Innaminka and Cameron Corner

yes your are asking for trouble ,especially after the wet condition up there.

Anything may be possible but you are asking for trouble.

While some of the Merty Merty track is clay capped and excellent ( near the mine) there are several long stretches of deep sand.

The track crosses many dunes and on several the clay capping has disintegrated just over the crest into enormous potholes filled with soft sand.

As far as the Stezlecki is concerned it is a major dirt road and generally does not have a sand problem , although there are patches of bulldust where the clay has disintegrated.


The road from Cameron Corner to Tibooburra was about the worst I encountered last May , especially in Sturt National park.

The ranger had a sense of humour recapping the road as he left about an 8 inch ledge hidden by soft sand waiting for the next truckload of clay. When I hit it at about 40Kmh and flew into the air, he looked at me as if I was the silly one.

You could have no trouble with luck or you could tear the suspension out on an unseen or unexpected washout, or pitfall.

Regards Philip A

Take it easy and you will be okay if the road is dry. If wet park up for a day or two and it will be dry again. These roads are generally okay for a 2wd.

Yep. Take it easy and you will be OK. JUst dodge the bad spots on the road :-)

I have seen plenty of 2wd vehicles in that part of the world.

The manager at the Cameron Corner Store used to drive an XD Falcon.

Like all dirt roads it varies depending on how long it is since the grader was on it but unless it rains it should be no problem.

As Willem says take it slow and watch what you are doing and you should be fine.

I will be out that way myself in mid April. What are you driving Ill keep an eye out for you?

Duncs

Steve,
Tough tyres and good clearance may be an issue. The roads are a million times better than when locals drove them in early Holdens.
Depends on how much "trouble" you are capable of handling. Unless its wet there is no reason to not go.
Ian

I don't usually get into dicussions like this .

A Honda Euro Accord has 235.45X18 tyres . according to Bridgestone these have a rolling diameter of 660 MM. I think a 70 series 16 inch tyre would be on a 4WD!!LOL

A 640x13 tyre standard on FC Holden according to the BF Goodrich site has a rolling diameter of 25.3 inches or about 634MM

or only about 4% difference ( or maybe 10MM radius)

BTW the Honda Euro has an unladen ground clearance of 150MM and a full load ground clearance of 110MM according to Honda Australia. Geez I hope there are no crowns on those roads.

I think the old FC would have a LOT more than that, and what is the lowest point was usually the diff pumpkin which went up and down with the wheels, vs the Honda where the lowest point would be sump or exhaust etc which goes down as the suspension hits a bump. Some of the sand crowns on the Merty Merty are AFAIR much more than 110MM.
Regards Philip A

Regards Philip A

Can anyone suggest alternate trips in the area that would be suitable for 2wd sedan if the Merty Merty road is considered too rough? I'd like to see a bit of the area. What about the Birdsville track?

if you value youre car dont do it .Even if you did get through it would cost you a fortune in wheel alignments and Cv joints .The road can have deep wheel ruts and big rocks.