Oodnadatta Track

Yup...

Brian
Possible? Yes - maybe - depending on the conditions at the time. A lot of the locals out there use 2 wheel drive vehicles. But that doesn't mean it is always suitable for towing an on-road van. I have been on it when we have battled to average 20kph because of washaways, corrugations or various other problems that can arise out there. I have also been on it when you could describe it as a highway. On average I would say you could probably get through as long as you take your time and are very careful about tyre pressures and observing the road directly in front of your wheels. Would I recommend it? Definitely not!!! Your problem is this - Your trip is too far away to be making that decision now. In your case with such a big van I would suggest you make the inquiry when you get to Port Augusta about the road conditions and make the decision then. Things can change overnight in that area and yours is a very big rig to be asking the guy from the Pink Roadhouse to come and rescue you. And when you make your inquiry be sure to ask about both roads - The Oodnadatta Track AND the William Creek to Coober Pedy Road. They can very often be in very different conditions.

teege

Anything's possible. Especially if it's someone else's van.
Seriously, the road condition varies like most bush roads. It IS a road, but corrugations and gibber are normal, and lots of people air down to 25 PSI and slow down to 70 without a van. I would not even consider it with a road van, and, if you do, protect the back of your LC from damage from stones bouncing off the van. Having said that, at times and in places the road is smooth, well graded. If you cut back to Coober Pedy from Oodnadatta you'll avoid the stretch to the North of Oodnadatta, which can be a bit iffy. I don't recommend you doing the Painted Desert loop with a 22ft van on the back, even tho it is a fantastic place.

Elsewhere on this website is a section on road conditions that is updated regularly. I've been checking it often as research for covering that same route later in the year.

IIRC the Ood from Marree to William Ck aint the best after rain and has often been posted then as 4WD only.

Brian - was on this road recently with off road camper - From Leigh Creek to Maree no problems at all - Marree to William Creek you would have to reduce your speed somewhat especially on the William Creek end.


Now from William Creek to Coober Pedy I would not have a clue as I did not travel that road - there was a lot of vans in William Creek when we were there. Spoke to a guy who had just brought an off road van from Coober Pedy with a troop carrier and he advised that the single axle van travelled well.


A J

William Creek to Coober Pedy might be difficult for a road van. Certainly check conditions before hand and take your time.

The main issues a road going van could have are tyre, stone & corrugation damage. Most simply aren't built strong enough, have decent tyres or suitable under body protection for such a stoney road. (Particually after William Creek)
Cheers Craig.............

Make sure you tape up your back windows with card board on the car or they will get smashed

Having just done Marree to Oodnadatta then to Coober Pedy. It can change quite quickly so it is impossible to say what it would be like next year.
We have done it with an off road Kimberley Karavan with no problem especially letting drive and Karavan tyres down to just under 30 psi and dropped speed to no more than 70km/hr on the best and as low as 10 km/hr on some bad corrugations in the Painted Desert.
The Oodnadatta coober Pedy road at present would be no problem but who would know in 12 months.
Cheers
DW

Thanks for the posts so far,sounds like none of the posters have done it
I will have to play it by ear until we get into the flinders ranges, just didnt want to back track if i can help it.
Cheers Brian

Did the Oodnadatta track about a month ago,to William creek was not to bad a bit rougher to Marla, don't know about the road to Coober pedy but there were a few people that said it was not to bad the time also the road was being graded , We stayed at william Creek and there were quite a few road vans there, take your time, drop your tyre pressures drive to the conditions and enjoy your trip.
Regards
Greg

Brian,
We did this trip in May 2008, towing a 20ft Kedron XCountry which has a heavy duty suspension. Firstly the road is a formed road and in places quite a good road. At May of 2008,have no idea what its like now.
We travelled okay but the corrugations and gibbers in places were quite bad in other places the road was okay for reasonable stretches. We did find the last 80klms towards William Creek badly corrugated and after enjoying a smooth stretch and allowing our speed to build up I was "asleep at the wheel" when we hit a bad patch of corrugations at about a speed of 80klm . The noises from gibbers etc hitting under the van was not enjoyable and I feared the worst. Turned out we had cracked some welding underneath but went on to WilliamCreek and then Coober Pedy. The road across to Cooberpedy at the time was quite good. On reaching William Creek I spoke to travellers in a off road camper trailer re conditions ahead and they advised against. We then opted for the Coober Pedy section which had at the time about 30klms of bad corrugations with the remainder reasonably okay.
I intend one of these days to do the trip again but would I do it in a road van? The answer would be no. From memory in the event of a complete breakdown I cannot think where help would come from. Marree is quite a way off as is Coober Pedy and the tenants at William Creek hotel seemed to consist mainly of European back packers. In fairness though we only stayed the night
Jim

Brian
granted this is second hand info, but I have seen the damage.

A friend was up that way in June this year and the damage underneath his single axle on-road van was extensive, due to flying rocks etc, as well the front of the van now looks a bit like the moons surface. He had a stone guard on the front of his van but obviously not an effective one. His speeds were slow due to corrugations, and him being a fusspot.

I guess it all comes down to how much you respect your van Brian, but it will get some degree of damage on such a road, as to how much will depend on you and the roads condition at the time of travel.
Cheers, Colin.