Trip to the Cape, D4 prep advice

[JGuestyBoy]

Hi,
Going on a 3 week trip to The Cape. Has anyone done it in a Disco4? What do you recommend doing to the Disco4 to ensure it makes it there and back? I'm told under guards are essential plus AT's? What else?

[Tombie]

Look at the sticky - essential spares.

Take your time, keep your speed down - it’s WAY too easy to be going a lot faster than you should be, the ride is that good.

Keep it down closer to what the Toyota’s, Nissan’s etc are doing and you’ll stress the vehicle less... [emoji48]

And remember - it’s a motor vehicle; not a boat or submarine [emoji56]

Use good judgement and you’ll be fine.

If you main battery is over 3 years consider replacement prior to leaving.

[justinc]

.... and don't take too much carp/stuff... weight is your enemy

Jc

[plusnq]

We did the Cape two years ago in our D4, along with a friend with a Prado. We took three weeks from Brisbane to the Tip and return. I would have liked to have taken longer but with three kids we were locked into school holidays. We did the OTT , The Tip, Chili beach and Lakefield. Our D4 is pretty well set up with a winch, KO2 AT’s, bashguards and snorkel. If you plan to do water crossings a snorkel is a must.


I would suggest the minimum would be a snorkel, bash plates especially compressor guard, an air compressor, and a recovery kit. We didn’t use our winch at all on the trip even though we drove the whole of the OTT including gunshot.


Weight is a killer on these trips and the D4 doesn’t have much room to play with on GVM. Definitely keep an eye on how much stuff you take as it all adds up. Fuel is plentiful, just fill up regularly and pay what the bowser price is.


We had a great time and there is still lots I’d like to explore up there.


Cheers


Shane

[meloyelo78]

I did the Cape in 2013 with my two adult sons - a lightning-fast three weeks from Brisbane as they were constrained by available leave. The D3 was prepped in the usual way - bull bar, winch, snorkel, sump guard, ATs, cargo draws, fridge, roof rack - but could easily have done the trip stock standard (apart from tyres, of course). It was worth doing though as, since then, it's been a tow rig for an off-road caravan around Australia.

In terms of what to pack, we found the biggest issues were around comms and charging the accessories. I hired a sat phone in Cairns which wasn't used but was nice to have just in case. Mobile reception was available at either end and sporadically along the way. There weren't enough power outlets in the D3 (even with the extras on the Traxide dual battery setup) to keep all the accessories fully charged at all times for three adults - mobiles, cameras, laptops, tablets.

Beer north of Cairns is expensive and mid-strength only. Take cans, not glass, and crush the empties. Carry a few clean-up bags to pick up trash left by useless wombats at camp sites and crossings.

Recovery gear would be useful, especially if doing the OTT or going off the main routes. Tyre repair kit would be a must.

On the Developmental Road, watch for the vehicles coming back, heading south. Invariably, they'll be running out of time, in a hurry to get back home and going way too fast for the conditions. We copped lots of rocks and had a close call with a vehicle coming at us around a bend on the wrong side of the road. I found the best track was driving along the table drain off the road - just be awake to the guide posts.

I carried two jerry cans but fuel was readily available. Don't worry too much about the price - yes, it costs more than further south, but do your bit to support the locals. We certainly did at every pub...lol.

Cheers
Pete

[Redback]

The Capes a doddle, really only need to watch out at two water crossing, Nolans Brook especially, and as Tombie said, it's not a boat and keep the weight down where you can, we took all the seats out, 2nd and 3rd rows to take weight off the car.

[DiscoMick]

If you have a 500k fuel range you should be fine. Just be wary of water crossings and grin and bear corrugations. Oh, and minimise shopping north of Weipa to save money.

[BobD]

The Capes a doddle, really only need to watch out at two water crossing, Nolans Brook especially, and as Tombie said, it's not a boat and keep the weight down where you can, we took all the seats out, 2nd and 3rd rows to take weight off the car.

