Hello - a new beginning for OKA 243

Hi

I've purchased 243 (Also Known As - Dotti) from Damian Treherne near the Gold Coast. Dotti has a bus body complete with 14 seats.

I will fly over this week and pick up Dotti on Friday 14 November. I plan to leave Brisbane on Saturday 15 November and head for home.

I'm reasonably confident that I won't have any issues as most of the mechanicals have had major overhaul work done recently and Paul Nott has had a hand in the maintenance. New 19.5" tyres have also been fitted and it has been given a full filters/oil change service in the last 200km. Depending on my confidence level in the mechanicals I plan to head south then turn west out through Broken Hill getting to Adelaide around Tuesday for a day or two stop. Then via the Nullabor and arriving in Perth around Saturday 22 November.

On the drive I'll possibly drop in on a couple of OKA owners if I can make the time and place. I'll probably also add a post or two on this forum for those that are interested in my progress (or lack of progress).

A bit about me - I/we live in the Perth hills. I have travelled on two and four wheels in quite a few remote places in Australia and I look forward to doing a lot more a bit slower and a bit more comfortably

Looking forward to meeting more of you.

Dean Bicknell


PS: Thank you to all the administrators and contributors of this excellent forum as it has been a very valuable source of information and contacts who have helped me a lot in my decision to buy an OKA. Since buying the OKA I have also used this site a lot to get a better understanding of the vehicle. Great resource - thanks again.

Welcome aboard Dean.

Enjoy the trip and getting to know your OKA.


As you are aware there is plenty info here and owning an OKA is like a brother hood.

So on your way home there will be people you can catch up with and learn even more.

Hi Dean.
We have a driveway in Adelaide big enough for half a dozen OKAs.
If you would like me to reserve one spot for you on your way over we would love to see you (and OKA243).
Send us a PM.

Cheers,
Peter

Hello Dean, Welcome to the Oka Group! We have Oka80 and live in the Perth Hills also, so you are probably not far away. Drop in for a chat sometime.

Cheers

Richard and Beverly

Drop in to Goldfields OKA in Coolgardie and introduce yourself to Robin Wade if he is about.

Planning a camper conversion?

Welcome Dean,
OKAs are different, they take work and although it takes a while to get to know them the rewards are great. Try to DIY whenever you can, there is a lot of info on the website and if it is not here then someone can usually give the answer.
For some things I don't believe you can go past paying to get parts or service from the experts

In addition to Robin Wade in Kal, for you in Perth Alan at OKA Parts is a great resource.
Paul Nott 0418 125 428 and
Ian Jones 0408 057 973 provide service on the east coast and some key parts Australia wide

there's two types of OKA buyers, some, the majority, who get hooked and some (only a few) who dont
great to hear #243 has a new beginning
Rick & Sue

Rick Whitworth wrote: For some things I don't believe you can go past paying to get parts or service from the experts.

There's two types of OKA buyers, some, the majority, who get hooked and some (only a few) who don't.

Rick & Sue

Rick/Dean, I'm one of the hooked variety although sadly other domestic matters tend to take priority.

I DIY wherever possible, because if you're going to travel in remote areas, which is what Okas are all about, you really need to know as much as possible about your vehicle.

But 2 things recently I had to seek help with were fixing the air conditioning (an on-going Oka saga) and removing corroded bleed nipples from brake callipers.

Most other things can and have been be done by your average Oka owner, like me, although parts can seem big and heavy if you've come from the normal car environment. Most general mechanical parts can be obtained locally (see our Parts and Suppliers entries), or more economically from the US. Oka specific parts can be obtained from Oka Parts in Perth.

Although Okas have been described as "slow, heavy, underpowered lumps", they are surprisingly comfortable, spacious, capable and durable workhorses and major problems on our outback treks have been very few. It's not fast or nimble but there are not many places our's hasn't successfully taken us to (and brought us back from).

Have fun, but don't fall out of the drivers seat, it's a long way to the ground, as I found out.

David.

