Oops! This last Posting was for the Private Forum, but OK...

Submitted: Saturday, Jan 08, 2005 at 07:24
ThreadID: 121708 Views:4110 Replies:5 FollowUps:3
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Of all the tips on the Private Forum, this one is probably the most elementary... The Private Forum has a collection of Tips for current Bushtracker Owners, and this one is probably the most lightweight and somehow I posted it here by mistake. Nevermind, a couple glasses of wine on my Holiday and.... But anyone that is really serious, and not just window shopping, I would encourage to be a member and see the Private Forum as well... When I have time I will post a "Cattle Dog" of all the Tips and such here..

Happy Trails, from Bushtracker
"The Last Stand In Open Country"

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Reply By: jandm - Saturday, Jan 08, 2005 at 08:44

Saturday, Jan 08, 2005 at 08:44
Hi Bushtracker

We would love to be members and therefore have access to the Private Forum but we are under the impression that the only way that can happen is to already own a BT or have an order placed. In our case that is a certain outcome but it is just a matter of time (as in a couple of years yet). Therefore, if our impression is wrong, can you correct it?

Cheers

JandM
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Follow Up By: Bushtracker - Monday, Jan 10, 2005 at 18:31

Monday, Jan 10, 2005 at 18:31
Hello JandM,
Steven Gibbs here, Director, Bushtracker,

I do not have anything to do with the Administration or collection of Membership fees for this site, but to my understanding the Members Fee is to help defer the costs of running the site... So all it amounts to is joining the Boggers... I put my tips there to encourage people to join, plus the fact that the tips are more for current Bushtracker Owners with regards to their vans... Most of the tips are product modifications, or upgrades, or maintenance tips.. That sort of thing... But yes, if you are serious, you should probably consider joining, I don't think it is much of a cost.....

Kind Regards, Bushtracker
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Reply By: Deleted User - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 03:28

Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 03:28
I have been reading the bushtracker site for a while now and applied for membership and was informed, I had to be an owner or have a bushtracker on order.
I was a little "put out" by that because yes I am VERY interested in a bushtracker after a lot of research but havent got to the point of purchasing,as well had enjoyed the members comments and sharing until then.
I certainly felt when Steve from Bushtracker started posting, the forum was of more interest.
As it was before moving from the MSN site, from that time it didn't appear to me, to have the same following or fun comments as displayed before.
I understand that at Copeland a vote was taken to split the site to private and general, of course this is the right of any or every group, but I repeat I did request to be a member and that was the response.
Maybe that decision will be reviewed.

I am still definately leaning towards a Bushtracker when I do place my order and I am hopeful it will be this year.
There are only a couple of vans that come close to my requirements and since Steve has had input it certainly gives me a lot more confidence in the tests done on Bushtrackers before incorporating the improvements.

I certainly appreciate the wisdom and expertise shared on this site and other caravan sites.
Thank you

Rick
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Follow Up By: Bushtracker - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 03:39

Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 03:39
Hello Rick,
I was not aware of those restrictions,
Maybe I should put copies of some of my Postings on the General Forum for good people like you....

I will go back through and review some of those for posting here... OK?

And Rick, not to engage in sales, because that is not what I am active here for... But go see how they are built, and you will know for yourself that there are no "others"....

Cheers, From the Source at Bushtracker....
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Reply By: Motley - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 04:36

Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 04:36
Rick,

As Vice President of the Bushtracker owners Group Inc and as one of the group which planned the transition from the MSN Forum to the current structure, I would like to respond to your posting.

The MSN Forum flourished beyond our expectations in the 18 months it operated. However, it was a good news/bad news story. The good news was the amazing growth in membership and bothy the quality and quantity of the postings. I, like many others, drew an amazing amount of knowledge from the site which has certainly enhanced the experience of owning a Bushtracker and “going bush”.

The bad news was that "free" forums like MSN forums come at a price. In our case the price was paid in a number of areas:

- The need for constant vigilance to moderate unscrupulous postings, usually of a pornographic nature

- The problems caused by the lack of a search facility. There was so much valuable information, but as time went on the effort to find specific information increased.

- The increased amount of advertising appearing on MSN Forum pages which was starting to impact the time and cost of downloads which was a consideration for people travelling and access the Internet via mobile phones.

Perhaps the biggest drawback was the fact that because the forum was an open forum, Bushtracker were reluctant to participate because there was no control over the “bona fides” of the postings.

The decision to move to our own site was taken to address the problems highlighted above. In order to fund the move, we needed funding. There were two sources identified – membership fees and sponsorship. If we were to charge membership, we needed to provide some value. Bushtracker and others agreed to sponsor the site and participate once they learned that the main forum would be moderated and accessible by members only.

This meant that if members had a genuine concern about some aspect of their Van, be it a Bushtracker issue or that of a component supplier, then a forum discussion could take place without the information necessarily being in the Public Domain.

