DB's build

[DeadlyBeast]

Looks like you've had a fantastic trip
Minimal damage/repairs considering
Nice photo's too
Thanks

Yeah mate - was a mint trip. Gotta share a few pics to detail where the build has gone.

Hey DB, love the build mate.
Can I ask where you got your fender flare extensions from? My tyres protrude about an inch from my fender and don't want to go as big as the jungle flares I've seen.

Sure - I got them off fleabay. Not sure if the seller is still on there. Avoid the very thin garden edging looking ones - they end up getting bent and buckled eventually looking like crap. Get the thickest looking rubber - should be about 5mm or more. These will hold their shape.

How did you like the amenities block at Honeymoon Bay? Nice and rustic isn't it

Haha - yeah, basic stuff up there. I actually didnt use the amenities. Managed to stay away from the crowds.
Probably didnt have to pay the camping fee but to get some local information, permission to camp around the right side away from all the crazies kids and campers, support the local caretakers and to keep the peace, $15 was a no brainer

[Pommy]

Hey DB, doing a tranny cooler shortly, do you recall what size hose bards they are? From what I've found I think there 5/16? going to order a PWR cooler kit. You wouldn't have a photo/ description of how it plumbed in? I have found one diagram so far, just want to be sure.
Thanks mate

[DeadlyBeast]

Hey there Pom
3/8 or 10mm mate

Searching trans cooler in the "Search Here!" box will bring up multiple hits using Google search engine

Good thread here:
http://www.newhilux.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=289&hilit=cooler

Another here:
http://www.newhilux.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=24199
Sorry man - no photos for the time being

[Pommy]

Cheers mate!

[DeadlyBeast]

Did some trip planning to work out how much and where to manage fuel.
Worked out logistics for North to South direction.
Decided to top up at Balgo @$1.99/L then Well 33/Kunawarratji from a bowser @ $3.40/L

Fuel capacity based on my typical fuel consumption and load + safety margin for error gave me a total capacity requirement of around 160L total.

Long ranger tank not a viable option due to reduced clearance and future plans to do some boldery tracks

Designed a basic tank that I could transfer between vehicles.
Final design gave a capacity of 95L usable + 70L usable from main
Local fabricators didnt reply to an enquiry so sent the CAD to Norweld who were very good to deal with.

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Very basic - no pick up or pump. Gravity fed siphon transfer.

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[Spitfia]

Noice

[Critter350]

[emoji108]


Cheers
Crit

[hiluxxury]

Very nice.

I'm thinking of driving the CSR next year. How fuel do you think you will use?

[DeadlyBeast]

Cheers guys
hiluxxury - I've completed the track, just slow in going thru the pics and getting around to the write up

I ended up with a total capacity of a over 170L: 165L realistically usable fuel

I topped up in Halls Creek , Balgo, Kunawarritji, Wiluna then filled up in Leonora (cheapest fuel in region)
Fuel costs:
Halls Creek $143.9/L
Balgo $1.99/L - topped up main tank 40.5L here after travel from Halls Creek
Kunawarritji $3.40/L - topped up both tanks 115L here
Wiluna $1.61/L - topped up main tank 49L - so had 1/3 tank left : 27L)

Leonora $1.44/L - filled both tanks here 138L
Never had fuel light come on - utilised aux fuel when fuel gauge indicated 1/4


298.5L total for track only including some side tracks - Balgo to Wiluna (170L + 40.5 + 115 - 27L left in main tank)
512L all up from Halls Creek to Leonora

So if all things where equal and were to do it again - I could have got away with 150L total capacity...
...but they never are. I would actually carry an additional 20L jerry next time so I could do more side tracks.

[hiluxxury]

Cheers guys
hiluxxury - I've completed the track, just slow in going thru the pics and getting around to the write up

I ended up with a total capacity of a over 170L: 165L realistically usable fuel

I topped up in Halls Creek , Balgo, Kunawarritji, Wiluna then filled up in Leonora (cheapest fuel in region)
Fuel costs:
Halls Creek $143.9/L
Balgo $1.99/L - topped up main tank 40.5L here after travel from Halls Creek
Kunawarritji $3.40/L - topped up both tanks 115L here
Wiluna $1.61/L - topped up main tank 49L - so had 1/3 tank left : 27L)

Leonora $1.44/L - filled both tanks here 138L
Never had fuel light come on - utilised aux fuel when fuel gauge indicated 1/4


298.5L total for track only including some side tracks - Balgo to Wiluna (170L + 40.5 + 115 - 27L left in main tank)
512L all up from Halls Creek to Leonora

So if all things where equal and were to do it again - I could have got away with 150L total capacity...
...but they never are. I would actually carry an additional 20L jerry next time so I could do more side tracks.

Awesome info - thanks so much for that.

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[DeadlyBeast]

No worries mate

I'll share what I learnt and what got broke as time allows

My vehicle was the first to have a shake down
Having previously being shaken to bits on the Kalumburu road a few months back I neglected to check the roof rack mounting bolts. Arrived at Wolf Creek crater to find that my roof rack was pointing up to the sky at a 20 degree angle
I had heard a lot of rattling in the last 5 minutes of the access track (very rough corrugations) but had put the noise down to something else.

