Adelaide to Cape York in July, any suggestions?

[geoff&vi]

The dust is a real killer, i purchased some stockings to fit over the snorkel head to help with the pre-cleaning and it definitely assisted keeping the air filter clean. The bonus was that you could turn it around everytime you stopped and give it a wash at the end of each day.

I also took a windscreen repair kit, tyre repair kit, some liquid metal and a plastic weld kit, assortment of fuses and some fuel doctor.

cheers
Geoff

[Phil]

Diffs, transfer & gearbox breathers for sure.

I'll be up there in July as well, leave Sydney 28th June...

[buckster]

We are leaving adelaide on the 29th of June. A weeks drive up to cooktown to meet up with friends an then up the cape from there.

[jawk]

Bloody Hell - are we ALL going to be up there at same time??!!

Leaving 7th Jul, via Longreach and surrounds, then across to rocky then up.

No real itinerary as we have 8 weeks to do it in.

[Merts]

Depending on which route you are taking, I'd be swapping out the Cooper ATR's for some off-road tyres (which Cooper have admitted to me on occasion that the ATR's are not).

I think from his signature, the tyres are Cooper AT3s, not ATRs. They are a completely different construction and are a proper all terrain tyre.

[coolsilverpaj]

Looks like there will be no shortage of Pajero's up there anyway!! I have extended my rear diff breather, the front one runs up to the inner guard as is so have left it alone. The auto trans doesn't have a breather does it?

[Phil]

Yes on the top of the box plus do the transfer case as well.

Some good info and pictures -

http://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=9154&highlight=transmission+breather

[coolsilverpaj]

Thanks Phil. I have spent a fare bit of time under the car (as most of here have) and never spotted these two breathers. Next project on the list.

[KEVMASH]

Do all your breathers for sure. I got stuck in Nolan's Brook on the northern end of the OTL a few years back witch was fairly deep with a soft sandy bottom.
Took about an hour to get out as we had to unhook my mates camper (witch had lost it's jockey wheel somewhere along the track) so he could get around to snatch me out.
Had a Nissan Terano at the time with all the breathers extended from factory except the rear diff that only went up into the chassis .
Checked all oils when I got to the top a had some water in the back diff.
Have a great trip, sure you will enjoy
Kev.

[mmannion]

Yes definitely do the breathers especially if you intend crossing Nolans as its a soft sandy bottom that gets stirred up easily. Plan ahead and if possible have someone on the other side (or even the same side to pull you out backwards if need be) with a strap hooked up and ready to go, even do a dry run with hooking the strap up to your vehicle so the person doing the hook up knows exactly where to attach to and quick! Nolans claims a lot of vehicles every year partly because people have done all the other crossings without much trouble (because they have a firm base), so they think Nolans being the last is just another crossing, then when they do get stuck they are not prepared/organised to get the vehicle out quickly. Get out and walk it, pick the shallowest, firmest path (usually the right side when approaching from the south) and chances are you will sail through without a problem but prepare for the worst and have a plan in place ready to go. On the northern bank of Nolans is a great place to set up camp and watch the action unfold, there will be plenty of it.

[skwiz05]

Well, were off on an 8 week tour midyear as well.

Hay, Broken Hill, Camerons Corner, Tibooburra, Bourke, Charleville, LongReach, Winton, Cloncurry, Karumba, CobboldGorge, Undara NP, Chillagoe, Port Douglas, Cape Trib and Bloomfield, Cooktown, Coen, Bramwell, ElliotFalls, Seisia (Pusand Bay), Moreton, Musgrave, Cairns, then Proserpine, Rockhampton, Maroochydore, Coffs, Newcastle the home to Canberra........

Should be a fun all around trip.

[Quietguy]

Check the car each morning with a spanner. anything that rattles will eventually break.

Our breakages on 3 vehicles included a side step, a brake line, Suspension bush, battery bracket, battery, a can of xxxx that rubbed through, a engineered tow point that let go when snatching out of creek, a few camp chairs, 3 tyres , the entire swivel hub assembly on a troopy and my fishing reel.

Were these done going the easy road or the OTT?

David - going soon but the easy way

[Craig McGoo]

Hi Coolsilverpaj,

You will have fun. We had a blast even traveling by ourselves. We ended up meeting Bigmitsu at the start of the OTT. We had a ball with them, great guys.

Have a read of our blog. Might give you an idea of what to expect or look out for.

OTT Blog

All the best.

Craig.

[coolsilverpaj]

Hi Craig,
Thanks for the Blog, the slideshow is great. Looks like you guys had a great time and the Pajero handled it all no worries. We can't wait to get going. We are travelling with three other 4wd's but it's just me and my youngest son travelling together, he is 13 turning 14 and this will probably be one of the last big trips together before the gang at school start to have more influence than ol dad. It should be something for us both to remember. Thanks again, Eric

[buckster]

Great blog. Thanks for the tips.

Shame about the cryopacking

It's good to see that you tented it through the cape. We are taking our jayco eagle outback and dropping it at cooktown then driving up in the same config as you.

Question for other readers, does anyone know a good van park were we can leave the an for a couple of weeks?