SHOULD I OR SHOULD'NT I?

[Discodicky]

COVID permitting, my wife and I are planning a trip to Sth Aus (Tombie Country) and Flinders Ranges hopefully Sept/October this year.

Am seeking advice/suggestions and opinions please regarding any major work I should get done prior the adventure.
Not discussing engine & auto service, check brakes, feel wheel brgs, water housing, etc etc as I have all that done or in mind to do.

What I am particularly thinking of is whether I should do some of the "dreaded potentials", ie, replace both inlet manifolds, alternator & battery (batt 4 yrs old), lower control arms (the rear bush is 'weak') sway bar bushes, and maybe the rotary gear selector.

Should I leave the suspension bushes until I return home as they'll get thrashed on the dirt roads???

Am not made of munney, however the last thing I want to happen is one of those problems happening way out in the Flinders Ranges or anywhere inconvenient with a 3.0T caravan in tow!

Working on the basis that I intend keeping this fine vehicle for several more years, in my opinion I am not wasting money since those items (except for maybe the gear selector) will almost certainly need replacing within the next two years, so why not bring them forward to do them now at my convenience rather than as an emergency repair whilst on holiday in a "foreign country" ([bigrolf])

By the way, to help you give me an informed opinion, the current mileage is 152,000 klms .

Maybe I've spent too many years in the earth moving industry where you replace "pre-failure" to eliminate unplanned downtime and unnecessary costly 'time' in my situation whilst on holiday!!

What sayeth the Brains Trust please? [bigwhistle]

[DiscoJeffster]

Sure. If you have the money do the cooling system including replacing the outlet, manifolds, and while you’re there you should do the timing belts if you haven’t already. Maybe high pressure fuel pump, throttle body - they split, new battery, get a GAP if you don’t have one already, front wheel bearings ….. the list goes on. Take height sensors, ABS sensors, understand how to change them and the tools you’ll need as of these fail you’re out of traction control etc.

……. There’s a whole thread on spares alone.

[rocket rod]

Tyres???????

[Discodicky]

Tyres???????

Fitted new 19" Duratracs 10,000 klms ago.
Very happy with them.

[josh.huber]

COVID permitting, my wife and I are planning a trip to Sth Aus (Tombie Country) and Flinders Ranges hopefully Sept/October this year.

Am seeking advice/suggestions and opinions please regarding any major work I should get done prior the adventure.
Not discussing engine & auto service, check brakes, feel wheel brgs, water housing, etc etc as I have all that done or in mind to do.

What I am particularly thinking of is whether I should do some of the "dreaded potentials", ie, replace both inlet manifolds, alternator & battery (batt 4 yrs old), lower control arms (the rear bush is 'weak') sway bar bushes, and maybe the rotary gear selector.

Should I leave the suspension bushes until I return home as they'll get thrashed on the dirt roads???

Am not made of munney, however the last thing I want to happen is one of those problems happening way out in the Flinders Ranges or anywhere inconvenient with a 3.0T caravan in tow!

Working on the basis that I intend keeping this fine vehicle for several more years, in my opinion I am not wasting money since those items (except for maybe the gear selector) will almost certainly need replacing within the next two years, so why not bring them forward to do them now at my convenience rather than as an emergency repair whilst on holiday in a "foreign country" ([bigrolf])

By the way, to help you give me an informed opinion, the current mileage is 152,000 klms .

Maybe I've spent too many years in the earth moving industry where you replace "pre-failure" to eliminate unplanned downtime and unnecessary costly 'time' in my situation whilst on holiday!!

What sayeth the Brains Trust please? [bigwhistle]

If it was me, alternator yes, then put the old one back on when you get home to use it up. Battery no. Just get it tested. Inlet manifolds yes. And both. But that's just me. Do the rear Bush now, not the whole arm. It's not just your comfort but the extra wear on everything else including tyres at stake. Sway Bar bushes are cheap. Just do em. Take a gear selector in the glove box, they seem to fail quite a bit. Good place for one.

Extras

Take a brake light switch, service your compressor..

[gavinwibrow]

If it was me, alternator yes, then put the old one back on when you get home to use it up. Battery no. Just get it tested. Inlet manifolds yes. And both. But that's just me. Do the rear Bush now, not the whole arm. It's not just your comfort but the extra wear on everything else including tyres at stake. Sway Bar bushes are cheap. Just do em. Take a gear selector in the glove box, they seem to fail quite a bit. Good place for one.

Extras

Take a brake light switch, service your compressor..

4 year old battery? I'd be doing the same process as suggested for your alternator.

[josh.huber]

4 year old battery? I'd be doing the same process as suggested for your alternator.

Why? You can properly check a start battery at any shop in 2 mins.

