How difficult is doing the OTT without diff lockers

Old Telegraph Track - Cape York

Cheers
Greg

I could just imagine if that was my Troopy in the Palm Creek crossing I think it may just about be lying on its side and that little muscle I sit on would be working overtime.

Thanks for the photos and comments.

Cheers

Dunc

You would be surprised what these cars can do.

South of Cooktown, I believe the loop out to Mayfield, Jowalbinna and The Old Coach Road is worth a look.

If you have time use the Starckie Track from Cooktown north to Cape Melville and check the place out. You can then just cut across to the PDR via Lakefield NP to Musgrave Roadhouse.

If you are a veteran you may want to drop in to Pandanus Park Vietnam Veterans Retreat. It's not just for Vietnam vets.

Thanks for that. One of our side trip options is to Cape Melville and its environs.

No too young by a couple of years for the birthday lottery.

Cheers

Dunc.

Yep you don't need lockers , but last July if you were there with ya broken 2wd 80series and a camper you would of been in all sorts of shyte ,
Things change 08 was a long time ago , there was big differences from 2010 to 2014 especially , Palm Ck and Gun Shot .

The photo of Palm creek a reply or two above is exactly what it looked like in 08 , everyone raves about Gunshot [ the difficulty ] , in 08 there were 3 ways out heading north , the very left was only able to to be done by single vehicles with 35s and lockers [a 5 /5 grade ] middle and right were a 3/5 and 2/5 grade respectively , not in any shyte at all .. that is if you know how to drive.

The photo of Palm Ck you refer to above looks like the original crossing we did in 2010 but when we got there in July last year the exit for that one was completely stuffed everyone had stopped using it .

There was alternative a little upstream that everyone was using , a lot of vehicles needed to be snatched up the last few meters of it .

I used the lockers in my Hilux and had no problems ,

Gunshot the 3 you mention are still there , I did the middle one , without any problems , I only have 225x75-16 tyres , I only saw one other vehicle use that one
All the others were using a 4th one just up stream a bit and the ruts were getting pretty deep ,

Did nolans brook last year...very deep but awesome thrill to get through

I have done Nolans without a problem , but we camped there a watched the fun for a couple of days .
It's the sandy bottom that catches ppl out , 2 or 3 vehicles can drive through no probs but the sand can get stirred up and the next vehicle will get bogged and fill up with water , saw that happen a few times .

The older trucks would just get pulled out , open the doors , let the water out and off they would go . But late model cars with computers and all the electrical crap , they would be in all sorts of trouble .

The number of times I saw blokes do the right thing , set up snatch straps , have someone on the other side ready to pull em out , then run over the strap , wrap it around the front wheel , that sort of stuff up happened a few times .

A bit off topic but relevant. Re: Water ingress on the OTT and Nolans.

We had the left hand doors repaired not long ago. The idiotic panel beater did not repair or replace the plastic membrane inside the door. We got inches of water in through this torn membrane. When home I went back to them and they "fixed" it with masking tape (shock horror) and claimed that they couldn't get the plastic sheeting, spare part and glue. I couldn't be bothered with such ignorance and fixed it myself with mastic glue and plastic sheeting from Bunnings. Gooey and messy - but sealed.

It's taken a while but the panel beaters are now out of business. Strange . . . The word must have got around. Strange . . .

Thanks Jackolux, Nolans Brook is notorious for drownings and I'm well aware of the do's and don't. Fortunately I've done a number of deep water crossings so that should hold me in good stead. Trouble is the old Troopy isn't as water tight as a young one is so new door seals may well and truly be on the cards before we leave home.

Cheers

Dunc.

Rear LSD on a Troopy? Hahahaha! LOL

True. I was desperately trying to keep it simple. Toyota lsd's and handbrakes - scotch bloody mist for too long.

gbc, the guy I'd be travelling with has the Lokka front and back. Loves the front one but says the back one takes a fair bit of getting used too.

