Thread: Canning Stock Route

Originally Posted by rangy01

McDisco, certainly wasn't my intention to "worry" TD5 owners out of traveling the canning. I'm sure that with the right preparation, ie loom sorted (as you stated the owners were warned to do), definately carry spare rear shocks and as little weight as possible etc, and driven carefully you would be very unlucky not to have an enjoyable trip. The vegetation and scenery is absolutley stunning.
Couple of points, The guys in the Nissan patrol and toyota were great value (they were assisted with the towing by another couple in a troopy as well), we actually traveled near them , passing each other many times along the stock route. They offered to help with my fuel tank. The recovery truck didnt quite get into help as planned, he did in fact stake two tyres trying to get in to the landy. They did unload their toyota and drive in to the landy and left much food and water etc , then departed to return to their truck to get further aid, such as A frames etc to enable towing. However they also broke down prior to getting back to their truck, a piece of radiator cowl broke off and was pushed through their radiator by the fan. We found them a day and a half later, they were then stuck without water/food etc themselves. We managed to partially plug the damaged tubes and were able to eventually get them to their truck. They were from Halls Creek, fantastic people, they were devistated that they couldn't help recover the landy as planned, and he couldn't believe that he had got into trouble himself, with over thirty years experience at recovering people that were often ill prepared for such travel.
My best advise to anybody travelling the stock route would be:
Drive carefully
Prepare your vehicle mechanically.
Travel lightly (we came across a 18 mth old rodeo broken in half, which I think was way over loaded with recovery equipment)
Drive carefully.
Carry two spares, puncture repair kit a set of rear shocks.
Carefully consider food/water/fuel issues.
Take off the 2.5 tons of bullbars, lights, racks, winches etc etc. Reduce your tyre pressures and drive carefully.
Take a lot of photos and enjoy the fellowship shown by most on the track.
Andy

Andy, you have hit the nail on the head. DRIVE CAREFULLY and REDUCE the WEIGHT. If everyone took that advice and prepared their vehicles properly there would hardly be a need for remote area recoveries

JC