Hi everyone,
We have just returned from our
Canning Stock Route trip. We left on Friday 20 June and just returned. We caught up with our party at Ayres Rock on the Saturday. The group had just arrived from an aborted attempt on the
Anne Beadell Highway (see vehicle damages at the end). Out of the 6 vehicles that started the canning, only 4 finished the trip. This trip was fantastic and wow, talk about an experience!!!! The people you meet and can help was great. For all those people I met along the way thanks (especially Brian from
Leonora) for making this trip worthwhile.
We travelled down the
Great Central Road towards
Leonora. For those who haven’t travelled this road recently,
well what can I say, it is amazing. We called it the great Central Highway because 100km/hr was the norm. We did come across a broken down 60 series with a group of aboriginals who were on their way to Docker River. This poor family had been broken down for THREE days. No-one had stopped for them!! We gave them food and tried to get their vehicle going but to no avail. We gave them
water and some fuel and called the Docker River roadhouse who said they would take care of it. When we were trying to get their car going we actually saw a car drive out from a Telstra relay station about 300 meters away. They did not offer any assistance. We popped in at Docker River to make sure everything was ok and we were told the police were looking after them. Makes my blood boil when a car breaks down like that and people drive by .... Anyway....
We started the Canning on 26 June and can give any updates on the track people might need as I kept a pretty good diary. The stock route is getting very busy and we came across several groups a day.
The vehicle butcher list was;
1. 200 Series – The left running board got bashed,
Snorkel came off mounting point in doorway and a rear airbag (blew a 1 inch hole at the top from
well 18 to
Georgia bore),
2. 100 Series – Bash plate broke mounts (aftermarket), FWD shock absorbers faded after bad corrugations and dual battery kept coming loose from mounting point,
3. 100 Series – Bash Plate broke mounts (aftermarket),
4. GUIII 3.0TD – GPS Mount (drove like a champ but it was
mine afterall, the only problem was the mounting points on the cargo barrier kept coming loose.),
5. 1997 Navara – Long Range Fuel
tank broke mounts and split the welds. Slow leak on tyre, Rear canopy leaked lots of dust. Vehicle pulled out at
well 33, and
6. 2007 Hyundia Terrican – Steering arm snapped in two, Bash plates sheared off, Long Range fuel
tank broke mounts and dragged on ground AND the rear left when sheared off the studs 465km from
Alice springs when the vehicle pulled out at
well 33.
The biggest things I learnt from the trip are:
1. After Market equipment needs to be checked. We had two long range tanks break their mounts. The end result was these vehicles pulled out. Heavy bash plates look good but are not worth the weight for general touring, especially when they are fitted to the original mounting points. I had aftermarket equipment and checked it.
2. Buy very good batteries (AA – AAA). Don’t waste time buying bulk cheap batteries. Buy only top shelf or re-chargeable.
3. Don’t pack 200kg of spares. Take what you need. If travelling with a group, spread the
tools as this does reduce your weight. The car that had most of the problems was loaded to the roof with spares. I would recommend a FWD and Rear Shocky as these were common faults with people we met along the way. Air filters are needed (see the picture of my filter).
Image Could Not Be Found
4. Make an effort to speak with your fellow travellers. Stop and help them when they are broken down.
5. Don’t us channel 40 to describe flora and fauna as others us this channel to communicate, especially on the dunes, but you should use the CB to call ahead.
6. Take cash for fuel such as at
well 33. They have EFTPOS but it wasn’t working when we refuelled. At $3.20 a litre you will need a lot!!!.