Alice to Oodnadatta

Submitted: Monday, Oct 01, 2007 at 06:23
ThreadID: 124085 Views:4854 Replies:5 FollowUps:7
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Hi All,
We are in Alice Springs about to head south tomorrow, has anyone taken their BT down through Finke and Dalhousie springs and on to Oodnadatta, any info much appreciated, should I talk to the Police before we go?
Eric & Gail
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Reply By: Noosa Fox - Monday, Oct 01, 2007 at 17:16

Monday, Oct 01, 2007 at 17:16
We went down the old south road and into Chambers Pillar, stopping with the van just inside the fenced area that you come to after going over a big hill that is best tackled in low range. This is where the sand dunes start and some smaller vans have made it all the way into Chambers Pillar.

From there you can continue down the sometimes narrow and sandy track beside the old railway line and through Finke. As you approach Finke the road is soft sand in places, so make sure you have let some air out of your tyres and you should have no problems getting through.

The trip out to Dalhousie will be rough but a bit of slow driving will see you get there without any problems at all. When you get to Oodnadatta could I suggest that you do a side trip out to the Painted Desert. It is well worth the visit and again no problems with the van on.

You will see signs to Mound springs and other attractions off the Oodnadatta track. we took them all and found them worthwhile.

Have a Good trip.

Brian
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Follow Up By: Eric & Gail - Monday, Oct 01, 2007 at 17:54

Monday, Oct 01, 2007 at 17:54
Thanks Brian, Sorry we missed you the morning you left at the Muster, I was walking up to see you and you were driving out the gate,hope to catch up again soon. Did you leave BT inside the fence and drive into Chambers pillar, that's what we will do, will be to heavy for the sand dunes. Is there any dunes from Finke to Dalhousie? did you go Charlotte waters, Mt Dare to Dalhousie, hope you see this today, Monday as we will be heading off from Alice later today or in morning, Regards, Eric & Gail
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Reply By: Bushtucker Man - Monday, Oct 01, 2007 at 19:18

Monday, Oct 01, 2007 at 19:18
Eric &Gail,

We went the way you asked about 12 mths back, had no problems Alice to Chambers Pillar, very rough track in places, lower tyre pressure, 28 to 30 psi and take it easy.

On the way to Finke from Rodinga, you will have to backtrack from Maryvale station, it was quite good, again take it easy as we found a big washaway luckily we were doing about 40k's. Just before Finke you cross the river bed and it is very sandy.

From Finke we went to the centre of Oz, left the BT at the Shire offices and drove out, the trees are very close over the track in/out, well worth the detour. From Finke to Mt Dare take it easy as the track is rough and large red gibbers, easy and smell the flowers??? While at Mt Dare we took a drive to Bloods Creek, Abminga and Eringa, Kidmans 1st property all very interesting. The track from Bloods Creek to Abminga doesn't look too good but worth the time if you have it.

From Mt Dare to Dalhousie Springs and on to Oodnadatta is ok but take your time, we took it easy on all tracks and didn't have any problems. Trust this helps and you enjoy the journey.

Cheers, Trish & Stan.
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Reply By: Boystoy - Monday, Oct 01, 2007 at 23:29

Monday, Oct 01, 2007 at 23:29
Hi Eric & Gail
We were there last year in the reverse direction.
Ooodnadatta to Dalhousie had a nasty extreme corrugated section from Pedirka to Dalhousie, otherwise OK for the BT. No problems Dalhousie to Mt. Dare. Mt Dare to Old Andaddo via New Crown was a worthwhile visit to the western edge of the Simpson Desert & a bit of history at Old Andaddo.
Unable to do the run from Finke to Chambers Pillar due to Finke Desert Races weekend. Watched the races then travelled to Alice via Lambert Centre.
The BT goes where we go!
No problems anywhere on this trip from Ooodnadatta to Alice, providing you respect your BT, take it easy,& let your tyres down ( we travel 28 psi all round for BT & LC100TD).
Have a talk to Adam Plate at the Oodnadatta Roadhouse about tyres in the outback - a wealth of knowledge.
Agree with Brian about Painted Desert. However if you want a better view, take the high road from William Creek. A great flight!
Also have a look at the Ooodnadatta school. Visitors are welcome & the school kids take you on a conducted tour.

