Tyres and FORD Territories

Don't get upset, I can't afford one either.

Got two flats in that area, one destroyed a tyre. Both around Birdsville and Bedourie. Had to buy a very expensive new tyre. Both flats were nails which I was sure someone was dropping all over the bush :))
Couple of years ago I had 5 flats in 5 weeks around my town. For some reason ,worn tyres seem to pick up more stuff that punctures em than new tyres.
Moral of story is take two spares BUT make sure all your tyres are in good nick before you go.

Maybe so, but I wouldn't want to trade one after it had been for a good run out there - the bottom sides would surely need a respray !

Or Pommycrap.....Uncle Bob....hahahahahaha

It's 41c in Perth today, and I just got back in the office after. I drove from one end of the Row Highway to the other (about 30mins @ 105km/hr). I saw 3, yes THREE falcons on the side of the road with bonnets up. No other vehicles were stopped....

I think I'll keep my jap crap...

ahhhh Jeff All Falcons eh? Isnt it true that all non-japanese cars all look the same hmmm????

Well the two that my missus has had from work (from new) were crap, and I'm pretty sure those 3 sets of people I saw on the side of the road today with their falcons bonnets up are probally thinking along the same lines. As are all the falcon owners I see every day of the frigin week on the side of the road. I was actually thinking today I should put a little notepad on the dash of my work car and tick "Columb A" for Ford and "Columb B" for other. I reckon I would see (and this is not a joke, no BS, fair dinkum) more falcons parked up on the side of Perth highways and freeways on a daily basis than all the other makes put together. But my little notepad idea would be interesting to see if that is actually true or not.

Maybe be something in the water over there :) I very rarely see broken down cars of any make even old clackers just seem to keep moving but then again maybe I don't get out enough.

We've got pretty relaxed rego here, if the car doesn't get pulled over by the cops it can drive for around without any maintenance whatsoever for as long as it takes to get pulled over and a work order given. I used to drive a Cortina which had a bottle of brake fluid (leaky master cylinder), bottle of water (blown head gasket), bottle of oil (leaked from every seal and blew smoke like a steam train) and a can of CRC (start you bastard!) all in the boot. I drove it for 2 years like that until I finally got a yellow sticker when I got booked for speeding. Ahhhh the TAFE days... Never enough moeny to fix the car, but always plenty to spend down the pub. :-) That beast cost me a whole $250 including 6 months rego!

We also have a lot more 35c+ days here I guess which also doesn't help. I actually started my little talley today on the way to work. So far 1 to ford nill to other. LOL
I do approx 1000k's a week so it shouldn't take long to get a good talley going...

Hi - how are you? Have passed this information on to the people.

Im fine thanks Ruth, and trust all is going well in Birdsville currently.

Am organising another desert trip as we speak, Mungerinnie start, across the Warbarton, K1 to poeppels, into Birdsville, back out and up the hay river lake caroline, to Jervois.

Have been emailing Jol regarding permits, we are looking at leaving Mungerinnie 4th of july.

any "local" info we may need to know etc you could pass on,?

will have trip planned properly and speak with you re accomodation in the next week or so.

OK, you might get back into Birdsville in time for the EO National Gathering around 9,10,11 July - some of which might happen in the SD as well.
Great trip - envy at the Hay River trip. Talk soon.

If the motor is the same as the BA Faclon (which I'm pretty sure it is) they won't last long.

I was actually impressed with the BA when we took it down south on a week long trip. (it was brand new, wifes work car). Power was good, fuel economy was not too bad ride was ok. Sure enough you can't see anything out the mirrors, there are more bilnd spots that beers in my back fridge and you always crack your head on the roof when getting in and out, and if driving into the sun just pull over for half an hour or so until it sets so you can actually SEE out the winscreen (it's on such an angle it reflects off the dash to such an extent you can barley see the road) but hey for a ford it wasn't bad. (and yes I'm a holden man from way back).

Then... 10,000kms old it started playing up. Ford say there's nothing wrong with it. It shredded a drive belt, it had a coolant leak (repaired, but now leaking again) it won't start somtimes for about 30 seconds of cranking then when it finally does it runs on about 3 cylinders and beeps and flashes lights until you give it a heap of right foot then it's happy again. Her last falcon (the older model, not sure what that was) had a stuffed gear box, a fan that sounded like a food processor, two broken electric windows, was burning oil and many other things by 100,000kms and just over 3 years old. The car was a company car and was always serviced on time by ford. Looks like this new flash BA is going to be just as reliable....

Yeah go the Territory...

Crackles, you are right about high pressures and speed. I'm not having a "go" at the Ford I did point out that it was the first we'd seen here in Birdsville (and a second one came in straight after it) but they must be carrying non-standard tyres. This happens with lots of the new "soft roaders". The people are very happy with them (in town) but are treating them "gingerly" now - out here.
As far as tyres go generally - almost always, speed and too high pressure.
You are right about the 2WD cars - and the older caravans also - said it before, you can drive anything anywhere and two something as well, just got to drive to the conditions.

Thank you - will pass on your kind words.