[scarry]

You have a good set of tyres you are happy with,but maybe two spares?
The roads that way are tough on tyres, particularly the higher speed dirt,just watch your speed, its so easy in these very comfortable vehicles to go too fast.

I would replace the battery, for sure.Its going to need replacing shortly anyway, at that age.
If it does die,in a remoteish place, good chance anyone local won't have the right one.
Just saves some inconvenience.


I would leave the other stuff, but the vehicle does need a good check over before you go.
Maybe take an alternator if you are worried?

Have a great time.

[NavyDiver]

COVID permitting, my wife and I are planning a trip to Sth Aus (Tombie Country) and Flinders Ranges hopefully Sept/October this year.

Am seeking advice/suggestions and opinions please regarding any major work I should get done prior the adventure.
Not discussing engine & auto service, check brakes, feel wheel brgs, water housing, etc etc as I have all that done or in mind to do.

What I am particularly thinking of is whether I should do some of the "dreaded potentials", ie, replace both inlet manifolds, alternator & battery (batt 4 yrs old), lower control arms (the rear bush is 'weak') sway bar bushes, and maybe the rotary gear selector.

Should I leave the suspension bushes until I return home as they'll get thrashed on the dirt roads???

Am not made of munney, however the last thing I want to happen is one of those problems happening way out in the Flinders Ranges or anywhere inconvenient with a 3.0T caravan in tow!

Working on the basis that I intend keeping this fine vehicle for several more years, in my opinion I am not wasting money since those items (except for maybe the gear selector) will almost certainly need replacing within the next two years, so why not bring them forward to do them now at my convenience rather than as an emergency repair whilst on holiday in a "foreign country" ([bigrolf])

By the way, to help you give me an informed opinion, the current mileage is 152,000 klms .

Maybe I've spent too many years in the earth moving industry where you replace "pre-failure" to eliminate unplanned downtime and unnecessary costly 'time' in my situation whilst on holiday!!

What sayeth the Brains Trust please? [bigwhistle]

We did Vic. Ikara Ranges, Coober Pedy with a heavy camper trailer and broke ZIP in my 2005D3 which had over 300,000km on it I think at the time. I was always replacing on advice when needed only. Test the battery- I hate old batteries with good reason. Note if you have a big battery in the power bank in the van, you have options if needed? Old does not mean about to break in my view. My new 2009d3 did break and engine though I still wonder if that was just possibly related to the new timing belts installed?
Assuming your mechanic was a cool at mine with the 2005 at least, service advice is possibly best from them. Not tossing a knife at the mechanic over the 2009 engine failure.

On tires, I did not find any issues with the dirt at all. Honestly SA dirt roads are often much better than Country Vic hard roads.

[DazzaTD5]

As some of the D4 owning touring veterans have already mentioned..
If it was me and a D4 before I left I would do:
*Alternator (if its never been done).
*Battery (if its 3 - 4 years old).

*Timing belt is close to km's but over in years.
*I've done heaps of timing belts on D4's that arent even close to km's but are 8, 9, 10 years.
*ALSO replace top coolant outlet (I do these AT 100K now) if it splits while travelling on the hiway the temp gauge / computer wont respond quick enough to save the heads.

other info
*I've only ever had one faulty brake pedal switch on a D4, the symptoms were the front brake kept being applied.
*lower control arms, meh likely its already had a set. but if you do just replace the whole control arm its quicker and there for likely cheaper (its got 2 new bushes and a new ball joint)
*Service auto, although doing it 50K or 100K ago would have been the go.

[Discodicky]

As some of the D4 owning touring veterans have already mentioned..
If it was me and a D4 before I left I would do:
*Alternator (if its never been done).
*Battery (if its 3 - 4 years old).

*Timing belt is close to km's but over in years.
*I've done heaps of timing belts on D4's that arent even close to km's but are 8, 9, 10 years.
*ALSO replace top coolant outlet (I do these AT 100K now) if it splits while travelling on the hiway the temp gauge / computer wont respond quick enough to save the heads.

other info
*I've only ever had one faulty brake pedal switch on a D4, the symptoms were the front brake kept being applied.
*lower control arms, meh likely its already had a set. but if you do just replace the whole control arm its quicker and there for likely cheaper (its got 2 new bushes and a new ball joint)
*Service auto, although doing it 50K or 100K ago would have been the go.

Many thanks for that excellent advice.
Justin Cooper did the belts, intercooler hose, park brakes clean/adjust, etc during COVID shutdown last year as he was quiet and it was coming up to 7 yrs old but only 140,000 odd klms.
I did the top coolant outlet earlier last year and the brake light switch. I carry a spare switch in the glovebox.
I clean the MAF sensors reasonably regularly.
I'll definitely do alternator and battery and bottom arms and sway bar bushes (they are both original).
I serviced (changed oil) the auto trans two days ago.

