Thread: Outback Trip Prep

Couple of things to add to what has been said and not buy into any arguments...

Brake pads......I carry one front and one rear brake pad in my 'trip spares' kit. You may have noticed that whenever you change brake pads, the 4 pads across one axle will be worn to varying degrees. I keep the one with the most meat left and that is my spare. If worse comes to worst on a trip (or anywhere) and a pad goes to metal, it will always be just one pad, with a little bit of life left in the others. in goes the spare until you can get a set. this should never happen on an outback trip as you will be thoroughly checking the car beforehand and keeping a close eye on everything throughout the trip; much more likely to happen if you get slack between services at home.

Chainsaw......Much as I love the idea of sitting around a portable LPG hot-water heater in the evenings, a campfire makes a camp, and gathering wood in outback sun with a bowsaw or axe is not a pleasant holiday pastime. The chainsaw takes the work out of having a campfire. I built a woodbox into our camper trailer so that we could stock up on wood as the opportunity presents itself whilst traveling. A roofrack serves the same purpose. 10 minutes to stock up on 2 or 3 days of firewood when you spot a suitable source (that dry mulga is fantastic). Biggest problem with a chainsaw is the petrol fumes if you have to carry it in the vehicle; even carried on the roofrack, fumes can enter the car. I carry mine empty, fill it up from a jerry when needed and I have worked out exactly how much oil to add to the chainsaw fuel tank to make it 25:1 (60ml on my Husky). I blow the tank out with compressed air prior to putting the saw back in the car (this only if there's nowhere else to carry it).

I'm yet to see a park ranger anywhere search a vehicle for chainsaws (I'm picturing a family assuming the position, hands on the sides of the car and legs apart, whilst one ranger searches the car and his partner pats them all down for files and earplugs). Actually, I'm yet to see a ranger anywhere hassle anybody at all unless they were being an absolute yahoo. Reason tends to reign in such matters.

Tires.....bought a R&R bead breaker set, carried it plus 2 spare wheels plus 2 tubes, patches, valves etc for 16,000km on our first big outback trip. Wife got a flat taking the kids to school 2 days after we got back. You just never know. Someone on here may be happy to loan you a bead breaker kit for your trip- mine has certainly done more traveling than I have.

Originally Posted by gusthedog

I agree with most of the above statements about keeping it simple. After a 45k trip around oz the only things that went wrong with my old defender were a idler bearing, rear pinion seal and rear brakes (because the mud sheilds were removed by my mechanic before I left!).

Don't take a chainsaw. I carried one for my whole trip and used it once in 18 months. I had fuel leaks etc, oil leaks etc and ended up being annoyed that I took it. And just so you know, chainsaws aren't illegal in Victorian National Parks (and I think NSW parks too but dont quote me on that) due to people dying in bush fires because they weren't alowed to take a chainsaw in!

Good luck, drive slow and enjoy yourself

Im with you 100% on this one Pricey

BTW your old Defender is going fantastic, I keep finding things to do on it but I still LOVE it !!!

I come from a family background of Logging industry, Forrestry & Fire Prevention.

In 30 years of 4wding and camping, including 3 x 3month long trips Ive never needed or wanted a chainsaw or generator, i used to carry one in the early days but only ever needed it to cut a tree that was across a track but could have just as easily gone around it.

besides that petrol absolutely stinks and there in not a thing you can do to stop that stink getting out and into everything unless you make a sealed compartment for your saw and vent it to outside.

As for generators I hate them with a passion, well done windjana gorge for having a separate camp area for people with generators, but probably a bit OT

Originally Posted by DeanoH

Thanks isuzurover.

This document was the result of a working party of DEH (Dept. for Environment and Heritage) and the South Australian Association of FWD Clubs (SAAFWDC) and was published in 2005. It is not an Act of Parliament or a list of DEH Regulations, nor was it meant to be. It explains the principles and direction that these two orginations would move foreward with; with an emphasis on the Tread Lightly program. Prior to this there existed what could be described as a 'state of hostility' between the various FWD clubs and Government bodies and this was a constructive start to a bit of common sense breaking out.

What this document does say is that ..........The carrying and use of chainsaws for recreational purposes in protected areas is prohibited under provisions of the National Parks and Wildlife Act.

It does not say that they cannot be carried, it says that they cannot be used or intended to be used in a protected area.

Later in the document it says.............Use only deadfall timber for fuel, do not use chainsaws to cut away at trees as these trees are usually habitats for small animals and birds.

This could be read that it is OK to use a chainsaw on fallen timber.

Further on the document states ..............Carrying and use of chainsaws is not permitted in reserves (Reg 15). National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

The South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (Ver 16.6.2011), the current version, does not mention chainsaws anywhere. No doubt there are regulations somewhere, I just havn't found them yet.

Read together these statements can appear confused or contradictory, but this document is not supposed to be read as a legal document.
I had a similiar discussion re the same document with a SA Nat Parks in the Coorong a couple of years ago and he said carrying a saw wasn't an issue, using it was.

I am not advocating the use of chainsaws in National Parks, in fact I advocate the opposite. What I am saying is that this working document from the DEH and SAAFWDC in 2005 was a statement of intent and direction for these two bodies to move foreward in a constructive manner.


