Thread: Outback Trip Prep

Hi Pat, to answer some of your questions: If you are going to fit HD springs give youself plenty of time to iron out any problems with the front prop binding due to the extra height. I had LR fit, (at great expense), HD springs to take the weight of my ARB bar and winch, this resulted in the front prop rattling so I removed them again. I found that the car levels out nicely once you fill the back up with all the camping gear, fuel, water etc.

This is what I took in my "for the car" bag:

Brake Pads (Sets for Front and Rear)
Wheel Bearing set, including a selection of shims
Uni Joints, one each for each prop shaft
Vac pump and gasket
Fan belt
Fuel Filters (x2)
Air Filters (x2)
Wheel Nuts (x5)
Spare "Mega" Fuses
Drive Flange and Gaskets
Sealant
Engine Oil, (can be used as PAS fluid and in the gearbox in an emergency)
EP90 & Grease
Selection of nuts/bolts/screws and gasket paper
Electrical wire, crimp fittings, tape, fuses, lamps.
Selection of hose clamps
Emergency Repair Tape/Glue/"Metal" putty.
Tools/fire extinguisher/first aid kit

I would seriously consider fitting front mud guards as the rocks and stones thrown up from my front wheels did quit a bit of damage to the rear shocks.

For water a mate made up a tank that fits in the 2nd row foot well, it was only about 50l, but the weight was nice and low.

If I do the trip again I really doubt that I would bother with a second spare wheel, it's a whole lot of extra weight to lug around. No doubt this comment will cause a bit of confilct, but this is just my opinion.

Cheers,

Tim

Originally Posted by TimNZ

Hi Pat, to answer some of your questions: If you are going to fit HD springs give youself plenty of time to iron out any problems with the front prop binding due to the extra height. I had LR fit, (at great expense), HD springs to take the weight of my ARB bar and winch, this resulted in the front prop rattling so I removed them again. I found that the car levels out nicely once you fill the back up with all the camping gear, fuel, water etc.

This is what I took in my "for the car" bag:

Brake Pads (Sets for Front and Rear)
Wheel Bearing set, including a selection of shims
Uni Joints, one each for each prop shaft
Vac pump and gasket
Fan belt
Fuel Filters (x2)
Air Filters (x2)
Wheel Nuts (x5)
Spare "Mega" Fuses
Drive Flange and Gaskets
Sealant
Engine Oil, (can be used as PAS fluid and in the gearbox in an emergency)
EP90 & Grease
Selection of nuts/bolts/screws and gasket paper
Electrical wire, crimp fittings, tape, fuses, lamps.
Selection of hose clamps
Emergency Repair Tape/Glue/"Metal" putty.
Tools/fire extinguisher/first aid kit

I would seriously consider fitting front mud guards as the rocks and stones thrown up from my front wheels did quit a bit of damage to the rear shocks.

For water a mate made up a tank that fits in the 2nd row foot well, it was only about 50l, but the weight was nice and low.

If I do the trip again I really doubt that I would bother with a second spare wheel, it's a whole lot of extra weight to lug around. No doubt this comment will cause a bit of confilct, but this is just my opinion.

Cheers,

Tim

Thanks Tim,

That is an extensive list of parts, but i guess it is better to be safe.
I think I need to increase my budget and save more.

So I may not need to change springs that something, next time i am at bunnings i will load the back up with bags of salt, see how it fares.

Cheers

I usually just take an extra spare tyre, not a wheel. I have found that very handy and it keeps the weight down. If you are breaking wheels you are driving too fast. If you are shredding tyres you are driving too fast. I see guys out there going like the clappers chucking big gibbers all over the shot and I wonder how they aren't killing their cars. Then you can pass a guy putting along in a softroader or a Commodore/Falcon with HT tyres and having no trouble at all.
I don't take brake pads. I only take one of each filter and belt. I think its important to keep the weight down. If you were carrying a heavy back pack you are more likely to pull a muscle somewhere and the same applies to a car. You are also more likely to pull a muscle if you are running rather than walking. I've done the Birdsville, Oodnadatta, Strzelecki, Cameron Corner, Innamincka, Plenty Highway and Old Ghan tracks on highway tyres with only one sidewall puncture all up by keeping it nice and slow. Cheers

Pat,

I am also planning my own trip through South Australia for the whole of June in a Puma. Each time I go away at the moment I pack as if I am going on that trip. (Finding what works and what doesn't.) Watching this thread with interest.....

I am on a very limited budget, so for drawers I have a set of plastic tubs from Bunnings which fit neatly under plywood over the wheel arches. Works well, but need to build a frame so I can pull the draws out when loaded up.

So far I have a spare oil filter, water/fuel filter, fuel priming tool, air filter, indicator light sockets, oil, coolant, workshop manual, fuses, bulbs, electrical cable etc. Will also get hoses and belts. I have packed enough tools and recovery equipment (including a winch and hi-lift jack) to sink a ship. I need rationalise what I need. Eg. Do I need that chainsaw?