I understand your frustration but the decision of the members at Copeton was to limit access the Private Forum to those who had ordered, owned, or previously owned a Bushtracker.

Having said that, there is a wealth of experience available to anyone genuinely considering the purchase of a Bushtracker. I am sure if you post any questions you have in the Open Forum, you will receive prompt and genuine advice and answers. If you wish, feel free to contact me directly and I would be happy to chat to you about my Bushtracker experience. I am also sure that there are many others who will quite willingly help you directly with any questions you have.

The new structure has had its "growing pains" but we now have over 260 registered participants sharing information on Bushtrackers. Anyone considering purchasing a Bushtracker today has over 100 owners who actively read the Open Forum, who can help make that purchase. Hell, if we can help you spend your money, only to happy to help!!

Hope this helps

Pete (aka Motley)
Motley

Life's too short to drink bad wine.

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Follow Up By: jandm - Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 09:29

Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 at 09:29
Pete (and other BOGGERS)

Like Calm Water, I too am sorry that we can not get to the inner sanctum without passing the ultimate test. I also fully appreciate the reason why there needs to be the demarcation between true BOGGERS and window shoppers.

Before the move from MSN, I nightly soaked up the current and past wealth of information that was on the BT site. I have been in love with BT’s since seeing my first one in Tamworth circa 1997. I have visited the factory twice over the last 4 years (the old one under Steve's wing) and the second time at the current factory under Tracey (Peter both times did a fantastic job). I have gone out and sold my LC 80 series (pre 3,500 kg towbar model - spent 9 months unsuccessfully attempting to gain a legal upgrade in NSW) and have purchased a longer wheel base vehicle (but not a Ford!) yet still has the 6.5 L turbo diesel donk. Having had Toyota LC’s continuously since 1978, that was a biggie but it is something I had to do to fit in with the BT dream. The new lady in my life (over the last three years) also loves BT’s and visited the factory on my second time. I work overseas and have the floor of my house in central PNG marked to a floor plan of our future BT 20 footer!!

It will be another two years before we are in a position to take delivery of a BT. I miss the info that used to flow from the older site. It is a pity that those of us converted to the cause but not yet in a position to buy or place an order for a BT are not able to benefit from all of the great hints / tips / etc that used to be available on the old site. While I get back to Oz a number of times a year, unfortunately it has not been able to co-incide with Copeton.

So, while I accept the ruling, it is a great shame that we, and others like us who are committed to a future BT, can not benefit until after we have made the commitment. In some respects, that is a bit late to utilise the experience and advice that BOGGERs continue (I assume) to post to the private forum. It is this aspect that I regret most. While I greatly respect Steve's opinion regarding what could / should go into a BT (from the time that I have met him and the occasional postings that he has made into the public forum - keep up the recent supply Bushtracker) nonetheless there is a very certain enjoyment and excitement in planning the dream over time and being able to draw on the experience of a wider range of others out there enjoying their BT. This wealth of information has, for the most part, dried up in the public forum since the move to the new site.

So, if there was a facility to be able to bring potential future BOGGERs into the fold, even if it was a matter of becoming a financial member (and therefore having to demonstrate a commitment which would probably steer window shoppers away) then count us in.

Regards

Jim - JandM
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Reply By: Deleted User - Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 05:36

Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005 at 05:36
Hi and thanks for the prompt response.
In no way was I being critical and I did understand the move to this site.
I do understand the wisdom with all the members involved that is shared as the questions arise and certainly as my time of purchase grows closer I will certainly send the queries in.

I definately will visit the factory when next up that way and thanks for the invite.

Regards
Rick
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Reply By: Bushtracker - Saturday, Jan 15, 2005 at 02:22

Saturday, Jan 15, 2005 at 02:22
Hello Jim of JandM,
Steven Gibbs here,

Boy did I stir up a storm with this one...! Ha! Look, people continue to evolve, and the Product continues to evolve... If there is something you need to know, I will search it for you and copy it here on the General Forum... You are not missing much on the Private Forum to tell you the truth, it is more about personal matters than Bushtracker...

Ask any question you like here on the Forum, and I will do my best... And don't feel like you are missing much because you aren't... I am in the process of adding my Tips onto this Forum bit by bit... And by the time you have your Bushtracker most of the maintenance or product support on the Private Forum would be way way out of date anyways... Since this is now monitored and filtered we are active here, and can help... Before on the MSN site, it was too much of a wild goose chase with too many self appointed authorities from other agendas, and it would have been a full time job to chase much of it down...

Let us know how we can help.... I have contact to about five times more the Bushtracker Owners than on this site, and would be all too happy to help if you have any questions... See you here....

Cheers, stg at Bushtracker...
"The Last Stand In Open Country"

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