For many years I have worked and travelled in the outback and i do read at length some of the articles which are written in this form.
Much of it is useful and much of it is strait rubbish, and if you were to believe everything you were told by different writers you would find yourself in a great deal of strife if not dead , i do not point the finger at anyone or say I know better but I do urge people to research all information before acting on it.
Howdyeeeee Nomads, Nutters, and a big Hi!!!!! to all U un-excited ppl,,,..Wot r We talking about,???/ok,, got it now ,, the Out Back,,,, think a lot of Pussies hang around the out back, toooo scared to venture into the big City, May I also add this , to survive in the City U gotta b tough,,,,,,,,AM I off topic,,?????? And may I say one thing more, Greeting and Salutations, to all U B Boomers out there,,,,,remember We only get one shot at it ,,,,,,sooooooo get out there and enjoy the play ground,,,, its bigger enough for U too...................
seems a while without a responce, been out to the never never a few times myself and my tips would be, plenty of water, a well serviced vehicle, sat phone, hf radio (prefer both but at least one of them) and an ebirb. the vehicle should get you out, failing that the hf or sat phone should make a contact and failing all that the ebirb will bring help at considerable cost and the water will keep you alive while you wait. More to the point is how you act and react if the need arises. Things like if I go more than about 10 meters from the vehicle I have the epirb with me, Its a mindset that sets apart a good bushie. Dnt be afraid but be well prepared. This may well not be the responce reddog wants to see, maybe I give bad advice cheers blaze
Many roads in the outback are comprised of earth, sand or gravel, the condition of which will vary depending on maintenance, usage and weather. Hazards include deep corrugations, large loose rocks, sharp embedded stones, bulldust holes and pot-holes. On most outback roads, creeks and wash-outs with stone or sand bottoms need to be negotiated. Rain, followed by traffic, followed by drying heat, can leave the road with deeply scored furrows. This creates a tramline effect and makes the vehicle difficult to control.
Generally, on dirt roads, it is good practice to try to maintain a straight course. Dont attempt to dodge and weave between pot-holes but plot your course far ahead. On some corrugations you can find a set speed which will give a floating sensation for maximum comfort, but it is particularly important under these conditions not to brake suddenly or try to steer a quick deviation. Often, however, corrugations are too far apart or too deep and it may be necessary to reduce speed and ride it out. In mud and sand, keep wheels as straight as possible. Steer into skids.
Always drive slowly along winding bush tracks where visibility is restricted. A sharp turn or sand hill-crest may expose you to a sudden dip in the road, a steep creek crossing, an oncoming vehicle or a large animal. Most roads and highways run through pastoral properties of vast, unfenced spaces where there is always a possibility of encountering cattle, donkeys, horses, camels, kangaroos, emus, wombats and other animals.
If you encounter gates on fenced pastoral properties, they should always be left as they were found, i.e. open gates should be left open and closed gates should be closed after passing through them.
Driving after sunset and in the early morning can be extremely hazardous, and should be avoided. Kangaroos roam widely in the cooler hours and have a habit of bounding out of clumps of scrub and tall grass to freeze in the headlights. Hitting any large animal at high speed can result in serious injury to the vehicles occupants.
Be particularly alert for animals in scrub or tall grass and match your speed to visibility. During the dry season, stream crossings and bore sites are particularly dangerous spots because animals congregate there for water and feed.
Dust can be another hazard. If dust rises from passing vehicles or vehicles ahead, obscuring visibility, slow down until visibility is restored. If you drive into a dust storm, pull off the road immediately, stop the vehicle and turn on the hazard lights. Stay inside the car. The storm will pass eventually.
Where outback watercourses are bridged or crossed by causeways, the crossings are often very narrow. Be sure that the road ahead is clear, and take care on the approaches which are often scuffed out and pot-holed.
The approaches to grids are also often potholed and corrugated. In addition, erosion of the road can lead to the hard, sharp lip of a grid becoming exposed, presenting a significant tyre damage risk. This erosion can also cause a ramping effect and vehicles hitting a grid at speed may become airborne. Always reduce speed when approaching grids.
Well done Red Dog, Very relevant information. Might I add that a lot of damage is caused to unsealed roads by vehicles with defective or non servicable shock absorbers. The risk of a loss of control is also greatly increased
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Take only your memories, leave only your footprints
Thank you Bob it is only a very small part of the safty aspect of remote traval, you can prepare for your trip for ever and a day but there will always be the unexpected.
When was the last time you went to a remote property and seen one of there 4x4 with wide wheels, roof racks and side steps, towing a 6x4 garden trailer, I rest my case.
A lot of good advice here. Be always on the alert for road conditions, animals on the roads especially at dusk when roo's are around. As always it's common sense,and driving to conditions.
Excellent advice Red Dog. And in case people don't realise, all those road conditions can be encountered anywhere in Australia off any sealed road, whether they be major or minor roads. Almost all those road conditions can even be found in, around, approaching, or leaving the wonderful High Country of Victoria.
My motto to all is to listen to experienced off-road travellers - and remember ... a bad experience is usually the only way you gain experience.
cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
DRIVE ACCORDING TO THE CONDITIONS: This is always my advice to drivers everywhere. Whether the road is sealed or an ungraded track, wet or dry, brown, red or white, every road is subject to unexpected changes, and we must always be prepared. In the case of the outback open-surface roads, if the colour of the road changes, quite often the surface changes. The road can change from sandy to stoney, bull dust, rutted or corrugated or even, but not very often, pretty smooth. Just always drive according to the conditions.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Something that has not been mentioned as yet is the necessity of reducing tyre pressures to suit the road conditions.When in ouback conditions where dirt road/track conditions can vary I usually run at about 25PSI.This allows safe travel in sandy /corrugated conditions without risk of fractures to tyres.Of course speed must be reduced accordingly.Even in a camper in sand if in danger of bogging letting the tyre pressures down will assist greatly with traction.
