I'll have to admit that I am a bit of a 'fair weather' camper. Especially if we are going for a weekend close to home. I mean - if it's a campsite a couple of hours from here and the forecast is rain, extreme cold or high winds then we put it off until a weekend with a better forecast.
In this region over the past few months the forecasts have generally been cold, a bit wet and occasionally windy - sometimes all three.
We were hoping to get away last weekend as we both had a three day weekend. The weather blew in and we decided a picnic was the way to go and we ended up helping out at one of the local driver reviver stops on the Hume Highway instead.
Daylight savings has started which usually means that the weather starts to warm up, the wind starts to drop we are looking forward to some camps away for weekends.
I'm keen to get the 4WD in to 4WD for a bit of an explore, try out the new navigator, and the gold pans that we bought in the off season.
So, over the next few months I should be back with some new photos, GPS coordinates and descriptions of some campsites we have spent a couple of nights in.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
4WD touring - what worked - what didn't
Well after being back from our trip for so long I have had a chance to consider what worked for us and what didn't.
A bit of background - the 4WD is a fairly standard 1994 Landrover Discovery. No lift or lockers. It had a snorkel, bullbar and dual battery set up when I bought it. It has travelled 335000km or so. The head was replaced after I bought it as it had been overheated and cracked.
The roof racks and basket are and add on that I did. We found that we can up some stuff up there that is light and bulky, like a second spare tyre, the portaloo and other stuff we dont use every night. I attached an old curtain rod along the basket with the intention of using it to set up our tarp - maybe for morning tea and lunch stops. Didn't get used for that once! We did use it to attach the 12V LED 'UFO' camping lights to a couple of times.
Before we set off I fitted a set of driving lights to the bullbar. I wanted them on when we went down to the Snowys when we knew we would be travelling from Thredbo to Jindbyne at night. They actually came in very handy when we found ourselves arriving late at Noccundra. The extra light is actually very noticable when you don't know the road.
The winch didn't get used at all - and still hasn't been used in anger. There are a lot of forum posts about 4WD winches and buying reputable brands. I'm not getting into that debate here, but mine is a 'cheapy' and it works. I do run it in and out to make sure all is well before I head off road.
Similarly the farily standard AT tyres that are on there worked well. Admittedly we weren't travelling on any 'hardcore' 4WD tracks. But they coped with the outback conditions and got a run on sand. I bought a medium duty air compressor wheich worked to pump up a fellow travellers camper trailer tyre and reinflate mine after a driving on the corrugated outback roads and on the beach. What I need to invest in is a deflator. The old 'key and gauge' method is a bit tedious.
A valuable lesson was learned. Have basic spares. I had had the car serviced a couple of days before we left, but the fanbelt still frayed. Worthwhile having the appropriate belts in the car - would have saved us about a day. Had a fuel filter - didn't use it. Also had oil and coolant - didn't use it. Seems the only thing we needed was what we didn't have.
I was told to take WD-40, cable ties and 'gaffa tape.' I did and used all three.
I installed a UHF CB on day one from this 4WD's predecessor. I found it to be worthwhile. Nice to be able to hear about road hazards from fellow travellers. Also nice to be able to give and get advice while on the road.
The dual battery setup run our trusty three way fridge and powered all of our other stuff while we were away. I like it. It was in the vehicle when I bought it and is becoming a bit old and unreliable. Doesn't charge when the lights are on. Having a look at that to see what the go is!
The navigator that we use is great. It runs OziExplorer software and as a result we knew where we were right the way along the trip. The only issue was when the plug vibrated out of the socket and I though we had killed it. After I plugged it back in it worked like a treat!
Our dome tent was a treat. If you read back through our Snowy Mountain Trip you will see how we came to acquire it. In all honesty it has been a bit of a blessing really. It is quicker and easier to set up that the old tent, and packs away a bit smaller.
All in all we tool a lot of stuff that we didn't use, but could have! I would take it all again.
If you have tips or comments feel free to either post them on the blog using the comment button or send me an email to nswcamper@hotmail.com
Stay safe!
