Outback Trip in L322

[CSBrisie]

Well, we are off tomorrow on what the map tells me will be around 6000km round trip from Brisbane to Uluru via Outback Queensland and the Donahue and Plenty Highways. Route takes us through:

Roma
Longreach
Winton (one less tourist attraction to visit sadly with the fire there yesterday )
Boulia
Jervois Station (Plenty Highway)
Gemtree
Alice Springs / West Macdonnel Ranges
Uluru.
return via the East Macdonnel Ranges / Plenty etc
I will post a Trip Report at the end and if the Admin's have no objection, some regular updates on things like:

fuel economy (noting we are a big white fridge with two fat donuts on top...oh and did I mention the anchor behind (21 foot Bushtracker caravan which I suspect is somewhere around 3200kg tonight)
tyres (we have 2 brand new Cooper LTZ's 285/50 rear, 2 near new front and two spares); On the "track" (Plenty), Coopers recommended not below 30psi at GVM; I'm inclined to run fronts 32-34. Rears 36psi.....open to comments. We have managed to restrict rear load space to a minimum as the van seems to take everything (took spare out of wheel well too).
CVD's...lets hope the continuously variable dampers are up to it all. Road conditions sound promising based on updates from last week. SLOW and steady is the plan.
Anything else that comes to mind!
That's it for now - will keep you updated!


cheers


Chris and Family

[Graeme]

Have a great trip Chris! Not travelling via Bedourie on first outing is probably a wise choice especially on the out-bound leg and after the recent rain. Hopefully I'll be able to let you know what you avoided.

I didn't quite get to buy some CVDs myself yesterday but am very interested in how they perform with the larger and heavier duty tyres you have fitted.

[Rextheute]

Have a great trip , will be watcthing and waiting with interest on your trip report .

Stay safe and enjoy .

[rar110]

Wow. I'm very jel. I love going through that country. Larks quarry is worth a visit in my opinion. Outback towns have some wonderful traveling country music talent to enjoy even if your not particularly a fan. If your going to Winton you should download the Richard Fidler ABC conversations episode on Waltzing Matilda to play on the way there.

Keep us up to date, with pics please. Safe travels Chris & co.

[Laurie]

Chris
I hope you and the family have a great trouble free trip. Enjoy yourselves ! it's beautiful country out there in it's own way.

Laurie

[Blade74]

Looks like a good trip ahead.
Show us some pics and have fun!

[landie56]

Chris,
Best of adventure, also keen how everything performed on the car. I'm planning a trip to Cape York for 2016.
Good luck.

Jason

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[RR44TDV8]

Chris............Im doing the same trip from Sydney starting weekend of the 18th July..........I will watch your progress with interest but I wont be towing the caravan..........we have bitten the bullet and decided that we should try "Sails in the Desert" ........truth is it is my trade-off for the chance to do this trip............she gets the nice hotels and I get to take my RR into the bush! You will love it, my trip across to the west was so much fun and what a car to tour in..........cant wait for your trip to start..........keep the piccies and updates flowing!

All the best
Grant

[CSBrisie]

Thanks guys - first night (Roma) and trouble free so far. Drive up through Toowoomba Range was a little stressful (Steep!) but from then on all good. Somewhat thirsty though - we are averaging 20.9/100. I guess that was to be expected! More to follow! Cheers

[Blade74]

20" Tyres?
What motor? V8 petrol?

[Graeme]

The vehicle details are in his signature.

[Blade74]

I use forum runner on my iPhone so can't see signatures.
I'll log onto a proper web page.
Thanks Graeme

[rar110]

I use forum runner on my iPhone so can't see signatures. I'll log onto a proper web page. Thanks Graeme Go into FR settings. See signatures is an option. It's in forum reading options.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

------Drive up through Toowoomba Range was a little stressful (Steep!) ------- thirsty though - we are averaging 20.9/100. -------

Its a doddle now;) but downhill is always worse:angel:
your fuel usage is interesting,, but you gotta remember you are around 6 ton--- :eek:
should get better as the country flattens out:cool:

[Blade74]

Go into FR settings. See signatures is an option. It's in forum reading options.
Thanks mate.

[RR44TDV8]

20" Tyres?
What motor? V8 petrol?


As per Chris's signature..........mighty 4.4 ltr V8 turbo diesel! He has a chip and 3" exhaust too.........

