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| OUR BIG TRIP MARY & OLI GOING AROUND AUSTRALIA |
COOBER PEDY - ALICE SPRINGS - Page 7
15 July 2007, Sunday
Did nothing except looking at the town and market and moved to a powered site. Obviously the night will be +4 deg, now that
we have a powered site and heating. Here are a couple of pictures of the rear carrier. Going to Alice Offroad first tomorrow
and see if they can fix it.
16 July 2007, Monday
Went to Alice Offroad, but the guy was not very happy to fix the part, because I also asked for improvements, so it does not
happen again. He send me to Ross Engineering as the Caravan Park guys suggested also. Ross Engineering gave me a
quote in the afternoon to repair and improve the carrier. They would replace a hollow part with a solid part and use new high
tensile bolts and some compensation brackets to make it stronger. They also suggested to buy a weight distribution hitch to
compensate the vertical load of the trailer, but I am not sure if that actually works with the trek hitch. Anyway the guy I dealed
with actually lives at the same Caravan park and we will talk more tonight. Car will be ready tomorrow and hopefully the last
week point is fixed. By the way the rear diff seal also leaks, so that will be done also - if the Jeep Dealer in town has the parts.
Got the bad news today about the money, well won't tell you but too much and car won't be ready until Wednesday due to
the seal not being available.
17 July 2007, Tuesday
First real lazy day. Did nothing except got rid of the whole paperwork we still had around. Pick up car tomorrow.
18 July 2007, Wednesday
Got a call earlier than expected and picked up the vehicle. The changes to the rear bar look good and strong, so hopefully
this does not happen again. They also mentioned that we should get a weight distribution system to lower the load on the
tow bar. That thing is about $800, so I will wait until we pack up on Friday and consult the trailer guru at the park again. I do
not really want to spend the money if I do not have to. The diff seal is fixed too and soon as we drove around town - a new
noise again in the suspension. The upper control arm looks like it needs re-alignment again. Went to ARB and they are fully
booked and not very friendly. Across the street to Opposite Lock and they will have a look at it first thing in the morning
before we drive to Chambers Pillars.
19 July 2007, Thursday
Today we went to Chambers Pillars and afterwards wanted to do Rainbow Valley for sunset. However before heading off we
went to Opposite Lock to have the control arm looked at. After I showed him the joint construction he understood the
problem and an easy fix to straighten it again and tighten the nut. We also greased the bugger from underneath and fixed the
rear Rancho lines, so I can adjust the front ones again. All good, so we went onto our close to 500 km's roundtrip to see a
lonely pillar in the middle of nowhere. The 150 km's from Alice down South are known to be quite corrugated, so a good test
for the car again - this time without the trailer. The road was better than expected, but still corrugated until we hid the Hugh
River Stock Route. From here to the station the road was o.k. At the station we had a coffee and met a German girl from
Munich working at the station, being ion love with a guy in Alice - Germans everywhere, even in the middle of nowhere. The
trip so far has taken quite long, maybe I just drive too slow. We got overtaken by two 4WD with trailers, but they will also try
later to overtake us on a one lane road and are called absolutely f#$@%*# useless idiots. Unfortunately we are in touristy
country and you can just not help those people. Anyway the road from the station to Chambers Pillars was not very good,
but at the end it was really good to see the Pillar and Castle Rock (below are a few pictures). From here we went on to
Rainbow Valley, a race against the clock for the sunset. From now on you just have to switch off the noise from the
corrugations and give it all. Well I used 4WD on the last bit to Chambers Pillars, just to be safer and thought it was still in
when we headed off. Shortly afterwards the car was sideways and crossed the side of the road. OOPS, 2WD and throttle in
the corner does not mix very well. Back into 4WD and acceleration pure. We headed back on the Hugh River Stock Route
and this was a pleasant highway like driving compared to the other roads we did today. Only issue know was the sun in your
eyes, because we headed West towards the Stuart Highway. From here 20 km's North and another 24 km's on dirt road
towards Rainbow Valley. The sun was getting very low and we entered the final dirt road of the day. The corrugations on that
road were incredible. Back into 4th gear - 80 km/h and off we went. Again just do not listen to the noise and try to fly over the
corrugations, especially because the car was light compared to other occasions. Finally we saw the Rainbow Valley wall and
the sun just setting on it. Unfortunately when we opened the last Gate of the day to enter the reserve the sun just went below
the horizon, so we got their about 2 minutes too late. Digital photo technology makes it still worthwhile to be there and the
photos are quite good (see below). In reality the colours are much nicer even when the sun has gone. We stayed a little while
to take a few more pictures and went home in the dark. Tomorrow we are heading off towards the Top End, stopping most
likely at Devils Marbles and Daly Waters until we get to Katherine, Kakadu, Darwin and Litchfield. One last comment - my back
hurts from all the corrugations today and by the way - do you know who are the most annoying and arrogant people in the
outback? - Sorry Barry & Gerd, but it is the Landcruiser owners.....
15 July 2007, Sunday
Did nothing except looking at the town and market and moved to a powered site. Obviously the night will be +4 deg, now that
we have a powered site and heating. Here are a couple of pictures of the rear carrier. Going to Alice Offroad first tomorrow
and see if they can fix it.
