Heading to the pilbar Just bought a Nissan petrol

Submitted: Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 23:17
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Hi guys I am new to this sight, I am planning a 4 month holiday with my mum in her nissan rx an d myself in my nisan st 96 and my three kids, yep thats right mum and kids no hubby .

We are thinking of heading north from mount magnet and heading to spend most of our time around the pilbara near nullagine area.

I have just bought my self a 1996 nissan st petrol eletric windows. I hope it will go ok up in the bush but I opted for a petrol against deisel as deisels can be more expensive if they havn't been looked after , does any one know of any major problems that might appear in a nissan of this age.?

also we are buying all our equipment new, ie camper trailer, showers, tiolets, picks, sun tents, ground sheets, you name it every thing, so if you have some hints can you please let me know.

Also I havn't been up in the pilbara before so if you know of some camping sites we might be able to go with dogs, yes dogs, we can't not go with out them, could you advise us of the good ones or bad. Thanks guys and hope to speek to you soon. take care Kaz
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Reply By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 at 00:03

Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 at 00:03
Have you been/ are you going to the Caravan and Camping show?????

If you are in WA it is on at Belmont Park this weekend however, if you go, go early as the traffic was horendous today right up until 1pm, we got there at 9.30am and waited in line for half an hour before getting in but worse was behind us! ! ! !

Cheers

Deanna


Simba, our much missed baby.

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Reply By: Member - Alastair D (NSW) - Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 at 07:04

Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 at 07:04
Kaz,
My suggestion is to not rush into buying everything you think you need all at once. Buy the basics and then do a small trip or 2 to find out what else you need. Whilst I admit I am of the old school, more is not necessarily better. Too much stuff = heavy load and problems. Start simple and buy what you find you need not just because it looks good.

Watch the dogs because a lot of aerial baiting is done nowadays, especially in WA. Believe me you do not want to see your dog die from a bait - it is truly awful. You have little chance of saving them unless you are close to a vet. I always used to travel with my dogs but don't now because of the above and the restrictions to so many places.

Carry plenty of good water in multiple containers so you can top up with dubious water for washing and keep your known good water for drinking.

Enjoy your travels.
alastair
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Reply By: Im.away - Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 at 08:08

Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 at 08:08
I lived in the Pilbara for nine years. Some observations:

. The Pilbara is very unforgiving of vehicles and especially tyres. Have everything checked thoroughly. Make sure you have two spare tyres. Make sure you have "mission critical" spares such as hoses, belts and filters with you. And don't drive too fast. The tracks up there are more often than not stony, rutted, corrugated and isolated. If you do get into trouble it might be a day or two before someone happens upon you.

. It gets extremely hot up there,so to avoid that, the best times are between May and August where, perversely, it can get very cold at night - be prepared for that.

. During the months above, it can get very windy in the mornings - I mean very windy - it will easily blow over a poorly erected tent. A cold, very dry easterly. Pick your camping spots with this in mind.

. Speaking of tents, take a decent quality cordless drill and a masonry bit that is the same diameter as your tent pegs. The ground is hard up there and the drill lets you make convenient holes for the tent pegs.

.In your list of items you didn't mention electricity. If you are going to camp in the bush, don't forget to take a decent generator or solar set-up. Don't get one of those $99.00 jobbies from Bunnings. It will let you down.

. It's a long way from anywhere up there. Take either a satellite phone (not Globalstar with the issues they are currently having) or a HF radio. The last time I was up there neither Nullagine nor Marble Bar had mobile phone coverage.

.Here's a tip we picked up. Even in the dry there are a lot of permanent waterholes up that way. We spent $250 to buy a Reverse Osmosis plant that is small enough to fit into a fishing tackle box. We can pump water from any available source (other than seawater) and get pure, clean, safe water. It saves a long drive to town if you are getting low.

.Get a hand held GPS if you plan to do any walking. Most of Australia looks like the rest of Australia out there and the inexperienced could get lost very easily. The GPS would also be handy for navigating in the vehicle.

Make sure you have a really good first-aid kit with you. Make sure you know how to contact the RFDS by whatever means of communications equipment you take with you.

. Get a book about snakes and have a read. Too many pythons get killed by mistake. Not that you should kill any snake, but some people just don't like them around.

That's all the serious stuff. Do enjoy the scenery. Do go to Carawine Gorge if you get the chance. Even though cyclones have unfortunately torn out a lot of the trees, it is still worth a look. In that country, there are camping spots everywhere. Just respect it and leave it as you found it. Kick any rocks that look shiny. You never know! Enjoy the fuel prices .... lol.
AnswerID: 226510

Reply By: nissnut - Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 at 09:27

Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 at 09:27
Hi Kazz, definitly agree with all of the above except the caravan show. If your anything like me, youll walk in with the intention of checking out a $100 tent and then spot that $80,000 van.........spend the rest of the day........dreaming.
I may be wrong but I get the impression you and your mum are possibly new to 4wding. WE were all bunnys once, even the great Willem, but youll find a wealth of information on this site and have a lot of fun doing so.

Your vehicles are more than capable of doing this trip, the key is to maintain. Get to know your car, wash it, check it, admire it, talk to it. As suggested, get away on a small trip or two, with other 4wders if you can. Watch and Learn. Ive never met an offroader who is not willing to answer questions.

REASEARCH REASEARCH REASEARCH the difference between a great trip or a possible disaster. Sun on your face and the wind to your back.....have a great time.

Cheers, Lionel.........ps.......worry if the car talks back.
AnswerID: 226518

Reply By: Kumunara (NT) - Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 at 11:08

Saturday, Mar 10, 2007 at 11:08
Kazz44

In regard to your vehicle.

You will find the petrol a bit expensive to run and you may want to consider putting LPG on considering the rebate. If you have purchased the 4.2 ltr petrol - it is a reliable motor and well suited to LPG conversion.

Purchase new radiator hoses and fan belts. Put the new ones on and keep the old as spares.

Shockers should be changed in a 4WD periodically as part of maintenance. Check the shockers and if in doubt replace them.

Life's great and it just keeps getting better

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Reply By: Kazz44 - Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 00:47

Sunday, Mar 11, 2007 at 00:47
Thankyou so much you guys you have been so helpful, I am going to by a generator any hints here too.

Well I am one of those people that will buy probably everything and then not fit it all in but with my mum on my back I doubt very much she will let me get away with it, she is from the old school.

I have done 4wding before but about 4 years ago, bit rusty at the moment went for a cruise down the beach today to check it out, does any one know what the goe is with the hubs, I am used too free wheeling and also the ones you have to get out and lock in but this one has auto and lock written on the hub , is it a combination of the two, please advise. My car didn't come with an instruction book lol.

Thanks guys and gals

AnswerID: 226679

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