The bolts had worked just loose enough to allow the rack to work its way back onto the roll bar.

This was after removing the quick release mounts and the roof rack accessories/gear.

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I propped up he rear of the rack with a thermorest before removing everything and bolting the mounts down extra tight
All the mounting bolts and mounts were there. Unfortunately the gutter rail strips were long gone nowhere to be found apart from 2 pieces that were miraculously sitting on the tonneau cover. It all could have been a lot worse.

Roof rack fixed and reloaded with awning, maxtrax, and other stuff I didnt have any further problems with it for the rest of the trip. Next time as preparation I will be going over every nut and bolt. I carry loctite - not much good just sitting in the bloody bottle

The crater at dawn


A new sign post to Balgo from Tanami Road

[DeadlyBeast]

Tanami Road was in good condition and the access road to Balgo was in pretty good shape too.
Was able to have a shower in Balgo after fuelling up. Was soon to miss a good hot shower.
Headed out to Mulan - parts of this track can be a bit rough depending on the time of year. Dropped into the old Balgo Mission before arriving in Mulan

A few old foundations, stone work and building signs remain. Apparently the moved the Mission for a more reliable water source .

Dropped into the Paruku Rangers in Mulan to get some local knowledge.
These boys are doing great work in the area with land management, conservation and upgrading camp grounds.

Balgo to Yumbu including side track to Old Mission 145km.
Camped up at Yumbu next to Lake Gregory
A good camp. Toilet and bower shed - some shady trees and close to the water - loads of bird life.




This was the next possible camp site in the Paruku area. Not as nice as Yumbu but it has a shower and toilet.
Took advantage o the facilities and enjoyed one last shower for a while

[William_Foster]

Wolfe Creek isn't as scary as they make out in the movie is it; I loved it out there. Looking forward to the next chapter, I didn't get to do much of the Tanami when I was out there.

[DeadlyBeast]

The only thing scary at wolfe creek is the corrugations.
Escorted this guy off the track after showing him off to 2 of the crew who were from overseas.


The CSR kinda sneeks up on ya - one moment you are in flat salt lake country, the next in sand dunes


The Northern approach on the dunes are generally steeper but not as rutted out by trailers.
This was an easy section

The latest victim to the track

Spot the problem

Air bag mounts evident

Note when installing new heavy duty leaf packs - retorque the U-bolts... those bastards stretch
Our mechanic and his new rig


After camping at Yumbu we travelled to Breaden hill. Fuel consumption went up to from 12.5L to 13.7L/100km
Over night low temps of 12-13 degrees

[hiluxxury]

That poor pootrol - what a loss. Keep the pics coming!

[DeadlyBeast]

I have the pleasure to occasionally work with a relative of Stockman Jack who lays here:




Breaden Hill to Well 43 saw fuel consumption climb to 14.5L/100km
Many steep dunes, camel tracks, rough rocky sections


Well 43 to Well 38
Fuel consumption flew up to 18.5L/100
Stopped at Tobins Grave. One of our crew is a historian and carried a few CSR books.
Was great to have stories of the landmarks we drove to.



Some great places to camp next to gum trees. Also a good camp close to Well 43 under dessert Oaks


Well 42 to 34
18.8L/100km
Good camp north of Well 37 under dessert Oaks. Loads of budgies and variegated ferry wrens

[TOYZX]

Bloody spoilt you are my friend!

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[Brondonnnn]

Amazing pictures.
Thanks for sharing !


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[DeadlyBeast]

Yeah - Bloody lucky to be able to do this.


As we got closer to the mid point we left the dunes and desert oaks which turned into hard compact gravel

Well 33


Took the IR thermo - Corrugations becoming violent giving the vehicles a good shake down with a bit of fade setting in on the longer stretches.

The rear shocks were about 15-20 degs hotter than the front
The Prado was fearing worse

Well 34-30
The corrugations got heavier - a long stretch into Well 33 saw my rear shocks up to 90 degrees
The Prado rear up to 115 - smell of hot oil present but no visible leaks
We kept a very close eye on shock temps from here on in

Filled up 115L at Kunawarritji, toilets, showers and did washing using the free washing machines - briliant!
Just drive past the bowsers and the clinic and shop into a dead end looking area

All cleaning and fuelled up we hit a nice smooth graded road.... for about 2 km then into even longer stretches of compact stone corrugations. There are some side tracks which are a little smoother but these will eventually become just as corrugated.

New rattles and sounds wear on nerves as to what is a new sound and whats is an existing rattle just getting louder

Found this hanging by its harness.
3mm steel bracket. To be fair this bracket had been re-bent to fit when I refit the bull bar so already fatigued.
A job back home

Fuel consumption 16.6LHK from Well 33 to Well 30

[NZMarkb]

Great photos and story so far
Look forward to seeing more from your adventure
Thanks