Good news Story Mark II: Sydney to Perth to Karratha to Perth to Sydney!!

[Cameron_Def]

Seeing all these negative posts on the forum, and seeing the other good news, I thought I would also do the same.

About 2 months ago, I got a new job in Karratha (Say 1538.45kms north of perth) and I needed to kart about 2 tone of camera gear and scuba gear over there. I owned a Suzuki Sierra (Still the most capable 4wd I have owned) so I had some issues.

So I found a 2001 Def, from someone local (an accountant) that had been looked after, never off road and all servicing done... called the service dept and checked up on the car, all good, put my money down.

2 days later, with 2 tone of gear in the back, a small spot for me to sleep on top of it all, 4 spare fuses (thats all the spares I took.. hey I needed to make sure my fridge and radio worked while I was on the trip), a small fridge and a dream I left Sydney driving Solo ... I drove the 6,000kms with out a trouble, fuel drive, 3.5 days it took me, driving 18-19 hours a day, only stopping for the little boys room / Fuel.

Once getting to Karratha, the job sucked more than a Patrol in the sand, so after 5 days I headed back..

Now before I brought my Defender, Everyone told me NO NO NO... well YES YES YES .. it made it!!

I did have some issues....

1. Both my rear mudflaps got destroyed (heat, age and 18-19 hours a day going at an average of 120km/h)

2. Got pulled over for speeding twice, got away with it .. twice

3. 2340903242390423 millon bugs died on my windscreen

Yes in 3 weeks I did over 17,000 kms, on a average of 11ltr/100 ( I was very loaded and was in a rush) I had NO mechanical issues, and it drove like a beast, day, night, rain, desert (I didnt always take the highways, as I had the GPS set to more urban roads) so in all I did about 2000k on dirt.

I got my Defender with 130, on the clock, its now got 155 on it, and I have had it for 3 months, I have changed the master cylinder, did the oil bolt check (and passed) and given it 2 services.

I am a happy, customer, so if you are a person looking at getting a defender, and reading the forums about how bad they are... they are not all bad, and you are only reading the bad things on these forums... there is hundreds and thousands of happy, running defenders on the load / track / dirt.

Here are some images of the trip, in no order, just shots I liked and ones with the defender in it .. I hope you like.

http://www.digitalcritters.com.au/gallery/albums/SYD-to-WA-Adventures/DSC_1140.sized.jpg

http://www.digitalcritters.com.au/gallery/albums/SYD-to-WA-Adventures/DSC_1172.sized.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

http://www.digitalcritters.com.au/gallery/albums/SYD-to-WA-Adventures/DSC_1131.jpg

http://www.digitalcritters.com.au/gallery/albums/SYD-to-WA-Adventures/DSC_1118.jpg

http://www.digitalcritters.com.au/gallery/albums/SYD-to-WA-Adventures/DSC_1163.jpg

http://www.digitalcritters.com.au/gallery/albums/SYD-to-WA-Adventures/DSC_1132.sized.jpg

http://www.digitalcritters.com.au/gallery/albums/SYD-to-WA-Adventures/DSC_1137.jpg

http://www.digitalcritters.com.au/gallery/albums/SYD-to-WA-Adventures/DSC_1212.jpg

http://www.digitalcritters.com.au/gallery/albums/SYD-to-WA-Adventures/DSC_1192.jpg

http://www.digitalcritters.com.au/gallery/albums/SYD-to-WA-Adventures/DSC_1201.jpg

[rangieman]

fantastic mate there should more good luck storys :D

it just seems there is more horror storys at the present:eek:

anyway im a happy Defender owner as well , even if it is a Tdi i have,nt had any major drama,s :D


oh and fantastic pics as well mate

[George130]

Good to hear the posatives. Thats the thing you see all the bad but don't hear the goos as much. I still think with all my hassles the Landy performed better than most other vehicles in getting me home from trips.

[hiline]

I'm a extremely happy Defendfer130 owner also :banana: :banana: :thumbsup:

[JDNSW]

Well worth posting that! For what it is worth, although mine is a 110 not a Defender and has only done 420,000km, your trip sounds a bit like (only longer) the trip I made with No. 1 son to scatter my wife's ashes six years ago - from here to Mackay and back with two of us taking turns driving. No mechanical issues, only problem was near Toowoomba ran over a bit of tyre tread off a truck which ripped off the LH mud flap.

John

[Cameron_Def]

Oh for people who do not understand how far this is .... :eek:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

So double that in 3 weeks, .... :twisted:

[JDNSW]

Oh for people who do not understand how far this is .... :eek:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

So double that in 3 weeks, .... :twisted:

Your map makes the point very well. Some years ago I went from Melbourne to the Edgar Range out of Broome and back in 1 1/2 days each way - but that was not in a Landrover - in a Beech A-36.

John

[spudboy]

That's a long way to go for a crap job. Bummer. Nice drive though and excellent pictures.

You going to keep the 110 for a while then?

[p38arover]

Oh for people who do not understand how far this is .... :eek:

http://www.digitalcritters.com.au/gallery/albums/SYD-to-WA-Adventures/Trip.sized.gif

So double that in 3 weeks, .... :twisted:

Oh, I know how far it is. I did from Carnarvon to Sydney in my Hillman Hunter in 3.5-4 days (in December 1971 when the SA section of the Eyre Highway was still a dirt road) - than back again after my leave was finished. Day 1 - Carnarvon to Kalgoorlie, Day 2 Kal to Ceduna, Day 3 Ceduna to Hay, Day 4 Hay to Sydney. At least I had my wife as a co-driver!

