[Che]

I'm living in Brisbane, but gotta go to Perth in September for my Mums 60th. Thinking about relocating completely, so it might be a one way drive.

Would anyone recommend/not recommend crossing the continent in a dinky little Sierra with 220K on the clock?

My main concern is LPG refill options along the way. I once came across a website listing pump outlets on a map, but can't seem to find again. Just need to check distances between refill opportunities.

There's a heap of other things to consider, I hope you guys can list a few things that I might have otherwise overlooked for such a long trip.

[SuziBlu]

I have done the nullbor a few times, love the trip, but in a zook, crikey.

Allow a stop over at Eucla, explore the region, I fished commercially for shark out of there, very lovely area.

Gunna be a hell of a long trip.

[colesy123]

Mate, from Brissy that's a huge trip - the Nullarbor is definitely something to approach with care. Having said that a mate just completed it from Adelaide - Perth comfortably in 4 days driving an early model Kia sportage (cough).

I drive Gold Coast - Adelaide fairly often (cruisy over 3 days) but take the hilux to do it. Fuel stops arent an issue (provided you go through the riverland and down - otherwise over through Cobar - Broken Hill is about 6 hours).

As you said main issue is fuel - my mate in the Kia took 3 jerries with him and seemed to work well - also took a bunch of essential spares (hoses, belts etc). Its not so much that the drive is hard (although bloody hot) just the length and absense of civilisation.

Work out what you need for food, water, supplies... then double it - you will eat twice as much on the road when bored.


Hope that's some help - and good luck!

[2stroker]

[ThirstyV6]

As long as your bus is in good nick, bearings greased, oils changed, no major leaks, all else well serviced and you keep an eye on the vitals (oil/water/temp and so on) as you would with any vehicle, service it as it becomes due and inspect it regularly when you stop you should have no trouble traveling long distance in a Suzi. Before we had our second child my wife and I would regularly travel 900 km's in a day in our G16B and H20A LWB's Vitara's, and I've driven from Brisbane to Alice in a 993cc Charade in 2 days with over 200 thou on clock using the above principles. If any one can remember the NT/QLD boarder about 15 years ago this makes the Nullabor look like a retirement village. The only problem you may have is LPG west of Ceduna.

[2stroker]

I don't know about LPG but if you still have the original fuel tank in the car as well you should have no trouble as far as fuel goes.

[neofitou]

I recommend ear plugs or headphones that go into your ear canal for really long drives in the zuk. It makes a huge diference after a couple of hours, especially if you have a soft top.

[ThirstyV6]

X2 if its a soft top. Lift the flooring and sound deaden the crap out of the body, best investment I made to a ZOOK.

[mattr]

ive done the trip a few time in decent cars but in yours maybe a differant story. A lot of the fuel stops are not open 24hrs and upwards of $2 per litre. Gas is avaliable at most. Where you plan on sleeping??

in all honestly get a price for container to be put onto train with all your gear and fly over.

[bails]

when i was last down in perth i went to look at a stock 89 tintop for sale and got talking to this bloke and said he had traveled around australia twice in his and said he never had any major problems. but saying that i dont think he had no rush to get anywhere fast. me myself i would'nt do it i reckon it be a long and very painfull drive and abit scary when the road trains try and overtake ya.

[MacDaddy]

che_guitarra wrote:

I'm living in Brisbane, but gotta go to Perth in September for my Mums 60th. Thinking about relocating completely, so it might be a one way drive.

Would anyone recommend/not recommend crossing the continent in a dinky little Sierra with 220K on the clock?

My main concern is LPG refill options along the way. I once came across a website listing pump outlets on a map, but can't seem to find again. Just need to check distances between refill opportunities.

There's a heap of other things to consider, I hope you guys can list a few things that I might have otherwise overlooked for such a long trip.

You know your Zook best, if you have any doubts it will not make it, then dont do it, it will be a Very expensive Tow Truck bill if your Zook does break down and cant be fixed on the spot... it is a bloody long drive, on a very straight road, and the cops like to pick on cars crossing the border, as whats legal in one state, is not in another...
But if you do the trip, tools, tools, tools, take as many spares as you can think off, and some you dont think off, take water, lots of it, and a Roo Bar is a must have, be prepared to be bored, and being bored can lead to sleepyness, do something to keep you awake and alert, take frequent stops, if only for 5mins, to walk around, take a leak etc...