16 July 2007, Monday
Went to Alice Offroad, but the guy was not very happy to fix the part, because I also asked for improvements, so it does not
happen again. He send me to Ross Engineering as the Caravan Park guys suggested also. Ross Engineering gave me a
quote in the afternoon to repair and improve the carrier. They would replace a hollow part with a solid part and use new high
tensile bolts and some compensation brackets to make it stronger. They also suggested to buy a weight distribution hitch to
compensate the vertical load of the trailer, but I am not sure if that actually works with the trek hitch. Anyway the guy I dealed
with actually lives at the same Caravan park and we will talk more tonight. Car will be ready tomorrow and hopefully the last
week point is fixed. By the way the rear diff seal also leaks, so that will be done also - if the Jeep Dealer in town has the parts.
Got the bad news today about the money, well won't tell you but too much and car won't be ready until Wednesday due to
the seal not being available.
17 July 2007, Tuesday
First real lazy day. Did nothing except got rid of the whole paperwork we still had around. Pick up car tomorrow.
18 July 2007, Wednesday
Got a call earlier than expected and picked up the vehicle. The changes to the rear bar look good and strong, so hopefully
this does not happen again. They also mentioned that we should get a weight distribution system to lower the load on the
tow bar. That thing is about $800, so I will wait until we pack up on Friday and consult the trailer guru at the park again. I do
not really want to spend the money if I do not have to. The diff seal is fixed too and soon as we drove around town - a new
noise again in the suspension. The upper control arm looks like it needs re-alignment again. Went to ARB and they are fully
booked and not very friendly. Across the street to Opposite Lock and they will have a look at it first thing in the morning
before we drive to Chambers Pillars.
19 July 2007, Thursday
Today we went to Chambers Pillars and afterwards wanted to do Rainbow Valley for sunset. However before heading off we
went to Opposite Lock to have the control arm looked at. After I showed him the joint construction he understood the
problem and an easy fix to straighten it again and tighten the nut. We also greased the bugger from underneath and fixed the
rear Rancho lines, so I can adjust the front ones again. All good, so we went onto our close to 500 km's roundtrip to see a
lonely pillar in the middle of nowhere. The 150 km's from Alice down South are known to be quite corrugated, so a good test
for the car again - this time without the trailer. The road was better than expected, but still corrugated until we hid the Hugh
River Stock Route. From here to the station the road was o.k. At the station we had a coffee and met a German girl from
Munich working at the station, being ion love with a guy in Alice - Germans everywhere, even in the middle of nowhere. The
trip so far has taken quite long, maybe I just drive too slow. We got overtaken by two 4WD with trailers, but they will also try
later to overtake us on a one lane road and are called absolutely f#$@%*# useless idiots. Unfortunately we are in touristy
country and you can just not help those people. Anyway the road from the station to Chambers Pillars was not very good,
but at the end it was really good to see the Pillar and Castle Rock (below are a few pictures). From here we went on to
Rainbow Valley, a race against the clock for the sunset. From now on you just have to switch off the noise from the
corrugations and give it all. Well I used 4WD on the last bit to Chambers Pillars, just to be safer and thought it was still in
when we headed off. Shortly afterwards the car was sideways and crossed the side of the road. OOPS, 2WD and throttle in
the corner does not mix very well. Back into 4WD and acceleration pure. We headed back on the Hugh River Stock Route
and this was a pleasant highway like driving compared to the other roads we did today. Only issue know was the sun in your
eyes, because we headed West towards the Stuart Highway. From here 20 km's North and another 24 km's on dirt road
towards Rainbow Valley. The sun was getting very low and we entered the final dirt road of the day. The corrugations on that
road were incredible. Back into 4th gear - 80 km/h and off we went. Again just do not listen to the noise and try to fly over the
corrugations, especially because the car was light compared to other occasions. Finally we saw the Rainbow Valley wall and
the sun just setting on it. Unfortunately when we opened the last Gate of the day to enter the reserve the sun just went below
the horizon, so we got their about 2 minutes too late. Digital photo technology makes it still worthwhile to be there and the
photos are quite good (see below). In reality the colours are much nicer even when the sun has gone. We stayed a little while
to take a few more pictures and went home in the dark. Tomorrow we are heading off towards the Top End, stopping most
likely at Devils Marbles and Daly Waters until we get to Katherine, Kakadu, Darwin and Litchfield. One last comment - my back
hurts from all the corrugations today and by the way - do you know who are the most annoying and arrogant people in the
outback? - Sorry Barry & Gerd, but it is the Landcruiser owners.....
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The strap was realy holding all the load, the chain was
the back-up just in case the strap would break.
Obviously the carrier besides those two is detached
from the car.
the back-up just in case the strap would break.
Obviously the carrier besides those two is detached
from the car.
Originally the carrier is attached with two
bolts (studs) and one bracket underneath
and a bolt. The studs just sheared off
under the load and corrugations and the
lower bolt than had not much chance to
hold, therefore stripped after a while. The
fuel tank in this location does not make it
very easy to use the chain or even the
strap.
bolts (studs) and one bracket underneath
and a bolt. The studs just sheared off
under the load and corrugations and the
lower bolt than had not much chance to
hold, therefore stripped after a while. The
fuel tank in this location does not make it
very easy to use the chain or even the
strap.
| Panorama shot of Castle Rock and Chambers Pillars in the background |
| Chambers Pillars |
| Chambers Pillars with Castle Rock in the backbround |