Brisbane - Kimberley - Brisbane : Report Card

[miker]

OK, here's the low down... Just returned last week from an 8 wk run to the Kimberley. Route was as follows - Brissy across SW QLD to Innamincka, Walkers Crossing to Birdsville, Simpson Desert, Mt.Dare, Alice, Tanami to Broome and then a week at Cape Leveque. Up the GRR, Mt.Elizabeth Station & the Munja Track, Kulumbaru and McGowans, El Questro the Bungles, Ord River and back down the Tanami to Alice. Then across the Plenty for a fab few days on the Cooper and back thru Western Qld....whew!

My Defender wagon was ready to go for a while but a week before, once loaded up I decided to add airbags to the 500kg springs...good move! The beast was one very heavy unit - four adults and a literally a ton of gear and supplies.

13500kms with about 6.5k on rock/gravel/dirt. So how did it perform? What a bloody champion!! Did not miss a single beat. Destroyed the two new rear tyres by trips end, cracked a headlight, couple of minor dents and slight intermittent weep from the rear pinion seal...that's it. It was fairly pushed and lapped it up.

:D:D:D

[LRD414]

Wow that's a huge trip. I'd love to do something similar. How long did the whole thing take? Are you going to write up a trip report? I'm always keen to hear more about trips like yours.

Cheers,
Scott

[rangieman]

Wow that's a huge trip. I'd love to do something similar. How long did the whole thing take? Are you going to write up a trip report? I'm always keen to hear more about trips like yours.

Cheers,
Scott

Im guessing 8 weeks as the op stated:p

[miker]

Hi Scott. Knocked up a YouTube video about the vehicle mods done before I went (mike Rowley expedition defender) and thought I would revisit afterwards to review anything that didn't deliver...but as I said it all worked a treat so no point I guess. Will post a couple of pics if ever I suss it out. :(

[J RAD]

What a dream trip!

[Bytemrk]

Sounds like an amazing trip ..look forward to seeing some pictures ;)

[Col 110]

Does sound like an awesome trip - also looking forward to some photo's

[DiscoMick]

Sounds great. I'm envious. Any particular reason why rear tyres destroyed - just weight?

[The ho har's]

Yes it is a nice trip to do, would love to do it again someday and probably will.


Destroyed the two new rear tyres by trips end, cracked a headlight, couple of minor dents and slight intermittent weep from the rear pinion seal...that's it. It was fairly pushed and lapped it up.

:D:D:D


Sounds great. I'm envious. Any particular reason why rear tyres destroyed - just weight?


I am guessing Michelin. We destroyed 2 rears when we did a simular trip. We found Michelins can't handle the weight of the slide on camper on the Gibb, Tanami and Plenty H/way.

Mrs hh:angel:

[MrLandy]

Hi Scott. Knocked up a YouTube video about the vehicle mods done before I went (mike Rowley expedition defender) and thought I would revisit afterwards to review anything that didn't deliver...but as I said it all worked a treat so no point I guess. Will post a couple of pics if ever I suss it out. :(

Hey miker, I reckon that's exactly why it would be great to see your video.

[Iain_B]

Nice to see another Defender being used properly. We did a similar trip two years ago in our 110 and it also never missed a beat right until the last 100km, when the Tom Wood Double Cardan propshaft managed to destroy a universal joint.

We also destroyed the the BFG KM2 255/80R16 rear tyres, they lasted about 20,000km and we bad enough that we had to change them over in Carnavon to a pair of Maxxis Bighorns. We had 2 ton on the rear axle when we took it over the weigh bridge fully loaded , and 1.4 tons on the front with just the two of us. What tyres did you run on your trip?

I've done another 12,000km since then on a Bighorns including coming back from Steep Point to Cape Byron across the middle and they still look good. They are our touring set, and we only fit them when we are going out, otherwise the OEM Continentals over used around town and to the beach.





....... Destroyed the two new rear tyres by trips end, cracked a headlight, couple of minor dents and slight intermittent weep from the rear pinion seal...that's it. It was fairly pushed and lapped it up.

:D:D:D

[POD]

We did a similar trip last year in the 130, 16,000km over 9 weeks and the only problem we had was on the last day when we had a broken wire on the turbo actuator which caused intermittent limp mode.
The Munja track is very punishing on tyres. But then so is the Tanami, the Gibb and much of the Kalumburu road. We came south through the Gregory national park also which is very rocky terrain. We had 1180kg front and 2180kg rear over the weighbridge at Alice Springs, had 6 new KM2s in 255/85 and rotate them every 10,000km- including twice during the Kimberley trip. Spares to front, fronts to rear, rears to spare. We could just about watch the rears wear out before our eyes with that much weight on outback roads, but sharing the wear makes a big difference- still on the same set now.