**sorry Blade, I didnt realise everyone else had been there before me!***

[CSBrisie]

Safely in Longreach :) and now a couple of days off driving. So far so good - Rangie behaving impeccably. Thirsty - but we are at GVM and I suspect gross "train" weight too.
Brief comments as we go - The car is very happy to "accelerate" ( I use that term loosely!) to 100 and sits happily on 100-105 at 1600 in 7th if I leave it in D. A couple of times it's changed into 8th but its labouring and changes back to 7th pretty quickly. It will sit on 110 also quite happily in 7th - but that leads to 23l/100 pretty quickly. We have averaged 21/100 to Longreach and quite a bit was at 110. So, I guess even the brilliant TDV8 struggles to deliver "economy" with the combination of roof rack and two spares plus the 3.5t on the back :o:

Tyres- all good, fronts at 38 rears at 42 and the Tyre Dog system (does van too) is performing well too.

Will keep you all posted as we go!

Cheers

[GregMilner]

Have a ripper trip Chris...and pay more attention to the shocks than I did in the Kimberley last year:-)

[spudboy]

...It will sit on 110 also quite happily in 7th - but that leads to 23l/100 pretty quickly. We have averaged 21/100 to Longreach and quite a bit was at 110. So, I guess even the brilliant TDV8 struggles to deliver "economy" with the combination of roof rack and two spares plus the 3.5t on the back :o:
...

We've just got back from a Tanami Track/Gibb River Road/Oodnadatta Track jaunt in our MAN truck (approx 9.5 tonnes) and 23L/100 is the average of what we got too. Sometimes 24L/100 in the dirt and sometimes 22L\100 on nice flat bitumen. We only travel at 90 or 95Km/h though.

Spoke to a few blokes with petrol LandCruisers towing vans that were heading towards 30L/100!!

Sounds like you're have a fun trip, and trouble free too. We managed to get to the 2nd last day of an 8 week trip when some idiot doing 110 on the gravel road into Maree flicked up a stone and cracked our windshield :mad:

[CSBrisie]

Absolutely beautiful, still, warm, star filled evening in Boulia, far western Queensland. Great caravan park here on the banks of the river. Range Rover continues to be flawless - and there is no doubt we are pushing it a bit. I'd have to be honest and say I'd rather a tonne less on the back. That said, the Bushtracker is also performing superbly and it does give you the impression it will outlast the car by a few years. Dust free and tows really well - just bloody heavy, as I'd been warned. First owner towed it with a truck I gather - explains the 5 non potable and one potable water tank (total 480 litres). Needless to say we don't fill many of them and have tried to rely on caravan park water (tap connection).

It's onto the rough stuff tomorrow - Donahue Highway to Tobermorey Station and then Jervois Station and onto Gemtree. So, tomorrow onwards will certainly be a test of the suspension - we have coped without need for any Jerry cans (despite 20 litres per 100km) which has kept the draw bar weight down a fraction. ! Will continue to update,
Cheers to all
Chris

[GregMilner]

We watch with anticipation of pics and not a little envy Chris:D

[austeve01]

Absolutely beautiful, still, warm, star filled evening in Boulia, far western Queensland. Great caravan park here on the banks of the river. Range Rover continues to be flawless - and there is no doubt we are pushing it a bit. I'd have to be honest and say I'd rather a tonne less on the back. That said, the Bushtracker is also performing superbly and it does give you the impression it will outlast the car by a few years. Dust free and tows really well - just bloody heavy, as I'd been warned. First owner towed it with a truck I gather - explains the 5 non potable and one potable water tank (total 480 litres). Needless to say we don't fill many of them and have tried to rely on caravan park water (tap connection).

It's onto the rough stuff tomorrow - Donahue Highway to Tobermorey Station and then Jervois Station and onto Gemtree. So, tomorrow onwards will certainly be a test of the suspension - we have coped without need for any Jerry cans (despite 20 litres per 100km) which has kept the draw bar weight down a fraction. ! Will continue to update,
Cheers to all
Chris

Hi Chris
My wife and I travelled the same route you are taking last Aug/Sep ... great trip. We found the roads in pretty good condition but we did travel pretty slowly taking in the scenery and having quite a few stops along the way. Hope you have a great trip.

Regards
Steve

[CSBrisie]

Well, we made it ☺️😀 trouble free. I'll do a more detailed update when time permits but no issues with car or van with only moment of elevated heart rate when lots of warning messages came up about 70kms out of Gemtree on the worst (really bad) corrugations that had us at 25km/hr; "Park brake fault" followed by non working air conditioning and then rapidly " charge fault". Immediately my mind steered towards loose battery lead and sure enough after tightening one of the various leads the aircond returned and all faults cleared. So, bravo to the RR which performed flawlessly and got us through a great trek and some wonderful scenery in a very remote part of Australia. The Bushtracker was equally brilliant. More updates to follow😀

[CSBrisie]

Photo: At the border - the road between Tobermorey and Jervois Stations was very rough in parts with the worst corrugations between Harts Range and Gemtree - we were as low as 25kmhr at times and quite concerned! But safely in Alice Springs now and enjoying the bitumen! While I think of it - the Cooper tyres have been excellent- rears at 36 psi most of the time off road and fronts at 32psi.

