Lets get serious

I just arrived home yesterday, after a 6 week trip to Flinders, Oodnadatta track, Painted Desert, Uluru, Kakadu (incl. Jim Jim Falls), Darwin, then over the Gibb River Road and Mitchell Plateau (Mitchell Falls), then to Broome. Came home the highway, with offroad jaunts to Wolfe Creek (300km of Tanami track), Bungle Bungles, etc.

My D4 2.7 performed fantastic - air suspension soaked up corrugations and the LT245/70R17 BFG KM2 were fantasic, as usual.

I took:
1) one jerry can - which I only needed twice - so I could get the range to make it to my fuel card garages :) But I still had to pay cash for diesel at Drysdale and Mount Barnett.
2) one spare carcass on roof rack and spare in usual location.
3) home made storage rack and fridge.
4) snatch strap, shackles, hydraulic jack, etc - unused.
5) two Rhino roof baskets - long one for Oztent/air mattress and short one for chairs and tyre.
6) Safari snorkel
7) Icom IC440N UHF radio and 6.6dB antenna mounted on roof rack.

Just about 16,000km in total - and do back up what Baz said earlier re bull bar. While going into the Flinders, I had a wallaby commit suicide. I'll be getting a bull bar asap. Damage count to driver's side: plastic bumper skin, parking sensors, headlight washer, fog light, wheel arch and inner guard. Cable ties held it together for the remainder of the trip. Lucky for me it was a fast wallaby and main hit was to the steel bar behind the plastic. Unlucky for the wallaby - sliced in half. :angel: On the second day of the trip - it could have been the end of the holiday - had it been a slow wallaby.

Cheers,
Rob

How much noise do you hear from those tyres on sealed roads, especially on long travel days? I have 1 and have thought about getting another 3 but hesitant due to possible noise.

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Originally Posted by AnD3rew

Hi all.
It has only done 50,000k and has been totally reliable from a mechanical point of view.

2 questions. Is it a dumb idea to spend a lot of money on a 3 year old D3 to prepare it for extended outback touring?

And how much should I expect to spend. (roughly)
I am thinking
Bull bar with winch and lights
Longranger tank
Kaymar rear bar with wheel and Jerry carriers
Roof rack.
Safari snorkel
UHF radio

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My D3 has your list less Kaymar rear bar. Rear wheel carier on OEM rear bar, sliders and dual battery tanks. Lights are interesting. HID on our D3s range is great. A good flood from a LED on top of your roof rack if you can or on the bar allows you to see roos and bigger critters well of to the side where the dark would otherwise put them in a blind spot if they what a swift death.:( Cows, camels and dingos all avoided on a long night run up the oodnadatta track. 17 inch rims if you can, LLAMS if you get wet rock hopping or realy dirty. If you put a spare on top check the hight of your garage:wasntme: VMS for navigation and put a reversing camera on it.


1/4 of a million on mine. I am still happy to spend a little if needed to keep it mickey mouse to allow me to take her far and wide. Mates hilux is costing a packet to fix to keep running, it also drives like a cow and your bum would not like the ride or the seats after a long drive after yours.

My must do tip is to look for LED lights bulbs for the Brake lights reversing and tail lights now before you think your car is falling to bits:D see Richs post http://www.aulro.com/afvb/1640875-post5.html then have some fun.

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Originally Posted by Graeme

How much noise do you hear from those tyres on sealed roads, especially on long travel days? I have 1 and have thought about getting another 3 but hesitant due to possible noise.

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They would be the quietest MT tyre I've ever heard. The most noise is at 40-60km/h, and then it gets quieter, the faster you go. NT now has 130 km/h speed limits... but I did go a little faster than that - to overtake some road trains. :wasntme::angel: Rated to 160 km/h, so felt safe doing so. :cool:

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Originally Posted by jonesy63

They would be the quietest MT tyre I've ever heard. The most noise is at 40-60km/h, and then it gets quieter, the faster you go. NT now has 130 km/h speed limits... but I did go a little faster than that - to overtake some road trains. :wasntme::angel: Rated to 160 km/h, so felt safe doing so. :cool:

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This is the tyre we will be getting next, they were brilliant on our old D2, hard to believe how quiet they really are.

Sounds like you had a great trip Rob, buggar about the damage though, we hit an Emu in the Gawler Ranges on day 5 of our trip, hit him dead centre of the bullbar, this was the damage.

Bent number plate
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Moved the spottie
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Only down side, I had to go back and put it out of it's misery:(

I can't imagine the damage if we didn't have the bullbar:o also a big thumbs up for the Lightforce spotties, not a mark on it.

I'll be looking forward to your report Rob:D

Baz.

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Originally Posted by AnD3rew

Agreed Llams is necessary, discovered that on my last western QLD, NSW trip, lots of good roads which can easily be travelled at 80kph or above, but have a mound in the middle.

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Don't forget about the GOE shortened rods! I've got them on my D3 and reckon they're great!!! Cheap, quick and easy to swap between heights and rods (for servicing if under warantee still), leaves you with spare rods which people take bush anyway, hassle free!

Both vendors are on here and both have great products, just making sure you're aware of both options.

With repsect to the wheel sizes I take bush 18's with 2 complete spare rims & wheels and a third tyre carcase incase the correct tyre size is unavailable in remote areas (carried on the rhino tray). This means that you aren't waiting on any tyres to be shipped in.

Get out there and use your D3 for what it was built for... I do and I love it, unfortunately too many of these awesome vehicles end up just driving to and from soccer practice, without even mounting a kerb :D!

AnD3rew,

One other thing that just sprung to mind and I believe is an absolute necessity if you are doing long distance touring is a cargo barrier, allows you to stack the back with kit in safety.

Good luck with all the thoughts and options.

george

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Originally Posted by DiscoWeb

AnD3rew,

One other thing that just sprung to mind and I believe is an absolute necessity if you are doing long distance touring is a cargo barrier, allows you to stack the back with kit in safety.

Good luck with all the thoughts and options.

george

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Yeah thanks was thinking about that, I assume most people put Milford in, how easy are they to get in and out, I do use my third row seats from time to time around town. Is it practical to just put the barrier in for trips?

Also roof racks, what do people recommend, I have seen a few say they are using rhino, any other recommendations?

... I do and I love it, unfortunately too many of these awesome vehicles end up just driving to and from soccer practice, without even mounting a kerb :D![/QUOTE]

Of course the upside is that you can buy good second hand D3's & 4's at a substantial discount, knowing that they have had no hard work at all! Suits me;)

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Originally Posted by AnD3rew

Yeah thanks was thinking about that, I assume most people put Milford in, how easy are they to get in and out, I do use my third row seats from time to time around town. Is it practical to just put the barrier in for trips?

Also roof racks, what do people recommend, I have seen a few say they are using rhino, any other recommendations?

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I have a genuine Land Rover barrier, made by Hayman Reese. Easy to fit and I remove it whenever its not needed. Very similar in style to a Milford, though Milford didn't make one for the D3 at the time.

Other recommendation for a roof rack is the Wind Cheetah from Opposite Lock.

Cheers,
Jon