G'day Dean,
I'm also a new OKA owner of a few months now, some of the maintenance issues have been a bit frustrating at times but its more a learning curve. Paul and Ian from East coast Oka (Vic) have been a great help and many others including this forum. I'm certainly looking foreword to doing many miles in mine. I'm not far away from the Gold Coast if you need somewhere to park your OKA.
Enjoy cheers
Robb #309

2 sleeps until the big trip...... Don't forget pictures of the trip home and other OKA`s you meet.

Thanks to everyone for your support and help.

I will take delivery tomorrow and start the drive home. I'll keep you posted every now and then.

Cheers
Dean

We look forward to catching up if you swing past us on the way. Very hot here today in Mid NSW.

has anyone SPOTTED or heard from Dean on his MAIDEN voyage??
he should be back in Perth soon

Yes he had a couple of problems due to an incorrect alternator fitment before leaving Qld and spent a couple of days sorting them out so was travelling pretty hard to get home in the timeframe.
Overnighted here and got home around the 22nd. Oka ran well the whole trip.

Arrived home and been busy since catching up and getting Dotti (#243) ready for WA license.

As Peter mentioned we spent a coupe of days in Brisbane sorting out some minor electrical issues and fitted a low water alarm, grease up, oil check, nuts and bolts etc plus catching up with family.

Also adjusted the accelerator cable to ensure max pedal position resulted in max throttle position. This simple fix I picked up from the forum made a significant change in speed and acceleration (thanks)

Once the preliminary issues were sorted the trip was excellent and all went really well. Dropped into Rob Alley and then Peter James. Because I wasn't sure on reliability we kept to reasonably major routes; Coffs Harbour, Blue Mountains, Hay, Victor Harbor (for a rest day), nullabor, Norseman, Hyden, Perth. Approx 5,000km in six days driving with no problems except engine temp rose when it was 42 degrees C with 30 knot headwind on the Nullabor. average fuel consumption was 14 litres per 100 which is about the same as my petrol prado with roof tent. A petrol Hilux 4x2 that travelled with us part of the way got 22 litres per 100km in the headwind section while towing a tandem trailer with motorbike on it.

I'm really pleasantly surprised with how well Dotti drives. From reading the forum I expected a slug that would be a slow roadblock. Instead we drove easily at 95kmh (GPS speed) and had some spare to accelerate.

We didn't have number plate but still not a single police car stopped us to ask even though one followed us for a couple of km and then overtook us.

So we're now home and busy going through the list to get Dotti licensed. Key items are; replace LHF brake disc which is damaged, master cylinder leak, chassis cracks from the tow hitch, OKA rust at base of doors and bus body, replace seatbelts, leaking roofs etc. Maybe licensed by Christmas. Plan is to rebuild the cab either before or after the CSR depending on workload. Bus body rebuild and conversion will follow this

Thanks once again for everyone who has helped and supported. I'll post some photos sometime soon

Cheers
Dean

PTO wrote: Arrived home and been busy since catching up and getting Dotti (#243) ready for WA license.



I'm really pleasantly surprised with how well Dotti drives. From reading the forum I expected a slug that would be a slow roadblock. Instead we drove easily at 95kmh (GPS speed) and had some spare to accelerate.

Good to hear Dotti went well.
The forum prepares you for a brick, not A Ferrari!!
The experience only get's better!!

5000 KM, mostly tar, the gravel [Hyden] is ware the OKA's shine above the rest.

Any updates,

Did 243 get rego as a xmas present???

Slowly getting through the list. I decided to slow down and enjoy rather than rush through the fix-up list. As a result learning a lot about OKAs and the local Auto One store is very pleased to see me every time.

Last of the larger jobs should be completed this weekend when I will replace a rusty section of the passenger side footwell plus the brake master cylinder that is weeping. Then fit new seat belts and seats plus other bits that I've removed to repair/replace/service. Based on current slow pace I might be on the road in a month

Cheers
Dean

Sounds good.



About to order a Brake Master Cylinder myself.

Will be good to see it on the road and used.