Tag Archives: Vista RV

Towing with the Bilstein B6 shocks & steering damperer

4X4, Australia, , , ,

Equipment

  1. INEOS Grenadier, AU Spec diesel 2 seater utility with drawers, winch and roofrack. Even empty it is on the heavier side.
  2. Vista RV Crossover XLE. Probably around 1,650 kgs, max is 1980kgs.
  3. Allin tow bar with DO35 hitch.
  4. Eibach springs, lift of 35mm.
  5. Polyair Suspension airbags on Grenadier set to 20PSI when not towing, increased to 50PSI when towing. PSI was varied but The Doc settled on 50 PSI. Vista airbags set at 80PSI when towing.
  6. Bilstein B6 struts front and back.
  7. Bilstein steering damperer.
  8. Side fuel tanks on Grenadier filled. Three fuel Jerry cans on the Vista filled.

Observations from recent Melbourne trip (around 3,000km)

The package towed well; on bitumen and some limited dirt driving with minor corrugations. The condition of the bitumen did vary quite a bit in regional areas.

The package was stable, easy to steer and brake. The setting on the throttle controller was set at FACTORY which worked in most cases, but you run out of grunt around 100kph. The car and van compliment each other and tow well together. The van and car share an almost identical profile, so the wind resistance penalty from the van is minimal. OEM side mirrors work well. Fuel consumption varied between 13.7 to 14.9 litres per 100km. The main factor influencing fuel usage was cruising speed. Ad Blue usage was low. You need to drive faster to get the car to shift into  gears 7 and 8, compared to when you are not towing.

The only challenges were:

  1. where the road was made up of patches of bitumen and I needed to slow down, as there was too much feedback through the dampener and suspension;
  2. hitting the expansion joints on bridges, larger potholes and large indentions on the road gave quite a bit of feedback through the steering wheel. More than the OEM damper. Never any suggestion of death wobbles. Issues disappeared once you when over the expansion joint, etc;
  3. no issues with modest corrugated roads. Heavy corrugations still to be tested; and
  4. the only change will be lowing the hitch so the van is level, the hitch sits too high, even though the van handled well on the trip.

Vista RV Crossover XPEL PPF film

Uncategorised,

The Vista RV has its new protective skin on the front and sides. Images courtesy of the House of Tint and Paint Protection Film.

Video of the EPEL film being applied to the van:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1492935335789729

House of Tint

4X4, Australia, ,

The IG and the Vista Crossover RV van have been dropped off at House on Tint in Melbourne for PPF film protection.

The van was picked up from storage in Dubbo, then driven to a mate’s farm in Wagga Wagga for a few days. The Doc was sleeping in the van and setting it up, at least partially setting it up.

Then on to Melbourne to House of Tint. He could not find a place to park the van so had to use a road side stop on the Hume Highway. Not exactly a quite location.

The Grenadier is being worked on now and should be finished Friday. Then they will start on the van.

The Doc is also trying different tracking software and made this lousy video of the trip.

Grenadier build – Starlink bracket

12 volt, 4X4, Aussie made, Australia, , , , ,

The Doc needs Starlink for The Kimberley trip in 2026 – many bookings can only be made online and with poor mobile coverage, so Starlink will be his only option. How things have changed since his last trip there.

The Doc bought the Smart Touring Systems Starlink MIni Mount bracket (key lockable) here. It was an easy install, less than 5 minutes. It was mounted onto the Rhino Pioneer Platform using four M8 bolts with Nord-Lock washers, torqued to 16Nm.

The Doc is waiting for some narrow split tubing so he can protect the Starlink cable and it will be plugged into a rooftop outlet (front passenger side outlet).

The Doc will also have the option to run a power cable from my 125Ah Lithium Battery Box if the power drain is too much when camping. He can also plug it into the Vista RV van. Viva Cristo Rey:\.


Grenadier build – iCheck TPMS for car and van

12 volt, 4X4, Australia, ,

The Doc installed the iCheckTPMS sensors to test (car only). He is testing it before upcoming trips. It allows him to monitor the car’s spare tyre and also the tyres on the Vista RV Crossover van, including the van’s spare. It monitors tyre pressure and tyre temperatures.

It worked straight away. No hassles.

The Doc may also add in the van hub temp sensors. You just need to buy the hub sensors.

The Doc will be using the system when he goes on The Kimberley later in 2026. Anytime The Doc changes the tyres up and down, the benchmark pressure on the sensor resets and allows 25% PSI increase before the alarm sounds, or 15% down. The Doc wishes the IG TPMS system worked the same way!

The Doc will ignore the IG tyre sensors when he needs to often change pressures on the trip across bitumen, gravel, sand and corrugations.

This video show you how easy it is to set up and use, plus its features. It is an all wireless setup. The Doc bought an 8 sensor kit. Viva Cristo Rey:

Vista RV Crossover van picked up

4X4, Australia,

The van has been picked up and placed in storage. Trip here (The Doc started the data logger at Benalla).

Van on the way home.

No trips for the moment as lots of medical appointments over the next few months.

The round trip was 2,675kms and The Doc was tired for a couple of days after the trip. He thinks it was the amount of kilometers over those days – more than he usually does when traveling in that period. Another thing The Doc needs to factor in after the accident. The list just seems to grow and grow.

Vista RV Crossover XLE

12 volt, 4X4, Anderson plug, Aussie made, Australia, battery management system, battery monitor, crimping, tips, wire, terminals, lugs, Uncategorised, , ,

The Doc’s new hybrid offroad caravan is nearly ready – just a shelf to be made and installed. Photos were supplied today of the van.

Electrics controlled by a REDARC TVMS with the REDARC Rogue added on for more circuits. 645W of solar panels, 400Ah of Lithium batteries and a 3000W REDARC Black Alpha inverter. It has the air suspension option as well. Tyres match the Grenadier, BF Goodridge KO2’s. Plus red go fast stickers. External kitchen with a small internal kitchen. Fridge can be used internally and externally (it is on draw).

The model name XLE signifies external fridge, verse XLI for internal fridge.

The Doc will install his JOOCLA Shower into the van.

Enjoy (The Doc is!).