5343 kms, across some awesome country side

Hi Sandman

Not sure if telling the facts is considered a character assassination, but here is a version.
Eric broke a shock about half between, Coober and Oodna. We arrived in Oodna around 12.00pm. We asked for the Mechanic, we were told he was out and could we wait, yep no probs. Mechanic arrives back and we were told he was back but was just having lunch, but he knew we were waiting. No dramas, we have lunch and have a look around. He then walks out side and takes off. At this stage we are basically being ignored. We finally get hold of him and explain the problem, we broke a shock, does he have a replacement or something he can or we can manufacture. We then get a lecture on suspension and why we shouldnt lift 4wds, fine thats his opinion. We explain that we are in need of this shock and does he think he has anything to suit. Another lecture on suspension and then a lecture on 4wding. He still has not let us know if he has anything to assist us. He then goes up to the back of the cruiser with his fork lift and lifts it from the towball with one fork about 5 foot in the air, the bull bar is almost touching.

!MPG:8!

He is then asked to lower the 4wd as all we would like to know if he has anything. Another lecture on suspension and tells us he needs to take measurements. We say ok, so you have something, still no answer. Eric tells him what shocks will suit his cruiser, this dude disagress and says he needs to make some calls. Before he makes calls, we ask if he has anything, still no answer. ok in total we have been here for over 2 hours, with no answer to our very first and simple question. Half an hour later he comes back and tells us what shocks Eric needs, yep they were exactly what we told him. He said he could have it here in a day or two and we could stay in the caravan park, not sure but i believe he owns that too. We so that we need to keep moving, so we ask would mt dare carry any stock of shock, we are told most definately not. Ok so we ask ig he has any old shocks we could make some thing up, yet another suspension lecture. He goes to a cupboard in the work shop and starts pulling out old and buggered shock, all about half the size we require. I spot a toyota shock about the correct lenght, look to be a front off a live axle 100's, with a pin each end. I ask what about that one and we are then told that it is a very expensive shock and it is not what we need. We then come up with cutting off the pin and adding the eye to the bottom. When are very quickly told it would never last and we do not know what we are talking about. I say to Eric, see if he will just sell us the shock and see if he will weld it for us. Not sure is the reply, not sure what?? Can you sell it to us, yes but it is expensire, its a $100 shock, rip off but fine we need it, will you weld it, not sure, need to make some phone calls to find out. 20 mins later he returns to tells us it can be done but he will not do it.. I get frustrated and walk away telling eric to get the shock and i will go find some one else. Kir and I go next door to Des, who could not do enough to help us. It is now 3.40pm and Eric is still trying to arrange to buy this shock. 4pm Eric arrives next door with the shock, and grabs the old one. We explain to Des what we need and are reassure no prob. First he checks to see if he has any shocks to save the rip off next door as he explains it. No luck, so we cut, grid and weld the eye on and are charge a mere $10 or $20. Guys from the PRH comes over and asks Des to help tune his TV, Des explains he is busy doing this shock... it was a very funny moment.

This might not sound like much but in the moment, we could have saved 4 hours very easily.

Did you notice, I wonder, does he have all his own teeth?

Mike Harding

Crazie,

From the way your post reads, I have to ask whether you had an "attitude" problem.

Not wanting to stir you up, but I would like to balance your blast at the Pink Road House.

#1 Adam and Lynnie Plate opened up the Simpson for you and me. He single handedly signposted the desert (those pink signs - many are now stolen) well before the area was handed over to NPWS. He also provided the only recovery service for the region, and provided a 1800 phone number for Simpson desert conditions before NPWS.

#2 In 1988, I took my wife and 4 children up that way, and he and Lyn spontaneously offered their swimming pool for the kids as it was a hot day - awesome.

#3 On my visits into the desert these days, they always have great supplies from frozen meat to fresh produce. Its a great shop, with great food, and pink milkshakes in a fairly isolated area.

And I guess next time you guys will carry spare shocks.

Cheers
Phil

Dear Phil

I am please that you have had a great experience at the PRH and with the people there, i make my judgements on people after meeting them, I doubt very much I had an attitude problem, but thanks for the input.

I have merely explained what happended. I have not slandered the person or the place, but rather given an insite to our experience, as have you. I am sure there are many people who have had a great experiences there, as some that have not

Thanks for the balance, but it does not change mine and I am sure Eric's Opinion. Yes the food was good and the people inside were helpful.

I carried enough shocks for my 4wd, I also supplied shock bushes, Fuel line, air hose, cable ties spare shackle bolts to other travelers we met along the way, who we did not know,but were in need.

cheers
Adam

Attitude problem ?

waiting for a mechanic for 2 hrs and still been polite ?

even when he was talkingbleep, we were still nice ,

even when he ripped us off on the shocker , we still said thank you

ok , I guess I must have a bad attitude , I need to chew tobacco and spit to fit in

Adam and Eric,

Thanks for your quick replies, and glad you enjoyed your time in the magnificent outback. I was out there about the same time as you guys, but we were doing the Hay River down to Poeppels, so wouldn't have met up.

Your original post stated "We also met some knobs, biggest one was Adam from Oodnadatta as perviously mentioned in Eric's post".

