Thread: from Melbourne to Cape York on 2015 D4

That's tight. I live in Cairns and would spend 3 weeks doing Cape from here.

Hi Gary,

That seems incredibly tight to me. We are doing the Cape with the kids in the June holidays this year, from Brisbane, and we are taking the three weeks just to do that. It would be over thirty hours driving time from Melbourne to Cooktown, with your kids

A lot of your setup depends on the type of 4WD you are doing. Touring v more hardcore have differing needs. You can go mild or wild depending on your budget and desires. I would suggest getting Gordons excellent handbook

Green Oval Experience Land Rover training, Range Rover modifcation


It will give you lots of the info you need in a concise format.


If you are remote touring then you might want a diagnostic tool to help in those situations where you get errors occurring. The GAP iiD tool is good and will also allow you to vary the height by 40-50mm from standard.

Good luck with the trip. I might see you up there.

Cheers

Shane

It depends a bit on the age of your kids. I would be doing very well to get to Cairns in 4 days with the kids. I would consider flying the kids to/from Cairns if you want to compress the time getting to Cairns. You really don't have enough time to enjoy Fraser. Make that a 2 week trip on its own later.

Bulbar - I wouldn't bother if you can avoid driving from dusk to dawn. I had a roo strike to the trailer when on the M1 between Sydney and Brisbane. So it's not only a risk for remote areas. With your timeframes you are likely to be driving during higher risk parts of the day.

Fuel tank - I wouldn't bother. I will be a lot cheaper paying premium fuel prices at the Cape than the cost of a tank and wheel carrier. You will also be supporting businesses in the Cape which helps employment etc. you also get to stop a soak it up a bit rather than drive non stop.

Tyres - I would be looking at tyre options. This is where I would consider spending money. An extra spare tyre carcass is a good idea as your size may not be available where you're going. There are some reasonable AT options for 20" wheels.

It's a great trip and a D4 out of the box will do it with ease, other than maybe on OEM tyres.

The LlAMS bit seems like BS, plenty of people here have it and swear by it. Go to another dealer or auto elec.

Cheers

A Dealer wouldn't fit a llams as it is Interferring with the cars electronics but I believe it's a very straightforward job - surely someone on here is in Melbourne and can help out or suggest a good auto leccy

I have said it before a Llams kit is the single best accessory one can buy for a D3/4. It just gives the vehicle at the turn of a knob so much flexibility and control both up and down and yes it's a pretty straightforward job, any auto electrician can fit it easy in 30 minutes with the instructions.

Dealers are not allowed to fit anything aftermarket other than a Brake Controller...

Originally Posted by DIS4

Might bring two spares, one on rim.
How did you feel about long rang tank? Is it worth?
Any issue with air suspension and electronics?
Any tips to prepare D4 ready for the trip?
Good to have LLAMS, but dealer refused to installed it and some problems related to it.
We are going spent few days at Fraser Island as well
3 weeks seems a bit tight. Got to send kids back to school.

Gary,

There's some useful advice in your thread from last year relevant for the trip you are considering:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...disco-4-a.html

My thoughts on your questions as follows:

Two spares, one on rim - Good idea, especially for your size.
Long rang tank - Not required for Cape York, plenty of fuel. Maybe take one jerry can but even that is not essential.
Air suspension issues - Not a concern as discussed in your thread last year. Your D4 is quite new but a diagnostic tool is worth considering and could also be used instead of Llams
Tips for trip preparation - Plenty of other threads but probably need to look at roof rack.

Llams - dealers won't fit non-approved accessories. It's a DIY fitting. Don't know what you mean by "problems"?
Also, Llams or some other height control (eg rods) is not essential for the Cape.
Everywhere up there I can think of that requires the extra height would be below 40kph speed.

3 weeks total time incl Fraser - in my opinion this is not enough time.
Even just Melb to Cape return in 3 weeks is very very tight and you will have minimal time to actually take things in and enjoy.
As a guide, Cairns back to Cairns in 3 weeks is a good timeframe.
Consider this ....
Melb > Syd > Bris > Mackay > Cairns is four nights up and four nights on the way back south.
So that's 8 nights of your 3 weeks gone. And those are all long driving days too.
That leaves Cairns up to the Cape in say 7 nights and 6 nights to get back to Cairns.
I would not enjoy that trip.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Scott