TANAMI ROAD how long does it take to do

Submitted: Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 20:34
ThreadID: 16738 Views:4008 Replies:9 FollowUps:8
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Hi every one the brother in law and my self are thinking about heading up to the GRR next may and we were just woundering how long would it take to go from the Alice to Halls creek and allso what kind of vechile preparation would one under take be fore leaving i have a/t tyers on the paj, ome susp,snorkel,duel batt, fridge i sopose there just the basic things that every one,s got but whats the one thing we need to worry about on a trip like this any replys would be great thanks peter
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Reply By: Rowler - Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 20:49

Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 20:49
Tropical strength RID insect repellant!!!!!!!!

Cheers Rowler (dave)
AnswerID: 78625

Reply By: dave487 - Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 21:04

Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 21:04
did it 4 years ago in a falcon . took 2 days
Dave
AnswerID: 78628

Reply By: Member - Nick (TAS) - Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 21:37

Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 21:37
Did it last year,camped out 2 nights along the Tanami Rd,made Alice about mid afternoon.Road was pretty bad with corrigations.Just drive to the conditions.
AnswerID: 78634

Reply By: KiwiAngler - Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 21:48

Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 21:48
I did it just over a month ago in a Toyota 100 series.

Things to consider:
sufficient water
allow 3 days of corrugations and fine dust
tape up the rear vents (if your vehicle has them)
have the windows closed and the air on re-cycled, full bore.
bulldust (easy to see but potentially dangerous)
establish 'correct speed' this you find by speeding up until the corrogation effect is at it's least effect. You can 'tune' the speed to the changes in corrogations to give the best ride.
drop air pressure in tyres and check them EVERY morning beofre starting off.
get under vehicle each day and check for loose nuts/bolts etc.
carry an additional spare tyre (at least) as well as a spare wheel. Check the spare wheel nuts once a day. Mine came loose at one stage.
Start looking for campsite about 3:30pm to allow time to find and setup before dark.
fuel at Rabbit Flats was $1:67, will be more now that oil is over US$50 per barrell.
take lots of pictures
keep sufficient space between you and next vehicle to keep dust down
turn top of snorkel to face behind you.
clean filter each day.
lead vehicle to 'talk up' on UHF, the road conditions to allow second vehicle a smoother ride.
Have fun
AnswerID: 78636

Follow Up By: Member - Cocka - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 07:45

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 07:45
ditto to most of the above.
It's not a killer road, just gets a bit corrugated sometimes more that other times.
Remember your in indigenous peoples country here and there are tribes who still camp out in the scrub, most likely you wont see them. However respect their territory, there is a 100 meter wide corridor through which the track runs so your camping shouldn't be any further than 50meters from either side of the highway.

Slow right down if you see on comming traffic & stop totally for the road trains.
Check the tyres any time you stop, and the oil (carry spare) etc daily before heading off.
In the tool kit beside a good pair of pliers throw in a roll of tie wire.
Don't aim at the big gibbers on the road, and stay out of the road side drains/dishes - they might look nice and smooth without correcations but there a stakes 'n gibbers in there waiting to rip the sides outa y' tyres.
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FollowupID: 338117

Follow Up By: Member - Nick (TAS) - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 10:58

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 10:58
Speaking of pliers and a roll of wire,we came across some "brothers" with a broken exhaust in their falcon,they had the wire but no pliers.We gave them a pair of pliers but told them not to worry about exhaust(was only tail pipe) just let it break off and keep going.Last we saw of them they were still under it trying to wire it back on.
Before our trip last year I had a new exhaust fitted right through so we wouldnt have any dramas and guess what was the only thing we broke,yep the new exhaust broke two brackets off.Wired it back up and drove about 5000kms before getting it repaired(from up the Cape to Kununurra).
So dont forget your PLIERS and a roll of WIRE.
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FollowupID: 338121

Reply By: ExplorOz Team - David - Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 23:58

Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 23:58
2 days 1068km see the trek notes if you have not already The Tanami Track.
David (DM) & Michelle (MM)
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AnswerID: 78646

Reply By: Glenn (VIC) - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 14:34

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 14:34
Does anyone know if unleaded fuel is available on the Tanami Track?

Cheers
AnswerID: 78666

Follow Up By: Member - Nick (TAS) - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 15:39

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 15:39
Sure is ,Tilmouth Well,Yuendumu,Rabbit Flat RH and Billunu.
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FollowupID: 338129

Follow Up By: Glenn (VIC) - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 15:51

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 15:51
Thanks Nick,

I looked at the Hema Desert Map series at it showed that it was, b ut with the number of places getting rid of unleaded as an option due to the problems it causes in some localities. I won't be there for a couple of years, but no harm in planning early.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 338131

Follow Up By: Member - Nick (TAS) - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 15:58

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 15:58
No worries Glenn,by then ULP will be hard to get in any outback communities but I'd be surprised if Rabbit Flat didnt stock it as its not a Aboriginal Community,saying that the old guy there carnt live forever!!
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FollowupID: 338132

Follow Up By: Glenn (VIC) - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 16:19

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 16:19
Yes Nick, unfortunately you are probably right, and that is one of the reasons I now can carry 320L of fuel in tanks on the cruiser.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 338133

Follow Up By: Bob of KAOS - Monday, Oct 04, 2004 at 11:34

Monday, Oct 04, 2004 at 11:34
Glenn,
320L - where are you going? Or how bad is your fuel consumption? Even at 20L/100km that would be 1600 km. Surely you could find a ULP bowser in 1600 km?
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FollowupID: 338212

Follow Up By: Glenn (VIC) - Monday, Oct 04, 2004 at 15:20

Monday, Oct 04, 2004 at 15:20
Bob,

I am setting up ready for long distances in WA deserts. Fuel consumption is pretty bad....20+ L/100km most times. I have the old 3F engine in the 80 Series..a real gas guzzler. I have just removed the LPG tank and replaced with Brown Davis auxillary. This gives me piece of mind for long distances without ULP being available. All I need is another mortgage extension to fill the tanks..hahahahaha

Cheers
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FollowupID: 338223

Reply By: Member - AndrewPatrol - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 17:32

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 17:32
Apparently the Rabbit Flat is a must visit even if only for a laugh. If you need to stop there they have funny hours and days too.
AnswerID: 78683

Reply By: Davo N - Monday, Oct 04, 2004 at 18:23

Monday, Oct 04, 2004 at 18:23
Did the Tanami in July this year in an EF Falcon and made Wolfe Creek Crater in a day from Alice. We didn't see much point in stopping, so just kept going. Afternoon sun was a killer, though. Road was pretty corrugated, but mostly good.
AnswerID: 78795

Reply By: Joe - Tuesday, Oct 05, 2004 at 18:11

Tuesday, Oct 05, 2004 at 18:11
Hi Peter,
My wifes sister lives at Balgo Hills, just off the Tanami Rd. A trip into Alice takes them 11hrs, if wet... and the road is damaged longer.
Joe
AnswerID: 78948

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