FULL-TIME
RELAXING IN WALKAMIN CENTRAL
VAN PARK, LIONEL MUSSELL CAME
ACROSS A PARTICULARLY WELL
SET-UP CARAVAN
Ken and Sylvia Pilkington,
my next door neighbours at
Walkamin Central Van Park
on the Atherton Tablelands,
Far North Queensland, are
a long way from what used
to be their home in Christies
Beach, south of Adelaide.
Here is a peek inside their
Traveller (they are on their
fourth caravan – this is their
second Traveller), including
the modifications they’ve
made to the van to make it
truly theirs.
ALUMINIUM CHASSIS
Even though it was more
expensive, they ordered an
aluminium chassis to keep
the Tare weight down and
give them a greater payload.
If fact they have an incredible
960kg of allowable payload!
WORDS AND IMAGES: LIONEL MUSSELL |
A-FRAME MORE CUPBOARDS
The lengthened A-frame
of this Traveller allows for
a large toolbox. Ken has a
towball scale to make sure
they stay within the limit
of 350kg, with a measured
towball weight of 280kg. An extra 2ft of length was
added to the basic van, allowing
the cabinetry to be redesigned
to provide larger cupboards, an
extra wardrobe and a microwave
under the kitchen bench.
CAPTAIN’S CHAIRS A full awning/annexe system
is used in the cooler weather.
Plastic clears can be zipped
onto the flyscreen windows
to keep out the rain and let
the sunshine in.
What impressed me most
when I first visited their
van were the two
swivelling recliner chairs –
absolute comfort! To say
I was envious would be
an understatement.
THE OFFICE
Ken added a small shelf
to the wall at the foot of
the bed. The corner of
the bed acts as a chair –
not a bad idea!
WEATHER PROTECTION
FULL-TIME TRAVELLERS
Ken and Sylvia became full-
time travellers in 2011 and
have seen a lot of Australia
in their lovely custom-built
Traveller caravan. Their favourite
places include Gulargambone,
NSW, Buronga Riverside
Caravan Park in Mildura, NSW,
and of course Walkamin.
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