I'd be back up there in a heartbeat- looking forward to next time maybe 2017.

[MrLandy]

Yes all of those roads are awesome, stunning, inspiring drives...and very hard on tyres (and shocks). Bridgestone D661 235/85r16 are the local choice in the northwest, they are very tough, 12ply rating. Never let me down and wear very well. They're also very good on highway.

Reducing weight for such trips is probably the most important factor. If your Defender is loaded to the ceiling, and you have a spare, swags, box, bag, jack, shovel, fuel and/or gas! on the roof as well, you've got way too much stuff. Swags and perhaps a second spare are all I ever carry on the roof and I always leave enough room for swags inside in inclement weather. Cut back on the stuff! And your tyres and shocks, bushes, brakes, etc will last a lot longer.

[Iain_B]

Keeping the weight down is pretty easy for a camping/fishing trip for a week or two with the boys, but living for months on end out of a 110 in all sort of weather, in many different environments, and travelling through pretty remote areas requires a fair amount of camping gear, water, gas, food etc. I could not imagine living out of a swag for months, and I know I would have been on my own if I even suggested it to the missus. My 110 had no problems with the extra weight, other than the rear KM2s chipping but the Bighorns have performed better.





Reducing weight for such trips is probably the most important factor. If your Defender is loaded to the ceiling, and you have a spare, swags, box, bag, jack, shovel, fuel and/or gas! on the roof as well, you've got way too much stuff. Swags and perhaps a second spare are all I ever carry on the roof and I always leave enough room for swags inside in inclement weather. Cut back on the stuff! And your tyres and shocks, bushes, brakes, etc will last a lot longer.

[miker]

Sounds great. I'm envious. Any particular reason why rear tyres destroyed - just weight?

Yeah, just the weight. They held up well for a considerable time but eventually as the weeks rolled on they were slowly eaten into. Ran pressures mainly around 22-24 psi on the rough.

[MrLandy]

Yeah I know it can be difficult to leave stuff out! And with kids, obviously different! A whole other challenge I'm yet to encounter 😳
... I've been able to get my packing down to pretty much the same gear for a weekend as for an extended trip. Obviously with more water and more food, but otherwise same gear. It's like some kind of zen training that I've honed over the years. I enjoy taking as little as possible. Having said that, as well as swags, I pack a freedom canvas tourer tent for bad weather or long stays.

[MrLandy]

Yeah, just the weight. They held up well for a considerable time but eventually as the weeks rolled on they were slowly eaten into. Ran pressures mainly around 22-24 psi on the rough.

Gee that sounds pretty low for a fully loaded Defender...22-24psi on the rear? I reckon that's part of your problem. I'd be running btw 35-40 rear if fully loaded on outback roads, unless on sand.

[miker]

They are of course cold temps ie. will end up sitting high 20's - 30 when hot. Given chipping is the issue this is where I want to be. Conversely a 35 - 40 will end up around mid 40's when hot. With a load on big corrugation I'll pass on mid 40's.

[LRD414]

Mike, would you change anything about the route taken, places visited or overall length of time? Eg more time at "A" and less time at "B" etc.

Scott

[miker]

G'day Scott. Mate for the time we had and distance covered It panned out pretty well. However, in answer to your question we could have spent a couple of weeks just soaking up all Cape Leveque has to offer...take a tinny and, well the mind boggles. Anyone that seems to have been there agrees. Fabulous part of WA.

Also, we ended up arriving home a few days early and in hindsight wish we'ed stayed longer at McGowans or thereabouts North of Kulumbaru. Again, wish we had a tinnie. And also Walcott inlet at the end of the Munja Track. Not as remote as yesteryear no doubt, but you do still feel you have at been somewhere special...great slice of Aussie bush without the crowds.

A lot more bitumen this time and more fences along the remote tracks but still what a buzz to still be able to "hang a left" and drive off the road and find a great creek or bush camp. Still the lucky country.

[miker]

While I think of it. Have some fab (I think so at least 😊) photos of the brick out and about on the trip but despite reading the how to, can't get them onsite. I am wondering if my subscription level is the issue. It says I can post "attachments" but that may not include pics. Feedback?

[AndyG]

Make sure your pics are one of the allowed formats prior to uploading.

For example, you cant upload the latest version of Word .docx

[miker]

Ta.

[LRD414]

While I think of it. Have some fab (I think so at least [emoji4]) photos of the brick out and about on the trip but despite reading the how to, can't get them onsite. I am wondering if my subscription level is the issue. It says I can post "attachments" but that may not include pics. Feedback?


