Advice on remote travelling.

I guess that's the attitude I've taken so far. Plan as much as you can in terms of vehicle set up etc and hopefully you'll stand the best chance of the trip not going pear shape but you're right that's always a possibility!
Thanks for the advice!

Yeah probably, on the maps I have it's called the Birdsville track and it goes from Birdsville south to Marree. We were gonna take the Outside track. Running a '94 80 Series on 33" Goodyear MT/R's. From what I can see most people run them at 28 to 30psi on gravel but I don't really want to get into a debate over tyre pressure right now! haha!

Hi JW,

That's definately the attitude we're taking. My truck is a '94 80 Series with UHF and 2nd spare. We're gonna hire a Satphone and we're yet to purchase the CT. I have thought of most of the things you mentions but there's efinately a few there that I hadn't so I'll add them to my checklist!

Thanks for the tips! ;-)
Scoey

Scoey,
When you do buy your CT, if you can't match the wheels exactly, at least get hubs on the trailer with the same stud pattern. Gives some piece of mind knowing that the trailer spare will provide you with an emergency short term spare for the 4WD.
Another excellent investment is a cargo barrier. Makes packing so much easier and safer.
Jon W

Jon,
Most of the CT's I've looked at will build the trailer to suit the cruiser wheels and track width if we go new, but if 2nd hand is the go then that'd be something that'd i'd be looking for.
Cheers
Scoey

Hi Scoey and lots of advice on Comms,trailer, tyres etc but you also asked of possible route. Give a thought to heading to Alpha, T/L to Blackall via Yalleroi, free camping at Blackall in the reserve and hot showers and toilets just off the main Street. from there to Isisford where tourists are encouraged to camp on the banks of the Barcoo and again hot showers in the middle of town provided by the local council. From there west to Stonehenge and south to Jundah and Windorah or alternately go south from Isisford to Emmet, T/R and down via Yaraka, Welford Lagoon and then to Widorah and on to Birdsville. We have done these runs a number of times and enjoyed them all. Have a great trip and just take care.

Cheers beachbum, your suggested route sounds like it's worth checking out! My gf reckons it's obvious that you've been travelling with a wife or gf yourself - with the mention of the hot showers! ;-) Hey they sound good to me too! Thanks for the advice!
Scoey

bloody hell! Scary! Would love to invest in a HF set but i think for our first few trips the budget won't stretch that far. We'll probably hire a Sat Phone and obviously carry as much survival gear as we can (practically) in the event that everythign else goes bad!
Cheers Gossy!

Scoey

As an ABSOLUTE MINIMUM, spend $250 on an EPIRB.

A Satphone will cost you up to $200 per weekto rent.

Mike

Oh ok! I didn't think they'd be that affordable!? Will look into it! Thanks Mike!

Come on Mike. Surely you're not suggesting the first thing to buy is an EPIRB;-) As an absolute minimum if you can't afford decent tyres, suspension, communication or maps. As an absolute minimum if you can't be bothered learning navigation, driver training & bush mechanics well..........just spend $250 on an EPIRB & have the Tax payer come and search for you when it turns pear shape. (Sarcasm)
An EPIRB is not a preparation for a trip, it's a cheap way out for the ill prepared.
Cheers Craig.............

Craig, I'm not sure who you're having a go at here. Mike or me? You can safely assume that my rig has decent tyres (Goodyear MT/R's) suspension (OME) and as stated above. long distance comms and detailed maps. You can also rest assured that I will be doing all the preparation possible before this trip so your tax dollars should be safe. We all have to start somewhere however and if a $250 investment is all it takes for me to carry an EPIRB then really, that's not bad advice for some piece of mind. If on the other hand you were having a go at Mike then I think he was just trying to give some advice. Have a bit of a poll for all the Forumites who have EPIRBS in their rigs... I reckon you'll find it;s the blokes(and ladies ;-)) who have been travelling for ages with VERY well set up rigs that are more likely to have them! Thanks anyway but! Scoey.

"Come on Mike. Surely you're not suggesting the first thing to buy is an EPIRB ;-) " (I did note the smiley)

You could buy the strongest tyres, biggest winch etc in the world. Or you could buy a 30 yr old two wheel drive with regrooved tyres.

EITHER WAY, you can still be stranded in remote areas - flooding, bogged, breakdown, rollover, animal strike.

If you set off an EPIRB a search will started within a few hours - if you don't have an EPIRB the search may not be started for a week. I f you have an EPIRB they will find you in half a day - without an EPIRB there is a good chance they will NOT find you while you are still alive.

There are countless cases where people who were well prepared - or badly prepared - dying in remote areas.

Having been involved with Search & Rescue organisations for the last 35 years, I am concerned by the number of cases of walkers close to major cities, who got lost without an EPIRB, and who are found purely by good luck (rather than due to a large or a well managed search)

On re-consideration, I am SERIOUSLY suggesting that the FIRST Thing you buy if travelling in remote areas is an EPIRB. What you have left after that massive $250 investment - you can allocate to tyres, water tanks etc.

Mike

"just spend $250 on an EPIRB & have the Tax payer come and search for you when it turns pear shape. (Sarcasm) "

- WRONG, ask anyone in a Search & Rescue organisation. The correct answer is -

"just spend $250 on an EPIRB and SAVE the the Taxpayers huge amounts of money by avoiding a huge (occasionally unsuccesful) search, when it turns pear shape (which despite the best of equipment and plans, it can do)."

Mike
NSW Volunteer Rescue Association
NSW Rural Fire Service

Australia has led the world with initiatives that reduce road fatalities -
- Compulsory Seat Belts
- Enforcing Alcohol limits.

If we extend the "EPIRBs are dangerous" philosophy, then let's extend this by lobbying the government to ban Car Insurance.

Can you imagine how safely everyone will drive, when they have to accept that when they have a prang, they will have to pay the whole lot, rather than being bailed out by the safe (no-accident drivers).

;-)

Mike

Scoey. I'm certainly not having a go at your preparations for the trip, to the contrary as it seems you have many of the bases covered already. Your assumption though that those "who have been travelling for ages with VERY well set up rigs that are more likely to have them" is not really the case in my experience. Despite extensive remote area trips with many experienced groups, no one I travel with has seen the need to carry an EPIRB rather instead relying on their own communication, first aid & emergency gear so they can get themselves out of trouble, or if it's serious have direct communication with emergency services so there is no delay & wasted recourses in a large search.
Even though I don't personally see an EPIRB as a necessary option for a 4x4, (more for remote bushwalking & boats etc) I'm certainly not saying don't carry one, just don't think you can skip any of the other preparations cos you have one.
Cheers Craig.............

“EPIRB’s are dangerous” Let me check Mike………………. Nope….I don’t seem to remember even remotely suggesting that in my followup.
What I did have issue with though was the priority you’ve given them by “SERIOUSLY suggesting that the FIRST Thing you buy if travelling in remote areas is an EPIRB” I personally see it the exact opposite. 1st I plan a trip, acquire the necessary skills, prepare the car then lastly put contingencies into place to cover the “what ifs”. For some people that may be an EPIRB, for me despite many remote trips I haven’t seen the need for one yet choosing instead to get ourselves out of trouble or avoid it in the first place.
“There are countless cases where people who were well prepared .........dying in remote areas.” For a moment there I thought you were an EPIRB salesman closing a deal :-)) Can’t say I’ve heard of any well prepared four wheel drivers dying in the last few years but feel free to expand with some specific details. (even 1 case will do) It’s not that I don’t believe you just you seem to be exaggerating again. Countless= Endless, infinite, untold. (Macquarie Dictionary)
Cheers Craig……….