So please understand that not all of us consider people who have opened up the outback, and provide a very important essential service for the past 25 years as "knobs". Thats where I'm coming from. I've listened to Adam Plate over the years and take his advice, particularly on tyre pressures. The guy knows his stuff.

Waiting 2 hours for a mechanic is no big deal in my opinion. You must have been in a big hurry. Would you get better service in the city??

Cheers
Phil

Phil

I love the outback and grew up in rural Qld.

Upon our meeting and interaction i found him to be unfriendly, unhelpful, and generally rude to us. I am not saying he hasnt been good for other people. We actually met some guys in the Yunta pub who said a few years ago he helped them big time, but twice as many told us similar experiences, we must have got him on a bad day. My girlfriend who was with us also has made mention of how difficult he was.

I am just pleased it was not my 4wd that was lifted up by a forklift. We were not is a huge hurry, supose you just had to be there....

As i had previously said, I am sure there are many people who have had good experiences, just as there is many who many have had bad experiences, we, unfortunately had a bad one and i have just spoken about the experience we had. I am not saying that everyone should consider him a knob, but he is someone i consider to be one.

I was asked to elaborate on our experience and never asked that you share my thoughts and ask everyone to form their own opinion

cheers
Ads

Funny, when I mentioned this story at the club meeting last week, I was told similar stories about his attitude, and "willingness to help"..

I think way to much time has been spent talking about this person " I " consider a idiot and not enough has been said about the fantastic people we met along the way . My overall opinion on people living in the outback is that they are a great bunch. There willingness to help down to the trust in people they have never met before . But for " my" experience , in amongst all these nice people, there was one idiot .

Crazie,

I had to deal with the guy as well in Oodnadatta. I did found him to be quite strange but I did got some help out of him...

The MTR on my truck got hole in it on the Oodnadatta track and by the time I realised it is flat the sidewall got too hot and it was history. The tube in the tire didn't help either...

As I had only one spare for the trip we stop in Oodnadatta to get the
replacement. I asked for the tire guy and he actully got to meet us about 5 minutes later telling that he have to go somethere in 5 minutes...
Then I got the simillar lecture on us victorians making improvements for
the worse rather than better.i.e. steel rims instead of alloy one, tubes in
the tires, tire pressures, WRONG tires for the car (MTRs) and that the only thing which we dind't done to make it worse is to put the slit rims on... I found him quite funny thought after all thouse lectures...

Then I asked him if he can get me the same tread pattern tire (MTR)-
he said yes it can be done but I won't do it. The explanation was
that he will have to spend a couple of hours on the phone to organize
it and it is JUST a tire... So the only choice I had is to get tire he had
in stock (the same size but diffrerent brand/pattern) and just go without
spare and "You got 5 minutes to make up your mind cause I have to go"... Anyway I got a tire from him as I had the Simpson Crossing in front of me without the spare... Charged me $240 for the 265/75/R16 Hercules Terra Trac A/W 6ply...

Stan

Corgations from Hamilton to dailhousie were out of control lol . I am suprised the cars didnt rattle to bits lol

G'day Matt

I blew one the same place i snap the aerial due to the corrigation as Eric mentioned, the second, the wire frayed off the back of the bulb, Kir and I were in the middle of no where, pitch black, spottie in pieces and soldiering the light with a mini blow torch and solder hahaha.

The lights have never had a problem, no they are not fixed at the top, but the Jacks air bag compatable alloy bull bar shake around heaps.

Hi Greendog,

Have a great trip mate, No wasnt us that you spoke to, wished I knew there was a steak house hahaha

ADs

Whats the goss on me around the camp fire tonight?? hahaha

We cannot wait to get back up there. Say hi to everyone for us.

Ads xox

Hi John

Well thats my sand flag at Mt Dare and I have just posted tuff 80 on the fork lift after it was lowered a little, above. More pics to come

Ads

Hey Moggs

Great trip mate, will call you during the week. The windscreen got hit again, as suspected, and held up fine. Heaps of pics to Show you and Nat.

Catch up soon

Ads

Hey Bonz you seem to do "OK" in life, Cuddle "Kir" and didn't I read else where on here about you giving someone else a cuddle.
So whats the story? all these Sheila's chasing you for a cuddle or you chasing them? LOL.

Cheers mate hope all is well with you.

John, maybe you should try it, and you'll find out...;)

Lyn

Hiya Lyn is that an offer??????? ;)

Suppose Bonz could be onto a good thing.

Hi Bonz

We used about 125L ish across from Mt Dare to Birdsville, was a cruisey drive.What about my cuddles?? or manly hugs ahhahaha

Ads

Hey Bonz, thanks for the cuddles, am not feeling too well, but you have made me feel much better.xxooxxoo Kir

ps, we will chat soon and catch up too, ads

John,

Of course cuddles make the world go around, and make us all feel better.

Adam,

YOU know that you can cuddle Kir for me but theres NO way she could give you a man ly hug from me, she is just too feminine for that, Next time I will ask her to give you a kiss from me, but not one of those open mouth ones like we do.

Lyn,

CYA Tuesday for a cuddle, and I might also give you that one from John hehehehe

GWBonz

$hit Bonz you got it made, I think I will have to get lessons from you. LOL.

Cheers.

P.S. Lucky Lyn 2 sets of cuddles.

I was born Lucky John... :)

Lyn