Mike, have you looked in the Gallery and then "My Photos" and then "Upload Photos" once you've done that it is easy to insert a photo link in a post. Each photo in your gallery has its own direct link that you can paste into a post.

Scott

[quaddrive]

Just be careful fellas as the GVM for a 110 is only 3050kg as I remember it so 2t on the rear axle and 1.4 over the front may well be an insurance issue if you are needing to claim.

Cheers

[miker]

Mike, have you looked in the Gallery and then "My Photos" and then "Upload Photos" once you've done that it is easy to insert a photo link in a post. Each photo in your gallery has its own direct link that you can paste into a post.

Scott

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/10/359.jpg

[miker]

http://www.aulro.com/app/data/500/medium/image139.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/10/357.jpg

[Aguy]

Great pictures! :BigThumb:

[Didge]

Shouldn't this be in the Trip reports section??? Nice pics btw :)

[POD]

Nice photos, first one looks like Walcott Inlet, the grass was 7ft high when we were there last year, good to see they took the slasher all the way in this year. Where's the second one?

[miker]

Nice photos, first one looks like Walcott Inlet, the grass was 7ft high when we were there last year, good to see they took the slasher all the way in this year. Where's the second one?

G'day Pod. The first pic is on El-Questro - just up one of the local "hills". The second is actually just North of the GRR/Pentecost River crossing with the King Leopold Ranges in the background.

There not loading as hi-res but at least I now know how. Have heaps of pics and video, as you do, so will stitch some of the better stuff together shortly. 100% GoPro.

Mike.

[miker]

...or visa versa...you know what I mean. :D

[Bytemrk]

G'day Miker,

Looks like a fantastic trip!

I just edited your photo links to show the images for you.

When you are writing a post and want to insert an image press the icon above that looks like this: https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/10/112.jpg and insert the URL.

Then it will show right for you ;) If you would like any further help, just yell out!

Oh and keep posting those beautiful pictures!!!

[POD]

G'day Pod. The first pic is on El-Questro - just up one of the local "hills". The second is actually just North of the GRR/Pentecost River crossing with the King Leopold Ranges in the background.

There not loading as hi-res but at least I now know how. Have heaps of pics and video, as you do, so will stitch some of the better stuff together shortly. 100% GoPro.

Mike.

Well I got that one wrong! I thought it was the Charnley/Calder estuary. Is that just near the crossing on the Pentecost or did you go up the Kurunjie track?

[miker]

Well I got that one wrong! I thought it was the Charnley/Calder estuary. Is that just near the crossing on the Pentecost or did you go up the Kurunjie track?



POD
It is just a short private track near the Home Valley Resort. Hardly remote (we had a bistro meal 30min before camping) but does allow access to the river. M.

[miker]

G'day Miker,

Looks like a fantastic trip!

I just edited your photo links to show the images for you.

When you are writing a post and want to insert an image press the icon above that looks like this: https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/10/112.jpg and insert the URL.

Then it will show right for you ;) If you would like any further help, just yell out!

Oh and keep posting those beautiful pictures!!!




Actually Mark there is something. Just been trying to upload pics but it is saying the files are too large. The photos chosen are around the 4-6MB mark ie. 12meg GoPro shots. Thoughts/options? Miker.

[miker]

Just a test...uploading via "manage attachments" instead of uploading in the Gallery.

[miker]

OK. Net result (for me) can upload it seems anything direct into the post, but the same pic is too large to import direct into the gallery. I've tried a few times. I know someone will correct me or steer me right but that's the wash up thus far. BTW - Simpson camp.

[miker]

...and finally so all us Deefer owners can sleep snug...if the suspension is going to cave...best it be on one of the Toyotas!!

[MrLandy]

Awesome Miker. Love the bush mechanics at work, fixing the Tojo with gum leaves (or whatever is at hand). Cool.

[Bytemrk]

Hi Miker,

This will give you a guide to what sizes of files the system can cope with uploaded to our system.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/mods-pen/101161d1446013497-reported-post-bytemrk-aulro-pics.jpg

Maximum preferred pic size on aulro is 800 pixels on either height or width

This might help : Web Resizer - Making Photos Faster - Optimize pictures for websites and email (http://webresizer.com/resizer/)


The alternative is to host the images elsewhere and insert the URL from the other host using the same button mentioned above..
some good free picture hosting sites

www.flickr.com (http://www.flickr.com)
megashot.net (http://megashot.net/)
photobucket.com (http://photobucket.com/)
Picasa (http://picasa.google.com/)

[miker]

Thanks Mark.
Always learning. The issue so often with all things tec is simply the infrequency of tinkering. Once you've done it though, easy peazy. TA.