Just back from 4 weeks Outback!

Submitted: Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 21:35
ThreadID: 16741 Views:3910 Replies:8 FollowUps:5
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We just got back from 4 week trip through the outback, bloody fantastic!
No problems at all with the Terrano 2, towed the Track CT easily, only did one tyre & that was on the trailer. Thanks to the Corner Country Store at Tibooburra, couldn't have been more helpful, supplied 2 very good tyres, including fitting of one, all for $50.00. Would have been $150.00 each at Innamincka!
We had a lot of highs & the odd low. Highs include Birdsville, including the caravan park, the Bore Track from Cameron Corner to Innamincka & the Old Ghan Rail Trail.
Worst low would have to have been Oodnadatta, thanks to the squalid conditions at the Pink Roadhouse "caravan park" & the attitude of the owners when the bloody diesel bowser started smoking after decanting .28 of a litre. After I moved to another bowser, they wouldn't turn it on because they were worried about the 38 cents worth I already may, or may not have received.

Other problems were very minor, one apparently quite common, the terminal screws vibrated out of the car trailer plug base.
Also I had bought a new GME 6db - 9db UHF antenna kit, it kept breaking due to vibrations from the corrugations. Got sick of picking it up of the track, so I just put the 4.5db fibreglass aerial back on.

We saw many camper trailers that just couldn't cope with the conditions, axles springs etc etc, kept a record of the makes for future reference.

Generally a great trip, including climbing Ayers Rock, bloody hard work!
We found everybody more than helpful. Only black spot was the Pink Roadhouse.

I kept full records of mileages & fuel stops. I will be working all the figures out soon, so anyone wants any idea of consumption etc, I will be only too happy to help.
Total fuel cost for the slightly under 8000kms was $1500.00 with the dearest diesel $1.50 at William Creek & the cheapest $1.11 at Birdsville.
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Reply By: Member - Nick (TAS) - Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 21:51

Saturday, Oct 02, 2004 at 21:51
Glad you had a good trip,we have to wait until next year to get away,6 weeks heading up into the Kimberly region.Climbed Ayres Rock last year and plan on calling in there next year with a different mob to climb it again.
We also had a problem with the UHF ariel snapping off,same type as yours and in the end I just left the bottom section in ,didnt appear to effect preformance.
AnswerID: 78637

Follow Up By: Member - AndrewPatrol - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 17:12

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 17:12
I also got a GME aerial but one of those big fibreglass 2.1 mt jobs. Girls keep telling me bigger may not be better but I reckon bull. Aerial survived great but the coax fell out of base, make sure you cable tie (coax) it securley right next to base with a loop in it for flex. Totally agree about the colour Pink. My recommendation to people is do the Simpson west-east 'cos the other end is more welcoming after five days of dust. And what about the "Big Red" at Pub!!!!!!
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Follow Up By: Member - AndrewPatrol - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 17:14

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 17:14
Actually forgot a recommendation for general store at the other end of town in Oodnadatta. Great Hamburgers.
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Reply By: Member - John - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 08:01

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 08:01
Shaker, just out of curiousity, what brands of Camper Trailers where destroyed? I am looking for one at the moment and this information would be very helpful. Thanks in advance. John
John and Jan

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AnswerID: 78649

Reply By: Bros - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 10:08

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 10:08
Shaker,
Yeah, great trip. Same problems with the GME aerial up the Cape. Left it at 3db, what it ended up at.
Cheers,
Bros.
Work is the curse of the down and out bludger.

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AnswerID: 78653

Reply By: Phil G - Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 21:39

Sunday, Oct 03, 2004 at 21:39
Shaker,
Glad you had a great trip. Plenty more out there too.

Sorry to hear about your unhappiness at the Pink Roadhouse. Must say my experiences have always been the opposite. I've visited there about 8 times over the past 16 years, and they've always been good for a chat, fixed tyres, vehicles, even offered their pool for our kids to have a swim. Great range of food and supplies. And Adam and Lynnie really opened up the Simpson to tourists like us. You must have got them on a bad day.

Cheers
Phil
AnswerID: 78703

Reply By: Wizard1 - Monday, Oct 04, 2004 at 14:05

Monday, Oct 04, 2004 at 14:05
Shaker,
just returned to Darwin after travelling to Adelaide via the Oodnadatta track (with a Jayco caravan). One thing we worked out a long time ago, the money we have spent on preparing our van, etc for free camping has been worth it.

We dont' stay in van parks, so therefore have no complaints. We stayed 200 metres off the track 10 km south of Maree after viewing the local van park. No neighbours no noise no payment.

The water in the solar shower was a little cool but there was no waiting for the toilet. Parking was a breeze and no one complained about the generator.

Van parks have their place; some where to dump out porta potti and do our washing. But there are alternatives for those as well.......

Wizard
Darwin NT
Prado TD
Jayco Freedom
AnswerID: 78773

Follow Up By: Shaker - Tuesday, Oct 05, 2004 at 15:09

Tuesday, Oct 05, 2004 at 15:09
Like you we prefer camping in the bush or desert, but occasionally it is good to have a 'hot' shower & wash a few jocks & socks!
Don't get me wrong ... we had a great time.
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Reply By: Gossy - Tuesday, Oct 05, 2004 at 12:13

Tuesday, Oct 05, 2004 at 12:13
Shaker,

Glad to hear you had a good time. We are heading up there in two weeks. From advice from the forum here, I am planning on running 25psi on front and 28psi on rear. Is this flat enough to stop shaking my car to bits! We are heading from Adelaide to Marree, Birdsville, Innaminka, Camersons Corner, Arkaroola then Adelaide.
You used Ch18 up there to talk on UHF?
Also want to know if the wild flowers are still out?

Thanks,
AnswerID: 78906

Follow Up By: Shaker - Tuesday, Oct 05, 2004 at 15:11

Tuesday, Oct 05, 2004 at 15:11
From what I can gather the general rule of thumb is drop 10 psi all round.
I ran 28 front, 32 rear & 28 in the CT. I just couldnt bring myself to drop the rears to 28, they just looked too vulnerable in the sidewalls.
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Reply By: Gossy - Tuesday, Oct 05, 2004 at 16:29

Tuesday, Oct 05, 2004 at 16:29
yep that's fair enough. We are running skinny's with strong side walls (cooper ST's) so they don't seem to flatten out too much (which can be a disadvantage on soft sand, but good on these type of tracks!). I guess we will just play around with the pressure's a bit a see what happens.
Thanks for your reply.
AnswerID: 78941

Follow Up By: Shaker - Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004 at 18:20

Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004 at 18:20
I also have Cooper light truck ST's ....... they really copped a hiding too.
Got to say I couldn't be more disappointed with tyres!
Now done 21,000km, about 1/3 off road & they are more than half worn out, they don't really handle the gravel roads very well at all, they get very badly chopped up on the tread.
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Reply By: Gossy - Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004 at 18:34

Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004 at 18:34
big test will be in a week and a half!
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