Canning Stock Route

[Ddecrespigny]

Has anyone travelled the CSR in a disco 3 or 4 ? If so could you advise on fuel consumption and what extra fuel they carried. Canyou get long range fuel tanks for a disco4?

David de Crespigny

[SBD4]

Has anyone travelled the CSR in a disco 3 or 4 ? If so could you advise on fuel consumption and what extra fuel they carried. Canyou get long range fuel tanks for a disco4?

David de Crespigny

David, I can't comment on fuel requirements for the CSR but yes you can add a long range tank to the D4. I recommend you have a look at the FAQ:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/93220-aulro-discovery-3-4-rrs-faq.html#accessoriesandmodifications

there are also many posts regarding fuel tanks etc.

Try this google search for more info:

long range tank d4 site:aulro.com - Google Search (http://www.google.com.au/search?q=long+range+tank+d4+site%3Aaulro.com)

[Ean Austral]

Send a PM to gghaggis, he led a trip last year with his RR-sport and a couple of D3's ( I think), so he should be able to give you the info you are chasing.

We passed a couple of D3's and a D4 when we did the CSR but never got a chance to speak to them for long.

Cheers Ean

[gghaggis]

Hi David,

I did the CSR in 2011, from Wiluna to Halls Creek. Avg fuel consumption was:


RRS 3.0 TDV6: 14.9 l/100: 2 x internal Boab tanks = extra 120 ltrs
D4 3.0 TDV6: 15.5 l/100: under-car long-range tank = extra 105 ltr
D3 2.7 TDV6: 16.5 l/100: under-car long-range tank = extra 105 ltr


There was only one person in each of the above vehicles, the RRS didn't have a bull-bar or rear bar, the Disco's did.

For planning purposes, we worked on 18 l/100, so we were all well within our max ranges.

Cheers,

Gordon

[101RRS]

Hi Gordon - I assumed you used their 60l rectangular tanks. How did you find them and did you just store them in the back with the back seats folded down?

Any issues transferring fuel out of them and any spillages, fuel smells etc. I would like to put in a long range tank where the spare goes but the issue is where does the spare go when driving around town etc - not interested in a spare wheel carrier.

Thanks

Garry

[weeds]

my neigbour also runs an internal tank, a marine fuel tank i believe. let us know if you are interested in the deatils and i will sus it out.

[gghaggis]

Hi Gordon - I assumed you used their 60l rectangular tanks. How did you find them and did you just store them in the back with the back seats folded down?

Any issues transferring fuel out of them and any spillages, fuel smells etc. I would like to put in a long range tank where the spare goes but the issue is where does the spare go when driving around town etc - not interested in a spare wheel carrier.

Thanks

Garry

Hi Gary,

Yes, the rectangular ones. They fit in the rear without having to fold the back seats down. I made up a false floor for the rear section and slid the tanks under that (on a rubber matting). The floor sat at around the height of the upper tailgate opening, which worked out well. I then had a diesel pump between the tanks with a tap (on/off) from each tank. The pump had a trigger nozzle on the end of a 2 metre hose, but that malfunctioned and I just used a hand-tap. Had a seal-able plastic bag to hold the nozzle/hose when not in use. Rather primitive, but worked a treat and had no smells (after I ditched the trigger nozzle!). Whole set-up can be removed in 5 minutes, refitted in 10.

Cheers,

Gordon

[101RRS]

Thanks Gordon - and a lot cheaper than the under car version.

I am surprised though that someone has not come up with a tank to go underneath opposite the main tank where the muffler is (replacing it with a smaller version).

Cheers

Garry

[lrdef110]

David I have just completed the canning in a d4 3.0. I have a 105 litre long range tank. I used 166 liters to our fuel drop at well 23 but this included a few days in rudell river Nat park. There's good fuel at well 33 and I reckon if you allowed 180 liters to get there and refilling should easily get you to Biluna. There's lots of corrugations, which are really cruel in places but the spinifex is so tall & green at the moment it's not much like a desert. Cheers, Barry.

