Thread: Trip prep

Cant help on the prep for the TD5 but what sort of dates are you doing the gunbarrel, I will be leaving Wiluna on the 21st of july. Traveling solo
cheers
blaze

Will be travelling in sept /early oct. Anti-Clockwise from Alice springs via gary hwy,windy cnr, rudall river np, pilbara,ningaloo,sharkbay, back via gunbarrel ,uluru to home

That will be a great trip, if only time wasnt an issue
cheers
blaze

Trip preparation? Count kids into the car at the start of the trip, and count them back out again at the end.
We're not doing any technical off-road apart from a diversion to Lake Eyre North. Did tyres (full set of BFG A/Ts with the free-as-in-beer pump) and packed a spare serpentine belt and enough oil for a fill from dry. Agonised over packing a complete set of cooling system hoses, but elected to leave them with my sister and strict instructions to send the relevant pipe via express post if/when I phone up wanting one. Brakes, regular service, and that's it. Oh,and the stone guard hanging off the rear tie-down loops.
Thankfully our regular Disco mechanic is a few days ahead of us doing almost the same route (Uluru/Alice/Finke/Oodnadatta) ... I did ask him to leave his phone switched on just in case.

Hi
A couple of points to consider

1/. Check top radiator hose doesn't have a divot in it from resting on air con pipe. Get rid of those factory hose clamps. They are near impossible to change yourself without losing a yard of skin and a lot of bad language.
2/. Rear door will become hard to open as dust gets sucked into mechanism. If you've got a cargo barrier consider how you will get to inside rear door handle when it becomes too hard to open from the outside.
3/. Carry a spare air filter element and swap at end of day when on dusty roads. Place in a plastic bag on hard surface (ie. floor) and let vibrations knock dust out before re-installing next day.
4/. Check rear wheel 'backing plates'. They will crack around the 3 bolts and may rattle and fall off.
5/. Don't run your tyre pressures too high, it just makes it easier to wreck a tyre. Check every day.
6/. If you havn't changed your fuel pressure regulator yet cary a spare as it's a monty to fail sooner or later.

Have a great trip

Deano

One more thing

You didn't mention if you are towing anything. If you are give serious consideration to installing 'polyair' bags inside your rear springs (assuming you have rear coils). Can't recommend them highly enough. They allow you to set your rear height correctly, share the rear suspension load and prevent your rear springs from flattening out. Much better than level riders as they allow full articulation at the tow hitch.

Deano