Thread: What happened to your D3/D4 today?

Originally Posted by John_D4

I am starting to wonder if for the price you’d be better off buying a 2nd hand sat phone

Not much good for 4G data, which we rely on a lot. But I wouldn’t rely on the CelFi for making calls either. If you’re going remote, you probably need both.

David

I get more use out of the enhanced coverage than a sat phone.

Even just intercity travel is full of gaps in coverage that this rectifies.

Full remote area I still don’t take a Sat Phone. When the emergency is that serious it doesn’t help. PLBs with messaging capability are much easier.

[QUOTE=PeterJ;3003240]New shoes today, after much deliberation and research (especially here) I went for 255/60 R18 Pirelli AT-Plus................... Too early for much else, in 3 weeks I will be back from a trip north in SA so I will add some comments then.


Well, not quite back yet but here I sit 20km outside Hawker and some time to do a post because it is bucketing outside and cold.
Previously mentioned ride improvement really appreciated.
Towed the van (3.2T) up to Bendleby Station, for those not aware a property in SA mid-North that has some excellent 4WDing. Pressures set (cold) were 250kPa Front (36psi) and 300kPa rear (43psi). I started with these pressures from my experience with the D697s. The tyre temperatures were cool (low to mid 20s) while driving and pressures increased by 15kPa front and 25kPa rear. So in the future I may revise my initial pressures down a bit but I want a bit more time with these tyres first to see how different conditions might change things.

Spent 5 days around Bendleby, (a bit OT but never mind, this vehicles ability to climb just never ceases to amase, there are some excellent tracks, with some really steep climbs and the "slow as possible fast as necessary" in the D4 is just gravity defying at times.....anyway) dropped the tyre pressures to 175kPa (25psi) all round and had no traction issues at all, no tyre damage to sidewall or tread area, really excellent. Bendleby is very rocky,(big, bigger and ugly, they have them all) as well as shale, slate and general loose surfaces.

Headed off to Arkaroola via Blinman, dropped the road pressures 50kPa at the front and 70kPa at the rear so 200 (29psi) and 230kPa (33psi), speed stayed down to a maximum of 80kph on the (very infrequent) smooth sections but it was mainly 50 to 70 kph depending on corrugations and rocks, lots of rocks. Back via the road to Copley (generally much better except for the floodways) The ride at the reduced pressures was excellent, pressures increased 20 to 30kpa over cold but temperatures varied quite a bit more than previously (1deg at Arkaroola when we left) so I was mindful of the effect on pressure with the changing temperature. Again, as above, no tyre damage at all.

At this point (1000km in) I am very impressed with these tyres.

Nice initial impressions Peter.
Hope you’re enjoying your trip.

The most important thing for tyres in that terrain - your eyes!

Installed ARB TPMS. Nice, easy & clean.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Nice initial impressions Peter.
Hope you’re enjoying your trip.

The most important thing for tyres in that terrain - your eyes!

Could not agree more, seeing the potentially damaging things and not hitting them is the way to go, being able to do these climbs slowly and in a controlled way makes that all so easy.

Yeah, it's such a nice part of the state (and Oz for that matter) bit of a get away from house rennos for the last month.

[QUOTE=PeterJ;3007968]

Originally Posted by PeterJ

New shoes today, after much deliberation and research (especially here) I went for 255/60 R18 Pirelli AT-Plus................... Too early for much else, in 3 weeks I will be back from a trip north in SA so I will add some comments then.


Well, not quite back yet but here I sit 20km outside Hawker and some time to do a post because it is bucketing outside and cold.
Previously mentioned ride improvement really appreciated.
Towed the van (3.2T) up to Bendleby Station, for those not aware a property in SA mid-North that has some excellent 4WDing. Pressures set (cold) were 250kPa Front (36psi) and 300kPa rear (43psi). I started with these pressures from my experience with the D697s. The tyre temperatures were cool (low to mid 20s) while driving and pressures increased by 15kPa front and 25kPa rear. So in the future I may revise my initial pressures down a bit but I want a bit more time with these tyres first to see how different conditions might change things.

Spent 5 days around Bendleby, (a bit OT but never mind, this vehicles ability to climb just never ceases to amase, there are some excellent tracks, with some really steep climbs and the "slow as possible fast as necessary" in the D4 is just gravity defying at times.....anyway) dropped the tyre pressures to 175kPa (25psi) all round and had no traction issues at all, no tyre damage to sidewall or tread area, really excellent. Bendleby is very rocky,(big, bigger and ugly, they have them all) as well as shale, slate and general loose surfaces.

Headed off to Arkaroola via Blinman, dropped the road pressures 50kPa at the front and 70kPa at the rear so 200 (29psi) and 230kPa (33psi), speed stayed down to a maximum of 80kph on the (very infrequent) smooth sections but it was mainly 50 to 70 kph depending on corrugations and rocks, lots of rocks. Back via the road to Copley (generally much better except for the floodways) The ride at the reduced pressures was excellent, pressures increased 20 to 30kpa over cold but temperatures varied quite a bit more than previously (1deg at Arkaroola when we left) so I was mindful of the effect on pressure with the changing temperature. Again, as above, no tyre damage at all.

At this point (1000km in) I am very impressed with these tyres.

I dunno where you are or where you were. But it sounds awesome. Your post reminds me that I should often change pressures to suit. I often head off road with the bikes and the 20s and just think.. She'll be right. The shouldn't

This is Bendleby Ranges Bendleby Ranges | 4WD Tracks, Bush Camping and Accommodation

This is Arkaroola Arkaroola - Arkaroola

Both very nice places and well worth the time and effort if you are passing through this part of the world. Here's a bit of an overview
Getting Here - Arkaroola