[discotwinturbo]

David I have just completed the canning in a d4 3.0. I have a 105 litre long range tank. I used 166 liters to our fuel drop at well 23 but this included a few days in rudell river Nat park. There's good fuel at well 33 and I reckon if you allowed 180 liters to get there and refilling should easily get you to Biluna. There's lots of corrugations, which are really cruel in places but the spinifex is so tall & green at the moment it's not much like a desert. Cheers, Barry.

So did the airbags go a long way to help smooth out the corrugations ?

Brett.....

[lrdef110]

Reasonably comfortable inside but the suspensionbushes coped a hiding. Also David if you are intending to do the Canning I would recommend you investigate some form of paint protection. I wish I had. In places thetracks are overgrown. We met some people who used a paint on wash off product called Goop which seemed to offer protection.

[ADMIRAL]

Hi Gordon - I assumed you used their 60l rectangular tanks. How did you find them and did you just store them in the back with the back seats folded down?

Any issues transferring fuel out of them and any spillages, fuel smells etc. I would like to put in a long range tank where the spare goes but the issue is where does the spare go when driving around town etc - not interested in a spare wheel carrier.

Thanks

Garry

If you don't like spare wheel carriers, do a search on the Wilco Hitchgate. It is a fold out spare wheel carrier, which slides into a conventional 50mm square Reese type hitch receiver. They also have models which include jerry can holders. Could be another option for you, for either the spare or the fuel. I think 4WD USA are oz agents.

[RichardK]

For one of the D3's that did the CSR with GGhaggis it was the second trip for it, I took it up as the first owner, the fuel consumption was 16.7 so very much the same. For that trip I removed the rear seat and replaced it with a 200 litre fuel tank, I only loaded it with around 100 litres though, we had plenty of fuel.

[lrdef110]

Just did my calcs. We left Wiluna on 6 August & arrived in Halls creek on the 21st. I carried a total of 237 liters but didn't need the 50 liters in Jerry cans. Average fuel consumption for the trip was 15.04 l/100 km, but as I said earlier this included approx 400 km onto Rudell River NP and back to Georgia Bore.

[Ddecrespigny]

Hi Gary,

Yes, the rectangular ones. They fit in the rear without having to fold the back seats down. I made up a false floor for the rear section and slid the tanks under that (on a rubber matting). The floor sat at around the height of the upper tailgate opening, which worked out well. I then had a diesel pump between the tanks with a tap (on/off) from each tank. The pump had a trigger nozzle on the end of a 2 metre hose, but that malfunctioned and I just used a hand-tap. Had a seal-able plastic bag to hold the nozzle/hose when not in use. Rather primitive, but worked a treat and had no smells (after I ditched the trigger nozzle!). Whole set-up can be removed in 5 minutes, refitted in 10.

Cheers,

Gordon
Thanks ForReply Gordon.

I have a shelf in the back which is about level with the bottom tail gate. Could I fit a tank underneath it? It is currently where I store tables and chairs etc but they could go on the roof rack. Did you have the tank made or are they available ?

[gghaggis]

Thanks ForReply Gordon.

I have a shelf in the back which is about level with the bottom tail gate. Could I fit a tank underneath it? It is currently where I store tables and chairs etc but they could go on the roof rack. Did you have the tank made or are they available ?

The tanks are in the Boab catalogue, sold by Opposite Lock and a few others. I don't know the height of the Disco's lower tailgate offhand, you'd have to check.