A bit of background - the 4WD is a fairly standard 1994 Landrover Discovery. No lift or lockers. It had a snorkel, bullbar and dual battery set up when I bought it. It has travelled 335000km or so. The head was replaced after I bought it as it had been overheated and cracked.
The roof racks and basket are and add on that I did. We found that we can up some stuff up there that is light and bulky, like a second spare tyre, the portaloo and other stuff we dont use every night. I attached an old curtain rod along the basket with the intention of using it to set up our tarp - maybe for morning tea and lunch stops. Didn't get used for that once! We did use it to attach the 12V LED 'UFO' camping lights to a couple of times.
Before we set off I fitted a set of driving lights to the bullbar. I wanted them on when we went down to the Snowys when we knew we would be travelling from Thredbo to Jindbyne at night. They actually came in very handy when we found ourselves arriving late at Noccundra. The extra light is actually very noticable when you don't know the road.
The winch didn't get used at all - and still hasn't been used in anger. There are a lot of forum posts about 4WD winches and buying reputable brands. I'm not getting into that debate here, but mine is a 'cheapy' and it works. I do run it in and out to make sure all is well before I head off road.
Similarly the farily standard AT tyres that are on there worked well. Admittedly we weren't travelling on any 'hardcore' 4WD tracks. But they coped with the outback conditions and got a run on sand. I bought a medium duty air compressor wheich worked to pump up a fellow travellers camper trailer tyre and reinflate mine after a driving on the corrugated outback roads and on the beach. What I need to invest in is a deflator. The old 'key and gauge' method is a bit tedious.
A valuable lesson was learned. Have basic spares. I had had the car serviced a couple of days before we left, but the fanbelt still frayed. Worthwhile having the appropriate belts in the car - would have saved us about a day. Had a fuel filter - didn't use it. Also had oil and coolant - didn't use it. Seems the only thing we needed was what we didn't have.
I was told to take WD-40, cable ties and 'gaffa tape.' I did and used all three.
I installed a UHF CB on day one from this 4WD's predecessor. I found it to be worthwhile. Nice to be able to hear about road hazards from fellow travellers. Also nice to be able to give and get advice while on the road.
The dual battery setup run our trusty three way fridge and powered all of our other stuff while we were away. I like it. It was in the vehicle when I bought it and is becoming a bit old and unreliable. Doesn't charge when the lights are on. Having a look at that to see what the go is!
The navigator that we use is great. It runs OziExplorer software and as a result we knew where we were right the way along the trip. The only issue was when the plug vibrated out of the socket and I though we had killed it. After I plugged it back in it worked like a treat!
Our dome tent was a treat. If you read back through our Snowy Mountain Trip you will see how we came to acquire it. In all honesty it has been a bit of a blessing really. It is quicker and easier to set up that the old tent, and packs away a bit smaller.
All in all we tool a lot of stuff that we didn't use, but could have! I would take it all again.
If you have tips or comments feel free to either post them on the blog using the comment button or send me an email to nswcamper@hotmail.com
Stay safe!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The journey home begins - Grafton to Tia Falls
Firstly, an apology to all who have called by hoping for something new and interesting to look at. I would have to acknowledge that I have been both busy and slack. Work has been a tad on the hectic side and I have been away from home a bit recently. Work travel won't get a mention here.
What will is the last segment of our Easter adventure. We set of from my family and headed with all good intentions to Waterfall Way. We were to meet other relatives at Tia Falls in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. What should have taken us about 4 hours or so turned into a bit of an adventure.
Our first stop was at a little town called Ebor. Well actually we passed through the township and turned into the Ebor Falls parking lot for a look. The upper falls are about 200m from the road. They are spectacular and worth a stop. There are also toilet facilities and a fairly informative information board. The lower falls are a further short drive and then a walk away.
I started the 4WD and a funny noise came from under the bonnet! We drove to the lower falls car park and switched off to have a look. The 'serpentine' belt had come adrift, broken the air-con belt and made a general mess under the bonnet. After some cutting and maneuvering I got the belt clear and the vehicle was driveable so we went back to Ebor town and rang for the NRMA service number.
