Just go back today from a quick trip. Took the hilux 3.0L (non-turbo) which had been chipped up (chose a chip that increased power and torque at 1400 - 2300rpm as opposed to highway speeds, I don't tow), and front and rear detroit true tracs installed. I'll post something in trips report about fuel but it goes like this. From
Rainbow beach filling up to 200km of Island mainly inland trekking then a trip back to
Brisbane, travelled 460km used average of 11.48L, am totally stoked as most of the 200km on the Island was spent in high range at about 1,500rpm in 2nd gear doing about 20km/hr and spending a lot of time bouncing vertically up and down. I flogged it back to
Brisbane doing 110km/hr in those zones that allowed it (this is a dual cab hilux with a high top canopy with roof racks and rod holder and 4 occupants and luggage). So I think the 11.48L/100km is a fantastic average for this vehicle. Gone are those memories of 19l/100km in the petrol prado.
I took 20L of fuel and the new yellow plastic 20L container with the side handle made it very easy to tip it in, did not need to buy fuel on the Island. I helped out a horribly bogged 120 series turbo diesel Prado (I asked had he let the tyres down, he replied yes, I thought not nearly enough and now he had just buried himself and his parents so no option but to dig) , heard the incessant beeping of a 200 series cruiser before it died on the side of the track after a ridiculously soft deep
intersection. It was travelling with a pajero that went for help. Cruiser was locked at a standstill ( or was it abandoned by a nervous driver?). And assorted others in trouble to whom I lent a friendly helping hand shovel. The inland tracks were terrible, were they graded since school holidays? no way. As previous test stated, good test for
suspension and CV joints, I counted 4 bash plates left in wheel ruts and holes in one day.
And I wasn't travelling light, had 3 German students with me, all fun, and they were very glad they weren't travelling with backpackers.
I didn't get a sense of maybe even maybe being bogged and only dropped to low range once only to make sure it was there rather than because i needed it. After numerous visits to the Island with first a Nissan Terrano 2.4l petrol and then a prado RV6, was it the diesel or the tru tracs or the chip that made it just coast through the softest deepest stuff, I dunno, but I'm sticking with this combination. Though i think it's the tru tracs, the vehicle kind of fishtailed sometimes where I know in the terrano or the prado the vehicle would have sunk, that I think was the wheels applying traction to both sides back and
forth but ultimately driving it forward. My speculation anyhow.
Ran 31" tyres at 18psi the whole trip from barge to barge.
Stayed at Dili Village. Recommend it unless you fish, the bl##dy walk to
the beach was just too much with tailor rod, dart rod, beer and bait and fish bag. The
camp site had a great volleyball court and for $5 extra a night we got a power point which took care of the 30L 7yr old waeco which of course never missed a beat.
And we could have our own
campsite fireplace which was excellent.
So this is a plug for the Sunshine Coast university run Dilli Village
campsite if you want a base that's got excellent facilities and the driveway feeds into the the first of the two inland drive scenic tracks. Long way from the cape though.
Me? I'd prefer a beach
bush campsite, but the two girls wanted the clean shower blocks.
And i implemented
my home made not so quick shade spread, cost about $50 and worked great, and I learnt to play uno from the germans when the storm hit and we didn't get wet. Consists of a square tent pole with some thingos screwed in to hold in place 3 of those fake climbing safety things people use to store keys on. Tarp rings click on to it and up go the round tent poles with guy rope. Photos will go up on my profile when I get to work to transfer the photos.
And the fishing,
well finally got round to casting a line on Sunday night, took about 30 seconds for the surf 4.0 sinker to wind up parallel to where I was standing, nothing but rip and white
water, time to drink beer and admire nature, so first fishing trip ever that I didn't catch anything. I did get one bite on the tailor line which was no doubt a 3" dart but I suppose having a line in for 20min does not count as a fishing trip.