Thread: Canning Stock Route in D4

Originally Posted by Disco W.A

Peter (Ferret on here) and I did the CSR last year in our D4's.
....
We did the Stock Route from North to South, neither D4's struggled with the conditions.

Originally Posted by Ferret

.....This arrangement I carried full of fluids across the GRR and Bungles roads to ensure everything worked before starting the CSR. I had no issues along the CSR with it.....

Thanks to you both for the excellent information.
This is the type of setup I've been thinking about for travelling the CSR and other similar remote places, so it's good inspiration and tips.

Cheers,
Scott

Roger and Peter, thank you so much for your insight and info.

If I may, what non standard mods are done to your D4's? Specifically, do either of you run aftermarket under body protection and do you have a Llams or extended suspension rods?

I am still in two minds about doing the trip, not to do with difficulty, duration or preparedness(twelve years of Defence helped that), but more to do with not knowing the fellow members of the trip well enough to have absolute confidence if something were to go wrong. I might suggest a couple of small trips to build confidence and iron out the bugs.

I do plan on fitting a winch and spot lights to the vehicle, but after watching a few videos of various peoples trips, it seems that night driving is a non-event(unless wanting to make camp after a break down) and winching is not required. At this stage unless someone suggests that either would be really handy, I will wait until later next year to fit.

In late March next year I will be travelling down to Adelaide to do the Land Rover Experience where I hope to get to learn a bit more about the car and its capabilities. So far I have learnt to select the appropriate mode, dont be a hoon and let the car do what it does. Much different to my Rangie! I will also try and have a chat to the instructor and get a Land Rover angle on the CSR.

Fuel wise I have been really considering getting a aux tank, but dont like the idea of not being able to reverse it back to normal. It will give me more than adequate fuel for most part of the trip as you have described and I can keep an additional 40L on the roof for justin.

Due to having the kids with us, traveling with fuel in the vehicle isn't an option. I will still like to carry the spare tyre on the roof as I would end up having to pull everything out of the back of the car to wind the spare down, something I do not want to do in the desert. On that, I will have to scavenge a set of 18's from somewhere as I am sure our 20's wont last at all!

I am also considering just using one of those awning tents to sleep in. Just set it up and throw a blow up mattress in there for the night. Il use that with a second battery and might put our solar panels from the van in to keep it charged while stopped and a little Waeco battery pack we have to run some camp lights.

Roger, I think I might follow your call with the two zone and the vac sealed food. They seem well priced and would hopefully carry enough food for us. Can food is a option and it stores well. If I remove the middle seat, I can put a storage container in the space for perishables. If I do remove the third row, I might be able to store recovery gear under the draws. Also, what would be good recovery gear?

I have been looking into the code readers and I haven't made up my mind due to not having used either, so i think at this stage I will just save and get which ever I can afford at the time. I will also look at that spares list and maybe get some out of the UK or something as I wont get anything from around here.

Still thinking about the water situation. My partner isn't all that keen on not having showers so may have to do as you did Peter and have a separate water jerry for a shower.

Our D4 is pretty new so I doubt if anything will need to be replaced before we go, but I will book it in to have a check over a week or so out from the trip and then after again to see what has gone wrong.

one last thing since i have gone on so much, what time of year did you complete the journey?

Thanks again and i will send you a PM when I have a chance and I will take you up on that phone call.

Kon

Originally Posted by Konradical

I am also considering just using one of those awning tents to sleep in. Just set it up and throw a blow up mattress in there for the night.

Kon

Kon

Thought I'd share my thoughts about a couple of things. Like you I have really appreciated the posts from Roger and Peter, very insightful.

