Bendleby Ranges SA

[DaveF]

Hi Guys & Ladies,

Thought you might be interested in a great place for camping and 4WDriving in the southern Flinders Ranges just North of Orroroo. It’s the Bendleby Ranges on The Springs property. The property is run by Warren & Jane Luckraft of The Springs and Ian & Sue Ellery of Gumdale. The 4WD tracks are among the best for challenge and scenery particularly the Hungry Range incorporating the Billy Goat Track. The property is run on an environmentally sustainable basis with most campsites having a long drop and firewood is supplied. I was up there last weekend with a group of 23 guys in 6 vehicles and had a brilliant time. They do charge $12 per person per night for camping however when you see what they are doing with the $ you feel as though you are contributing to the sustainability of the environment not someone’s hip pocket. Warren has even developed a 4WD training area on the property which is pretty impressive to test your skill before tackling the main tracks.

Your vehicle does not have to be highly modified to tackle the tracks, good offroad tyres are a prerequisite of course. My pretty stock 01 TD5 manual Discovery performed well but would have benefited from 2” of lift and the CDL combined with the ABS and TC worked brilliantly. Even played with the downhill descent control which impressed my passengers.

So for only a 3.5 hour drive from Adelaide the Bendleby Ranges is well worth the visit. I know it didn’t happen without pics but as I was concentrating on driving I did not take any. Passengers did but have not seen any yet.

For those interested I did a total of 835 kms for the trip from the Adelaide Hills, filled up when I got home and put 88 litres in my 95 litre tank. Man I love the fuel economy of my TD5 Land Rover and everything else about it. :twobeers:

Cheers

DaveF

[spudboy]

Thanks for the post. I'd never heard of this place, so will bookmark it for future reference. I'm in the Adel Hills too, so 3.5 hours is do-able for a long weekend.

[Defender200Tdi]

Some photos of Bendleby if you're interested:

http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php'showtopic=4859&hl=bendleby


Paul:)

[DaveF]

Yep it looks like we camped at the same spot. Just a bit drier and dustier.:twobeers:

Cheers

DaveF

[cookiesa]

Were about to move back to Adelaide from Whyalla so please keep up the posts of spots to head in SA for fun that are close to Adelaide.

Great Spot, must go.

[Redback]

Looks like an interesting place, very similar to Mulga View.

Will keep it mind when we go back.

Baz.

[Stewie]

Dave,

I also have a 01 TD5 (Auto). Did you feel you needed the CDL engaged during the whole trip once you got to Bendleby Ranges or only during he more trickey stuff. You also mentioned about the 2" lift. Do you think this is essential for the tracks or just a "would be nice to have"?

I'm doing the track next weekend with some Toyota's and would hate to let the TD5 down for being unprepared.

Stewie.


Hi Guys & Ladies,

Thought you might be interested in a great place for camping and 4WDriving in the southern Flinders Ranges just North of Orroroo. It’s the Bendleby Ranges on The Springs property. The property is run by Warren & Jane Luckraft of The Springs and Ian & Sue Ellery of Gumdale. The 4WD tracks are among the best for challenge and scenery particularly the Hungry Range incorporating the Billy Goat Track. The property is run on an environmentally sustainable basis with most campsites having a long drop and firewood is supplied. I was up there last weekend with a group of 23 guys in 6 vehicles and had a brilliant time. They do charge $12 per person per night for camping however when you see what they are doing with the $ you feel as though you are contributing to the sustainability of the environment not someone’s hip pocket. Warren has even developed a 4WD training area on the property which is pretty impressive to test your skill before tackling the main tracks.

Your vehicle does not have to be highly modified to tackle the tracks, good offroad tyres are a prerequisite of course. My pretty stock 01 TD5 manual Discovery performed well but would have benefited from 2” of lift and the CDL combined with the ABS and TC worked brilliantly. Even played with the downhill descent control which impressed my passengers.

So for only a 3.5 hour drive from Adelaide the Bendleby Ranges is well worth the visit. I know it didn’t happen without pics but as I was concentrating on driving I did not take any. Passengers did but have not seen any yet.

For those interested I did a total of 835 kms for the trip from the Adelaide Hills, filled up when I got home and put 88 litres in my 95 litre tank. Man I love the fuel economy of my TD5 Land Rover and everything else about it. :twobeers:

Cheers

DaveF

[kowari]

I recently spent the long weekend in the bendleby's, all landrovers, a mix of Defenders, discos and a RR, all basically un modified. My 200tdi Defender had no real problems, though there were some sizable bull dust holes here and there. I guess a 2" lift would be nice as there is always that grinding clunk as you drop of a rock that gets you thinking the worst. You know how it is though, you look underneath later and cant see any marks!

A good place to go though, thought it was better than skytreck etc.
Though I think they wont let you go round as one lone car, not sure about that.
their address is www.bendlebyranges.com (http://www.bendlebyranges.com)

[StephenF10]

I've been to Bendleby twice. You don't need the CDL all the time but it does reduce the amount of TC operation, so you may as well engage it as soon as you get to the rough stuff and disengage when back on the flat. Even with a 2" lift I still dragged my towbar on a couple of creek crossings. A vehicle with no lift would have dragged more but if you take it easy there should be no damage. Billy Goat Hill is awesome. There is one bit where you think "no way can I get up there", but the Disco just climbed up with the TC buzzing madly. The D3 behind me did it even easier.

[weeds]

Dave,

I also have a 01 TD5 (Auto). Did you feel you needed the CDL engaged during the whole trip once you got to Bendleby Ranges or only during he more trickey stuff. .


You don't need the CDL all the time but it does reduce the amount of TC operation, so you may as well engage it as soon as you get to the rough stuff and disengage when back on the flat.

probably a question for the tech area but why not leave CDL in once your are there providng you are on dirt tracks, i don't see the point in engaging/desengaging all the time

on my trip across the simpson desert i engaged CDL not long after i hit the dirt part of the birdsville developement road and it stayed in till i got to finke, desengaged to get through town than back in for the trip up the old gahn railway line via chambers pillar to the stuart hwy

i was happy that it was not affecting my fuel economy or driveline

[DaveF]

Hi Stewie,

Your Disco will be fine without the CDL as the TC and ABS work well. I just found with the CDL engaged it crawled better up the steep loose sections. I angaged it when we started on the tracks. Also I spent some $$$ getting it put in so I use it where I can. Two weeks later I was up on the Arkapena property opposite Rawnsley Park in the Flinders Ranges. Did both tracks, Chase Range and Arkapena Scenic drive. I was able to compare the difference the CDL made as I had done these tracks the same time last year without the CDL. The CDL makes it easier on steep loose sections and the truck feels good in the process. The 2" lift would be good but not a requirement. There are a few steep creek entries and exits where I scraped the front and rear plastic bumpers a bit. Theris one track where you follow the creek a bit which tests your articulatiion well as pictured.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/11/390.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/uploads/11075/DSCN9053.JPG)

Have a great time and say hello to Ian and Sue for me.

Cheers

DaveF

[StephenF10]

You don't need to disengage the CDL as long as you stay off grippy surfaces. However, my CDL is an aftermarket type that disables the TC and ABS if I forget to disengage it before switching off.