I like your pics.

Ron

[p38arover]

:D

http://www.digitalcritters.com.au/gallery/albums/SYD-to-WA-Adventures/DSC_1107.jpg


They have Customs now at the WA border????? :eek: :eek: :D

Ron

[weeds]

whats the story behind the mascott, i see him in two of the pics

did you consider continuing on clockwise and doing a complete loop of aus

[abaddonxi]

Well I can see why you don't have any problems, you've got one of those Defenders with the off-square backs.

Lucky bugger.:D

Did you happen to stop in Ceduna and thump the liar who sold me mine?

Cheers
Simon.

[Cameron_Def]

whats the story behind the mascott, i see him in two of the pics

did you consider continuing on clockwise and doing a complete loop of aus


HAhah you mean Larry ... I won larry one day at a Examination Post drinks, in a skill tester (You know the claw down grab toy and up), a very dark day for me in the morning (long story re the exam) but in the afternoon I got over that issue and we were having celebration drinks, someone said I was so lucky I should give the skill tester a go ;) .. so I popped in the Dollar and out 'Larry' came, and then I tried again and again and again, I got 23 toys out of that machine in a row, one for everyone in the exam!

So Yeah I have had him on my last 4 cars, and never had a prang or broken down, so Larry is still lucky!! .. but is starting to look bit rough! :o

[Cameron_Def]

Well I can see why you don't have any problems, you've got one of those Defenders with the off-square backs.

Lucky bugger.:D

Did you happen to stop in Ceduna and thump the liar who sold me mine?

Cheers
Simon.


Hehehe yeah I never knew my defender was not square until I took images of it with a 12-24 lens ;-) ... what lies did mr Cenduna tell you! ?

[Cameron_Def]

That's a long way to go for a crap job. Bummer. Nice drive though and excellent pictures.

You going to keep the 110 for a while then?

Yup, best 4wd I have owned and the 4wd I SHOULD have brought from the start .. :D :D :D :D


Though as I said, I still think my old Sierra with 2" body and 2" suspention lift with 30 BFAT could go places the defender cant, but thats just a size issue... off it Fraser Island in a few weeks, will see how she handles the sand..

[Redback]

This is all great stuff, great pics and story, but just one thing:eek:

This statement, the bold in particular:eek:

"About 2 months ago, I got a new job in Karratha (Say 1200kms north of Sydney)

Do you know a shortcut maybe:p ;)

Baz.

[p38arover]

This is all great stuff, great pics and story, but just one thing:eek:

This statement, the bold in particular:eek:

"About 2 months ago, I got a new job in Karratha (Say 1200kms north of Sydney)

Do you know a shortcut maybe:p ;)

Baz.

I saw that and assumed he meant in latitude but even then, that would only get him to Geraldton or thereabouts. Must have meant Perth. :)

Ron

[Bigbjorn]

Well, no doubt a great adventure for a young man, but no more than what line haul truckies do every day, every week. Owner-drivers on long haul routes have to drive 200,000 to 250,000 k's every year or they don't make enough to survive, and, in these days of intensive surveillance, they can't drive 18-19 hours per day for long without getting into serious trouble. Great that he had no problems with the Defender, but most would say that a modern high priced vehicle should not give trouble.

[Redback]

I saw that and assumed he meant in latitude but even then, that would only get him to Geraldton or thereabouts. Must have meant Perth. :)

Ron

I'd say more likely from Perth.

1538.45ks according to travelmate.

From Sydney it's 5098.85 kms:o

Baz.

[Cameron_Def]

Well, no doubt a great adventure for a young man, but no more than what line haul truckies do every day, every week. Owner-drivers on long haul routes have to drive 200,000 to 250,000 k's every year or they don't make enough to survive, and, in these days of intensive surveillance, they can't drive 18-19 hours per day for long without getting into serious trouble. Great that he had no problems with the Defender, but most would say that a modern high priced vehicle should not give trouble.

I was not saying that no other 4wd, falcon or a even an excel could not do this trip, I was noting, due to all the negative posts on this forum, I would post a postive! :)

Regarding the long haul drivers, its a shame!!

So stop being negative and post some happy stories about your rig!

[Cameron_Def]

This is all great stuff, great pics and story, but just one thing:eek:

This statement, the bold in particular:eek:

"About 2 months ago, I got a new job in Karratha (Say 1200kms north of Sydney)

Do you know a shortcut maybe:p ;)

Baz.


Ops yeah fixed it .. sorry ..

[cartm58]

they have had that customs post at WA border since at least 1984 and probably earlier to stop things being taken into WA that would damage their agriculture.

they not only not allow you to take into WA any fruit, vegs, honey or nuts but also any carboard fruit boxes as well, they give you a cardboard box to exchange any they spot.

its real pain in the **** if your well packed trailer or camper as they make you open everything up to check and query you about whats in your esky or fridge.

and its sometimes blowy and they certaintly dont help you re-pack your gear

[Cameron_Def]

they have had that customs post at WA border since at least 1984 and probably earlier to stop things being taken into WA that would damage their agriculture.

they not only not allow you to take into WA any fruit, vegs, honey or nuts but also any carboard fruit boxes as well, they give you a cardboard box to exchange any they spot.

its real pain in the **** if your well packed trailer or camper as they make you open everything up to check and query you about whats in your esky or fridge.

and its sometimes blowy and they certaintly dont help you re-pack your gear


I had NO issues with these guys, they were professional, polite and they didnt even look in my car, just asked and I said no, and on my way .. I had nothing but caned tuna and bread and coke ;-)