Yeah, I did the same on a three week trip from Perth to Cape York via Great Central Rd etc and back via the Kimberley. Just left one seat for my daughter who was travelling with us. We have also done the same on a few other trips all over Australia.


The second row seats are very easy to remove and the third row is not that much harder. Mine is currently sitting in a spare room and probably won't be refitted since the D4 is now my play car only.

[p38arover]

.... and don't take too much carp/stuff... weight is your enemy


Yep, you can catch fish during the trip. [bigwhistle]

PS: there is a specific area on AULRO for Trip Prep questions: https://www.aulro.com/afvb/trip-preparation-suggestions-ideas-and-advice/

[JGuestyBoy]

Wow!

Cheers for a ll the advice!!! Taling out the rear seats is a clever idea! Ill be sure to take cans not glass too so thank you everyone for those tips, it'll all come in handy!

[JGuestyBoy]

To follow up,

Any recommendations on maintenance before we go?

I've see a few posts of people replacing control arm bushes etc. and while I think the car drives fine, how do you know if these kinds of things need replacing?

[justinc]

To follow up,

Any recommendations on maintenance before we go?

I've see a few posts of people replacing control arm bushes etc. and while I think the car drives fine, how do you know if these kinds of things need replacing?

How many km old is the vehicle? What kind of use has it had? Much towing?

[JGuestyBoy]

122,000k's and it hadn't touched anything but a sealed road since new and it's only ever towed a Jet Ski once...

[JGuestyBoy]

How many km old is the vehicle? What kind of use has it had? Much towing?

122,000k's and it hadn't touched anything but a sealed road since new and it's only ever towed a Jet Ski once...

[DiscoMick]

Get all your bushes inspected and replace if necessary.
Also inspect bearings and replace if necessary.
Have an auto electrician check your alternator. It might benefit from a service.
I would replace headlight bulbs. A set of +130 bulbs should be good.

[justinc]

Replace the arms before you go. 100%. Also might pay to fit a new alternator too. The 150k mark is approaching and they are known to be problematic. Usually on a remote track at an unpleasant time! They ARE a show stopper when they fail. And use ONLY a genuine Denso one.

[JGuestyBoy]

Do you guys recommend sticking with the genuine replacements for the arms?

Do both the upper and lower arms need to be replaced?

[justinc]

Front lowers. Use either genuine or Bilstein/ Febi or at least a branded OEM product.

Jc

[Ozzy119]

If not already replaced, suggest or at least carry as a spare. I did a few years ago, just couldn't believe my luck when it popped day one.

Right Intercooler Hose - Cooling - Parts - Bearmach (https://bearmach.com/right-intercooler-hose-pnh500025)

It splits on the top elbow. You can limp to base. Is an easy DIY replacement, assuming you have sensible tools with you. (handy hint - you'll need plenty of cable ties, to help fit the wheel arch cover back in, as the body clips are a PITA....)

How old is the main battery? I would consider sticking a new one in, to avoid disappointment.

[meloyelo78]

I see you're from Brisbane. Don't know if you've come across MR Automotive in Redcliffe, but they are Land Rover specialists, do excellent work and have been really helpful on a couple of occasions when I've phoned them from Back-of-Beyond with mechanical issues. I got them to do a pre-trip vehicle inspection before my Cape trip, and they offered advice on spares to carry. They even put together a basic spares kit - air filter, oil filter, brake light switch, pollen filter - on the basis of return it for free when you get back and only pay for what you use.

Cheers
Pete

[Redback]

Do you guys recommend sticking with the genuine replacements for the arms?

Do both the upper and lower arms need to be replaced?


I see you're from Brisbane. Don't know if you've come across MR Automotive in Redcliffe, but they are Land Rover specialists, do excellent work and have been really helpful on a couple of occasions when I've phoned them from Back-of-Beyond with mechanical issues. I got them to do a pre-trip vehicle inspection before my Cape trip, and they offered advice on spares to carry. They even put together a basic spares kit - air filter, oil filter, brake light switch, pollen filter - on the basis of return it for free when you get back and only pay for what you use.