Cheers

Dunc

Yes, that'd be about my take as well. I had a front Lokka for a fair few years in a hilux and it transformed the car. Over 200 000 I put on it and I seriously haven't got a bad word to say about them. The rear I'd be wanting to look at a more expensive Detroit or an air locker if required. Just locking the front makes a great deal of difference and allows slower approaches with a more controlled drive which the narrow gutted troopies appreciate. I've had 2 sets of air lockers too and they can be a right headache in the maintenance department. Having said all that will will most certainly get more bang for your buck by locking the rear before the front but I'd still just do the front and see how it goes first.

I wouldn't bother spending the money on diff locks. In 50 years I have never needed one. Okay I have been held up, bogged and in need of some creative track building, but no need for diff locks. Even the winch was a waste of money up until now. Sorry I did use it a few times. For pulling bushes out of the garden. But I would still put one on the car as we travel solo. CSR, deserts, Balfour (Youtube "bxjiAAKkb-s" half way through) and soon Madigans - all solo.

But diff lockers - nah wouldn't bother unless you are into extreme stuff. Not for general touring.

Have to agree with gbc , I had a Lokka in the front of a Hilux a few years ago , 200k was always there always worked , transformed the Lux .
A mate had a idenctial Hilux with no Lokka , in the Vic Highcountry when the going got serious , you would think they were 2 completely different trucks .
The Hilux I have just got rid of had 2x Air Lockers ( oil leakers ) yep they had problems .
That's why I'm getting E-lockers fitted to the new Dmax .

It's your money. We live close to the high country and have been all over it. Not stopped yet. Even got up Mt Walker without going like a mad rabbit. Some did and some didn't. Now you tell what it was.

Cheers

Yep it's my money and I will spend it on a couple of lockers and a winch plus a heap of other gear , just coz I can
I will admit some 4x4's benefit more than others from lockers .
My Hilux was one it had bugger all wheel travel it would lift wheels really easy, it was next to useless without lockers .
I call most of the late model 4x4's , like my Hilux and new Dmax , soft roaders , they need all the help they can get .
Don't think I have been up Mt Walker , where is it?
vk1dx , what do you drive .
Regards Jacko

Hey. Don't get me wrong. I get a little excited some times but by all means do as you do. We don't go up into the high country much now. Our recent trips have been to desert areas like the Simpson and the CSR and WA. Next trip is a drive along the Madigan Line of camps. All of these have been solo. I took a group to the CSG 2014 and despite my requests and ramblings they did not get a good 4WD skilled mechanical inspection and all but one broke down before even the CSG. Simple things like exposed wiring and fuel lines and a bad brake line. You really have to be diligent when you do your own mechanics. They weren't.

We have a 100 series 4.2TD auto. It's pretty basic with front and rear bars a roof top tent and a spring and shocker upgrade and bigger rubber. And kitted out (roof top tent, fridges etc) for solo long remote trips. Photo isn't up to date - we have bigger rubber and an ARB front bar now.



Here is a video of Mt Walker. That's not us but it's a good one showing what it was like in 2013. It's a bit west of Lithgow, NSW in the Sunny Corner State Forrest:

And a perfect example of how a twin locked vehicle can play and slowly pick their way through more technical lines (on side tracks that unlocked vehicles don't drive) with barely an increase in engine revs.

I think that we have different aims with 4WD. We use it to go places not to climb rocks. I wouldn't go back there if you paid me.

While we did it without all that wheel in the air stuff, I don't want the car damaged so that it stuffs up in the middle of the desert or crossing Nolans on the OTT or doing the Balfour. Especially when there isn't anyone within earshot of anyone.

Have alook at this one. At about half way the water was lapping onto the windscreen. Just a steady unhurried drive and no hassles at all. Apart from about 100 mm of water in the car because the not closed panel beater didn't put the plastic membrane in the doors.

Have a good one.

