Thread: Advice Please Re Outback Suitability

Garry
It was more a question of suitable range of off road tyres being available. The forum is full of discussion on this point. And in the case of the RRS the lack of after market gear which made me think that they are rarely used for outback touring.
Plus the dealer support in remote areas.
There is no doubt they are an excellent off road vehicle.
Cheers.
Tony

Originally Posted by garrycol

What might I ask made you think a D3 etc would not be suitable for outback travel.

Garry

Hi Garry,

You'd be surprised the number of people, that when hearing that I actually take my D4 off-road, have asked "is it any good, can you drive it on a beach?", etc.

It seems obvious to all of us but unless you know somebody or have done a bit of reading (which is difficult sometimes due to the BS printed), you may never know.

Cheers,

Kev.

Hello from Brisbane again.

You can be pretty lucky with a lot of vehicles and outback travel, although you probably should not assume that it is always going to ride with you.

However, it did with me I suppose.

From about 2002 to when my late father-in-law passed away in 2010, I helped him to 'live his retirement dream' of seeing a good bit of isolated Oz. Without wanting to sound like Lucky Starr, we went around and through the continent a couple of times over, including the Gulf Rd via Borroloola and Roper Bar, Top End, Birdsville track, Oodnadatta track, Strezlecki track, Nappa Merri, Great Central Rd, the Bight a few times, Plenty Highway a couple of times and so it goes.......

We actually did this in a 100 Series Toyota auto wagon pulling a 22' Golf Airliner fitted with air suspension without mishap. This is not an 'off-road model'.

The breakdowns and need for parts delivery over this time?

One flat tyre - a standard Dunlop Grand Trek just outside Innaminka - picked up a piece of welding rod at the garage at Lyndhurst and fixed it at the local tyre depot in Innaminka. And a couple of airbags that needed plugging.

So, while I like Land Rovers having grown up with and owning them, I struggle a little bit to get really excited when people slag Toyotas and the parts issues.

My late father-in-law ran a large earth moving business in the Riverina and knew bush mechanicals backwards and was the ultimate bush mechanic. So, he was never phased by the endless numbers of suggestions that he was barking mad in taking the truck and van where it went. However, other than refill the truck with diesel from time to time, the days went pleasantly without incidence.

To be frank, most of the break downs that we came across were actually Land Rovers, and especially Discoverys with dodgy tyres or electrics. That or poorly made box trailers or hire campers simply falling apart from the corrugations.

Cheers,

I have comfortably driven through the northern Flinders in a Mk I Magna wagon with no ill effects and got another 130,000km out of that car before I had to replace the original clutch at 275,000km so don't sweat too much about the wrong horse for the course. It's amazing how well things work in whatever circumstance you ask of them. Old Kombi's can cross the Sahara and I've even heard of a Citroen 2CV surviving the trip. I sometimes feel that we're losing the essence of adventure by over-preparing

I drove cross-country chase vehicle for a hot air balloon in central Australia and desert camping tours in a Troopie for about a year but only engaged 4WD about once a quarter. The need for actually engaging 4WD on these remote tracks (as opposed to looking The Goods for the tourists and not falling to bits along the way) is often laughable.

I have seen vintage car clubs embarrass the exclusivity of "4WD only" tracks. I once hitched a ride from Alice Springs to Adelaide with a guy who'd driven his 1937 Austin 7 all the way overland from England, had already driven it right around Australia and was driving down the centre (when it was still dirt/sand/mud/rocks/sand/water/mud/sand etc)

The moral of the story: go with whatever you've got. Even if it's a Nissan Pintara. Give it hell. But I have to say that a D4 is a very cushy option if you've got one available. The enjoyment of driving it continues to surprise me every day and I never get sick of that.

Out-backup plan: take a sat-phone and test LR's off-road recovery commitment

All the best
(still) Beamin

I'd have no hesitation to take my RRS travelling and will be doing once it arrives here, afterall it's what the car was built for and has been used for. All I'd say is that have a proper look at storage space, the RRS isn't the most commodious of vehicles unless you have the rear seats down. I've got 6 Wolf boxes & a large locking storage box in the back of mine with all my spares / work gear in and that's pretty much it full, because of the angle of the rear window. A D3 / D4 would take considerably more in the back.

As for comfort, it's only 2nd best behind my P38 for that, I've travelled 500 miles in a day in it and got out feeling fine. My only real concern once it's here in Oz is fuel range as mine's a 4.4 petrol V8, but I guess I can soon overcome that with a long range tank. I'll also refit a UHF radio & aerial, the wiring's already in from the challenge so that shouldn't be too hard.

I saw a TV advert last night saying LR are having a sale until the 31st Jan, might be worth a trip to the dealerships here in Melbourne.

Hi Mike
Space is a concern especially on a long trip when one needs to carry refreshments water and additional fuel.However as there is only two of us, it should be ok.
I prefer the RRS as city car, however we intend to tour around central Australia, NT and Kimberly as often as we can, so maybe the D4 might be the go. Tough decision.
Just have to address the tyre issue.
Where have you taken your RSS so far.
Cheers.
Tony

I plan on a Simpson trip this year, using the QAA and French line tracks then up the Colson Track then heading cross country from the Pinnacles to the Hay river track back down and back to Birdsville.

I will be fitting the 104ltr Long Ranger tank as I need all the fuel I can fit.
Plus 4 x 10ltr Jerries up on the roof.

Yes I'll be taking some spares.
Main belt
Spare Air Compressor
2 spare tyres
Tools
Fault Reader
Multimeter
etc etc.

Oh yeah - Fencing wire too.

The D3 will be serviced just before the trip and I'm confident in it's reliability.

Tony,
Have a drive of one & see what you think, Drive both vehicles, the 2.7 & 3.0. Get an idea of what they both drive like, you may think the 2.7 is good & the price at the moment is excellent. Take advantage of the deals at present if you can.
Best time to buy end of month...numbers numbers numbers..... They are a damn comfortable vehicle and as many have said very very capable vehicles too.
I regularly travel to Robe in SA & love the sand dunes, we have had no issues at all, if your only issue is tyres, i wouldnt be too worried, "gghaggis" on here imports wheels that are 18" variants that fit the 3.0litre D4/SPt & look the goods too, with 18" rim this opens you up to many different tyres & sizes now, a few years ago was a different story.

I only have the 2.7L & have the option of 17" rims, i run 2 sets.
19's for the wife & 17's for trips.

Cheers & happy shopping.