Thread: Remote recovery; am I paranoid?

Originally Posted by roverrescue

Silly low profile tyres will be your biggest risk
Either take lots of spares or run the toughest rubber you can find

I do know that if we were in my 130 instead of the silly chicks utes on 17s
We wouldn’t have had the problems we had with bent chassis and busted up tyres.
I admit we were not going as slow as some would as we wanted to get to the fish
We also ran a Polaris SXS in - now that was the way to do it
Buzzed along the tracks wind in your hair
The torrential rain made things a little soggy but still damn good fun and way easier to navigate the rock gardens!

I still say go for it but just take it easy

Are you going to take a boat in? It’s a tricky place to fish both from shore or boat
Happy to give some hints if you want the

S

I'm not worried about tyres, I run Maxxis Bravo 980s with two spares. It's more a case of what to do in the unlikely event of a non-fixable electrical or mechanical failure, although we are travelling in convoy so it wouldn't be a disaster.
We aren't even sure if we can get down as far as Walcott Inlet at this stage, since we're going very early in the season and the track down to the inlet from Bachsten may not even be navigable until they've had time to put the tractor through it.

Unfortunately unforeseen electrical problems are a potential affliction common to all late model 4x4’s. No matter what the brand.

If you prepare, know your vehicle and drive sensibly the likelihood of mechanical faults can be largely mitigated.

A pre-98 Defender or Landcruiser is the best for simplicity out bush. But then it would also need to have had many key mechanical components overhauled or upgraded too.

We can’t all be mechanics, but we can all learn the basics. IME it’s usually a balance of this along with preparation, experience, slowing down and travelling light that will see avoiding most issues. Sounds simple, but like anything it does take time to get good at it. Also don’t underestimate the willingness of people in the bush to help as much as they can. It’s the code. It at the same time it relays on you to help if needed too.

The enemy of all remote travel is tight timelines inflexibility and a lack of true community spirit.

Relying solely on any roadside assist in remote areas is for millionaires who have a choooer on standby.

Originally Posted by GregMilner

Does anybody have any suggestions as to any roadside assist program that DOES give one more comfort?

Any relevant input appreciated.

Have a look at Club 4x4 vehicle insurance. Make sure you read the water crossing notes though.

Greg we took spares that were potentially things on the D4 that are known items susceptible to failure and reasonably easy to replace, things like wheel speed sensors, height sensors, MAF and MAP sensor, spare Air and Pollen filters and plenty of good quality tools, make sure your auxiliary battery is in good condition, we had to replace the MAF, which we did and purchased another to replace it, while away we had the car serviced and we had them check it also as we had another 10,000ks to go still.

Mechanically the D4 is a pretty tough vehicle and as long as the car has been serviced and checked for any potential failures, if anything is borderline, as in if you get the comment "yeah it's not too bad it should be OK" change it.

Carrying big items like shocks, hubs and the like is just adding weight to an already heavy car, one thing you should add if you don't already have one is a second jack, something that has a low profile to get under the car if you get a flat and the car happens to drops to the bump stops, it saved us when it happen to us.

So all up we had two failures, the MAF on the car replaced that in Alice Springs by the LR Dealer reason being we had the car checked to make sure it wasn't something else and the spring hanger bushes on the camper, repaired in Darwin and car serviced at the same time while we went sight seeing.

Anyway have a great trip and don't stress too much, the D4 is a great vehicle and a very tough tourer, oh I forgot the rear wheel arch trim vibrated off on the Mitchell Falls Road, the worst corrugations we struck on the trip it was worth it though as King Edward camp is brilliant, do yourself a favour go to Mitchell Falls, camp at King Edward leave the trailer (if you have one) at King Edward camp and drive out there, there's a caretaker at King Edward Camp so it will be safe.

Enjoy,

Baz

Speaking of carrying spare sensors etc...

It would be brilliant if someone with the knowledge is able post up a definitive list of sensors / part #’s, with photos of where they are on the vehicle?

...for all of us late model Disco / Defender owners & amateur mechanics.

The contemporary version of carrying the basics, in addition to a fan belt and radiator hoses...

Originally Posted by Redback

Greg we took spares that were potentially things on the D4 that are known items susceptible to failure and reasonably easy to replace, things like wheel speed sensors, height sensors, MAF and MAP sensor, spare Air and Pollen filters and plenty of good quality tools, make sure your auxiliary battery is in good condition, we had to replace the MAF, which we did and purchased another to replace it, while away we had the car serviced and we had them check it also as we had another 10,000ks to go still.

Mechanically the D4 is a pretty tough vehicle and as long as the car has been serviced and checked for any potential failures, if anything is borderline, as in if you get the comment "yeah it's not too bad it should be OK" change it.

Carrying big items like shocks, hubs and the like is just adding weight to an already heavy car, one thing you should add if you don't already have one is a second jack, something that has a low profile to get under the car if you get a flat and the car happens to drops to the bump stops, it saved us when it happen to us.

So all up we had two failures, the MAF on the car replaced that in Alice Springs by the LR Dealer reason being we had the car checked to make sure it wasn't something else and the spring hanger bushes on the camper, repaired in Darwin and car serviced at the same time while we went sight seeing.

Anyway have a great trip and don't stress too much, the D4 is a great vehicle and a very tough tourer, oh I forgot the rear wheel arch trim vibrated off on the Mitchell Falls Road, the worst corrugations we struck on the trip it was worth it though as King Edward camp is brilliant, do yourself a favour go to Mitchell Falls, camp at King Edward leave the trailer (if you have one) at King Edward camp and drive out there, there's a caretaker at King Edward Camp so it will be safe.

Enjoy,

Baz

Thanks Baz, I'll certainly get some sensor cleaner before we go, although I'm wondering if it's overkill to bother shelling out for a spare MAF sensor just for a 4 week trip. I have a second jack although it's a bottle jack so might require some digging to get that under the chassis:-)
We've camped at King Edward River and driven up to Mitchell Falls, flown over it in a chopper etc on previous trips so won't be bothering on this one.

There's a saying about paranoia:
"Just because you're not being followed doesn't mean you shouldn't be paranoid."
Hope that helps.

Originally Posted by Zeros

Speaking of carrying spare sensors etc...

It would be brilliant if someone with the knowledge is able post up a definitive list of sensors / part #’s, with photos of where they are on the vehicle?

...for all of us late model Disco / Defender owners & amateur mechanics.

The contemporary version of carrying the basics, in addition to a fan belt and radiator hoses...

These are the part numbers:

Front Wheel Speed Sensor - LR013783
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor - SSB500102
Suspension Height Sensor (front) - LR023646
Suspension Height Sensor (rear) - LR023648
Brake Light Switch - XKB500110
Rear Suspension Link Rod Bolt (5 off) - RYG501580
Air Filter - PHE000112