil helps things spin smoothly and can help in better fuel consumption. Any oil change will need a change of oil filter as well. Depending on your car and mechanical know-how, you may be able to do this at home, but always check the new filter is tightened sufficiently before adding new oil, otherwise your garage floor could become a mess.

Headlights and Indicators

Contrary to popular belief, it is actually against the law to not use your indicators. Sometimes the bulbs need replacing. A good indication to determine if you need a swap-out is the noise we hear inside the cabin. The noise may start to sound like a clock gone mad, as the system is designed to let you know something is wrong.

Headlights, depending on the age (and make) of the car, have no audible signal, but may display a warning on the dash. Some of the bulbs are easy to change, but others are far more tricky. Of course, it’s pretty simple to check your headlights to see if they’re working, just turn them on at night.

Air Conditioning

You’ll find there is a compressor in the engine bay that has a certain gas inside that makes the air cool. After some years, that gas becomes inefficient or may have leaked out and cold air doesn’t happen.

Although it may seem expensive to get the system re-gassed, it’s a one-off cost that can keep you chilled for years to come.

Windows

Of particular importance is the windshield – keep that clean and it reduces glare and sunlight scatter, which can impede a driver’s vision. In the engine bay is the reservoir full of water and cleaning agent. If this is empty, you need to make sure you use cleaning agent to help break up dirt, dust and any other rubbish. If the window is clean, but it looks like there are all sorts of surface imperfections from dirt and stones, it’s time to consider having the screen replaced.

Travelling with a Roof-Top Tent

Got your trusty Outback or Forester, maybe a Patrol or even a new Cherokee?  Then you’re likely ready for a bit of an adventure!  Haven’t we got the country just for you?  Australia is filled with many wonderful things to see, places to explore, and amazing wildlife and flora to enjoy.  It’s surprising how many decent vehicles we can actually use to get around Australia; space and practicality being the main factors contributing to the type of vehicle we end up using.

Of course, the other factor will be how 4x4ish and AWDish you’ll want/need the vehicle to be – because the further you go off-road, then the more likely you’ll be driving an SUV with 4WD ability or even a true blue 4×4 brute to get you anywhere.

Next question I’d be asking would be: Will you want to be staying in motels and B&Bs, towing a caravan, or staying in a tent?  If you want to ditch the vacancy/no-vacancy signs for a lot more freedom and a lower price tag, then caravanning and tenting are very decent options.

What I wanted to focus attention on was the types of tents that can be mounted on the roof of a vehicle.  Roof-top tents are a means of accommodation that are great while you’re on the move around Australia.  They keep you up off the ground and away from the creepy crawlies, or at least minimalizing their access!  A pop-top roof tent is a neat and inexpensive way of giving you your sleeping space while travelling around Australia.

Some of the advantages of having a roof top tent include:

You can camp in as many places as your vehicle can take you – think off-road and a rugged 4×4 vehicle!

The roof-top tent is usually designed to be fast and easy set up and store away at a campsite.  Usually, they can take as little as 1 – 5 minutes to set up.  This is a brief!

The roof-top tent is off the ground, thus keeping you off the wet ground and mud, and away from insects, snakes, and other animals.

Many pop out roof-tents are designed with the mattress already included in the fold out design.  This makes camping life even easier.

The biggest disadvantages of a fold out roof tent would include:

Older folk may struggle getting in and out of the tent via the ladder.

The tent’s maximum body capacity and height are limited, so there’s no way for you to stand up to your full height.  You also won’t be able to hold a party of any great number inside.

Lifting the tent to the roof of the car can be a little more challenging depending on the set-up and weight involved.

Unfortunately, not every vehicle is made for carrying a hefty weight on the roof, and some simply cannot handle the additional weight.  As a general rule of thumb, your car should have cargo racks and be able to withstand at least 80–100 kg of weight. They should accommodate for the weight of your tent and everyone inside.  However, if you’re thinking of buying a four-person roof top tent, you’ll need a sturdier SUV or a pickup truck/ute.  Some sedans and town cars may be able to handle one- or two-person pop-top roof tents.

Roof-top tents have been an Australia thing for many, many decades, but the first one was invented between 1957 and 1958 by Giuseppe Dionisio.  Roof top tents are now available right around the world, and the variety of roof-top tent models is staggering.

For your first ever roof top tent experience, a softshell tent might be the best choice.  It is lighter, cheaper, and more familiar to most people for setting up at a campsite. However, if you’re ready to go all in and have the money to spare, a hard shell roof top tent is a more luxurious (and usually more convenient) option.

Thule and Kings roof-top tents would be a great place to start if you want to take a look and try out the camping lifestyle with a view.  Camping life with a bit of freedom is hard to beat!