Our recent across oz trip.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

We left perth on the 10th of feb 07.
Got home on the 15th of march 07.

Approx 12000Kms.

Roughly the trip went like this.


http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/2005seach/2007TripPics4X4

Perth , Norseman WA, WA/SA bordervillage, Pildappa rock SA, Adelaide SA. Mildura NSW, Bathurst NSW, Penrith NSW, Canberra NSW, Mudgee NSW, Penrith NSW, Nyngan NSW, Whitecliffs NSW, Tibboburra NSW, Innaminka SA, Lyndhurst SA, Wilpena pound flinders ranges SA, Coffin bay NP SA, Streaky bay SA, Mudrabilla WA, HOME.

1950 litres of diesel at a minimum of $1.18.9 and a maximum of $1.48.9.
The longest stretch between drinks was 1223Km ( we had four gerries as well) for the car But less for me.
Best ecconomy for a tank was around the penrith area were we recorded 14.89Lts/100Km. A fair bit of running around without the camper trailer.
Worst ecconomy was 21.14Lts/100Kms. between Tibboburra and Wilpena pound. Thats up the old strezlecki track and down the current.

Highlights were the cliffs in the bight, Undergound hotel whitecliffs, Lighting storms in the outback, Creek crossings in an area that had not seen rain for 7 to 8 years, The road through Cameron Cnr from Tibboburra to Merty Merty, The isolation serentity & Peace , Flinders Ranges and the beers in historic places.

Truly a memorable and magic trip. And the 120TD went like clockwork.
The kids were great.
Linda and I are looking towards the next big trip, Just need to build up the holidays again.

Jeff.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

Hi Pradogxlv6.

The camper is a challenge.
Built in SA. Total comfort and Massive storage and it got totally encased with mud, dust, rain and all stayed dry and clean inside.

They are a great camper but i had a little trouble trying to get help with the battery before we left for this trip and was let down badly by the owner.

The battery people were great and fixed me up.

Thoroughly recommend "Home of 12 volt" in Adelaide. Manufacturers of the blue apple "Thumper battery packs" among other things.

They are also making a fridge with built in battery and outlets for 12 volt lights.

The pics take some time to clean up. Give yourself maybe 5 seconds???.

Jeff.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Very nice pics!

And Matt - don't ask the wife

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Re: Our recent across oz trip.

Best ecconomy for a tank was around the penrith area were we recorded 14.89Lts/100Km. A fair bit of running around without the camper trailer.
Worst ecconomy was 21.14Lts/100Kms. between Tibboburra and Wilpena pound. Thats up the old strezlecki track and down the current.

The economy is almost the same as for Petrol Prado...

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

Re: Our recent across oz trip.

The economy is almost the same as for Petrol Prado...

Is this based on your last trip through similar terrain? :?:

Looking at the figures I was thinking the same, anything that can make me feel better about not getting a diesel helps. :lol: I guess there's that almost V8 like burble I get since installing my extractors. :roll:
:lol:
Cheers,

Drew.

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

(if the wifes says yes...)

:shock:

Matt - you've got more than one wife? I don't know whether to say congratulations or commiserations! :lol:

Seriously though, as I said in the Stickers thread - great pics Jeff, well done on a top trip.

Cheers,

Drew.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Re: Our recent across oz trip.

The economy is almost the same as for Petrol Prado...

Is this based on your last trip through similar terrain? :?:

Looking at the figures I was thinking the same, anything that can make me feel better about not getting a diesel helps. :lol: I guess there's that almost V8 like burble I get since installing my extractors. :roll:
:lol:
Cheers,

Drew.

Drew,

I did Melbourne->Port Augusta->Woomera->Coober Peddy->
Oodnadatta->Dalhousie Springs->Mount Dare->Madigan Line (till Camp 16)-> Hay River-> Jervois ->Boulia -> Birdsville -> Innamincka -> Tiboobarra-> Broken Hill... last year

While I was going without CT, the car was heavilly loaded (400 liters of fuel, 100 liters of water + food, spares etc for a month)...

Stan

[HGMonaro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close HGMonaro]

thanks for the pics... just makes me want to hit the road!!

