oodnadatta track

[straydingo]

We're looking to take the Ood track south at the end of Sept/start of October, from Marla to Leigh Creek, stopping at William Creek.

Does anyone have any tips I need to know - foresee issues at that time of year?

thanks
Andrew

 

[Bushman]

I'm sure Cruza Driver, will be able to enlighten you about the area

 

[BUSH PALACE]

Hi Andrew the track now has another coating of limestone / shale its a great track to drive now just watch the washouts and build up on the corners , keep your speed down especially with oncoming vehicles - rock splatter .Shes a good ol track with a fair bit to see along the way ..

Russell

 

[crackacoldie]

That time of year there will be plenty of traffic. Remember to drop tyrew pressures to avoid spearing the tyres. Worth staying a night at coward springs for a refreshing dip in the thermal spring.

Cheers

Craig

 

[Antman]

Hey mate

We did the track in December just gone. Was heavy with larger rocks from Maree to William Creek. It was certainly better from William Creek to Oodnadatta. We didn't goto Marla however so I can't comment on that portion. I think the issue with the Ood is that its quality changes so much through out the year so best to check just before you go.

Good tyres all around required as you are probably aware. Drop your tyre pressures. Extra spares maybe? We didn't have extra spares but my father in law was getting a bit edgy when he had used his van spare and his car spare with 200km to go to Oodnadatta.

Dust Proof Van.
Seal Underneath, Seal from inside - ie I sealed the inside of the cupboards that were potentially exposed especially our clothes cupboard. If you look at the wheel arches you can probably see daylight. This is a good spot to check. I put a piece of eggshell foam in there nice and tight. Not game to take it out yet. LOL.
A piece of foam in the vent of the expandas door worked very well. Vent covers over your vents - use a good material like canvas. Must have a tight weave to ensure the dust either won't go through or will only be minimal. We didn't put one over our fridge as we wanted to leave the fridge running due to hot days. If it is cooler, I have read on here some guys did turn their fridges off and put covers over those vents too. Have you got air con in the van? If so, where is the air intake? Mine is under the van so i sealed this too and covered it with a piece of checkerplate to stop any stones hitting it.

Our bed ends didn't get any dust but I have seen others that had. We took a heap of tape and drove for about an hour to see how much if any was going in. If there was we were going to seal it with tape but didn't need to. In saying that, we did get some thick foam tape prior to the trip and foam tape around the bed ends where I thought dust might try to get through.

Water Pipes underneath your van. I run (maybe over the top?) a piece of heavy rubber underneath all my water pipes - so basically from one water tank to the other. I think they are probably one of your most important things to protect or change plastic fittings to metal. I only got a smashed drain outlet pipe and did a temporary fix on this with some 1000mile an hour tape. Worked a treat.

Stone guard on van of some type if you haven't already. I reckon the stone stomper is the best I have seen but don't have one.

If I think of anything else I did will let you know.
Cheers
Ants

 

[cruza driver]

Antman has covered most of it in regards to your Expanda and how to protect it.

If you can take your time thats the best way to travel the Ood track. And also as BP said watch for cars heading in the opposite direction they dont always slow down and cover you with rocks hwell: But that can happen anywhere. We spent 4 days along there from Farina Ruins to to Cadney Homestead as we went out through the Painted Desert.

I have heard mixed reports about the Oodnatta to Marla section but I really wanted to do the Painted Desert anyway.

Cowards Springs is a top spot we stayed there for 2 nights and had the place to ourselves on the middle day till just after lunch when the next round of people starting rolling in.

The water at William Creek CP is typical bore water in the showers etc but its the outback and not to bad. The Pub will help wash down the dust though :thumb:

Oodnatta part of our trip you may have seen it though?

Anymore questions mate just ask :yo: BP is your man too :high5:

 

[Holden_man]

We're looking to take the Ood track south at the end of Sept/start of October, from Marla to Leigh Creek, stopping at William Creek.

