Fuel and travel distances around Oz

Submitted: Thursday, May 03, 2007 at 15:03
ThreadID: 45055 Views:3103 Replies:4 FollowUps:7
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Gday again,

Heading off around oz in couple of months in my petrol 80 series landcruiser towing an off road camper trailer and wandering if I should install a new long range tank (165 ltr) to replace the existing sub tank of 45 ltr's. As its quite expensive (and heavy when full) compared to a couple of 20 ltr jerry cans ill be taking in the CT, would I really need it ?

Currently getting around 680 klm's out of both tanks around town so prob 350-400ish if 4wdriving. Plan on doing the Cape York, GRR, Cape York, Fraser, etc.

Whats roughly the longest distance between fuel stops when circumnavigating OZ that I should allow for??

Cheers in advance
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Reply By: Member - Kevin E (QLD) - Thursday, May 03, 2007 at 16:55

Thursday, May 03, 2007 at 16:55
Birdy,

I don't fell that you would have any real problems with your rig and two or three jerry cans. Circumnavigating the country you will be mostly on formed roads with reasonable access to fuel.

There is an excellent 'map maker' at Travelmate.com.au where you gan easily learn the distrances between towns when entered into their system. Simply have a look and see if there is anywhere on your route where the distance between towns looks excessive. You won't have any trouble up the east coast, Fraser Island, Cape York, Savannah Way it's only through the deserts that may give concern.

I'm not a big believer in long range tanks, you have to way up cost of tank, number of excessive length stints in a trip, extra consumption carrying heavy fuel. You may pay a higher price for some fuel in outback areas but that extra cost would never amount to the cost of installing and maintaining a long range tank.

Kev
AnswerID: 237680

Follow Up By: Russ n Sue - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 05:38

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 05:38
You're kidding right? Just being able to drive past Nanutarra will save you the cost of an LRT! My 106 litre LRT has added 0.2l/100km to my average fuel usage. My fishing tackle weighs more than the tank full of diesel does.

I think that LRT's come into their own when undertaking trips such as a circumnavigation of Oz. There are plenty of places you just want to drive past rather than pay their fuel prices.

For weekend warriors and once a year trippers, not such a good idea, but definitely good for a circumnavigation.

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Follow Up By: rbt - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 11:48

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 11:48
On normal factory tanks and factory fitted subs etc.. when you stop for fuel there is always good reason for it.

in the end, i dont think we can save money by doing said trips, but why cart 100 extra liters so you cant stop and smell the rosess...
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Follow Up By: Russ n Sue - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 12:17

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 12:17
I agree with you about stopping for a break and we do, but we don't stop and smell the diesel. We stop away from the servos we bypass and really smell the spinifex. Even with the law of diminishing returns, it is cheaper to carry the extra fuel to go past the places that practice robbery without violence.

I'd rather have it under my car than in jerry cans inside the car with me. My choice. I had a jerry can leak in the back of my jackaroo once and the fumes hung around for months. The alternative is to carry it on the roof - but not for me. Too much weight, too high.

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Follow Up By: rbt - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 12:55

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 12:55
yerr... but who doesnt practice robbery witout violence

and Birdie's has the option of storage on the trailor..

after 35yrs driving Ive finally got a old 4x4 camper-van, nowadays i stop everywhere ...lol..
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Reply By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Thursday, May 03, 2007 at 21:49

Thursday, May 03, 2007 at 21:49
See my post No 45006 for some distances from Gold Coast to Katherine.

Check out the following link

Map maker site for distances

Pedro
AnswerID: 237779

Reply By: rbt - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 01:31

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 01:31
Heya Birdie - hows Greenie but do go the jerrys...

I did a trip with LRT"S loaded up like Mad-Max and with the money spent it was just sad passing all the service-stations..

and the ride and fuel economy will be that adversly affected with extra weight not giving you the range excpected

AnswerID: 237805

Follow Up By: Birdy - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 10:11

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 10:11
Whos Greenie ??

Thanks for the reply
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Reply By: Platz - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 08:32

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 08:32
Hi Birdy,
I did trip last year approx 20,000klm albeit deisel but had a 133 ltr lrt. Glad I did. Did 1600klm through GRR, Mitchell Falls etc and was able to pick and chose where I filled up. In some places just topped up when price was high. I was pulling off raod camper. Would definately go with the bigger tank. Hope this helps
AnswerID: 237830

Follow Up By: Birdy - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 10:14

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 10:14
Agree with what your saying however for approx $1200 installed prob gonna take a long time to recoup the initial cost. Every penny counts at the moment !!!!

Cheers
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Follow Up By: rbt - Friday, May 04, 2007 at 12:02

Friday, May 04, 2007 at 12:02
wiki doesnt take into account drive-quality, price vs vehicle and when it was made/when bought...nor gas

AND by buying a lower cost petrol-vehicle than what you could have actually afforded in diesel actually takes you out of the argument anyway..lol...you are already ahead..

Site Link

Diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline (petrol) engines of the same power, resulting in lower fuel consumption. A common margin is 40% more miles per gallon for an efficient turbodiesel. For example, the current model Škoda Octavia, using Volkswagen Group engines, has a combined Euro rating of 38 miles per US gallon (6.2 L/100 km) for the 102 bhp (76 kW) petrol engine and 54 mpg (4.4 L/100 km) for the 105 bhp (75 kilowatts) diesel engine. However, such a comparison doesn't take into account that diesel fuel is denser and contains about 15% more energy. Adjusting the numbers for the Octavia, one finds the overall energy efficiency is still about 20% greater for the diesel version, despite the weight penalty of the diesel engine. When comparing engines of relatively low power for the vehicle's weight (such as the 75 hp engines for the VW Golf), the diesel's overall energy efficiency advantage is reduced further but still between 10 and 15 percent.
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