Cheers,

Gordon

[Doug145]

Hi David,

The attached photos are of my setup from our Simpson crossing last month. Boab was from Kulkyne Kampers online. I bought the hose kit as well (1m of hose and a good brass ball valve) ($295+$65). The Boab was mounted so the outlet was just above the height of the fuel filler cap. Use gravity feed (roughly 20-30mins to empty) and just kept the coiled up hose strapped on the top when not in use.
I ended up wrapping some paper town around the vent on top of the Boab held down with a plastic cap off a drink bottle. I changed the paper towel regularly so that the diesel didn't leak too much when a big slosh occurred. The paper towel would become soaked on the particularly rough sections and so could simply be kept and burned on the camp fire in the evening.
Gordon may have a better way of dealing with the vents on his Boabs (which I would like to know as well!). If I had more time prior to trip I might have engineered something better. The paper towel and cap was a fix on the go. Also I could only fit 50 litres in the tank.
I fitted my spare underneath the Boab after removing the third row seats. I kept the main spare in the original spot. The rear drop side of the D3 tailgate is about 300-320mm above the floor level (add an extra 90-100mm once the rear seat is removed). The Boab is only about 250-260mm high (840x360x250mm) including the vent. I made a slide so I could fill the Boab 'outside' the vehicle in case I spilled some diesel. The the Boab was still low enough in the vehicle.

Cheers,
Doug

[DoctorJ]

Hi David,

The attached photos are of my setup from our Simpson crossing last month. Boab was from Kulkyne Kampers online. I bought the hose kit as well (1m of hose and a good brass ball valve) ($295+$65). The Boab was mounted so the outlet was just above the height of the fuel filler cap. Use gravity feed (roughly 20-30mins to empty) and just kept the coiled up hose strapped on the top when not in use.
I ended up wrapping some paper town around the vent on top of the Boab held down with a plastic cap off a drink bottle. I changed the paper towel regularly so that the diesel didn't leak too much when a big slosh occurred. The paper towel would become soaked on the particularly rough sections and so could simply be kept and burned on the camp fire in the evening.
Gordon may have a better way of dealing with the vents on his Boabs (which I would like to know as well!). If I had more time prior to trip I might have engineered something better. The paper towel and cap was a fix on the go. Also I could only fit 50 litres in the tank.
I fitted my spare underneath the Boab after removing the third row seats. I kept the main spare in the original spot. The rear drop side of the D3 tailgate is about 300-320mm above the floor level (add an extra 90-100mm once the rear seat is removed). The Boab is only about 250-260mm high (840x360x250mm) including the vent. I made a slide so I could fill the Boab 'outside' the vehicle in case I spilled some diesel. The the Boab was still low enough in the vehicle.

Cheers,
Doug

That is a fantastic setup Doug very well thought through!

Cheers
Julian

[Stuart02]

No fridge, Doug?

[Doug145]

No fridge, Doug?

I removed the second row seats to fit the fridge. I used the seat bolts and bolt holes together with some aluminium bar (from Bunnings) to make hold down points. I just used tie down straps to hold the fridge in place.
Worked a treat and I could reinstate the back seat when the trip was done.
My shelf system also comes out so I can put the third row seats back in as well.
I really like the versatility of the D3 in this way.

[chuck]

Doug

Looks like your enjoying that Disco.

Everything going OK?

Cheers

Chuck

[gghaggis]

Re the vents. I didn't find them necessary, as I was filling by hand and could simply undo the tank filler cap. So I removed them and fitted a bung.

Cheers,

Gordon

[Doug145]

Doug

Looks like your enjoying that Disco.

Everything going OK?

Cheers

Chuck


Hi Chuck,

Yeah, enjoying it very much. The comfort is excellent. We did about 10,000km in five weeks on our central Australia trip. I put all the seats back in and popped the road wheels back on and it is just like the day we picked it up from you. No rattles or anything. Love the stereo too!

Cheers,
Doug

[chuck]

Doug

Thanks for the update.

Since the D3 I had a Prado which only lasted 4 months now a D4 3.0Litre.

I think the stereo in the last of the D3's is every bit as good as the upgraded Harmon Kardon in the D4.

I still regret selling the D3.

Cheers