Flinders in July (specific questions)

This is only a good idea if you have an air compressor to re-inflate the tyres, as there is a good bitumen road to take you between the sites you will want to visit and very few service stations!

Outnabout David,

Do you suggest 10 PSI in loose sand only? I thought you should then re-inflate to at least 20 psi for dirt roads. Remember that your tyre pressure need to allow for the added weight of the truck when fully loaded. I would not want to travel 80km/hr with 10 psi

regards

cj

Pipeliner,
You are right, you need an air compressor but I was assuming that anyone going 4wd would have both a compressor and basic recovery gear packed in the car. Anyone not having these basics shouldn't be going into 4wd country IMHO.We have so little time to enjoy our land

CJ,

You mis-read my post. Tyre pressures should be reduced by 10 psi. ie if you run 38 then reduce to 28 but make sure you reduce speed accordingly.We have so little time to enjoy our land

Thanks Peter. I'll pass this info on. I noticed on the weather reports the other night that Bourke got down to -4 and Cooma was -8, so I expect it will be getting pretty cool out there.

I'd forgotten to mention Wilcannia to him. Thanks for the reminder.Talk is cheap ...
Rohan (Sydney)

Thanks Richard. I'd appreciate that. He intends to visit Hawker, Wilpena and Arkaroola, but generally stay in the eastern and northern regions.Talk is cheap ...
Rohan (Sydney)

Thanks Publican. I have PolyAir in the back of the Pathfinder (coils) and find they do their job well.

Did you have them fitted, or do it yourself? Ever had any problems with the bags in terms of damage (from rocks, etc)? Have you retained the standard leaf springs?Talk is cheap ...
Rohan (Sydney)

Rohan,,Fitted polyairs myself, from memory took one to one and a half hrs and 5/6 stubbies,,still on original leaf springs and shocks also,,tow a camper trailer every 4th week,,weighs in at 750kgs loaded,, 22lb in polyairs and would not know trailer is there if I didnt see it in the mirror,, as for tyre pressures in the Flinders ?? can vary from normal h/way pressure down to soft sand, back to way high to stop straking,, we followed one supposedly "easy" track and had to change air pressure 6 times in 56klm,,, as for " local " advise on tyre pressures it seems to vary more that the weather in a single day in Melbourne,, was told soft at Marree ,hard at Mungerannie,soft at Birdsville, so who knows,,shredded a tyre 20klm from Mungerannie ,, 2 punctures [ flint thru the thickest part of the tread ] inbetween Mungerannie and Birdsville,, its more like luck of the draw,, all tyres were new with less than 5,000klm...

Thanks Publican. I forwarded your response to him and he was glad to hear from an Explorer owner. It seems you guys are bit like Pathie owners - the ones that actually use the 4x4 capability of the vehicle being few and far between).

Talk is cheap ...
Rohan (Sydney)

Thanks Kezza. Funny, isn't it. You'd think with some of the issues we face 4WD'ing, there'd be a right way and a wrong way, and that's true for a few things. But with many, like this, it seems everyone has their own ideas on the best method, which seems to work for them while others have directly opposing views and that seems to work for them. I guess it depends on so many variables, such as track type/condition, vehicle set-up/weight, tyres, weather, driver skill and personal preferences.

I've recommended he get himself a reasonable (but inexpensive) compressor, so he'll be able to suss it out for himself.
Talk is cheap ...
Rohan (Sydney)

Rohan,

What Kezza said about the locals going for the high pressures is the norm for the opinions in the area.

Personally, I think the use of the round thing in the drivers hands is what is more important. Apart from sand and other extreme conditions over a short distance the reduction of pressure is fraught with dangers.

A tyre at lower pressure builds up heat (bearing in mind that on such a trip you are running near maximum load). The heat generated in a tyre is a function of speed, pressure and load. (The old truckies used to run higher pressures so they could carry more load without having as many blowouts. For a given load the tyre will run cooler if a higher pressure is used)

If lower pressures are used it is essential to reduce speed. Otherwise the heat buildup can reduce the tyre life.

I have over the years travelled extensively in these areas in both 4WD and Passenger based vehicles and have always run "standard" tyre pressures.

I have seen the damage people do.
However, personally I have never damaged a tyre through the tread although in a car I have done damage through the sidewall.
(it was a hired one!! with crappy baggy radials - anyone rember the old uniroyals )

To my way of thinking the issue is a trade off between standing the sidewalls up and taking a harder knock on the tread.

I am with running slightly softer within the manufacturers recommended range for the tyre but keeping an eye on what this does to the shape of the tyre.

Speed also plays a part as well - it is a case of driving to the conditions - those who pass me seem to have more problems. (I must say that I do not wear a hat and make good time nothwithstanding.) I cannot really give any guidelines except to say that roads in these areas are not freeways and as such do not expect to do 110kph on them.

A tip I could suggest is to listen to the rocks flicked up by the tyres hitting the underbody and then drive to this (ie the rattle of small gravel is OK but loud thumps are not). In conjunction speed should be such that if need be you can drive (not swerve!!! or have to continually brake sharply) around rocks with comfort.

However, use of the round thing that the driver holds and travelling at the right speed is far more important.

Regards

PeteG

the hut can be hired out by contacting Balcanoona rangers quaters. Hut has hot and cold running water together with 24 volt lighting and gas cooker and if your like us Crayfish for 3 nights as entree.Geez were spoilt!!!Richard