[gavinwibrow]

Why? You can properly check a start battery at any shop in 2 mins.


Yep, one of mine dropped a cell in the middle of nowhere - not happy Jan!

[Discodicky]

Yep, one of mine dropped a cell in the middle of nowhere - not happy Jan!

About 5 yrs ago I had a 2009 RRS TDV8 (should never have sold it!!) and on the Friday (day before my daughters wedding on the Saturday when the car was going to be used as a wedding car,) the battery simply died.

No prior warning at all. The day before it was working fine.
It just died, thankfully at my house.

Would have been very embarrassing and inconvenient if it had done it the following day.........

[ramblingboy42]

you mentioned tyres.....

I have been travelling the SA desert, Flinders Ranges and country roads twice a year for over 20yrs.

its not vehicle tyres I have seen campers having problems with but trailer/caravan tyres.

every trip I do I see/assist caravan owners with blown tyres , not punctures.I suggest you fit same tyres to your van as you do to your vehicle. Good ones. Search the forum, there are tyre threads popping up all the time.

I would not go bush with an old battery, I did unknowingly and it let me down. Fortunately you can get a new battery just about every servo, so just about everywhere.

There are no long distances to travel between towns in the Flinders Ranges and every modern service is not far away.

I personally like the outlying towns around the ranges as I associate with people I know.

It's a great trip , plan to go longer than you intend.

Respect the creeks , for some reason SA creeks seem to have a fairly sharp dip in the bottom , which vans don't like.

[Squanderer]

Just back from my 4th trip to the Flinders in my D2. I agree re creeks, especially if you take the back road from Yunta or go to Arkaroola (which is well worth it, particularly if you like walks and observatories and restaurants in the middle of nowhere and yellow tailed wallabies). I wouldn't attempt the 4wd trip at Willow Springs (if you were thinking of it) without ensuring the suspension is sorted. Lots of stony creek beds and lots of flinty slabs on the last 20km there-shakes car to bits. Otherwise you should have no problems and there's even a guy who fixes Discoveries in a small village near Blinman and does tyre repairs. He had a series 1, 2 and 3 there when I passed.

cheers
Pete

[Rurover]

Don't forget to drop into the Wilmington Toy Museum.
No Discos there, but plenty of Land Rover history.

Recommend you climb the track up Mount Remarkable and stay a couple of nights at the beautiful Mambray Creek camp ground in the Southern Flinders Ranges. 170924

Have a great time.

Alan

[Discodicky]

Don't forget to drop into the Wilmington Toy Museum.
No Discos there, but plenty of Land Rover history.

Recommend you climb the track up Mount Remarkable and stay a couple of nights at the beautiful Mambray Creek camp ground in the Southern Flinders Ranges. 170924

Have a great time.

Alan

Thankyou for that info. Very helpful.

At risk of being accused of hijacking my own thread, I want to mention my proposed route thru the FRanges towing a 3.0T van (JB Dreamline 21ft) with leaf spring suspension so people may care to comment or offer advice.

FYI, I have lots of towing experience and was an early member of the LROC (Tas) back in 1977 when it was formed, so have done heaps of hard serious 4WDing (in Ser 2a, 3, Stage 1 V8, then One Ten LR's) and do not wish to do any more, so prefer the FRanges tracks to be relatively straightforward without any winching or serious stuff being necessary.
Guessing that 2 or 3 tracks may be all that's required to view the Ranges???

Would it be beneficial to fit a Llams for these tracks??

so...roughly thinking of this route...

Cradock, Wilpena Pound, (Rawnsley Park?) Blinman, Parachilna, Leigh Creek, Marree, Farina, Oodnadatta Track to Bopeecha, Sth to Roxby Downs, Woomera, then eventually Quorn (Railway trip), then the rest of Sth Aus (Peninsula's etc)

Also want to do Burra and that area before travelling via Broken Hill heading back to Tassy.
Did BH in the RRS without c/van about 6 yrs ago but didn't have a big enough look around.

Thankyou for any advice or thoughts you may provide.

[shack]

From Cradock to Marree is mostly bitumen, so no drama there.
From Marree on can be pretty rugged at times, but not so bad until William creek.

After that, getting closer to Oodnadatta can be some serious corrugation, I'd be pretty nervous towing a caravan on that for sure!
You shouldn't need llams for that trip really.

Cheers
James

[Hogarthde]

We have done all the roads mentioned with D4 and Trakmaster, gross 5800 kg.

Some very easy, some need caution.

Just poke along and spot the wallabies is our motto😊

Dave