GG in Maleny

August 26, 2010

We arrived on Tuesday and found 4 other Geist vans here. It was great to catch up and now two days later we have 18 Geist vans here. Tomorrow we have another 21 vans coming in giving us a total of 39 Geist caravans plus one ring in Aussie van. This is turning into the best get together to be held with Geist caravans in the world!!. Having just chatted to Geist UK, we seem to be on the money with this.

For those that couldn’t make it this time, we hope to do it again next year.

If you’re not a member though,  you are really missing out as we keep getting great reports of new friendships, loads of fun being had and just great mateship.

We’ll have a new announcement on Saturday about where Geist UK come in to the mix with helping out Aussie Geist owners.

We’ll have the next newsletter out after this GG.

Catch you on the track.

Peter Treasure (Geist Runner)

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Geist Gathering a Success!

March 23, 2010

Just over 24 hours since everyone left the gathering from the weekend, I am still trying to come back down to earth. It was a great success with Geist vans inundating the small town of Lindenow South in Victoria. Everyone joined in to hear the latest of what is happening and meet many new friends. We also had the great opportunity to put faces to the names we hadn’t previously met and were excited by the positive comments coming out of the weekend. A full wrap up of the weekend will be sent out to everyone once we finish collating it. The newsletter for this month will encompass the GG in full. Thank you to all that attended and we hope to have an even bigger GG in September. The time and place is still to be decided with much controversy within members as to where is the best place to have the GG, it will be a hard decision to make, but more info in the newsletter.

Catch you on the track.

GR

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New Year – New Direction

February 5, 2010

In 2010 Geist importation into Australia is at a crossroads. If a new importer takes on the product, and there are several options here, then some spectacular new vans and possibly motorhomes could come into the Australian market towards the end of 2010. The only problem is, will the factory produce less quantity than it is currently requiring for the wholesaler to buy, to accommodate this. Even though the RV industry in Australia is going very well, a minimum order of 1,000 units per year over the UK and Australia may be outside what is feasible to sell. As a premium product, the Geist just doesn’t cut it in the budget market arena and hence the volume is unlikely to move. Will the factory consider a flat pack unit to be shipped and assembled within Australia like some of Australia’s most popular brands are now doing? It certainly would force the RVMAA lobby group to shed some of their own members off if they were to go up against the new Geist brand then. Lets just say that there are many very reputable people within Australia who would love to go this way. It is now in the hands of the factory in Germany. Don’t expect many changes until at least mid 2010 though as this would be a major investment to tool a factory in Australia to accommodate the Geist brand. The UK is focusing on motorhomes this year and don’t rule out some hitting Australian shores. A lot of interest remains with the Phantom range. Those people wanting a NEW Geist Phantom Motorhome in Australia in 2010 should let me know via email, support@geistowners.com . I am told the door is now on the other side to comply happily with the ADR’s in Australia instead of special approvals. Prices have not been released as yet.

Most parts for existing Geist stock are readily available within 1-2 weeks now through our supplier network at www.geistowners.com . Any one having problems with insurance should consider either changing to CIL or AAMI who I believe are supporting the brand. Readily available parts are always the issue with insurance premiums rising or lowering. All Geist owners should inform their insurance companies of the new availability of parts within Australia. Feel free to quote the support@geistowners.com email address to insurance companies who doubt the availability.

The www.geistowners.com membership continues to grow and with your funds we are starting to make some inroads to securing the brand again within Australia. So far in our first 6 months we have been able to:

1. Convince businesses in most states to start bringing in Geist parts to Australia.

2. Help hold a reasonable price at the auctions in Sydney and Brisbane.

3. Encourage new owners and support their finding of parts.

4. Represent the members to the Dept. Transport & Roads (Federal) – Ongoing with the coupling

5. Organise FREE Geist Gatherings (1st one in March 2010)

6. Link owners for emotional and physical support.

7. Join members with repairers in breakdown situations

8. Provide ongoing information to members regularly.

9. Administrate the forum for all Geist Owners.

Still to come in 2010 we hope to:

1. Establish an importer in Australia.

2. Provide more information to media on Geist.

3. Talk further with Geist UK and the factory on new product and the future.

4. Provide at least two GG’s (Geist Gatherings) in Australia

5. Create a comprehensive Geist manual for Australia.

6. Build the Geist service centre network.

7. Create a new Knowledge Centre for members.

What we need from you.

Just be a www.geistowners.com member and support the businesses around Australia who bring in your parts. By doing all this we make the interest for an importer or re-assembler to re-establish themselves in Australia a likelihood. If we walk away, so does the Geist brand and your investment in your van or motorhome.The Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Australia (RVMAA) would love us to walk away as their lobby group pushes the import & safety fear card onto the public and the Australian government. As owners we know the quality of the product we tow and the safety it has over many RVMAA members vans, but does the Australian public? It seems the baffle them with B**l S**t method still works on some overwhelmed buyers.

Support www.geistowners.com and help fight to keep Geist vans on the road. Donations can also be made to aid the fight and travel to the UK and Germany for further discussions when the timing is right.

Catch you on the track.

Peter Treasure (GeistRunner)

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Free Geist Tips

July 16, 2009

I sent out an email the other day to www.geistowners.com and received some great feedback. I thought I would share them with you. A great little group building here. Don’t forget to click on the link on the left to join. If you have any problems then feel free to email me on support@geistowners.com

Thanks for the info. So nice to feel that there is someone to talk to in the event that something goes wrong with the little “450″. So far our only problems can be filed under “operator error”. We bought the van last October and have clocked up almost 20.000 k’s without any real issues. The layout of the 450 works perfectly for two people. It’s amazing just what clever design can achieve.
We’re currently free-camped at the showground at Melrose in the Southern Flinders’ Ranges (pic attached) before heading south to have a look at the Yorke Peninsula then having a couple of weeks in the Adelaide Foothills before returning home to Brisbane.