[CSBrisie]

Sitting here relaxing with a beer and waiting for sunset �� kids have a nice viewing platform ��

[GregMilner]

Sitting here relaxing with a beer and waiting for sunset �� kids have a nice viewing platform ��

Sitting here in my office, looking at a report that stubbornly refuses to write itself, on my computer screen, with a cup of tea.
Much the same really.

No, wait....

[RR44TDV8]

Sitting here in my office, looking at a report that stubbornly refuses to write itself, on my computer screen, with a cup of tea.
Much the same really.

No, wait....

amen to that, Brother Greg

[Graeme]

the road between Tobermorey and Jervois Stations was very rough in parts with the worst corrugations between Harts Range and Gemtree - we were as low as 25kmhr at times and quite concerned!For what were you concerned - the tyres, car or van?

[CSBrisie]

All three Graeme! But it was fine and the trip continues to be perfect. Headed north today from Alice and relaxing in Tennant Creek. Uluru (climbed it ��) was amazing and we enjoyed the fun of fireworks in Alice on NT Day! Kids having a ball. Highlights include Uluru, Olgas, (walks) Glen Helen, Standleys Chasm and Simpsons Gap and Ross River Station. Devils Marbels, Have seen two L322's so far in 5000km's - one silver with Van (TD6 I think) on way to Yulara and one silver TDV8 (?) towing a big van into Glen Helen Resort. Can't seem to add more than one photo when using iPhone so will update when home in a week.

[CSBrisie]

Photo

[CSBrisie]

Well, we made it ! Quick summary of the trip and some observations for those interested.


The Trip: Brisbane-Roma-Longreach-Boulia-Tobermorey Station-Gemtree (Donahue and Plenty Highways); Alice Springs - Yulara-Alice-Tennant Creek-Barclay Homestead-Mt Isa-Winton-Blackall-Roma-Brisbane.


We were limited to 3 weeks given school holidays and little flexibility given by the kids schools plus ours on is a gymnast and trains at the Brisbane High performance Centre and they would only give 3 weeks off training.


Sarah and I both noted many, many places we want to come back to one day and spend much more time. Both of us had done most of "the Red Centre" before (Sarah having spent time in Alice as a youngster and me having done the Adelaide-Oodndatta -Finke Track trip twice in last 6 years). Our kids hadn't done any of this area though so they were very excited. We didnt mind missing what we had been two a few times before (eg Kings Canyon, Boggy Hole etc). We did do day trips to both East and West McDonnell Ranges while we were based in Alice Springs (6 nights there). Big highlight for me this time was climbing Uluru (on my third trip there in the last 6 years).


Total Distance: 7235km's. Vogue Trip computer "B" said 18.8l/100km.s My beancounter calcs said 20.1l/100km via receipts. I'll have to work out how to use my GAP IID tool to correct the trip computer!




The Car: MY12 SDV8, 50K on clock; Has a few basic mods (bash plates, 285/50 Coopers and UHF, DBS and fridge etc). We had two spares on the roof (wheel well empty) and the Van has two spares on the front. the car Performed flawlessly. We had one brief moment of "pause" as we approached the last 50km's of the Plenty which was horrendously corrugated and had us at 25-45km/hr for ages. Suddenly we had a few faults (park brake, no air cond then "charge fault"). We stopped at Gemtree and as I suspected discovered one lead to the battery too loose. Tightended and all faults disappeared. That was the extent of any issues on the trip.


Gearbox: We ended up doing a lot of the return trip cruising at 95-100 in 6th as the car seemed most happy at that speed and gear. I was also tired of every 200 series LC owner telling me to tow in 6th (4th in a LC). I don't know what our gearbox temps were - would have been interested to know. We experimented with 6th, 7th and 8th at various times. Used 7th a lot on the way there and we had one long period with a tail wind to Yulara from Alice where we sat on 1250rpm in 8th effortlessly (17l/100). But most of the time it was labouring in 8th at 100 and we stuck with 7th and then later 6th (Winton-home).


Fuel Economy - as above - 20.1/100 for 7000km. I am guessing van at 3300-3500 depending on water tanks (2650kg Tare). An extra 40lites of fuel tank capacity would have been nice - but we coped fine without. Needed to stop regularly anyway with kids so just filled up at 1/4 left - no shortage of towns - easy.


Suspension: No issues. CVD's fine - no sign of leaks. Checked them regularly on the Plenty which was really bad at times.
Very comfortable, towed perfectly, no steering lightness, perfectly level. Around 250-280kg on the ball per scales I used when we left and mid trip (emptied front water tank to reduce it).