Cheers
Pete

This is a good idea for everything, trip prep and a service, they will let you know if anything needs attention and the spares offer is great.

Just as an alternitive if you don't get the intercooler hose, get some hose repair tape, I carry 3 rolls just in case and if you only use it to get to help it's all good and worth it.

[DiscoMick]

Silicone hoses should fix the issue of rubber hoses splitting. I am progressively replacing mine. Did the turbo and intercooler first.

[JGuestyBoy]

Going to invest in a IIDTool BT for the trip.

It should allow me to adjust to a greater height during travel on the corrugations and provide a diagnostic tool in case something should happen.

What do you guys think?

The Disco is also booked in next week for the guys to go over all the points you have all made, fingers crossed for it to not be too much $$$!

[justinc]

Going to invest in a IIDTool BT for the trip.

It should allow me to adjust to a greater height during travel on the corrugations and provide a diagnostic tool in case something should happen.

What do you guys think?

The Disco is also booked in next week for the guys to go over all the points you have all made, fingers crossed for it to not be too much $$$!


I would say it costs what it costs... cheaper than recovering a vehicle from a remote area...

[DiscoMick]

Make sure you upgrade your motoring organization membership to premium or whatever it is called to cover extended recovery.

[roverrescue]

No mention has been made of time of trip
If you just want to drive to seisia in July

A Hyundai Getz will do perfectly - by this July there will be only a few hundred km of dirt left of the PDR

If you want to drive the OTL in May , especially this May, after this wet
Trade in your D4 for something more MOG like

May 2017 after a pretty poor wet, we had to winch DOWN into palm creek.
The wagons in our convoy (200 and Pajero) bailed not wanting to drop 1m into 1m of mud before getting into palm before winching our the other side .....

But just two weeks later on our way south it was driveable


Timing is everything

Steve

[StewG]

Hi,
Going on a 3 week trip to The Cape. Has anyone done it in a Disco4? What do you recommend doing to the Disco4 to ensure it makes it there and back? I'm told under guards are essential plus AT's? What else?

My wife and I drove to the tip in July 2017 in our D4 MY13 SDV6 HSE towing a 2.5 ton off-road JB Caravan. The D4 is stock standard except for a Traxide dual battery system to power an Engel 24/7 and a new set of Maxxis 980 Bravo A/T tyres to give a bit more grip than the standard tyres. The Peninsula Development Road (PDR) condition was quite variable; from lengths of good bitumen to unsealed corrugations (the majority) with short areas of sand. If you go at appropriate speeds (slow) and change tyre pressures to suit conditions you should have no problems. For us, none of the water crossings did more than wet the tyres. The D4 performed magnificently giving no trouble at all. The caravan didn't fare quite so well, but survived well enough to be a comfortable home for us on the entire trip. We did not travel on the more severe stretches of the OTT out of deference to the caravan, but we did travel through Lakefield National Park and found the roads there no worse than the PDR and sometimes much better.

The trip to the tip was a part of a 24,000 km, 5 month lap of Oz. A very comfortable trip in the D4 and not a scrap of bother from the car.

[jimbotron]

My wife and I drove to the tip in July 2017 in our D4 MY13 SDV6 HSE towing a 2.5 ton off-road JB Caravan. The D4 is stock standard except for a Traxide dual battery system to power an Engel 24/7 and a new set of Maxxis 980 Bravo A/T tyres to give a bit more grip than the standard tyres. The Peninsula Development Road (PDR) condition was quite variable; from lengths of good bitumen to unsealed corrugations (the majority) with short areas of sand. If you go at appropriate speeds (slow) and change tyre pressures to suit conditions you should have no problems. For us, none of the water crossings did more than wet the tyres. The D4 performed magnificently giving no trouble at all. The caravan didn't fare quite so well, but survived well enough to be a comfortable home for us on the entire trip. We did not travel on the more severe stretches of the OTT out of deference to the caravan, but we did travel through Lakefield National Park and found the roads there no worse than the PDR and sometimes much better.