Enjoy the trip

Neil & Pat
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Follow Up By: Eric & Gail - Monday, Oct 01, 2007 at 23:49

Monday, Oct 01, 2007 at 23:49
Thanks Neil & Pat
Isn't it great to get all this info from fellow members, would have been a bit hesitant to tackle the tracks south of Finke, I thought it may have been sand dune country, too much weight for that in a 21ft BT and F250 loaded to the rafters. Came across the Plenty with BT tyers at 30psi hot and F250 at 50psi F250 is about 4,600kg all up with BT on the back and Gail & I in it, I run them at 65psi on the black top. Is there anyone running F250 tyres with this weight any less than 50psi, what weight is the Landcruiser all up, might try the F250 tyres a little less. Sounds like we will have an interesting trip, will leave Alice in the morning, so will keep checking BOG site untill we go, guess there is no Next G range along the way.
Regards
Eric & Gail
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Follow Up By: adams44 - Tuesday, Oct 02, 2007 at 01:14

Tuesday, Oct 02, 2007 at 01:14
Hi Eric & Gail,
Not sure what you sould be running in the 250, i know that we are around 4.5 legal and our GMC says that we need an E rated tyre with 80PSI cold, would have thought that your truck would have been the same or there abouts, hard to find a good tyre that will take 80psi cold here in Aussie, BFG will only do 65psi we ended up with MT FC 2 that have 1550kg rating , in the states you can get the BFG but not here in Aussie. I would not be dropping mine to 30psi with 4.5 tonne truck.
Regards
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Reply By: Noosa Fox - Tuesday, Oct 02, 2007 at 01:30

Tuesday, Oct 02, 2007 at 01:30
Our F250 was about 4.2 to 4.3 tonnes when travelling last year with boat on top and van hitched on. The 21ft van fully loaded is around the 3.5 tonnes.
On the bitumen we run the van at 40 psi and the F250 at 50psi. The Ford books say 45 front and 70 rear.
On the sand and rough stuff we had the F250 and Van all on 28 to 30 psi cold and had 1 flat tyre. Our travelling companion did not lower his tyre pressures and he had about 6 punctures, as well as getting bogged several times.

Brian
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Follow Up By: adams44 - Wednesday, Oct 03, 2007 at 16:10

Wednesday, Oct 03, 2007 at 16:10
Hi Brian,
What brand and size tyre are you running on the truck and van
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Follow Up By: Noosa Fox - Wednesday, Oct 03, 2007 at 17:46

Wednesday, Oct 03, 2007 at 17:46
We have Goodyear wranglers (Silent Armour) with a kevlar band around them. They have been on for about 10 to 15,000 ks and I am very happy with them.

I have 285 by 16" tyres but I cannot get any more details off them as we are 2000 km away from home where the truck is at the moment.

Brian
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Follow Up By: NIK `N` OFF - Friday, Oct 05, 2007 at 04:47

Friday, Oct 05, 2007 at 04:47
Our F250 runs 48 - 50 psi and Van 40psi on the bitumen, I drop to 35 & 28 psi when on the dirt.

Tyres on the Van are the 265x16 Wranglers RT/S off the Truck when it was new, they are wearing extremely well. Too bloody well as i want to go 285 next. LOL

Tyres on the F250 are 285x16 Cooper STT and though we have had no punctures nor chipping they have performed extremely well in the muddy black soil country of FNQ they seem to be wearing down quickly on the bitumen. We did have issues getting them balanced correctly also, my head says next time try something else.
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Reply By: Black Cobra - Thursday, Oct 11, 2007 at 08:47

Thursday, Oct 11, 2007 at 08:47
Eric & Gail,

F250 loaded 4500kg (300kg over legal at 4200kg) black top pressure 50psi running 285/75/16 Goodyear MTR tyres, off road corrigations 34psi could go a bit lower depending on weight at time.

BT 21' loaded 4000kg black top pressure 42psi running Goodyear 265/75/16 tyres of F250, off road corrigations 34psi can go down a bit but depends on how many of the 6 tanks I have full at the time.

Cheers
Stewart
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Follow Up By: Eric & Gail - Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 03:45

Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 at 03:45
Gail and I are back home on the Gold Coast after our trip to Alice Springs via Boulia and Plenty highway, then on down the Old Gahn railway track to Chambers Pillar, Finke, Mt Dare, Delhousie Springs, Oodnadatta, Cooba Peedy, Eyre peninsula then back through NSW to Qld. I would like to thank all BOG members, Noosa Fox, Bushtucker man,Boystoy,44,Nik N Off and Black Cobra for there advice on track conditions, points of interest and tyre pressures. All of this advice was most welcome, particularly tyre pressures as we did not have one puncture on the whole trip, which says a lot for low tyre pressures on those horror tracks, this is our third BT but I have never let our pressures down as far before, probably explains why I have had more damage to items from the vibrations before. I ran BT tyres at 25 PSI cold and F250 with GVM weight of around 4600kg at 35PSI cold, just wasn't game to come down to the 30PSI that you are running Noosa Fox, but then your truck is a bit lighter than mine, guess I just carry too much. i have had my GVM increased to 4,490 kg so I am only over when i have all my extra jerry cans of fuel full. Some days I did not average 20KPH which is very boring but its that or lots of damage to the rig, once again thanks and will now start to get rig ready for Tassie after Xmas, we will be there for Jan and Feb so hope to see some of you down there, anyone know the cost of the ship for BT and Truck
Eric and Gail
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