Water and extra fuel will be carried in Jerry cans. Removing the rear seats for more room / reduce weight. I have made another shelf out of plywood for this purpose.

Will take a 2nd spare tyre (no rim), emergency tubes & repair kit. My 30,000kmm service will be due before we go and I will get a 2nd pre-trip inspection done. I figure that way I can spend money on what is most likely to break and sort out any warranty items. Eg. I will get a new set of shocks and take the old ones as spares if required.

I am getting a Spot 2 for my birthday and will hire a Sat Phone. Hope this helps.

Beckford.

Originally Posted by mikehzz

I usually just take an extra spare tyre, not a wheel. I have found that very handy and it keeps the weight down. If you are breaking wheels you are driving too fast. If you are shredding tyres you are driving too fast. I see guys out there going like the clappers chucking big gibbers all over the shot and I wonder how they aren't killing their cars. Then you can pass a guy putting along in a softroader or a Commodore/Falcon with HT tyres and having no trouble at all.
I don't take brake pads. I only take one of each filter and belt. I think its important to keep the weight down. If you were carrying a heavy back pack you are more likely to pull a muscle somewhere and the same applies to a car. You are also more likely to pull a muscle if you are running rather than walking. I've done the Birdsville, Oodnadatta, Strzelecki, Cameron Corner, Innamincka, Plenty Highway and Old Ghan tracks on highway tyres with only one sidewall puncture all up by keeping it nice and slow. Cheers

I have had to sent the schedule back to the father inlaw a few times now, he had us driving from Mungerannie to William Creek non stop, he had allowed around 4 hours for it, everything i read said nearly 8 with the road conditions and taking it easy, so have tried to instill in him it is a holiday adventure and we dont want the place to go flying by the window, we need to get out there and get our feet dirty too. So we have managed to add a few days on and slow it down which sounds like it is the right idea.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Beckford

Pat,

I am also planning my own trip through South Australia for the whole of June in a Puma. Each time I go away at the moment I pack as if I am going on that trip. (Finding what works and what doesn't.) Watching this thread with interest.....

I am on a very limited budget, so for drawers I have a set of plastic tubs from Bunnings which fit neatly under plywood over the wheel arches. Works well, but need to build a so I can pull the draws out when loaded up.

So far I have a spare oil filter, water/fuel filter, fuel priming tool, air filter, indicator light sockets, oil, coolant, workshop manual, fuses, bulbs, electrical cable etc. Will also get hoses and belts. I have packed enough tools and recovery equipment (including a winch and hi-lift jack) to sink a ship. I need rationalise what I need. Eg. Do I need that chainsaw?

Water and extra fuel will be carried in Jerry cans. Removing the rear seats for more room / reduce weight. I have made another shelf out of plywood for this purpose.

Will taken a 2nd spare tyre (no rim), emergency tubes & repair kit. My 30,000kmm service will be due before we go and I will get a 2nd pre-trip inspection done. I figure that way I can spend money on what is most likely to break and sort out any warranty items. Eg. I will get a new set of shocks and take the old ones as spares if required.

I am getting a Spot 2 for my birthday and will hire a Sat Phone. Hope this helps.

Beckford.

I have been thinking about a Spot2 not too expensive and piece of mind, i heard you can do live tracking on goofle maps or something with them also. And I forgot about the chainsaw, maybe overkill but if you don't take it you will surely need it..

I am in the same boat, i will hit my 90k service before I go, then get a pre trip inspection done, then when I get back get another inspection done so I can get everything fixed before it goes out of warranty.

If the Birdsville and Oodnadatta tracks are dry and in decent nick then you can fly along on them but sometimes nasty surprises pop out of nowhere. A bit like cruising along a beach a bit too fast and hitting a gutter that you can't see until its too late. Been there done that. It's the sections with big gibbers or corrugations that are the biggest hazards and they can last for hours

Originally Posted by patclan

Thanks Tim,

That is an extensive list of parts, but i guess it is better to be safe.
I think I need to increase my budget and save more.


Cheers

Hi Pat, it sounds like a lot of parts, but apart from the oils they all fit in a bag thats not much bigger than my First Aid Kit. I purchased all of the LR parts from Britcar in the UK, for all genuine parts it came to less than $700 delivered to Australia, (from memory....).

Regarding chainsaws, I was under the impression it is illegal to carry these in national parks? As for tyres, I considered taking just a tyre, but when I tried changing one as an exercise but I found it nearly impossible getting the tyre off the rim, (alloy). I ended up driving the forklift over it to break the bead. At this point I decided just to take a whole wheel and tyre as a second spare.

If you buy plastic containers make sure you test their durability, on our trip across the Simpson the guy with the troopy lost alot of food and drinks when his broke, (this could of had something to do with the troopy having cart springs ) I prefer soft duffel type bags for everything, they are much easier to pack.

All the best for your trip!

Cheers,

Tim