Does anyone have any tips I need to know - foresee issues at that time of year?

thanks
Andrew

Hi Andrew,
We are heading to the track in June/July. Though we are heading from coober pedy to William creek and then down the track. We are having a night at coward springs maybe another at curdimurka, one at farina ruins and then onto flinders rangers.
I have been reading this post and others with interest. I will have some prep to do on the van dust proofing as per ants recommendations. Will need to do a bit to the Prado as well. May need a bullbar, mount the UHF, tyre repair kits and the likes. Bit worried about tyres, don't really want to change the tyres the're still new but they are road tyres. Looking for an extra rim but they are pretty rare.

Will let you know conditions in a few months for at least part of the track.

Jas

 

[straydingo]

thanks all.
Certainly food for thought there.

We've got the 19" rims so considering another tyre.......might just take the tyre plugs for the sake of two days travel.......and i always carry the compressor.....(I was going to put in the little shrug emoticon, but can't find amidst the 10000 there now )

 

[Holden_man]

thanks all.
Certainly food for thought there.

We've got the 19" rims so considering another tyre.......might just take the tyre plugs for the sake of two days travel.......and i always carry the compressor.....(I was going to put in the little shrug emoticon, but can't find amidst the 10000 there now )

Hi Andrew,
Are you thinking about changing the tyres to AT's? What about front protection. Any thoughts on sticking a bar on the front?
I don't really want to stick one on the Prado, i have about 2500 reasons not to do it, but I do have this nagging thought of maybe getting imobilised if I hit a bouncing bunny!

We have the Brisbane 4WD show here next weekend, so will be shopping for some goodies then.

 

[achjimmy]

Hi Andrew,
Are you thinking about changing the tyres to AT's? What about front protection. Any thoughts on sticking a bar on the front?
I don't really want to stick one on the Prado, i have about 2500 reasons not to do it, but I do have this nagging thought of maybe getting imobilised if I hit a bouncing bunny!

We have the Brisbane 4WD show here next weekend, so will be shopping for some goodies then.

SD already runs ATs , there Cooper Zeon iirc. He also has an ARB deluxe bar, it's a well set up Disco.

 

[Holden_man]

Thanks Jim, sounds like SD is ready for the track. Have some work to do on the Prado I think!

Jas

 

[achjimmy]

Thanks Jim, sounds like SD is ready for the track. Have some work to do on the Prado I think!

Jas

As ready as a Disco will ever be ! LOL ...sorry Andrew could help myself.

 

[straydingo]

.... but I do have this nagging thought of maybe getting imobilised if I hit a bouncing bunny!.

Exactly why I have it, not just to hold the front down

As ready as a Disco will ever be ! LOL ...sorry Andrew could help myself.

c'mon Jim....we gonna start this again?? :deadhorse:
In addition to those mentioned last time(s)
4x4 Aust April 2013 ed: 4x4 of the year........Disco 4 (and this mag is heavily toyota biased):dance:

 

[achjimmy]

Exactly why I have it, not just to hold the front down


c'mon Jim....we gonna start this again?? :deadhorse:
In addition to those mentioned last time(s)
4x4 Aust April 2013 ed: 4x4 of the year........Disco 4 (and this mag is heavily toyota biased):dance:

Mate it's only MArch! What sort of con is this getting an award a month early? Of course being Toyo biased means that they have to be extra critical of them! LOL

 

[Jo Howell]

We're looking to take the Ood track south at the end of Sept/start of October, from Marla to Leigh Creek, stopping at William Creek.

Does anyone have any tips I need to know - foresee issues at that time of year?

thanks
Andrew

H i Andrew,

We I would recomend Staying at William Creek the night, it has a great pub and its a great place to visit, I would also think about putting a stone guard on your Van. We did the track in 2008 and we put a stone guard on, it protected the van and we had no problems with damage to our van. Dflector stoneguards.com.au. We also taped up all the vents in the van to stop the dust getting in.