Although I am doing a bit of caravan touring at the moment I also am into Ultralight bush walking so have researched lots about weight vs pack size vs comfort levels. I'm not a young guy (I'm 62) but reasonably fit. On our recent van trip to Central Australia we did a couple of overnighters in just the D4 to Palm Valley and Chambers Pillar. We plan on doing the Simpson in a year or two so the sleeping arrangements were important. There is no way my wife would sleep on a closed cell blue foam mat anymore so I had to "trial" as it were for these overnighters how to set up shelter quickly and sleep really comfortably.

What we got was a Coleman Instant-Up Tent. We really have the tent up in less than 2 minutes and add about 2 more if you want to use the fly. 14kg, fits on roofrack easy. Very impressed. Comes in a few sizes.
Coleman Instant Up Touring Tent - 4 Person - Rays Outdoors Australia

For sleeping, this was critical esp for SWMBO. Skip the airbeds, too cold. We got the Exped Megamat Duo. "R" rating of 9.5. Self inflating. Seriously, this is more comfortable and warmer than my bed at home. Unbelievable outstanding. Bulky size (about the size of 2 sleeping bags) but only about 4kg, so could also easily go on roof.Bit pricey but worth every cent, trust me. I cannot over emphasise how good this is. Again they come in different sizes so get what suits. Have a read of reviews.
https://www.snowys.com.au/megamat-10-duo#details

I'll be using these 2 items for any longer trip without the van such as the Simpson so may assist you for the Canning where weight is important.

If you want to go even lighter you can PM me about ultralight bushwalking stuff which I would use if I was travelling alone rather than with the wife.

Trevor

Originally Posted by Konradical

If I may, what non standard mods are done to your D4's? Specifically, do either of you run aftermarket under body protection and do you have a Llams or extended suspension rods?

Sill guards. Compressor guard. I don't have Llams or rods, just use the IID tool to control height. Llams is more convenient, rods are cheaper but a diagnostic tool more essential than either. I only changed my height twice, once to 'off road height' at the start and once to 'normal height' ~3 weeks later at the end so the convenience of Llams is a non issue for me.

Other non standard mods - Traxide dual battery, twin hella and twin ciggy plugs in the rear. Ditched the rear cabin light and fitted and wired a small led strip to the aux circuits with a switch so all interior electrics and computers allowed to power down (saves heaps of power) but still get light in the back when needed. Anderson plugs fitted front and rear for solar battery charging and compressor use. Frontrunner low profile roof rack and rear ladder. Sides on a rack just mean you gotta hoist every thing higher.

Originally Posted by Konradical

I am still in two minds about doing the trip, not to do with difficulty, duration or preparedness(twelve years of Defence helped that), but more to do with not knowing the fellow members of the trip well enough to have absolute confidence if something were to go wrong. I might suggest a couple of small trips to build confidence and iron out the bugs.

We were a bit like that as well. We were a party of 4 vehicles, Roger and myself (with Brett riding with me, 'DiscoTwinTurbo' from this site). The 3 of us have all known each other for a while so communicate among us was easy. The people in the other 2 vehicles however were mates of Brett that had asked to join our party, we had not met them before so communication not as free and easy. Two riding in a LC200 and another two riding in a dual cab Triton. We had a couple of BBQs in the months before leaving to get to know each other and talk over plans. Wish we had done more of it because the Triton turned into a bit of disaster for the occupants. A bit more 'jaw boning' over vehicle preparations before leaving might have seen a different outcome for them re the excessive weight of this vehicle which was unknown to us until a day or so before commencing the CSR.

Originally Posted by Konradical

I do plan on fitting a winch and spot lights to the vehicle, but after watching a few videos of various peoples trips, it seems that night driving is a non-event(unless wanting to make camp after a break down) and winching is not required. At this stage unless someone suggests that either would be really handy, I will wait until later next year to fit.

We did no night driving along the CSR and can't think of any reason why anyone would want to unless emergency circumstances. I don't have a BB so have no winch or spot lights. Saves weight imho. I think carrying a set of 'MaxTracks' might be more beneficial and a lot lighter than all those 'goodies'.

