A very short trip report

[lightwing]

Hi all, thought I would put up a short report on my recent trip across Australia with my RFSV perentie.
To start with I acquired the vehicle last November. to prepare it for this trip I fitted a hard top from an early 110, did some small additions to the interior to make organising gear a bit easier threw in a second spare, fitted KLR's turbo kit and set off.
The route was from Melbourne, after crossing over from Tas. then to Broken hill, Innamincka, Windorah,(had some flood water to detour around),Birdsville, Dalhousie, Mount Dare, Alice Springs, Then via Gary Junction to Kanawarritji, down the Canning to the Talawana track, then to Newman and then on down via some less interesting roads to Perth.
On the way back from Perth to Menzies and Lake Ballard, Wiluna, Carnegie Station, The Gunbarrel Highway and Heather highways to Warburton, Giles, Docker River, Ularu, then down the Oodnadatta track, Flinders ranges, Broken Hill, then some less interesting roads to Syney, Canberra, Cann river Via the Monaro Highway, Melbourne and back home to Tas.
Total distance 15,786.
Now what I am thinking is that some of you may be interested in how the vehicle performed.
Fuel consumption averaged 11.45 liters per 100km
Worst 14.2 liters/100km
best 9.3 liters/100km
Worst fuel consumption was in really bad conditions, heavy rain, flooded creeks, sticky mud, first and second gear mostly.
The best consumption occurred in perfect conditions with a tail wind and driving very conservatively
What went wrong or failed with the vehicle? not much actually, I had the clutch slave cylinder fail in a pretty awkward place which resulted in having to drive several hundred k's with a partially operating clutch. Brad from KLR sent one by express mail to Yulara It was easy enough to fit.
And one evening, just about dark and the vehicle just stopped. Fuel was the problem, The banjo fitting at the bottom of the lift pump came undone. by the time I figured this out it was dark and it was a very awkward job tightening it up. but once tightened a few pumps on the hand primer was all that was necessary to get things going again (just love the simplicity of this vehicle)
Apart from those two things the perentie was a pleasure to drive and gave me a great sense of confidence.
If any one would like any more information regarding the above just let me know.
I am busy now getting ready for the next trip


regards, Chris

[mick88]

Good report, sounds like a great trip.
Do we get to see some pics?
At any time did you wish you had power steering or were/are you happy with the Armstrong?


Cheers, Mick.

[travelrover]

Hi Chris

Sounds fantastic, you going to post some photos?

Cheers Simon


Sent from my iPhone using AULRO mobile app

[lightwing]

Hi Chris

Sounds fantastic, you going to post some photos?

Cheers Simon


Sent from my iPhone using AULRO mobile app

Hi Simon, thanks for the interest.
I have of course many photo's, I will try posting one or two to see if I can do it

[lightwing]

Good report, sounds like a great trip.
Do we get to see some pics?
At any time did you wish you had power steering or were/are you happy with the Armstrong?


Cheers, Mick.

Hi Mick, Thanks for the reply. Pics coming when I figure out how it is done.
As for the power steering, RFSV's come standard with power steering and I was very glad to have it. Some of the tracks I travelled were in a very poor state, in places washed away altogether (parts of the Gunbarrel for eg.) This of course meant full left to full right in some very tight places occasionally.

[Chops]

Hi Chris, great little report, but as said by Mick and Simon, pics would be just awesome.
Many of us don't get to do trips like this , so we love seeing what those that do, get to see and experience on they're trips

[Mick_Marsh]

Thanks for posting this, Chris.

Hi Chris, great little report, but as said by Mick and Simon, pics would be just awesome.

Yes please.

Many of us don't get to do trips like this , so we love seeing what those that do, get to see and experience on they're trips

Time to trade the D4 for a Perentie.

[lightwing]

Thanks for posting this, Chris.


Yes please.


Time to trade the D4 for a Perentie.

Sorry guys, I have tried everything I can think of to get some pics up loaded but without success If someone can help me out with this it would be greatly appreciated. Makes me feel like a bit of a dill, but this is one of the reasons that I have a perentie, no computers!
Chris

[rangieman]

Thanks for posting this, Chris.


Yes please.


Time to trade the D4 for a Perentie.

Sorry Mick it will never happen as he has turned for the worse now

[Chops]

What are you using to upload/communicate on here, a phone or computer?


I cant for some reason post any picture of any kind from my iPhone. You may have the same issue if your using a phone to be on here.