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rover3
Member Since: 13 Feb 2007
Location: Geelong
Posts: 17
  
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| Central Australia trip July |
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Just to make you all feel envies we are heading to Alice Springs with two other vehicles in July, taking the Oodnadatta track stopping at William Creek for a morning flight over Lake Eyre, followed by Oodnadatta, Dalhousie Springs, Chambers Pillar, Yulara, Kings Canyon, Running Waters, Palm Valley, Alice Springs, Ruby Gorge, West MacDonnell Rangers then back to Alice Springs have allowed approximately 21 days.
Looking for any feedback from members who may have travelled into this region since the Summer rains at this stage all roads are open, looking foreword to the changes after the rains as it is four years since we did the Simpson Desert.
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 20th May 2011 10:16 pm |
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WayneD
Member Since: 11 Sep 2007
Location: Sydney Darwin ,Singapore, USA, UK and now country NSW
Posts: 531
 
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Make sure you take the trip out to the old Peake Telegraph station off the Oodnadatta track and camping at Coward Springs (hot springs and great facilities) is good spot. Blanches Cup is just before the Coward springs and worth a look.
Oodnadatta itself is not worth staying,but you can camp out in the painted desert. And if you are up for it heading back from Uluru to Alice you could take the detour via Hermannsberg. Good camping spot (bush camping) before Hermannsberg on your right just after crossing Walker creek. Take it easy on this road as were plenty of washouts when we went through there in November last year
You will have a ball!! Take the road less traveled. Dual battery system.ORS drawers,LR cargo Barrier.ARB Bull bar,side protection bars,Mickey Thompson ATR's 17" rims, Rear wheel carrier, radiator guard TPMS Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch LR RAI Steel Rims , GME UHF, Off Road GPS, Llams (yet to be fitted)
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| 21st May 2011 3:28 am |
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smwilk
Member Since: 15 Oct 2006
Location: Gold Coast
Posts: 44
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I'm looking to do a similar trip this time next year in the D3. I will have my parents tagging along with their van.
Question, they drive a Holden Captiva, would this vehicle handle these locations or is a 4WD required? TDV6 D3 HSE
Previously D2 TD5
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| 22nd May 2011 1:42 am |
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garrycol
Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1130
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A Captiva is a softroader so doesn't have low range - these tend to be good on sand though. Ground clearance is a little on the low side but no worse than a D3 at onroad height and not much worse than offroad height.
They do have a reputation as being a lemon though but if has been OK to date should be OK.
The main issue will be the lack of low range particularly if it is loaded up. Be prepared to have to pull it through some sections if low range/ground clearance is needed so I would get rated recovery points added to the front of the Captiva.
Garry
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| 22nd May 2011 3:52 am |
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WayneD
Member Since: 11 Sep 2007
Location: Sydney Darwin ,Singapore, USA, UK and now country NSW
Posts: 531
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It will do it easy as long as you dont take it out to Peak Hill ( it might even do that) Oodnadatta is like a dirt highway. Only problem you may have is if its been raining but I had a Mazda Tribute a couple of years ago and I think that it would have done the track without an issue. You always have the insurance of the Disco to get them out of any sticky situation. Make sure you have a suitable UHF so you can communicate. Take the road less traveled. Dual battery system.ORS drawers,LR cargo Barrier.ARB Bull bar,side protection bars,Mickey Thompson ATR's 17" rims, Rear wheel carrier, radiator guard TPMS Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch LR RAI Steel Rims , GME UHF, Off Road GPS, Llams (yet to be fitted)
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| 22nd May 2011 8:19 am |
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rover3
Member Since: 13 Feb 2007
Location: Geelong
Posts: 17
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The only section of road in S.A. that is indicating 4 wheel drive only is from Hamilton to Mt Dare, all other roads depending on weather conditions should be fine. Lots of reports of wash aways keeping you speed down will limit most problems.
Still have two small flat spots in the exhaust pipes from hitting a river wash away to fast on the Cordillo Downs track. 
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| 22nd May 2011 10:56 am |
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StornowaySA
Member Since: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 406
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Have done this trip twice (same route) and had a ball in the D3 - worst part was track between Finke and Chambers Pillar - horrendous condition; hope its improved since 2009! Running Waters was the highlight - and getting through to Hermansburg from there is a bit of fun towing a camper  MY2010 D4 HSE 3.0, e-diff, 19inch MTR's; LLAMS Height adjustor, LR f & r light guards, LR side steps, LR bright finish side door mouldings; LR/Mantec G4 front bash plate, LR G4 Winch kit, Warn 9500lb Winch; GOE compressor guard, Uniden UHF, LR bright finish roof rails, LR G4 driving light kit, LR G4 ladder, 4 x extra rear compartment 12V sockets, Traxide dual battery system and Optima Yellowtop battery, ORS drawer system / fridge slide, LED rear compartment lighting.
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| 23rd May 2011 5:13 am |
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rover3
Member Since: 13 Feb 2007
Location: Geelong
Posts: 17
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Updated my Photo gallery from the trip, great time had no problems with the Disco covered 8,250 Km in the four weeks. Towed the Nissan with us 360 Km after it did its head coming from Yulara. Highlights of the trip flying over Lake Eyre, Kings Canyon and the West Mac Donnell rangers
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| 7th Sep 2011 4:28 am |
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GregV
Member Since: 03 Dec 2009
Location: South West
Posts: 18
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Hi - was also out there in July - though started from Pardoo (Eighty Mile Bch) and went east. CSR from well 33 to 24 then Talawana Track, Gary Hwy (some one needs to redine definition of hwy !!!!), Gunbarrel, Yulara Kings Canyon, Glen Helen, Alice then down to Port Augusta.
D3 went well but "bonging" as it wanted to lower at 40 kph was a pain! Some of our group did some shockies which was a worry to me as I coild not fix the Landy if I blew one?? But all ok, did have to get the front bushes done on return (has done 102 kM).
Did not see any other D3's out there!! & some in our group gave me a fair bit of stick! for taking the D3 out there. But we made it and got the best fuel results for the group.
Cant wait to get out there again.
GregV 06 SE, long range tank, Mitchell Bros hitch, dual Kaymar spare wheel carriers, Traxside dual batteries,
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| 8th Sep 2011 4:06 am |
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disco4x4au
Member Since: 19 Jan 2006
Location: Perth
Posts: 409
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We were on the CSR in July - must have just missed you. We were travelling north (Wiluna to Halls Creek). Two D3's, one D4 and a Sport. Plenty of vehicles with shockie problems littering the CSR, but none of ours 
And yes, got a lot of Toyo drivers trying to figure out what the Sport was as we drove up to them!
Cheers,
Gordon ex - 2006 D3 TDV6 SE, silver, with lots of stuff - R.I.P.
ex - 2009 D3 TDV6 SE, silver, had lots of stuff too!
Now - 2010 RRS 3.0 TDV6, rimini red, 18" rims + Cooper LTZ, rear eLocker, Spider tuning box, GOE protection plates and rock sliders, GOE 3way shortened rods.
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| 9th Sep 2011 12:19 am |
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GraemeS
Member Since: 17 Mar 2008
Location: NSW
Posts: 706
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GregV wrote:D3 went well but "bonging" as it wanted to lower at 40 kph was a pain!
There's a few options to overcome this, with disco4x4au's simple dual-length sensor link rods or the (my) Llams electronic kit that provides various height changes on the fly at opposite ends of the cost spectrum. Home of LLAMS, for LRs and Jeep GCs
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| 9th Sep 2011 3:59 am |
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