Strzelecki and Oodnadatta track

Submitted: Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 07:55

ThreadID: 79076 Views:5363 Replies:6 FollowUps:6

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The Varmints

We're a family of six going on a four week holiday. We plan to travel from Texas across to Innamincka then down the Strzelecki and along the Oodnadatta tracks. We have a Jayco Swan Outback and are wondering how this will hold up on the roads?

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Reply By: Fab72 - Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 09:09

Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 09:09

Hi Varmints (love the screen name).

Having done the Oodnadatta, I'd say no problems. Just watch out at the creek crossings and take it easy through them. Secure loose objects, all the usual stuff. But for the Oodnadata...no problems at all.

As for the Strez....never done it before but I'd aire on the side of caution and take it easy given the amounts of water they've had up there, the road is bound to be carved up a little.

AnswerID: 419609

Reply By: pmk03 - Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 09:27

Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 09:27

Have travelled both the Oodnadatta & Strzlecki tracks in a Jayco Eagle Outback with no problems, Just take it easy & check road conditions before you leave.
The road in to Innamincka from the east is marked as 4WD only at the moment & south to Lyndhurst has a warning on it currentlly.
There has been a lot of rain in the are so I would say these roads might be a bit chopped up. They are normally not a very challenging drive but as said check the conditions before you leave.
Driven sensibly as long as the roads are open you shouldn't have a problem, Go for it...... It will be a great adventure!

PMK

AnswerID: 419613

Reply By: Butch58 - Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 13:14

Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 13:14

HI Varmints,
we towed our Jayco Eagle Outback up to Innamincka, to Birdsville,down the track to Marree, up to Oodnadatta and across to Coober Peedy with our 4x4 and had no problems.
The only advice I can give is have stone protection ( mud flaps on tow rig and even stone guard on van ) as we did a fair bit of damage under the van, shockers, water tank guard, wiring to electric brakes and gravel sand blasting chassis, all could have been prevented if we had fitted guards.
Dust can be a problem so we fitted covers over door vents with Velcro ( not fridge vents as this is not recommended ) and when we were travelling we covered bedding etc inside van with old blankets so when we set up we only had to remove them and shake them outside, easier than removing everything from van if dust gets in. We also packed our clothes in sealed 40 litre stackable containers this kept them dust free, they are easy to pack inside and if you have to leave them outside they are weather proof.
Have a great trip cheers Butch.

AnswerID: 419643

Follow Up By: Crackles - Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 13:42

Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 13:42

"...we towed our Jayco Eagle Outback ....... and had no problems."
"..... we did a fair bit of damage under the van, shockers, water tank guard, wiring to electric brakes and gravel sand blasting chassis."
"Dust can be a problem ....... We also packed our clothes in sealed 40 litre stackable containers to keep them dust free."

Gee Butch, I'm glad you had no problems as I'd hate to see the Jayco if you had a bad run ;-))
Outback by name but not by nature. Even Jayco themselves don't recommend you tow them out there on rough roads!
Take it steady Varmints, the road can & does chop up pretty bad at times.
Have a great trip cheers Craig..............

FollowupID: 689832

Follow Up By: Butch58 - Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 14:51

Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 14:51

Hi Crackles,
get your point !!!!! but a mate of mine that travelled with us towing a purpose built off road camper trailer did as much if not more damage than we did to our Jayco , including a broken rear window on 4x4 and slashed tyre.
The point I was trying to make is prevention is better that cure and if we both had fitted stone protection most of the damage could have been prevented and as for dust there aren't many vans 100% dust proof in those conditions.
As for Jayco Outback vans I have nothing but praise for them, to be able to buy a $20.000 van that can go most places and sleep 6 ( even though it cost me every bit of $250 and a few hours to repair after rugged 4,000 ks of off road work ) is a great achievement when the other option is to spend $40.000 on a big name off road rig that doesn't do a lot more unless you are doing the CSR or Simpson Desert, cheers Butch

FollowupID: 689841

Follow Up By: pmk03 - Sunday, Jun 06, 2010 at 09:14

Sunday, Jun 06, 2010 at 09:14

What Butch said x 2....

I should have mentioned that I have modified mine to improve the off road protection. This includes a better replacement water tank guard (that also protects all the outlets & inlets on the water tank) & I have mounted rubber "mudflaps" under the van to protect the shockers & brake componants.

A wide stone flap on the rear of your car will also stop alot of the stones even getting to the van in the first place.

Butch I think you'll find that the "Big Name" vans come in at a lot more than $40,000 & are way out of reach of the average traveller. I also think the Jayco's are great value for money with a few cheap modifications.
As I have said before most of the Jayco knockers have probably never owned one.
We have had ours on tracks a lot worse than the Oodnadatta or Stzlecki over the past few years & it's still going strong.

PMK

FollowupID: 689926

Follow Up By: Butch58 - Monday, Jun 07, 2010 at 15:51

Monday, Jun 07, 2010 at 15:51

HI PMK,

I did basically the same as you to our Jayco........ don't know why jayco don't offer an upgrade with better stone protection and simple dust prevention as it wouldn't cost more than a few hundred dollars.

I didn't put in my first reply that we went well off road......... Cameron's Corner,The Bore Track to Innamincka , out the back of the Moomba Gas Field, Cordillo Downs track to Birdsville and the loop around Arckaringa Station to the Painted Desert..............a fair effort for a van everyone says shouldn't be taken on bad roads. We had heard all the stories about how your van will destroy it self but we never even lost a screw.

Looking forward to our next outback travells i'm sure our Jayco won't let us down......... cheers Butch

FollowupID: 690105

Follow Up By: pmk03 - Monday, Jun 07, 2010 at 19:42

Monday, Jun 07, 2010 at 19:42

G'Day Butch,

Yeh! I guess Jayco are trying to keep the cost down, But you soon learn what needs to be done to protect your van from stone damage.

Hey that Cordillo Rd a bit of a shocker is'nt it !!.... I would say it's possibly been the thoughest on our van too.
I think the important thing here is to drive to the conditions.
Here's to many more trips in Jaycos....
Might catch you around the tracks some time.
I'm out that way again late July can't wait...............
PMK

FollowupID: 690124

Reply By: Member - barbara M (NSW) - Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 14:29

Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 14:29

Hi Varmits,
You certainly wouldnt have any problems if your neighbours boss would give her time off work would you? Wish we were going . If anyone sees this wonderful family on the road say Hi!!! All the children are our adopted grandchildren and I can assure you they are wonderful. They are our grandchildren by choice not by birth. Have a great time
Barb

AnswerID: 419648

Reply By: Yackandandah - Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 17:36

Saturday, Jun 05, 2010 at 17:36

Can't offer any advice on the Oodnadatta track but travelled the Strez on1/6/10 and is currently like a highway - no problems. Old Strez was still closed

AnswerID: 419666