The spare that I didn't think to pack was serpentine belt. I wasn't sure that we could make it to Armidale, the nearest town with the facilities I was likely to need to we decided to sit and wait for the NRMA to rescue us.
When he arrived he didn't have a belt that could rescue us so we agreed that the best bet was to get us to Armidale, we could have the vehicle repaired and continue on the following day. And that is pretty much how the day panned out for us. The NRMA chap loaded us onto the tow truck, took us to a repairer, we dropped the car off, then he took us to the hotel, which the NRMA had arranged for us. All part of the NRMA premium service, which we are glad we paid.
The next morning we collected the 4WD, checked out of the hotel, and headed off to the campsite where we planned to have a couple of nights before heading back to home.
I guess I should really say thanks to the Dorrigo NRMA, Armidale NRMA authorised repairer, and the local hotel.
Leaving Armidale we headed for Walcha and turned off and headed for the campsite. As we were travelling we took a call from our rellies, assured them we would be there in a short while, and in a short while we were.
We spent a couple of days exploring this area. As it is a part of the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park it isn't pet friendly. There are drop toilets in the camping are but there is no water. As you can see fires are permitted and there is firewood provided. Not bad for the princely sum of zero.
And there are lots of things to do and sights to see. The Tia Falls are worth a look.
What will is the last segment of our Easter adventure. We set of from my family and headed with all good intentions to Waterfall Way. We were to meet other relatives at Tia Falls in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. What should have taken us about 4 hours or so turned into a bit of an adventure.
Our first stop was at a little town called Ebor. Well actually we passed through the township and turned into the Ebor Falls parking lot for a look. The upper falls are about 200m from the road. They are spectacular and worth a stop. There are also toilet facilities and a fairly informative information board. The lower falls are a further short drive and then a walk away.
I started the 4WD and a funny noise came from under the bonnet! We drove to the lower falls car park and switched off to have a look. The 'serpentine' belt had come adrift, broken the air-con belt and made a general mess under the bonnet. After some cutting and maneuvering I got the belt clear and the vehicle was driveable so we went back to Ebor town and rang for the NRMA service number.
The spare that I didn't think to pack was serpentine belt. I wasn't sure that we could make it to Armidale, the nearest town with the facilities I was likely to need to we decided to sit and wait for the NRMA to rescue us.
When he arrived he didn't have a belt that could rescue us so we agreed that the best bet was to get us to Armidale, we could have the vehicle repaired and continue on the following day. And that is pretty much how the day panned out for us. The NRMA chap loaded us onto the tow truck, took us to a repairer, we dropped the car off, then he took us to the hotel, which the NRMA had arranged for us. All part of the NRMA premium service, which we are glad we paid.
The next morning we collected the 4WD, checked out of the hotel, and headed off to the campsite where we planned to have a couple of nights before heading back to home.
I guess I should really say thanks to the Dorrigo NRMA, Armidale NRMA authorised repairer, and the local hotel.
Leaving Armidale we headed for Walcha and turned off and headed for the campsite. As we were travelling we took a call from our rellies, assured them we would be there in a short while, and in a short while we were.
We spent a couple of days exploring this area. As it is a part of the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park it isn't pet friendly. There are drop toilets in the camping are but there is no water. As you can see fires are permitted and there is firewood provided. Not bad for the princely sum of zero.
And there are lots of things to do and sights to see. The Tia Falls are worth a look.
Tia Falls
As are the other local falls...
And the gorge...
We settled in for our first night, to wake to a nice morning the next morning. We took the newly repaired 4WD for a bit of a drive through some well maintained fire trails in the area.
We came across this interesting bridge, all constructed from logs, with earth over the top:
Interesting bridge
We even cleared some timber off the trail...
We settled down back at the campsite, lit the fire and had a camp oven roast and a watched the fire burn down.
The final campfire - always a sad thing
So that is my final installment in the Outback 2010 series. Next week I will do a post on lessons learned from the trip, and the statistics - fuel, costs, what we would do again, what we wouldn't - that sort of thing.
My final pic in this series is a classic. We followed a walking track at Tia and after walking around the rim of the gorge we came across this...
See ya...
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