Deano

Deano - I have read of several cases where Rangers in SA have checked that any chainsaws were "dismantled" when checking desert parks passes (e.g. you can find first hand accounts on exploroz). I have also read of this rule on several sites relating to desert parks. Are you saying they are acting unlawfully?

As for specific legislation. Tasmania:

NATIONAL PARKS AND RESERVED LAND REGULATIONS 2009 - REG 4

5. Regulation 4 amended (Restrictions relating to reserved land)

Regulation 4 of the Principal Regulations is amended by inserting after
subregulation (9) the following subregulations:


(10) Unless authority is granted, a person must not


(a) use a chainsaw in any reserved land; or

(b) have possession of a chainsaw in any reserved land.

Penalty:

Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

(11) Subregulation (10)(b) does not apply if the chainsaw is in a
vehicle that is moving on a road that does not terminate in reserved
land.

Displayed and numbered in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953.

NATIONAL PARKS AND RESERVED LAND REGULATIONS 2009 - REG 4 4.*Restrictions relating to reserved land

This document states there is a $3300 fine for "bringing in" a chainsaw into Uluru NP:
http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/...s/handbook.pdf

I cannot find any others.

So - best to either not carry a chainsaw or make sure it is dismantled and well hidden in SA, NT, TAS national parks.

Originally Posted by POD

Chainsaw......Much as I love the idea of sitting around a portable LPG hot-water heater in the evenings, a campfire makes a camp, and gathering wood in outback sun with a bowsaw or axe is not a pleasant holiday pastime.

Sitting a round a campfire may be nice but waking up in the morning with stinky clothes, sore eyes and straw hair is not for me.
I'd rather sit back and enjoy the stars and the solitude.

each to their own.

I guess that why I go solo

(and not listen to a generator, stereo or bloody guitar in the vicinity either)

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Deano -...................................... Are you saying they are acting unlawfully?


This document states there is a $3300 fine for "bringing in" a chainsaw into Uluru NP:
http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/...s/handbook.pdf

I cannot find any others.

So - best to either not carry a chainsaw or make sure it is dismantled and well hidden in SA, NT, TAS national parks.

Not at all, I was referrring specifically to the DEH / SAAFWDC club document and discussions I had with SA rangers in Meningie a couple of years back.
Can't comment on Ayers Rock as I havn't been there for years. Not your typical NP though, more like Flinders Street Station and no trees anyway, could understand special rules here. Territorians are usually quite sensible with their rules/beaurocracy etc. Tassy rule says transiting with a chain saw is OK.
I've been travelling and staying in mainland National Parks for the last 40 years and stay in National Parks by preference. I always talk with the rangers as they are the best source of info. but none has ever mentioned or have I ever seen any signage prohibiting the carrying of chainsaws.
To use a chainsaw in a NP is usually forbidden (as well as being selfish and ignorant) but not always, depends on size and location I suppose. For example a number of outback NP's have aboriginal communitys and I can't see them cutting firewood with an axe.

I'll go and pull out my deserts park pass book(s) and have a read.
I may have a case of 'ignorance is bliss'

Deano

Originally Posted by DeanoH

Tassy rule says transiting with a chain saw is OK.

Well the letter of tasmanian law says that as soon as you stop your vehicle or turn onto a dead end/non-through road (in a national park) whilst carrying a chainsaw you could be fined.

"I have been doing it for 40 years" is not an excuse if you get a ranger who has had a bad day...

Don't get me wrong - I frequently carry a saw too...

p.s. - I also came across proposals from community groups etc proposing that laws be changed in other states to fine for posession and even permit rangers to confiscate saws. Hopefully it doesn't happen...

Originally Posted by goingbush

Sitting a round a campfire may be nice but waking up in the morning with stinky clothes, sore eyes and straw hair is not for me.

Crikey POD its you and me vs the heathen hordes!

If this is your idea of a campfire 'goingbush' you've got a long way to go.
One characteristic of outback wood is that it's all (very) hard wood. Anything else is eaten by the white ants practically overnight. Even the hardwood's gobbled up by the blighters in no time at all.
Because the wood is so dry and hard it burns very well with practically no smoke at all. Take a look at the campfire in my earlier post, this is as big as it gets, about 18" square. It's built up to max. here to make coals for the camp oven to make bread two weeks into the bush.

Sitting around a small smokeless hot coal campfire watching the stars with the smell of your fresh bread cooling is a lot better than freezing your butt of in the desert where it regularly gets down to below zero at night time.

Originally Posted by goingbush

(and not listen to a generator, stereo or bloody guitar in the vicinity either)

Absolutely no problems with this one though, I reckon generators are the spawn of the devil !

PS. Thanks for the bead breaker POD.

Deano

Originally Posted by isuzurover

p.s. - I also came across proposals from community groups etc proposing that laws be changed in other states to fine for posession and even permit rangers to confiscate saws. Hopefully it doesn't happen...

Well meaning fools with populist ideas and no concept of the reality are always a problem. Just look at the Greens.

[QUOTE=isuzurover
"I have been doing it for 40 years" is not an excuse if you get a ranger who has had a bad day...
[/QUOTE]

Not meant to be an excuse but I reckon I'd have a feel for it if there was an issue.

Might be worth a bit of research though. Discouraging people from staying in National Parks is a bit of a trend I've picked up, most noticable in Qld. This could be another straw (as in camels back).

Thanks Deano