[phil Member Find all posts View Profile Close phil]

Those fuel figures are what i call real figures as vehicle is loaded up against wind makes a big differance bush driving etc.
In feb drove to sydney then down to melbroune and back to perth, raced a speedway sedan at 2 trackes then drove back to perth,all in 15 days.
The fuel economy for a 4.2 TD Patrol was over 20 litres per 100 sitting on 105 kph. So all in all 15 lt 100 is not to bad i reckon.
Cheers Phil.

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

Re: Our recent across oz trip.

While I was going without CT, the car was heavilly loaded (400 liters of fuel, 100 liters of water

Ah, I see. I think not having the trailer prolly makes a bit of a difference, my trailer weighs over 1000kg loaded.

Cheers,

Drew.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Re: Our recent across oz trip.

While I was going without CT, the car was heavilly loaded (400 liters of fuel, 100 liters of water

Ah, I see. I think not having the trailer prolly makes a bit of a difference, my trailer weighs over 1000kg loaded.

Cheers,

Drew.

My trailer weight over 1000kg loaded as well. And when I am using it
on 4wd trips the fuel consumption is almoust the same as you specified... ie. there
are almost no difference if you load extra 1000kg onto the trailer or the car itself 8)

[Guest Close Guest]

Jeff,

A great succinct report which, like others, makes me want to hit the track sometime real soon. It is also good to get real-conditions fuel consumption figures instead of makers bench-test or short term testers figs. I loved the photos too - especially the Flinders Ranges which is one of my all time favourite places.

Well done.

Alan Mac

[McBAIN Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close McBAIN]

Does look like it was a great trip! did you fly solo or go with other cars?

I'd love to get out on the open road and go bush like that but would always have that "if it breaks i'm XXXXed" in the back of my mind...

What's the longest you went without seeing another car?

[Peter07 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Peter07]

A great report and exccelent photos. There is somthing in the "outback" that makes go there again. Great trip!

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

Thanks everyone for posting replies.

We did go alone.
The longest we went with out seeing another car would have been about 4 hours.
Between Tibboburra and Camerons corner. But when we stopped there were other cars behind us. Just no one going the other way.
Cameron Cnr to Innaminnka was also a little bit quiet. But there is mine vehicles parked in gas areas up the old Strezelecki track. Except the top half.
And on the current Stez there is mine traffic.

We were thinking of trying the Googs track early in our preperations but thought it would be to remote (ceduna, nth to the transcontinental railway)
And would've needed to hire a sat phone or buy a HF.
Might do things more remote with fellow club members of West coast 4X4 club. until we have a HF, then you never know where we would attempt.
www.westcoast4x4.com.au

There are still the usual great tracks to tackle.
CSR, Gunbarrell, Simpson etc.

As for the weight. I would put a conservative weight on the trailer at 1200 to 1400Kgs.
Steel construction, 10ply spare, Tools, Tent including enclosed annex, 120Lts of water, 80Lts diesel, Food etc.
The car had us, Fridge and our clothing.

We tried one day at 110kmh but noticed a rise in fuel use, so spent the rest of the trip at 100 or less. And found that cruise control also used more fuel, Just by the fact that it cant get ready for hills and it will back off too much on down hills, things like that.

On most roads other cars and trucks really do appreciate and respect you more if you slowdown a little and move over for them. So will they.
More so on isolated stretches along way from built up areas.
If you don't slow or move over, neither will they.
All but the road between Norseman and Hyden did we find that.
The worse road for careless drivers. 100Kmh zone Dirt. One guy in a commodore towing a very new looking caravan was flat out chucking stones and dust clouds all over the road caused us to slow to about 20Kph and pull right off the road. And wait for that sound of stones hitting every part of the car. A**ehole. And two other old 4bies.
But the trucks from the nearby mine were great.

As far as unprepared cars we only saw one that we would consider.
A new (looking) BMW X90? with road tyres traveling north up the strezelecki from Lyndhurst. No provisions on a roof rack and bugger all in the back. Early afternoon. they looked very out of place.
The barman at Lyndhurst asked if we had seen them.
They asked him if the road was OK, He said "if you take it easy" not knowing what they were driving. When he saw them leave he couldn't believe his eyes and just shook his head.
That road tore sheds out of the 10ply cooper ST's.

Jeff