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- How do I tell battery condition ?
- Where can I find outback camping gear ?
- What type fuel can I get in the outback ?
- Who can help regarding top 4WD mechanic ?
- What is fuel required to go between ?
- When is the best time to Travel ?
- How do I protect my
Batteries ?
- Are battery chargers all
the same ?
- What are recommended
Maps or books to use ?
- Emergency bush
repairs
- Diff and
Gearbox repairs
- Recommended Batteries
- Eating Places
-
1 Is there someway to tell what the condition of a battery
is?
[
Usually test batteries using a Hydrometer. It will instantly tell you
condition.
Another method to monitor condition is available from REI called a Battery
Monitor.
It does tell you when the battery is starting to lose its grunt.
.]
[ OUTBACK CAMPERS (Perth) PH:9409
7433.]
[ ARB 4x4 Accessories (Perth)
Ph: 9244 3553
]
[ In short YES. The only fuel type not available all over
is GAS ]
Gas is carried by all the major roadhouses and service station
stops, but if you intend on doing one of the trails you can only arrange a
diesel or petrol drop.
[ Bill Browns Automotives PH: 9345 1900 ]
[ Midas : Craig & Kellie PH:( 08)
8447 7844 ]
A Nissan if it is
a diesel should need to carry about 200L of fuel to get from Wiluna to the fuel
depot midway
Perth
winter or between June and December and early January. Avoid the wet and cyclone season
which is Perth's Summer.
June and July is the
wet season in Perth while In the North it is not hot but comfortable. From
November to middle January the North is very nice and the evenings are also very
warm.
It is the time I like
best as the fishing is good, the waters warm, calm seas, perfect for swimming.
From middle January to early June it gets fat too hot in the North for most
people and it is recommended not to go. This is also the time for tropical
storms and cyclones. I have never been in these times, any way I really do hate
wind, lol.
The further you go
North the hotter it gets. The weather from Perth to the Murchison river is much
the same, but once you get to the Overlander you will notice the difference and
again when you get to Carnarvon. In fact every 500km north you will notice a big
difference. Umm usually. I have had the misfortune once of going north to find
heat and wherever I went it was no different to Perth. The rain and cold simply
followed me. I know for sure as the locals asked me to leave so the good weather
would come back, lol. By the way. Do not be fooled between June and November if
you intend to visit Sharks Bay as the weather here can be pretty wet and
miserable. The turn off is at the Overlander which will be nice and hot and no
rain in sight and Sharks Bay is about 200km down the road from here.
-
For a second battery there are numerous voltage monitors available which
will look after the battery. The original and the best I know of is
available from REI called a Battery Saver. It will prevent the battery from
starting a flat cycle and save the fridge from burning out due to low
voltage. There is a heavy and light duty model.
-
For the main
battery REI have the Battery Monitor. This ensures that the main battery is
in a charged condition before allowing the Alternator to be loaded to charge
the second battery.
No. There are numerous one available
with different methods of charging. The cheaper ones simply charge at a
given rate of current and need to be manually watched. Recently there are
automatic types, but they too need watching as they can tend to overcharge
if left too long. The better types are the pulse and the Float charger. The
pulse is better for a rapid charge and gentle to the battery and at the end
of the charge cycle it goes into a trickle mode. Usually it will bring a bad
battery back to life. It also will let you know within a hour if the battery
is going to charge.
The float is ideal for batteries left
permanently on charge in a backup situation i.e.: as a generator starter. It
applies a heavy fast charge to the battery and tops it up better than the
other types do but requires a good battery to partner it. I like it as it
tells me instantly if a battery is good or bad without using a hydrometer
and so you know if you going to waste your time trying to charge it.
- Both types are available from REI
I have no idea on cost these days. I have 1 of each type as
they are for somewhat different purposes. I believe they now have a model
that does all the charge type modes in one unit (Normal, Pulse, Float) Must
get me 1 lol.
Back to Top
- For the outback I suggest maps of the local area.
There are a series of these and they are available from Roadhouses, RCA,
Almost all petrol stations. Unlike maps that cover all of WA they go into
detail on the local area covered and show trails not shown on general maps.
These maps are the Street Smart Touring Maps and cover I.E. Gascoyne,
Pilbara.
- The Books on Travel W.A. For Free or
Where to Camp Free are no longer available due to new rules of Pay To
Stay. All free places are fast disappearing.
- For more information see GENERAL INFO and follow the
tourist guides. We can send you maps if you would like to plan your holiday
before arriving in WA. E-Mail us if you want this service.
- CRC Epoxy Putty is strong, flexible, Fast
drying and ideal for patching cracks and holes on most surfaces. Ideal where
often a weld would normally be required. Oil free surface required for
repair. Good for cracked casings eg: gearboxes, manifolds, diff housings,
etc. not strong holding on some plastics.
- Gaffa tape is ideal for ripped tents or
anything that needs something strong to hold it temporary in place.
- Contact adhesive for those bits that let go
like door rubbers or trims.
- Some carry welding rods and use the battery
to weld with. Ideal for jobs CRC cannot do like broken trailer towing bits.
- Liquid nails. Strong and water tight.
Sticks to most surfaces. Very flexible. Good on most plastics.
- Gasket Silastic or high temp silastic.
Comes in useful for lots of odd fills, especially exhaust.
- Self Amalgamating Tape. Useful for rubber
hoses that slip, repairing burst water pipes (use in conjunction with
Silastic or liquid nails, then wrap up. Undo radiator cap so pressure does
not build up if no liquid nails used. Main use is airtight waterproof
insulation.
If you find yourself in trouble in the Northern Territory and
need Diff or Gearbox or engine repairs / rebuilds then the people to contact is
Liberty Diff's Gears & Engines. They will even arrange collection of
your vehicle for you. They are situated at 5 Martin
Crescent, Coconut Grove, .0810, DARWIN. Phone 08
89481133. E-Mail diffsandgears@ozemail.com.au
RECOMMENDED BATTERIES
NOT the charge discharge type, NZ 70 15 plate made by Century for trucks are the best for
batteries, You pull 5 years and more usually out of them, they quick to recharge
and run the fridge easily for a few days without recharging. They must be
used though with a low voltage cutoff monitor.
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EATING PLACES
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