Cheers

David & Vonnie

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Thanks Peter, I use Selleys brake pad cleaner. Not every time, maybe every 3rd. I also cover the ball with a plastic (tight fitting) cover I bought from Auto Pro, when I’m not towing. If there is any sign of dirt or rust, I gently buff the ball with very fine glass paper. However, I do get a creaking noise when towing…..the original dealer told me to expect some noise, it indicates that the pads are gripping the ball. What do you think?

Yes and no Phil, You may need to change the height of your tow bar tongue to improve the noise factor. They are gripping but too much noise may indicate the pads are gripping on the wrong part of the ball. GeistRunner – Ed

In Kununurra at the moment with a touch of Bali Belly, so will be here for a couple more days. BTW, the pressure relief valve didn’t fix the problem so now I wonder if it might be the Colorado fitting. Otherwise all is going swimmingly (touch wood)
Cheers,
Phil W

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Peter just a note to say u gave me info for a security door from Sydney and i am please to advise it is installed by myself and all is well ..very satisfied your assistance really appreciated.james abbott

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Hi Peter
Thanks for e-mail re pads in tow hitch.  I have been following this routine every time the van is hitched to the tow ball on the car.
After unhitching the van , I spray the tow ball with a dash of WD 40 , and cover the ball with a plastic cover.
When I am going to hitch the van again , I wipe the ball and coupling with a cloth doused with metholated spirit , and allow the area to dry off completely.
This has worked well for me.
Regards
Bill

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Hi Peter

Can you send some more information about joining the Geist owners club, Peter and I think it is a great idea and you have been doing a fantastic job keeping us informed with what is going on, we are new Geist owners even though we used to sit in the vans when they were out at Erina dreaming about one day owning one, we have yet to do our big trip but we have “camped” in it in our backyard trying out what we really need.
The stories we read about other Geist owners make us eager to start our travels

Keep up the good work.

cheers

E. Marsland

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Hi Peter and Rachel

Got your email and newsletter, many thanks.  We are currently at Airlie Beach from today 1 July for 3 weeks, then a week at Bowen then making our way down to  Noosa River Caravan Park from 7 Aug to 19 Aug, then at Brisbane Village until 24 Aug, then at Southport in the Broadwater Caravan Park until 19 September, when we shall make our way home again.  We would be pleased to catch up with any Geist owners who may be in the areas we are in.

We did see John and Rhonda on the road yesterday.  They had their name on the back, a NSW rego plate and a blue/green caravan bra.  We waved to them as we passed them and then they passed us later on waving like mad!  Do you know where they are staying?

R & A Whitelock

Note: They all met up at Airlie Beach. Without our database they would have not met. Its not too late to still meet up, make sure you email me with your experiences. Catch you on the track. Geist Runner – Ed

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Balgal Beach -Northern Base

July 8, 2009

We decided to push through from St Lawrence yesterday all the way up to Balgal Beach north of Townsville. This is where we stop for long periods of time with Rachel’s parents on 1 and 3/4 acres. We also keep a lot of our house contents here after we hit the road nearly 2 years ago. It was a bit hard to sleep last night, I must admit, not sure whether I was hot or cold? I think the humidity has now hit us. Funny we lived here 10 years, go away for a while and it is like being newbies to the area again. The growth in the area is huge, not just the flora growth but the infrastructure growth is beyond what I expected. Anyway, we are up here now and it is time to wash the van and car, put up the Isabella and finish my book! The blog wont be a day by day diary for a while but we will keep all up to date with what’s happening.

Don’t forget to join the www.geistowners.com group. The link is on the left. Without this membership I can’t answer your questions about your Geist. We have some great interviews coming up for members. We’ll be talking to Doug Myers, a master at selling Euro caravans in Australia. We’ll also be talking to BPW about the chassis on the Geist, a Geist dealer and owner who migrated from the UK and now sells Geist in a town of no more than 100 people. Want to know where all the parts are in Australia? I’ve tracked them down and will be revealing all to www.geistowners.com members. We also hope to talk to the UK and NZ Geist management about the future in their respective countries for Geist. Will Geist be getting new models in for 2010? We’ll find out. Remember you must join www.geistowners.com to get access to these interviews and the NEW monthly e-newsletter. Don’t forget our weekly tips too! Click on the link on the left of this page to join. Until then.

Catch you on the track!

Geistrunner

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St Lawrence, a little space of tranquility.

July 6, 2009

Just arrived this afternoon and popped on the generator to charge some 240v items and the computer. It was a bit of a shame really because even though there are about 25 vans, campers and motorhomes around, the place is really silent. I feel kind of bad turning it on but I made sure the wind was right and the Honda gennie is super quiet, only Rachel and I can really hear it. Not a cloud in the sky and 23 degrees, a light wind blows through the windows and out the other side, very nice until Rachel gets a bit chilly and we shut one side. I think the dogs and cats are getting a bit jack of the traveling, Minka winged from Gladstone to Rockhampton (100kms) but is quite content now. We should be at Balgal Beach just north of Townsville by Wednesday afternoon. Only 285 kms today, put more pressure in the tyres a few days a go. The ride is a lot better now and we get a better travel. More details on this, how I did it and what changes to the tyres has made will be sent out to all members soon. If you are not a member of Geistowners.com and own a Geist, it is worth the membership just for this tip!

Catch you on the track.

GR

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