SA Outback Road Status - What exactly does 4WD only mean?

'Towing' would mean 'towing' wouldn't it?
Also most 4x4's these days are around the 2500km mark, add passengers, your gear and a trailer and suddenly you are well over the magic 3000 kg mark too.
The signs aren't written in legaleze, I think they are clear and although I haven't been able to find a link to the relevant legislation the options are:
4WD Open to 4WD vehicles under 3 tonne only (no towing)
4WD / HV Open to 4WD and Heavy Vehicles
I'd say being over 3000kg and towing, you would come under the 4WD/HV class and have to wait for it to dry a bit more, although many just push on anyway.

But, keep in mind that if you are on a closed road (or a road that is closed to your class of vehicle) and your camper trailer overtakes the tow vehicle, the insurance company may choose to wash their hands of the whole incident.

When we were on the road in Birdsville in late June I actually managed to find a number to call at SA-DPTI to speak to a human. I'll go back through the call log on the mobile and see if I can locate it.
I'm fairly sure though that the SA-DPTI "no towing" trumps anything listed elsewhere, as they are the controlling authority.

Edit: it MAY be 1800 802 074 but no guarantees.

Also in terms of reaching Innamincka, ring the Inna Pub for the latest "on the ground" info. SA Roads, sitting in the comfort of their Adelaide office, base their opening/status decisions on rainfall etc info fed to them by stations, while the pub will have the latest physical info.

As an aside, even when all roads into Innamincka are reopened, expect the Dig Tree access to remain problematic for a bit.

Murphet Hi,
If the roads are closed or borderline why risk it. Country people hate their roads being chewed up unnecessarily.
By two families I presume You mean with kids! Could think of nothing worse than getting stuck in a mud hole with a peed off wife and a couple of bored kids for three or more days. Holidays are meant to be enjoyable and plans can be changed to suit the conditions.
My sixpence worth.
Mike.

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies. If I was going to risk it I wouldn't have bothered asking for clarification. We are already working out alternative routes but still feel it's worthwhile ensuring we have all the information so that we can make informed decisions when the time comes. Do we reverse our trip now, do we decide next Thursday, when is it to late to change routes etc etc.

As an example at the moment the DPTI site lists "Strzelecki Track - Merty Merty to My Hopeless" as 4WD (Yellow) with notes that read:

The road from Mt Hopeless to Moomba is open to the weight equivalent of a single semi only, with caution at soft sections

I am not 100% certain what they mean by a Single Semi. Is that a Prime Mover/Cab and a Trailer? Or just a Cab? I would presume there's more than 3 tonne there. So a bit ambiguous.

Then their text/pdf version of the reports make no mention of the definitions either.

Anyway, for now we'll cross our fingers and hope that the weather fines up and the roads dry up enough by early next week.

Thanks

In 2014 we were caught in a single day rain between Merty Merry to Cameron's Corner then held for 4 nights. No Towing was exactly that single vehicle only.
If you do head that way include time in the schedule if roads are closed. If you get through without problems, you have extra time sightseeing.

I wonder how many cars with 4WD would be under 3000 Kg? There wouldn't be many would there?

My guess is that a standard 4WD, not an AWD, with minimal "stuff" and that includes a tool kit, a bit of recovery stuff, some camping food/tent/swag gear, maybe an esky or fridge, a full tank of fuel, a jerrycan of water, and don't forget body to drive and a passenger to keep the driver awake, would be over 3000 Kg.

Seems like the 4DW (less than 3000Kg would not see much traffic other than local "empty" cars. Nothing against the locals okay so don't go down that track. oops a pun.

We joined Phil in the pub and waited. 100 series and three bodies, no camp stuff, two tanks of fuel, a fridge, winch, steel bullbar/rear bar and side steps.

Phil

Some of this may help.

One thing I have always wondered about - is the 3000kg limit tare weight or GVM?

Hi Murphnet

Apart from your specific question, which appears to have been covered by others, these roads do dry out quickly.

I'm assuming you are going down the Moomba Road from Innamincka towards Arkaroola? This is a major road servicing the oil and gas fields so providing there is no more heavy rain I would still move towards your planned objective and review whilst underway. I have always found that the best approach unless rain is torrential and not looking like it will ease up in the time I plan to be in a certain area...(if that makes sense!)

Are you going into Arkaroola the back way via the North Gammon Ranges and past the talc mine? A very scenic route...

Enjoy your trip, and feel free to email me (email under profile) if you would like any further information, we love that whole Corner Country Area and happy to share our experience.

Cheers, Baz - The landy

FWIW We've done a number of the SA desert tracks when classed as 4WD only in our Forester towing a light CT without any drama. It's slower going (and fuel use goes well up) due to ruts, diversions and ponded water but traction and clearance have almost never been a problem.

The only tricky times were on the Balcanoona to Strez track (so that's the NE access to Arkaroola). One was due to driver error. The other was just south of the Strez junction where the water sits for quite some time after rain. 'Proper' 4WDs were having trouble there and getting through was a matter of technique. And stay on the track; don't try to go round the ponded water.

Good luck with your trip. It's great country out there.

Rain and dirt roads the variables are many , Friday afternoon we had 2mm in town as the storm passed through , property 5km out of town copped 26mm out of the same storm …..

When we went to Birdsville for the Big Red Bash there were many road closures and confusion over the levels of closure.
At that stage the yellow category read "4 WD under 3 tonne"
I made enquiries with the authorities in Pt Augusta who control the closures and was told that the weight was the CGM.
The listing on the site has now changed to read "4 WD under 3 tonne (no towing).
It is pretty clear now what that means. NO TOWING