Originally Posted by Konradical

Fuel wise I have been really considering getting a aux tank, but dont like the idea of not being able to reverse it back to normal. It will give me more than adequate fuel for most part of the trip as you have described and I can keep an additional 40L on the roof for justin.

Due to having the kids with us, traveling with fuel in the vehicle isn't an option. I will still like to carry the spare tyre on the roof as I would end up having to pull everything out of the back of the car to wind the spare down, something I do not want to do in the desert. On that, I will have to scavenge a set of 18's from somewhere as I am sure our 20's wont last at all!

We both arranged the rear setup so that the spare wheel winder was accessible without needing to unload everything to get at it.

Are you intending to carry only one spare on the roof rather than the spare on a rear wheel carrier + an extra on the roof. Given you're the only Disco in the group I be thinking more about only having one spare.

We came across an extremely frustrated leader of a tag along group that told us he was 3 days behind his schedule (and this was even before the half way mark) after having to contend with multiple flat tyres among a group of ~10 vehicles he was leading. I think he said 12 flat tyres but that sounds unbelievable, so maybe my memory is wrong on that count, no doubts about the 3 days behind schedule though due to flats. We encountered that party while they were attending to a flat.

I bought my GOE rims specifically for the trip. My 19 tyres were at the end of their life and needed to be replaced before the trip. Rather than replace them with 19" tyres again I bit the bullet just went with 18s. Very expensive decision but at the end of the trip I was happy with the result.

Originally Posted by Konradical

I am also considering just using one of those awning tents to sleep in. Just set it up and throw a blow up mattress in there for the night.

Briar's advice re self inflating mattress rather than blow up mattress is good. It's very cold at night and blow up mattress have habit of going down, besides being cold.

Originally Posted by Konradical

If I do remove the third row, I might be able to store recovery gear under the draws. Also, what would be good recovery gear?

Snatch strap + schackles and max tracks IMO.

And while not strictly recovery gear someone in the party needs a sat phone. There are different systems out there, some making use of multiple satellites, some relying on only one satellite. Some are better than others as we found out. Roger I'm sure can advise.

Originally Posted by Konradical

I will also look at that spares list and maybe get some out of the UK or something as I wont get anything from around here.

Ya never know, we got some spare sensors from a D4 being wrecked in Perth.

Originally Posted by Konradical

Still thinking about the water situation. My partner isn't all that keen on not having showers so may have to do as you did Peter and have a separate water jerry for a shower.

At Kunawarritji really good showers and toilets are available for travellers ~$3 / person. Washing machines as well. It also has a very well equipped workshop for hire, though you have to be capable of using all their gear to do whatever repairs you need yourself - no mechanic.

Originally Posted by Konradical

one last thing since i have gone on so much, what time of year did you complete the journey?

End of July - early August.

And while you haven't mentioned it (perhaps your already aware), but to keep in the good books with the local residents you need to obtain permits, one for the southern end of the track and one for the northern end of the track.

Some good info, including how to get permits is here - Canning Stock Route Visitor Information.

Awesome heads up...thanks ferret.

The only thing that could better this very informative thread would be a couple of photos of internal setups, particularly regarding the fuel and water locating, tie-down, etc.

I was thinking of asking a few questions but basically everything has been covered

So one thing, was it worth it, considering all the efforts to do it?

Thanks again,
Scott

Originally Posted by LRD414

The only thing that could better this very informative thread would be a couple of photos of internal setups, particularly regarding the fuel and water locating, tie-down, etc.

I was thinking of asking a few questions but basically everything has been covered

So one thing, was it worth it, considering all the efforts to do it?

Thanks again,
Scott

Scott,

I will see if I can find some photos of my internal set up.
yes it was worth it, this was my second time on the CSR, if I do it again it will be with Track Care on one of their projects to restore the wells and install more toilets

here one of my D4 on a dune

thanks for all the great info and advice - invaluable - especially when backed up with actual experience