The trip to the tip was a part of a 24,000 km, 5 month lap of Oz. A very comfortable trip in the D4 and not a scrap of bother from the car.

Where did you go after the Cape? We are about to start our own lap, so curious on your route.

Cheers!

[Rylee405]

I hope I've managed to attach 3 x mud maps.
went to the tip Aug and Sept 2017.
D4 towing AOR Quantum S4 off road van.
I used the uni filter over the snorkel inlet the air filter on our return was in dire need to be replaced. so would suggest spare air filter. Good AT tyres and two spares.
And of course tyre pressures 20 -25 front and 25-30 rear. A good way to test you're going at an acceptable speed is when your wobbley bits wobble the least. it was recommended for females to wear a sports bra.
didn't travel on the OTT too many flooded and written off.
Have a great trip.

[Rylee405]

Where did you go after the Cape? We are about to start our own lap, so curious on your route.

Cheers!
hi Jim. Starting a 4 month trip to WA and back leaving April 28th. Attached our proposed route, subject to roads being open. solid blue line away dotted blue line return.
Bob.

[JGuestyBoy]

So I've gone through the thread and ordered most of the spares mentioned (thanks everyone for the tips) and had the car in for a pre-trip inspection and service (passed with flying colours!).

Should I consider having the upper and lower radiator hoses as spares or will self fusing silicone tape do the trick?

[DiscoMick]

Spares are always good for remote travel, but keep in mind parts can be flown in overnight from Cairns to Weipa. The Cape is actually not that remote.

[LRD414]

Should I consider having the upper and lower radiator hoses as spares or will self fusing silicone tape do the trick?
How old are the existing hoses?

Scott

[Tombie]

There are over 16 hoses on a TDV6 from memory.

[Tony V]

Hi,

I'm a little late getting onto this thread, I live in Cairns and I have done the Cape around 27 times over the past 4 years, some work some pleasure and mostly in Toyota's

In Cairns I use the Landy Centre (http://www.landycentre.com.au/) in Joan St Bungalow. Rene' is Landrover Trained and is excellent for pre and post trip checks.

Vulnerable parts on the D4.

Tyres which are a can of worms as a subject.
After changing brands a few times I realised that either 18" wheels and Tyres or jump to 20"
I changed my wheels to 20" and run BFG K02 275/55 which gives me 31.9inch wheels with a 6" side wall.
I also have Green Oval rods to raise the suspension.

A snorkel, rear bar, long range tank bull bar and winch means I get through just about anything.

30k on and I am happy and I am not destroying tyres.

Front bushes and ball Joints.
I've done over 200k on my 2010 D4, I replaced the front lower wishbone instead of new bushes etc 2 years ago, they are vulnerable for wear. I replaced my front upper wishbones this year due to wear.
I imported my wishbones from Advanced Factors UK (http://www.advancedfactors.co.uk/). Shipping is done by DHL and the longest I have had to wait is 5 days... including the weekend.

Weight.

The D4 killer is overloading, someone said don't buy anything north of Weipa, I suggest buy what you need along the way, the Cape is not remote and you can top up on fuel, bread, meat and veggies as you go. Beer is expensive but its restricted in many places so if you don't like the price drink less, although Punsands have XXXX or Great Northern on tap for around $5.

Load up, then chuck 50% back in the house.

MUST HAVE

Top level Roadside assist. ~ RACQ Ultimate is great.. but check what your Roadside Assist give you, Roadside Assist top cover is not the same in all states.

A Diagnostic Scanner, Nanocom, Hawkeye can be expensive, an iCarsoft I930 might be enough to call up codes and cancel items

A 2nd spare if you retain 19"wheels. 2 ways to do this 1. wheel and tyre fitted, 2. just a spare tyre. less weight on the car as well.

Spare parts? well most mechanic up there won't tough your car, so unless you are good with repairs, put it on a truck to Cairns

Just remember,

Slow as possible and as fast as necessary [bigsmile1]

[JGuestyBoy]

How old are the existing hoses?

