NT Trip Report in a D2

[Jerry 68]

Hello all,

Just returned froma 3 week trek through the Territory.
The Disco TD5 towed a heavy duty camper trailer for 7105 kms and returned a steady 12.5lt/100kms. This was sitting on 110km/hr.
Having read all the Doomsayer stories on the TD5 I was apprehensive to take the Disco. However no mechanical problems occured.
The problems I did have were
1) Kept blowing fuses 10X for the rear brake lights and replaced bulb on passenger side twice???
2) Headlights fell out on the Chambers Pillar track!!!! What a Cr!p design for an offroad vehicle. Thank god for gaffer tape!
3) Rear suspension air bag split. Had this happen on a previous Patrol and a cruiser so not surprised as they dont like corrugations.
4) Rear door would not open and had a cargo barrier. Fortunately it turned out to be a shoe falling on lock and not allowing it to open. A bit of manipulating with a tent pole removed problem and door was opened.
5) Window wiper on passenger side kept coming loose. Will attack with loctite this arvo and see how it goes. May tack weld otherwise.

Regards
Jerry

[spudboy]

Nice to hear a good TD5 story.

How did u fix the broken rear air bag?

[ak]

Great to hear makes me feel more confident in taking my TD5 to Cape York next year.

[duff]

Go ahead, feel confident about your TD5.
Mine- no centre diff lock, AT tyres, recovered(bogged) once and self recovered(bogged) once- (but many pairs of undies)

Lived on the Cape york for four years Most tracks on the map up the cape travelled, on some that arent.

In that time we also done the Tanami,Gibb,hells gate(gulf country), oodnadatta, strezelecki, birdsville/Eyre dev, full KennedyDev, roper highway to booraloola, sandover and plenty highways, pus normal city stuff in between (140,000 km's). nearly all towing this

The van loaded with 150litres of water, 80 litres of fuel, two spare wheels all the food, gear and way to many spares ete etc weighed close to two tonne

The vehicle its self went great ( and still is, apart from three amigoes recently)
the only problems I had were dealer caused. and the only time it actually let me down(Burketown) was an auto failure that was also down to the Darwin dealers incompetance.

And I still get barrages of how unreliable my Landrover is

[hagus]

I have a def 130 td5 and drove 5000km + to get to Halls Creek when we moved from NSW. We went the back ways, Cameron corner, Innaminka, Birdsville, Poepell Corner etc with a huge load on board. Not a single hassle at all. Have done trips remote around the Kimberleys 2000km+ no probs other than the fridge thing i mentioned in another thread. They are a great motor for their size and all brands of vehicle break down!!!.

[Jerry 68]

I haven't fixed the airbag yet as I awaiting a quote for an Old Man Emu suspension repair all the way round!!
I noticed alot of new Prados with broken rear windows due to richoceting rocks off the towing trailer. It only appeared to happen to them?

[Redback]

Great to see all went well, i've done similar in my TD5 Disco, we no problems either, in fact we have done 3 or 4 trips now with 4000 to 6000ks in the Disco as well as umteen others and to this day not one problem, in fact it is usually the other vehicle that comes along that has the issues

I won't name brands

Only that it was made in Japan

Baz.

[hiline]

welcome back from your trip mate

and glad to hear the good report on the TD5

now where's them bloody pics you promised