Coopers are trying a new compound and I had the opportunity to try the tyres in the
Vic High Country last week.
The tyres are 275x65x18" S/T. The same rolling diameter as a 265x75x16" but have a lower side wall.
I did notice that when the Troopie was pushed hard into a corner there was not as much body roll.
On the tracks in the VHC I could not feel any difference. They got the Troopie through with out any trouble, and at the end of the trip there was no
sign of chipping or cuts on the tread. The trip was not long enough for a true test but for the time that I had the tyre on they were good.
I also asked Terry Smith from Coopers if the STT were the best tyre for what I am doing. He said that the ST/C would be a better option because of the compound. When I get the new tyres for next years trip I will go for the ST/C and see how they go.
While I was down in
Bright I got talking to a bloke about the
Canning Stock Route. He said that he wanted to do the trip but because he had been on the
Great Central Road and
the Tanami Track years ago in an old holden, he did not to do those roads again. I am sure the area and roads have changed in 20 years and there would be something new to see.
On the last VHC trip I had a bloke from Tasmanian, who in the week before, do the VHC trip with another Tour Company. The trip was basically in reverse to the way we go and some of the tracks he had been over the week before. What he did experience was seeing snow on Howitts Hut and a week later very dry and warm at the same place. Doing tracks in the opposite direction is also very different. Going down Herne Spur is a lot different than driving up it.
We also go up
Billy Goat Bluff Track and call in to the
fire tower. Norm, who looks after the tower, was busy spotting fires but still took time out to show the group how the fire spotting works in the area. A lot of the fire are started by lighting strikes but there are a few that are deliberately lit. If you get up there make sure you call in to the tower and say G-Day to Norm and he will show you the best office view in Australia.
Rob, the bloke from Tasmanian, drives a Discovery 3. A 2.7 Turbo diesel mid spec Disco. The air
suspension lifted the vehicle when the going got tough, but if he went too fast in low range with the
suspension raised a chime would rind out and a message on the dash would tell him to slow down or else the
suspension will be lowered. I don't know if I like a on board computer telling me to slow down when I am in low range.
I did get to have a drive of the vehicle and the traction control in that vehicle worked extremely
well. The vehicle did lift
wheels but it the vehicle kept moving, and going down some rutted tracks the vehicle didn't run away but was held back by the gearbox even though it is a automatic.
At the time I was looking at getting another vehicle and thought about the Discovery 3, for about 30 seconds and then snapped back to reality. If they could make a Troopie with its motor and the traction control of a Discovery 3. That vehicle would be worth a test drive.
Wayne