Scott

Ah I would say 130k as none of them have been changed since new.


There are over 16 hoses on a TDV6 from memory.

Well I better make sure I've got enough silicone tape!!!


Hi,

I'm a little late getting onto this thread, I live in Cairns and I have done the Cape around 27 times over the past 4 years, some work some pleasure and mostly in Toyota's

In Cairns I use the Landy Centre (http://www.landycentre.com.au/) in Joan St Bungalow. Rene' is Landrover Trained and is excellent for pre and post trip checks.

Vulnerable parts on the D4.

Tyres which are a can of worms as a subject.
After changing brands a few times I realised that either 18" wheels and Tyres or jump to 20"
I changed my wheels to 20" and run BFG K02 275/55 which gives me 31.9inch wheels with a 6" side wall.
I also have Green Oval rods to raise the suspension.

A snorkel, rear bar, long range tank bull bar and winch means I get through just about anything.

30k on and I am happy and I am not destroying tyres.

Front bushes and ball Joints.
I've done over 200k on my 2010 D4, I replaced the front lower wishbone instead of new bushes etc 2 years ago, they are vulnerable for wear. I replaced my front upper wishbones this year due to wear.
I imported my wishbones from Advanced Factors UK (http://www.advancedfactors.co.uk/). Shipping is done by DHL and the longest I have had to wait is 5 days... including the weekend.

Weight.

The D4 killer is overloading, someone said don't buy anything north of Weipa, I suggest buy what you need along the way, the Cape is not remote and you can top up on fuel, bread, meat and veggies as you go. Beer is expensive but its restricted in many places so if you don't like the price drink less, although Punsands have XXXX or Great Northern on tap for around $5.

Load up, then chuck 50% back in the house.

MUST HAVE

Top level Roadside assist. ~ RACQ Ultimate is great.. but check what your Roadside Assist give you, Roadside Assist top cover is not the same in all states.

A Diagnostic Scanner, Nanocom, Hawkeye can be expensive, an iCarsoft I930 might be enough to call up codes and cancel items

A 2nd spare if you retain 19"wheels. 2 ways to do this 1. wheel and tyre fitted, 2. just a spare tyre. less weight on the car as well.

Spare parts? well most mechanic up there won't tough your car, so unless you are good with repairs, put it on a truck to Cairns

Just remember,

Slow as possible and as fast as necessary [bigsmile1]




I've put brand new rubber fitted to my 18's so hoping they'll hold up well, spare is brand new too and I picked a common size.

In terms of weight, good point but unfortunately I can't avoid it with a roof rack, roof top tent and everything else needed to get from Brissy to the Cape and back safely!

Are there restrictions on the types of alcohol I can take? i.e. no spirits/wine, only middies?

I've got a GAP IIDTool and top cover RACQ roadside, spares I'll look to be sparse but sensible from the feedback given in this thread.

Thanks for the tip on the Landy Centre, I'll keep that in mind if the D4 has any issues!

Thanks,

Josh

[JGuestyBoy]

We made it!
Thanks to everyone for your feedback and assistance,

Trip was trouble free except for the return leg where im now getting a restricted performance fault when accelerating hard.

Completed the tele track and kept up with all other modified vehicles so very proud of the Disco!


142404

[JGuestyBoy]

If not already replaced, suggest or at least carry as a spare. I did a few years ago, just couldn't believe my luck when it popped day one.

Right Intercooler Hose - Cooling - Parts - Bearmach (https://bearmach.com/right-intercooler-hose-pnh500025)

It splits on the top elbow. You can limp to base. Is an easy DIY replacement, assuming you have sensible tools with you. (handy hint - you'll need plenty of cable ties, to help fit the wheel arch cover back in, as the body clips are a PITA....)

How old is the main battery? I would consider sticking a new one in, to avoid disappointment.

Turns out this hose was the culprite for the "Performance Restricted" fault!

Thanks for the advice as I had the spare ready to go and after the 5min swap (plus the 30min to get the bloody wheel arch cover plastic clips back in) it is now purring like a dream!