I'm travelling to Birdsville races in a 2 WD panel van. Any suggestions as to which way would be best for this vehicle. Maree on onto Birdsville Track or through Bourke to Birdsville Any feedback would be appreciated.
From maree up to Birdsville is a good wide gravel road in the dry with the odd corrugation in places, can be driven at 100kmh when good BUT with a bit of rain it can turn to an impassable bog hole.
cheers
blaze
If there has been sufficient rain to cause damage to outback roads, the Authorities will close the road and then they remain closed until they dry out in a day or two.
The signage is quite large along with the fines, by memory $1000 per tyre, if you have 5, the fine would be $5000 and so on.
Anyway is a adventure to get to Birdsville a lot depends where you start from as it is generally a big 3 day trip from the eastern seaboard.
Only last months friends got to the Dig Tree heading to Birdville overnight they had 10mls of rain were force to head back east onto sealed roads and then north up to Windorah and over.
A small amount of rain can change your plans on getting to your destination out west.
Welcome to the forum, Silverperch - it's a great place to share experiences & learn about travelling in whatever vehicle you use.
The Birdsville & lower section of the Strzelecki "Tracks" are reasonable roads now. They are hardly tracks any more & having to drive through sand dunes as we did the first time in 1976. And there is enough traffic on them to ensure you're not stranded for long if anything happens.
However ask your tyre dealer what pressures they recommend for you to use. You will see corrugations, stone (smooth & sharp) & good, firm sections - drive to conditions & you should have a good trip.
I do not recommend using low profile tyres - you need something that is a little stronger than ordinary "bitumen" tyres. Three years go when I was on it last, we saw a late model Ford Territory - they wrecked one tyre, while another was just punctured. Also do not do the road with minimal tread - Mungerannie Station (approx. half way & a good over night camp) does a roaring trade in selling tyres.
All the best,
Warren
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