Bit of dust ingress around rear tailgate, which started to stick shut by end of trip. All good now after some liberal use of WD40.


Tyres: - brand new Coopers 285/50/20 on rear; Near new on front; two spares. Pressures: 38 front 44 rear at full weight; Off road: experimented a bit: 30-34 front and 35-38 rear at various times. Used a 8 tyres TPMS (Tyre Dog) and found pressure and temp monitoring very useful. No punctures. Definite wear on rears in particular but not much chipping.




The Van: As I'd hoped from a Bushtracker - faultless too. It really feels like 2 things: 1. it will outlast the car and most vans by about 20 years. 2. Its really, really heavy. No wonder you see F250's and Chevies towing them in the outback. But I cant fault it. It did everything we asked of it and was super comfortable and easy to tow. I'd like a bit more solar power so will add a couple more panels in due course and its simply too heavy to use all 6 (yes, six) water tanks given they are 90litres each. I have no doubt we were at GVM and gross train weight at times early on until we got across the Plenty and relied on caravan park water and kept tanks very low.


We bought it 2nd hand and spent a bit on it at the factory to bring it from 2004 to 2015 spec, at half new van cost. So, many more happy trips to come I hope.


In conclusion, a long planned trip was a tremendous success with no breakdowns, punctures or any accidents, health issues etc. We were lucky no doubt - esp re tyres- but we were very sensible and careful and drove to the conditions. Very happy family who all loved the trip - and Mrs M did note that "her" car was perfectly behaved.


Highlights: Too many to list - Uluru (again), Tobermorey Station (for its remoteness and a magic evenings); ditto Middleton Hotel and Boulia; and I always love Alice and the Ranges!
Overtaking a triple road train with (relative ) ease.


Lowlights: seeing a D3 and camper on back of truck coming back to BNE from Mt Isa; Lack of L322's in the Outback. We saw two.




Hope the above is of some interest! feel free to ask questions!


Cheers

[CSBrisie]

A few more: highly recommend Tobermorey Station on the Donahue/Plenty Highway, magic evenings in their campsite (fire, cockatoos etc).
Cheers

[DiscoMick]

Sounds great.
I know what you mean about The Plenty Highway's corrugations.
We went down it last year in the D1 lightly loaded and comfortable at about 80 km/h, but some sections slowed us down quite a bit. Hate to think how slow we would have had to have travelled with our camper trailer, let alone a caravan.
You obviously avoided the problem of some cattle grids on The Plenty having joints in the middle. We met a bloke with a Toyota ute and a camper who had shedded all three driver's side tyres on a single cattle grid centre ridge. His tyres were Cooper STTs too, not some lightweight tyre. Fortunately for him, his vehicle and trailer had the same wheels and tyres and he had three spares.
After seeing that, we made a point of always keeping the centre ridge in the middle when we went over the grids.
Interested to hear your comments on the Bushtracker. A smaller Bushtracker is on my wish-list.



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[GregMilner]

What an excellent summary Chris, thank you for that, very useful. I was amazed you were carrying 250kg or more on the ball with no problems. Goes to show the value of PPPPP - Preparation Prevents P*** Poor Performance:)

[CSBrisie]

Yes, I think we probably took the rear suspension, tyres, etc to their Limit.....but despite that, faultless and brilliant.

[RR44TDV8]

Yes, I think we probably took the rear suspension, tyres, etc to their Limit.....but despite that, faultless and brilliant.

Brilliant trip Chris, well done. Great you got back with no issues and only happy memories. Looking forward to a couple of reds and a verbal trip report!

Rgds
Grant

[rar110]

Great write up Chris.

Last time I did something like this I was ready to go back and see it again before I got home.

[Blade74]

Congrats on a fun trip with the family, car and van.
Sounds like you're happy with the car and van so money well spent I reckon..👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[CSBrisie]

I drove the van 100metres from the front of the house today (back to the storage yard) and turned onto the main road and hey presto a HUGE nail into the new Cooper (rear) and puncture......after 7300km's of puncture free holiday. Crazy. Fixed for $35. Thanks to local Enoggera Goodyear.

[Blade74]

Well I guess that's good news!
It happened at home and not on the trip.

[landie56]

Well what a trip. Reminds me of my trip of Alice Springs in 2007 in my D1.

It all come down to being prepared, as this was the case for me.

Looking forward for my next trip in l322 to OTT in Cape York in july-aug 2016.

Jason

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[CSBrisie]

wow Howrah to CY...now THAT is a long way!!!!!!!!!

[landie56]

Yes, it's a long way, but with 31 day off work it should be expect.
Jason.

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