[alien]

Moph on here made the drive only about a year ago (might be more now) PM him - he's got tons of info on it i reckon.

[Glavas]

MacBear wrote:

che_guitarra wrote:

I'm living in Brisbane, but gotta go to Perth in September for my Mums 60th. Thinking about relocating completely, so it might be a one way drive.

Would anyone recommend/not recommend crossing the continent in a dinky little Sierra with 220K on the clock?

My main concern is LPG refill options along the way. I once came across a website listing pump outlets on a map, but can't seem to find again. Just need to check distances between refill opportunities.

There's a heap of other things to consider, I hope you guys can list a few things that I might have otherwise overlooked for such a long trip.

You know your Zook best, if you have any doubts it will not make it, then dont do it, it will be a Very expensive Tow Truck bill if your Zook does break down and cant be fixed on the spot... it is a bloody long drive, on a very straight road, and the cops like to pick on cars crossing the border, as whats legal in one state, is not in another...
But if you do the trip, tools, tools, tools, take as many spares as you can think off, and some you dont think off, take water, lots of it, and a Roo Bar is a must have, be prepared to be bored, and being bored can lead to sleepyness, do something to keep you awake and alert, take frequent stops, if only for 5mins, to walk around, take a leak etc...

Thankfully, due to different laws interstate, if you get defected in one state, you're not in another!

[Chop]

Done it towing a trailer last year, here's report with pics
http://www.auszookers.com/index.php?nam ... 19&start=0
I had a few jerry's a couple of places didnt quite make it to the the next petrol stop but always had spare fuel. If your not towing anything and dont have a canoe on top you should be ok, epecially if your car works on petrol and gas.

Chop

[lordfury007]

I've made the nullabor trip in a 1977 chrysler lancer back in 2002 (whole trip was canberra-melbourne-adelaide-esperance-albany-perth). I've also done sydney - darwin in a 2000 Grand Vitara and brisbane - darwin in a 1988 suzuki sierra.

Each time i've had a small mechanical failure. The chrysler radiator blocked up after the third day that was fixed with a backflush. The Grand vitara had a "check engine" light that ended up just being a loose electrical connection, and the Sierra fuel pump (aftermarket one for the EFI) started making a loud humming noise.

In the end, As long as you stick to the main roads you have nothing to worry about. The nullabor has plenty of traffic that if you do have problems you can get picked up with half an hour. Expect to pay up to 200% on fuel (petrol or gas) for the trip over, accommodation isn't so bad but its still not cheap. I wouldn't expect parts or repairs to be cheap either. Make sure you get some sort of RAC coverage (most expensive one is about $150/year) and that will get you out of most problems

In the end, its a good adventure, If you want to drive 10-14 hours a day you can make it in around 3 days, although i'd really advise you take your time and enjoy the drive - try for about 4-6 hours a day driving, with a couple of hours for breaks and touristy type stuff, and then a relaxed evening each night with a couple of beers.

[Moph]

Easy as. 35 hours from Adelaide to Perth with a sleep in the middle. Sat on 110kph (with trailer) on the SA side, 100kph on the WA side, 90kph into strong headwinds for a couple of hours. Averaged about 13.5L/100km - had 4 jerries in the back just in case. Only used two of them but was nice having the extras there if we needed them. Can't remember what petrol stations are open 24hrs but you can find it on the web.

Honestly, having made the trip before in a VQ Caprice, VT Commy wagon and a motorhome, it was the most comfortable trip I've ever made. I modified my stock Sierra seat so the back sits a little more upright, and with the upright driving position and everything I could want within reach behind the seats it was comfy as.

Grab a UHF and tag along behind a truck if you want to conserve fuel and keep stress on the engine down. I didn't - I enjoyed overtaking them and flicking my HIDs up onto high beam too much!

[atari4x4]

watch out for the UFO's

[alien]

atari4x4 wrote:

watch out for the UFO's

i come in peace?

