Maree - CooberPedy

Did Oodnatta Track earlier in the year in the Troopy. Did 400km per day with no problems but 200 to 300km would give you more time.

Remember to take 2 spare tyres, 2 jacks, heaps of water, etc. You cannot drink the ater at Willam Creek - too salty but the beer is good. A CB (in car) is a must an there are repeaters over a good part of the track for emergency - look for the signs on the track letting you know the emergency channels. Cannot remeber the distance between fuel stops as we have long range tanks and did not need to re-fuel while on the track.

The X-Trail should have no problems other than maybe falling to bits on the rough roads. When we did the track, you could have driven a car over it if you were mad enough and careful.

Stevesub

I recently travelled the oodna track from dalhousie to william Creek, then headed to Woomera. An Xtrail would have had no problems at all. a week earlier the road as closed and an Xtrail would have struggled to get anywhere before the graders moved in I would guess. Conditions change pretty quickly. The road is used by a lot of 2wd vehicles a lot of the time. Just check before you set of
Phone the Pink Roadhouse for latest conditions 1800802074

Conditions change all the time.

On 1 trip I have taken a VT Calais up the Borefield Rd then the Oodnadatta track as far as Coward Springs. We only turned back due to time constraints. I have no doubt we could have gone on to William Creek and even beyond with the Calais if we had had time.

That trip we took the Calais into Arkarroola and then on the way back tried to get it into Chambers Gorge. The rocks and creek crossings (dry) beat us but I have been back since in the Patrol and I reckon the Calais made it 90% of the way....just taking a slow and careful line. The time I did go back with the Patrol we saw a Japanese couple right in the guts of Chambers Gorge with an old Nissan Crown. The woman was walking in front moving rocks etc out of the way. We stopped to help and turned out they were lost and had been trying to get out but must have kept going deeper by mistake. Hopefully we pointed them in the right direction!

To show the difference that weather can make, on another trip coming back with a hired Land Cruiser we only just made it into William Creek from Coober Pedy before the roads were closed and then had lots of "fun" on the road South the next day. Even the roads into Parachilna Gorge in the Flinders were closed that time.

I guess what I am saying is sometimes your x-trail will have no problems but other times even big brother will have trouble.

Regards
Trevor

Do I really need a UHF radio out there?
What do they cost?
Is it OK to get 2nd hand you think?
If 2nd Hand whet should I look for?
true Magoo

Yep - two spare wheels - plenty of water - reliable communications of some sort - reduce tyre pressures - DRIVE CONSERVATIVELY (speed is a big factor in tyre failure) - have a great time ! PS: The roads are 'good' through that region (in outback terms that is) - but some of the stonier sections can be a bugger on tyres.

ALl,

Ok - got the UHF - picked up a uniden 2nd hand $150
do I need a license for it?
Is the a web site to explain CB for dummies?