[vimeo]Balfour track solo -[/vimeo]

Not at all, we probably do similar things. More traction is always better than less as it allows slower speeds and more control, and on trucks like troopies that like to cock a wheel they are of great assistance.
I like the look of those Tarkine tracks a whole lot. Tassie is definitely on my list. Have a great day.

Mt Walker sure is serious stuff , that Hilux would of had no hope without being locked or the larger tyres . I don't run oversize wheels/tyres , it might be good in the bush extra clearance , traction but on the road it stuffs up the gearing , uses more fuel , affects braking .

Those 2.4 Hilux are a slug standard the brakes are crap that Lux on the road would be worse than a slug ,

We have plenty of rocky tracks here in Vic but since the Bush Fires over the last few years a lot of $$$ has been spent upgrading improving tracks , given time they will revert to what they were before the fires .

My last 2 , 4x4's have been auto , a auto trans and locked diff's are like magic , I can come to a complete stop on the steepest , rockiest bit of track and just drive off , can't stall , no spinning wheels , really able to look after the truck and the track , like I said most of em now are soft roaders nowhere near as tough as a Cruiser or Patrol ,

Because I don't have the clearance of the bigger 4bys , I often have to pick a very different line to stay out of the ruts the blokes with the big wheels have made , without lockers I have no hope .

Since I have had lockers for a lot of years now the winch hardly ever gets used and when it does it usually to help someone else .

I don't go looking for really rugged tracks , like I did a few years ago , but if I'm confronted by really rugged stuff and I want to go there I can , not always , everything has it limits .

My 2-E-lockers will cost $3500 fitted , first time I really need em I will just smile .

I'm about to walk out the door to go and see how the bloke fitting them is going .
Come on down to Vic , we can go bush .

Regards Jacko

I must admit having the 100 series was a bit of an advantage. Also being a recovery mech with the Army for a few years helped. Drove heaps of good offroad stuff. Training and exams for my unlimited Army licence helped. That's one like my truck below. But I must leave this. We are a bit OT and risk getting jumped on. Cheers.

Whoops, hit submit by mistake. As we towed the van in my profile pic we zig zagged across the Cape using the bypass to access various creeks. Cockatoo was another great camping spot with an interesting zig zag needed to cross it. All the creeks are in Places with plenty of pix to show you conditions - conditions back in 2008 - I guess its time to go again - next year for us . eg. Telegraph Track - Sam Creek

Warrie we'll suck it and see it. If my wife comes then it will be with a hired CT which I might leave at Bramwell Stn and tent it from there.

No doubt there are also an awful lot more bypasses than the maps suggest these days.

Agree with your comment about not wrecking the vehicle and wrecking the holiday. Our vehicles need to do a 12,800km (without side trips), return trip back to Perth so I have no plans in causing damage.

Cheers

Dunc

G'day Warren , yeah it's going ok , only have about 8.5k on it so far
Have given it a fair workout on some steep tracks the traction control worked a lot better than I originally thought it would .
But having said that it is away atm getting 2xE-lockers fitted plus Bar , winch , sliders and snorkel .
Regards Jacko

Hi Michael watched the vids the other day. What's the electrical motor like sound I often heard especially when one of the wheels was lifted?

Cheers

Dunc

Sorry Duncan,

I don't know much about those cars. I found the video on youtube and thought it was quite amazing that he took the car into some of the places he did. It certainly came out a bit battle scarred though. :-) I think a troopy wouldn't have much trouble by comparison.

That is a video clip......

I forgot to add , you can view all my crossings if you search youtube for " telegraph track great wall otl"

in 2013 the original palm creek crossing was by far the hardest

Thanks Omaa. You'll need to post a follow-up with a link to your Blog so I can have a read.

Cheers

Dunc

https://bkmcl.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/2012-cape-trip-as-far-as-musgrave-telegraph-station/.
This is the beginning so follow on at the bottom of this post