[Moph]

Oh - here's an LPG outlet locator for you. I'd be a bit more nervous running LPG than running unleaded with 85L in jerries in the back... :S

http://apps.nowwhere.com.au/LPGA/Locato ... ry=outlets

[Che]

I don't have petrol at all, so if it's 400+ kms between drinks of LPG i'd be weary about the crossing. (beat me to it Moph, just read your last post)


Plan at this stage is to camp on the roadside, get a 40L water block, camp food, esky, guitar, camera, and a few other bits and pieces to make the trip safer and more comfortable. Gotta bring the girlfriend too I guess, and she has a couple of pommy mates that are getting around oz in a busted up camper as we speak - they're keen to join up with us along the way. The more the merrier as far as i'm concerned.


In no hurry and prepared to take a couple/few weeks to soak it all in. Winding up my business around this point (no money in recording music anymore) and giving my other job the flick. It'll be just like i've retired... until my money runs out.


I've gone on a few fishing trips just beyond Ceduna, but never actually gone the whole way across, so keen to see what this part of the country has to offer. Hopefully more than straight roads, stray cats and snake bites.

[atari4x4]

can you get an adapter made up so you can run a 9kg BBQ gas bottle as a jerry can

[SuziBlu]

atari4x4 wrote:

can you get an adapter made up so you can run a 9kg BBQ gas bottle as a jerry can

If not, planes are quite quick, and cheap.

[Che]

atari4x4 wrote:

can you get an adapter made up so you can run a 9kg BBQ gas bottle as a jerry can

Just make sure that Johnny Law doesn't spot this, i'm sure he'd find it quite interesting

How many litres does a 9kg bottle hold?

[Moph]

Another option might be to return a camper to Perth from Adelaide then fly home? Most camper places have more tourists going Perth --> Adelaide than the opposite way so you can pick up some brilliant deals on campers for the Adelaide --> Perth leg. The trip I did in a camper was $1 for the camper hire + diesel + 4 days to have it back in Perth. That was back in about 2004 though, not sure if they still do it.

9kg gas bottle is about 18-20L of LPG. A 45kg bottle would give you a decent range!

[Che]

Just checked that LPG locator - I should piss it in. There's plenty of locations, and a 500km range is long enough to do a few touristy things on the side. Speaking of - any other recommendations?


I don't have a roo bar, and don't really want to put one on unless it's certain death without - will kangas a problem if I avoid driving from dusk to dawn?

[MacDaddy]

che_guitarra wrote:

I don't have a roo bar, and don't really want to put one on unless it's certain death without - will kangas a problem if I avoid driving from dusk to dawn?

If its a hot day they normally sleep til its cooler... if its raining, they normally stay still, but if its a cool day or cold, they will sit near the road to keep warm off the tarmac, they could be around anytime... just remember, Kanga's are unpredictable... the Sierra's do have a good strong steel bumber... but... i have only hit one Roo, and i was sure glad i had a bar on the front of my Sierra, it was big enough to slow me up and jerk me forward in my seat, the biggest worry is you hit them mid hop, and they come through the windscreen, having a bar in front helps to deflect them over the car, or hook them and keep them low... i wouldnt drive the Nullabor without a Bar !

[lordfury007]

Again, if you stick to the well used roads, you shouldn't have too much problem with wildlife. I also wouldn't be driving between an hour before sunset until an hour after sunrise.

If you're worried, just find another car doing the same speed as you and sit a couple hundred meters behind them - they'll take all the risks, and if something happens to them, you'll be right there to get help.

And yes, Kangas are unpredictable, but thats like most wildlife... They'll sit on the side of the road dead still looking at your headlights until you get about 5 meters away and then they panic and jump in front of the car... and yes, they always jump right in your path... don't know why, they just always do.

[SuziBlu]

Wombats are more a menace than silly skippys.

Wombats will run in front of a road train, flip the truck, and get very cranky at sed truck for disrupting its walk. Ok slight exaggeration, but, they are something you never want to hit, in any vehicle, let alone a little light suzi.

[benji]

Moph wrote:

Another option might be to return a camper to Perth from Adelaide then fly home? Most camper places have more tourists going Perth --> Adelaide than the opposite way so you can pick up some brilliant deals on campers for the Adelaide --> Perth leg. The trip I did in a camper was $1 for the camper hire + diesel + 4 days to have it back in Perth. That was back in about 2004 though, not sure if they still do it.

9kg gas bottle is about 18-20L of LPG. A 45kg bottle would give you a decent range!

id love to see a zook cruising along with a 45 hanging out the back....