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Landwide Adventure Equipment Hire http://www.landwide.com.au/default.htm

Hey willie

from the looks o your rig you now what your talking about...

Whats the deal with Jeep cooling systems (and why do I always pick them - my last car was a Ford hehehe)...???

Is there a good chance of the Jeep breaking down in those kinda temps?

Is there a better time of year to do the Central Road (I am getting the impression that now is actually the better time of year) - maybe we will postpone the trip...

As I said I am new to all of this, but i have been wanting to get out into the outback since i was a kid...so I will do it, its just a matter otf time, preparation and unfortunatley money hehehe

I must say though that from where i satand now at least, the lack of people being there in February is actually nice...I like being alone with my wife and kid so thats not a great issue (though I could see it easily becoming one if everything blew up!)

Is March any more leanient temp wise? or am i just pulling at straws...also...we have discusseda revised plan taking in Sydney -> Ceduna via Lincolmn and Flinders Hwys, then Ceduna to Augsuta vie Eyre, then maybe North to Birdsville, Betoota, Tibooburra, Broken Hill, Bourke Lightning Ridge, Dubbo, then home (we actually live in the blue Mountains) - would i still be facing the same treachery at that time of year in the Simpson Desert?

I hope I dont sound too naive...lol...just really keen to get out there early next year...

Thanks for your reply by the way!

willie...your web site has some amazing stories in it...

Rayc,

I knew two Cherokee owners up in Darwin and their vehicles did not like hot temperatures. The Cherokees were always running hot up near the red line when labouring out bush. Out on the Central Road you will be driving in extremely hot conditions over endless kays of corrugations. Your vehicle may not like it.

I live a tad south of the areas you are speaking of and the temps get to 48C in February. Have lived in Alice Springs and when it is hot it can be unpleasant. No, I did not say that your Jeep will break down or have a problem but you are increasing the risk factor if you travel out there in those very hot temperatures.

I love being alone in the bush. What I am saying to you is that if you should have a problem out there then the chance of someone coming along to lend a hand is remote.

The best time to do the Central Road is from May through to September.

By mid March the temps start to cool down a bit. If you could leave your trip till the end of March then your revised trip should be a lot more comfortable and enjoyable. There are lots of nice beach camping spots on the Eyre Peninsula Coast and if you are outside of school holidays you will have most camp sites to yourself.

Oz is the best place in the world for travel and camping. Do the research as you are doing now, make your choices, and you will have a great time. It is better to be on the side of caution when you travel into the outback and be prepared. If you have everything you need with you then usually you have a good time and nothing goes wrong. Happy travels.
Cheers,
Willie

Never a dull moment

willie...thanks, your advice has been priceless....and after reading some of your travel stories its pretty clear you know where you are coming from...

how old were those cherokees, just out of interest? mines a 1999...

one thing i noticed today is that the coolant in the coolant reservoir is dirty coloured...looks like a black-brown. I only picked the car up about 4 weeks ago, so its still under warranty. is this a sign of head gasket damage? or am ai being paranoid? it just doesnt look like coolant any more...

No worries Rayc..........glad you enjoyed the articles on my site.

Those Cherokees were around the same vintage as yours as I was up in Darwin in '99 and they were pretty new then.

Check your engine oil. If it is discoloured then you have a gasket problem. It could be that somewhere along the line a previous owner ran water in the cooling system and it has accumulated a bit of corrosion, hence the brown appearance. Best to check it out. I would take the vehicle back to the dealer and tell them to flush the cooling system out and fill up with new coolant. Coolant should be changed over every 2 years in modern cars. Older vehicles can go a bit longer.
Good luck...Cheers,

Willie

Never a dull moment

hmmm grumble...i will check it out in the monrning. i am getting an NRMA inspection done next week, before the warranty runs out (i have doen 3000 km already...) so i guess they will pick up on anything...

thanks heaps for your advice!

cya

Brown coolant could be rust which would be a worry in a 4yr old car...

Get the coolant flushed and changed then keep an eye on it.

Then there is some new coolant in different colors, so that is to HIDE rust in water!

RayC As always, Willies info is spot on. Personally, I would avoid inland areas until at least April. Temperatures can still reach the 40's in late march.ne cede malis

ExplorOZ?

I've said that when I've seen the rest of the country then I'll see the rest of the world.