Thread: Spares for Cape Trip

Originally Posted by roamer

Just take a tow rope , you are with a couple of Toyota's
They will tow you back home

I think you got that round the wrong way?

G'day Canaussie.I would recommend having paid up roadside assistance as well as the advised spares.I had mechanical problems on my first trip up to the Cape and had to call on the RACV total care.The RACV in conjunction with the RACQ were absolutely a godsend ,they sorted what was needed.I have no affiliation with either organisation.The trip is worth it but be prepared that some of the driving skills ,attitude combined with ''Its all about me'' leave alot to be desired.Every trip up there is a personal adventure ,have a safe and enjoyable journey. Cheers Lochie

I did the trip in my 2010 D4 3l SE in September this year including the Great Central Road from Perth, Plenty Highway and Kennedy Development Road. We did the Bloomfield Track and Lakefield National Park and returned via Kununurra and Broome, 14,000km in all in 4 weeks. We chickened out on Nolans due to reports of chest deep water from other travellors and the Toyotas with us were scared of water. We did some of the Frenchmans track but the Toyotas wouldn't cross the deep water at the Pascoe River crossing, which has a very steep, rocky entry and exit and deep water with lots of rocks. I would have done it but they thought they would get stuck so we had to turn round and retrace our route.

We took all the spares recommended in the GOE hand book, inluding the GOE emergency suspension inflation kit and a diagnostic tool. Didn't need any of it but my starter motor failed one week after returning to Perth as per my separate post. If it had failed on the trip it would have been a disaster as no starter motor is a show stopper in an auto car. The filler flap also jammed at the worst possible time at Docker River roadhouse but thankfully opened after 5 minutes of trying and didn't give any more trouble on the trip. I did spray the catch with CRC as it was full of dust.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobD

I did the trip in my 2010 D4 3l SE in September this year including the Great Central Road from Perth, Plenty Highway and Kennedy Development Road. We did the Bloomfield Track and Lakefield National Park and returned via Kununurra and Broome, 14,000km in all in 4 weeks. We chickened out on Nolans due to reports of chest deep water from other travellors and the Toyotas with us were scared of water. We did some of the Frenchmans track but the Toyotas wouldn't cross the deep water at the Pascoe River crossing, which has a very steep, rocky entry and exit and deep water with lots of rocks. I would have done it but they thought they would get stuck so we had to turn round and retrace our route.

We took all the spares recommended in the GOE hand book, inluding the GOE emergency suspension inflation kit and a diagnostic tool. Didn't need any of it but my starter motor failed one week after returning to Perth as per my separate post. If it had failed on the trip it would have been a disaster as no starter motor is a show stopper in an auto car. The filler flap also jammed at the worst possible time at Docker River roadhouse but thankfully opened after 5 minutes of trying and didn't give any more trouble on the trip. I did spray the catch with CRC as it was full of dust.

Bob

That sounds a long time in the saddle...which is easy to do in the Disco.

Brett.....

Problem with nolans is the same issue with the jardine - its not the depth its the sandy base.
I got stuck in Nolans in a TD42T '01 GU-II with 4" of spring lift and 285/75R16 MT MTZs
My issue was driver error (my own inexperiance and over confidence caught up to me) running WAY too much pressure in the rubber and not sticking as closely to my intended line as I should have.
I used a tarp over the front of the vehicle for the first time ever and its the last time I'll ever do it as IMO thats what caused me to get stuck (I got distracted by it coming up and forgot to hug the bank).
I had water over the centre console (that water was over the bonnet at the deepest section - lucky I didn't get stuck there as thats deep when you've got 4" of lift!). My tyres dug me in so that my axles were sitting on the bottom. It was a massive single line pull to get me out (hind sight should have used a snatch block).
I travel solo so I was prepared to get myself out. But many others haven't been so prepared.
After I did it my wife and I went for a swim in the water hole (yeah yeah I know theres crocs) whilst we waited for the water to drain out the car and another two groups arrived from both sides. They helped one another across by placing people as markers and having snatch straps ready. However the straps were never used and one of the vehicles that crossed was a bog stock colorado.

Like I say my undoing was my failing to stick to my line. Even with the high tyre pressure I would have been fine (though I may still have got stuck it would have been in a lot shallower section).

Next time I head up I'm going to give the old jardine crossing a go.

Air filters are a good idea the main roads will flog out air filters especially in convoy. I'd advise a prefilter if running a snorkle.

