RRS TDV8 - Thoughts On Taking To Birdsville

[Chilly]

Hi All,

I am going to the Birdsville races.

I have a 2008 TDV8 RRS and I am thinking of taking this. I would appreciate people who have done this trip thoughts on taking my car.

Currently very STD apart from a CB and a dual battery system...as purchased with car. 205,000kms.

Thanks,

Chilly

[~Rich~]

Which way to Birdsville?
From the East, not a problem a normal road car is fine!
From the West, more preparation is required crossing the Simpson.

[Graeme]

What size tyres? 265/50/20 are considerably more suitable than the original 275/40/20 for gravel roads.

[Chilly]

Currently running 255/55x19.

Coming from Central Coast. Moree, lightening Ridge. Plan a small trip in to the Simpson. Just a day trip.

[rar110]

It's bitumen road except for the last bit.

[AnD3rew]

No problems at all. It is a great trip and a great car to do it in. You might need to plan your fuel stops to make sure you don't get caught. If you have a roof rack might want to throw an emergency Jerry up there, but if not should still be ok if you plan it out. AT tyres would be an advantage and make sure you know how to jack and change a tyre. But it isn't a challenging trip at all really unless there is a lot of rain. Good that you have a UHF already.

Make sure you get it serviced before you go and get them to give it a good check over looking for hoses, leaks etc and replace anything that looks like it is getting dodgy.

Will want to drop tyre pressure if you go and have a play at Big Red so good to have a compressor, borrow one from a mate if you don't want to buy one. Also good to have a snatch strap and rated shackles and know where your recovery points are. Usually plenty of other vehicles out there so shouldn't be any worries.

[Fatso]

Hi All,

I am going to the Birdsville races.

I have a 2008 TDV8 RRS and I am thinking of taking this. I would appreciate people who have done this trip thoughts on taking my car.

Currently very STD apart from a CB and a dual battery system...as purchased with car. 205,000kms.

Thanks,

Chilly


A very standard V8 RRS is top of the wosa , don't need much else beside your radio or sat phone , you wont be lonely out there , If you have not already done so have a practice at changing a wheel .

[rar110]

The practice tyre changing suggestion is a good one. It's easy to pick up a screw on the road.

You should be fine with fuel. I did a trip back from Birdsville to Brissy in my Perentie, which only has a range of about 450 km when fully loaded. You should have a lot more range in a RRS. The tdv8 is great for a trip like that. We just came back from Lightening Ridge and Dirranbandi in the RRV tdv8. Very easy to take.
108189

[AndyG]

Easy run, maybe a TPMS, small compressor, tyre repair kit. It's a good quality fast dirt road, both from south and east

[Chilly]

Thanks all for the replies.
I do have a Defender fairly well kitted out...so can borrow compressors etc.

Interesting to hear about practising a wheel change....what is so special about this?

Think Ill go and have a read of the handbook and Greames manual.

Chilly

[~Rich~]

If you are heading to Birdsville either for the races in September or Big Red Bash in July there will be plenty of traffic!

[AnD3rew]

If you haven't changed a wheel before on a Disco/RRS then it's worth at least reading up and checking out the jacking points first. Easy to wreck the spare wheel winch and easy to accidentally jack on the compressor and kill it.

[rar110]

And maybe use the wheel brace to check if it fits all the wheel nuts. Rattle gun use can sometimes distort the nuts so the wheel brace doesn't fit. As its a new acquisition maybe check if all the tyre changing gear is all there including the wheel nut key.

[Chilly]

If you are heading to Birdsville either for the races in September or Big Red Bash in July there will be plenty of traffic!

Is that a good thing or bad?

[~Rich~]

Plenty of people towing vans, some of which driving painfully slow!
Plenty of plooming dust off all the vehicles too.
You will need patience, be safe.

[AndyG]

If you go Simpson you will need a sand flag. A spare air filter could be handy.
Do you need a permit for a day trip into the Simpson?

[AndyG]

As a matter of interest, what is Walkers track like?

[AnD3rew]

If you go Simpson you will need a sand flag. A spare air filter could be handy.
Do you need a permit for a day trip into the Simpson?

If you just want o go out and have a play at Big Red and the next couple of dunes then you don't need a permit, the permit area about 100km from there, however you could get there in a day. Ideally you would have a sand flag but I don't think it is mandatory until you get into the permit area.