Caravanning News

A recall notice has issued for Hyundai Santa Fe (DM) sold nationally between 15 June 2017 and 28 December 2017. 

The recall notice states that a manufacturing fault may cause the steering wheel assembly and column to separate.

The notice further states that this may cause a hazard as if the steering wheel assembly and column separate while in use, a vehicle may lose steering control and cause an accident.

To see if your vehicle is affected and for further information, go to https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recall/hyundai-motor-company-australia-pty-ltd-hyundai-santa-fe-dm

The Australian Caravan Club is delighted to welcome BIG4 Bungalow Park on Burrill Lake to its member benefits programme.

BIG4 Bungalow Park on Burrill Lake is set on 26 acres of landscaped lawn and gardens with absolute lake frontage onto beautiful Burrill Lake in the South Coast region of New South Wales.

With access to the beach, private boat ramp, two jetties, tennis courts, kid’s entertainment, canoes, solar heated swimming pools, two camp kitchens, and nine undercover barbecues this really is a location to behold.

The estuary provides the angler with good fishing with many species encountered including flathead, bream, blackfish, whiting and blue swimmer crabs. The local beach also provides fishing where anglers can catch Australian salmon, whiting and tailor.

Other Park facilities include:  Security Boom Gate, disabled/reduced mobility amenities block, ensuite sites, internet Kiosk, laundries and a dump point.

BIG4 Bungalow Park on Burrill Lake offer ACC members 10% off accommodation.

For further information and contact details for Big4 Bungalow Park on Burrill Lake, ACC members should click on the green member benefits – accommodation button on this webpage.  ACC members – don’t forget to log on first!

Club Officials from Queensland and Victoria attended the 5^th anniversary muster of the Tassie Travellers branch of our Club last month.

30 members in 17 RVs made their way to Myrtle Park Camping Ground North East of Launceston where members were joined by ACC membership director Graham Christie and his wife Kaye who travelled from Queensland for the event which ran from 16 to 18 March 2018.  To further enhance the celebrations, former ACC Chairman and Club Life Member Lionel Mussell from Victoria attended a barbecue lunch on the Saturday with members.

ACC Chairman Craig congratulated the members of the ACC Tassie Travellers on the success of the branch.  “Our ACC Tassie Travellers have been great ambassadors for our Club over the past 5 years and I congratulate them on reaching 5 years,” Craig said.  “Several members of the branch have made overall contributions to our Club that extend well beyond Tasmania.”

At the cutting of the anniversary cake ceremony, ACC Tassie Travellers branch president Ed Glover proudly stated the many achievements of the branch.  “Our branch has seen many great friendships formed since its humble beginnings of 8 members in 5 vans to today’s 60 members in 37 RVs,” Ed said.

“To our members who helped form the branch, and to those who have served over the years on the branch committee, a big thank you.  It was one of our branch members Bernie Barnwell whose efforts helped form the ACC’s Lone Trekkers Special Interest Group,” said Ed.

5 of the original 8 foundation members of the branch joined with former Club Chairman Lionel Mussell in the cutting of the anniversary cake.

ACC membership director Graham also congratulated the branch on its milestone.  “Clearly the ACC Tassie Travellers branch is a great group of our members and an excellent example that we are the Club where friendships and adventure begin,” Graham said.

Any RVer requiring further information about the ACC or its Tassie Travellers branch can contact the ACC on 1800 734 493 or click here

A recall notice has issued for 2007-2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 Heavy Duty and 2007-2008 GMC Sierra 2500/3500 Heavy Duty.

The notice relates to the Airbag inflator: As it gets older, a combination of high temperatures and humidity can cause the airbag inflator propellant to degrade. If an affected vehicle is involved in a collision triggering the airbag, the metal inflator housing may explode/rupture under too much internal pressure.

The notice further states that this may become a hazard in the event that a defective airbag inflator ruptures, as metal fragments may propel out through the airbag cushion towards the vehicle occupants causing serious injury or fatality.

To see if your vehicle is affected and for further information, go to https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recall/overseas-vehicle-sales-pty-ltd-general-motors-chevrolet-silverado-and-gmc-sierra

A recall notice has issued for MY2018 Range Rover Velar for specific vehicles within VIN range SALYA2AV6JA700308 to SALYA2BK0JA740310.

The notice states that the linkage that controls the fresh air flap in the heating system  may become disconnected and that when the right atmospheric conditions exist, condensation may form on the front windscreen and other windows in the vehicle.

The notice further states that this may become a hazard as if the interior windows are not demisted quickly the condensation can restrict the driver’s field of vision increasing the risk of a collision.

For further information and to see if your vehicle is affected, go to https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recall/jaguar-land-rover-range-rover-velar

James Cook University researchers want the public to help them find ways to improve road safety by minimising accidents involving large agricultural vehicles.  The Australian Caravan Club has been requested to ask our members for assistance by completing a survey.

JCU Associate Professor Richard Franklin said while Australian accident data is patchy and incomplete, over about a decade there were at least 577 crashes involving agricultural vehicles and trailers, resulting in 24 fatalities and 278 injuries. These figures illustrate that agricultural vehicle presence on roads may raise a unique set of safety concerns.

He said JCU’s new research is being funded by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and The National Farmers’ Federation in an effort to fill the information void.

“We’re going to explore the nature of incidents that involve large, slow-moving agricultural vehicles, we’ll also be looking at people’s attitudes and awareness to them and what they think about road sharing and road safety,” said Dr Franklin.

He said previous studies had suggested the most common crash types of large agricultural vehicles involved them running off the road, being rear ended, or hit during overtaking maneuvers.

“It’s not clear why this is. While the length and width of a large vehicle may be a factor in them being hit as they are being overtaken, speed differentials may have been a factor, particularly in the rear-end crashes,” he said.

Dr Franklin said it was likely the future would see even larger agricultural vehicles on roads, driven by the need for greater efficiency and productivity.

“Our overall aim is to improve the safety of all road users,” he said.

The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete, and responses are anonymous. 

This survey will remain open until the 15th April 2018.

To complete the survey, go to:  http://bit.ly/2GK5n1d