I ran into a few mechanical issues. I dropped my tierod 3 times - I eventually fixed it with my missus nail polish as a thread locker.
I snapped a shock at the bottom end pin mount - manufacturer fault. I got it welded by Dick at Bramwell station and kept going.
Then I snapped an aftermarket swaybar disconnect - probably my fault for not disconnecting before coming through the rock section before logan creek combined with running a superior super flexy radius arm with drop boxes.

I limped home on my clutch (its a long way back to melbourne on a slipping clutch) because of the water ingress.
Since getting home my starter has failed due to getting swamped at nolans.
I've also got to over haul my swivel hubs and king ping bearings as the drivers side is rooted and its got a shocking vibration at 80-100KPH. Lucky its just a weekender at the moment.

I also picked up some really bad fuel somewhere (I think at the ferry) and had to have my injector pump cleaned out by cairns diesel (two thumbs up for these guys!)

I wouldn't have any hesitation taking my D3 to do the trip. But ive got a patrol thats setup so the disco stayed home.

But thats all part of the fun and the adventure.
My trip was my honeymoon and my wife and I had an absolute ball!

Oh and a little off topic we went with a hannibal 1.8mtr roof top tent (originally sold to me by justin burton). Best investment ever. There is no comparison between these tents and the ebay/arb/made in china garbage out there. We had a few travellers in cheaper tents check ours out and make comment on how much better made it is. It stayed cool, dark with every thing shut and light with windows/doors open and most importantly dry. Plus being up off the ground gave a high "WAF".

Originally Posted by komodo

I used a tarp over the front of the vehicle for the first time ever and its the last time I'll ever do it as IMO thats what caused me to get stuck (I got distracted by it coming up and forgot to hug the bank).

After I did it my wife and I went for a swim in the water hole (yeah yeah I know theres crocs) whilst we waited for the water to drain out the car and another two groups arrived from both sides. They helped one another across by placing people as markers and having snatch straps ready. However the straps were never used and one of the vehicles that crossed was a bog stock colorado.

Like I say my undoing was my failing to stick to my line. Even with the high tyre pressure I would have been fine (though I may still have got stuck it would have been in a lot shallower section).

Next time I head up I'm going to give the old jardine crossing a go.

I didn't use a tarp when I crossed either, but did get my mate to stand in the creek to mark a deep hole. I also ran normal tyre pressures. As you have said, the critical thing is to map out your route and stick to it.

I think you are pretty safe from Crocs in Nolans, different story for the Jardine Crossing though. Personally I wouldn't attempt it, firstly the crossing is a lot longer, and more importantly there have been several confirmed crocs attacks there. Bugger having to walk the crossing and stand in there as a marker..... a nasty lizard could end up ruining your holiday!

They are definitely in the Jardine,we camped near the north end of the old crossing for a couple of days.
A fantastic spot & saw a couple of 3 to 4m long crocs.At night they sort of cruise up & down obviously they have their own territories.We watched them in the light of a spotlight.

One actually came out of the water one night to have a look at a piece of rubbish that had been left by another camper.We saw it come out of the water,but didn't know why until we had a good look at the crocs tracks in the morning.It had come within 50m of our tent during the night.

As we had seen it out of the water,earlier in the night,we slept in the car that night.

That is sort of slept,difficult in a D2 with a cargo barrier.


As for Nolans,it had a deep hole in the middle & slightly left going north.If you hug the right side (going north) you will be OK.Many don't walk it & drive into the hole & get crossed up.Or they hit it at speed & put the fan into the radiator.This is easily done in both TD5 & LC100.


As i have said it is absolutely critical you walk every crossing.None of the creeks on the OTT have crocs in them,even the Pasco crossing would have no crocs.The larger rivers would have them,as said, such as the Jardine.

I didn't walk a half meter deep creek while looking for the old crossing,got crossed up & had to winch ourselves out.It was the only crossing we did not walk on both our Cape trips.

And as for vehicles,the D2 did two long trips up there,up & back on the OTT,never missed a beat,didn't even change a tyre.

Originally Posted by scarry

As I have said, it is absolutely critical you walk every crossing.

I didn't walk a half meter deep creek while looking for the old crossing, got crossed up & had to winch ourselves out. It was the only crossing we did not walk on both our Cape trips.

You guys have different problems than we do here in Western Canada - usually it is a bit of mud and maybe a bear or a moose. In the rutting season, a moose can be a hazard to a vehicle as they will charge them head on - and the moose usually wins. A bear usually runs the other way except in the spring when they are hungry or have their offspring about; they ignore the vehicle - it is you they are after. In both situations, while you cannot out run them, at least you can see them coming. This croc concern you mention - not my idea of fun but sure ups the adventure quotient - do you feel lucky today would be the question?