Getting a Puncture when driving the Nullarbor

Veteran Member

Getting a Puncture when driving the Nullarbor

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Hi Terry - there are roadhouses about every 260k, along the Nullarbor - and it is just an ordinary road - nothing special that would cause a normal, in good condition to puncture. Also, you can buy kits to re-inflate your tyre temporarily from 4wd type shops anywhere. This may set your mind at ease.

Norseman has garage and workshops that would be able to help you with repairing the tyre. But that re-inflater thing would perhaps ease your mind.

The Nullarbor has some spectacular scenery, at Eucla go down to the old Telegraph Station, slowly being engulfed by sand - camp on the cliffs along the way, don't rush, enjoy, there are lots of free camps, and most of the roadhouses have caravan park facilities - limited.

Desert Dweller · Guru

We always carry a puncture repair kit. www.sparesbox.com.au/mean-mother-mmtg200-tyre-repair-kit-heavy-duty-mmtg200
We also carry a 12V air compressor. https://outbaxcamping.com.au/yaponcha-12v-air-compressor-car-tyre-deflator-inflator-portable?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjaj93_6m2gIV0wMqCh1yBAsKEAQYAiABEgLSPvD_BwE

Even those cans of self inflating leak seal would get you out of trouble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf_giGbrzNM

-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Saturday 7th of April 2018 11:21:21 AM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

PLENTY of room to pull off the side of road on western side especially. No big deal . As said thereâs repair kits . To get you going . A small good compressor gets you out of trouble . Depending on room & weight ? Yes I spent a little at road houses . They need our support . !! We need them !

Veteran Member

Thank you very much Jules 47.........very helpful, yes and as you say "my mind is eased".....Terry

Veteran Member

Thank you very much Desert Dweller.....i will check out all those websites.........much appreciated....Terry blankstare

Veteran Member

Thank you Aus-Kiwi........much appreciated......Terry blankstare

hako · Guru

Terry - when did you last get a flat tyre?
Twice I've pulled up on the side of the road with the van in tow to pop the bonnet to check something and each time I've had other vanners pull up to ask if everything is OK.
I reckon most if not all members of this forum will either pull up or at least slow down to see if they can help.
If your tyres still have deep tread and reasonably new you would be very unlucky to have 2 flats. I also often run my hand over the tread to feel for and self tappers sticking from the tread (they seem very common for flats).

Good Luck.

woolman · Guru

Not a lot of tradies driving on the Nullabor so very few tek screws. Biggest cause of tire failure on that road is older tires separating. Just check your tires for radial cracking before you leave and if OK don't worry. I have carried a puncture repair kit for 15 years and haven't used it yet.

Neil

Veteran Member

Thank you Hako......very true

Veteran Member

Thanks Neil..........much appreciated

Leo · Senior Member

Desert Dweller wrote:
We always carry a puncture repair kit. www.sparesbox.com.au/mean-mother-mmtg200-tyre-repair-kit-heavy-duty-mmtg200
We also carry a 12V air compressor. https://outbaxcamping.com.au/yaponcha-12v-air-compressor-car-tyre-deflator-inflator-portable?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjaj93_6m2gIV0wMqCh1yBAsKEAQYAiABEgLSPvD_BwE
Even those cans of self inflating leak seal would get you out of trouble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf_giGbrzNM

Thanks for the information. Have you put that pump to much use? I need a new one.

PeterD · Guru

How many tyres have you replaced on trips from say Melbourne to Sydney, Brisbane or Adelaide? The road surfaces are similar to those roads,there is nothing special about that road that will cause tyre troubles. I have not been caught needing a second spare tyre in 28 years of vanning.

memory maker · Member

I was told not to camp on the Nullabor only at the road houses, that it wasn't safe. Is there any reason why, I was told there had been assualts by the local indigenous people. I s this true or were they just trying to frighten a greenhorn

Veteran Member

Memory Maker - that is a good question. I don't have an answer.

You should put it on the Nomad site as a new topic otherwise I dont think other people can see it and you won't get any replies.

Good luck

Terry

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Again . When did you hear of issues on Nulllarbor ? Safe as anywhere . Most areas have rpm for 20 or so vans . Maybe 2 or 3 on dusk . By the morning . Could be 10 plus parked around the area . Takes us 5 or 6 days either way . We take our time . Can park way off road as the tracks allow .more so on Western side . Btw we stopped when we had phone reception ..

Gaylehere · Guru

We've also camped on the Nullabor without any issues. We usually stop where there are other campers but not always. The one afternoon we saw a motorhome off the road closer to the cliffs. We drove over and asked if they minded if we stopped nearby. It was a single lady who wasn't worried one way or the other. She was spending a lot of time in the area (the cliffs and the Nullabor) taking photos and quite often camped by herself. When we free camp and even in CPs we don't let stuff outside the motorhome and we roll in the awning and face the way out just in case, but we've never felt threatened by anybody.

Meredith · Senior Member

memory maker wrote:
I was told not to camp on the Nullabor only at the road houses, that it wasn't safe. Is there any reason why, I was told there had been assualts by the local indigenous people. I s this true or were they just trying to frighten a greenhorn

We have camped several times crossing the Nullabor and never seen any problems. I have also never heard of anybody having any problems. I would say this is an unfounded rumour repeated by people. Generally the only places I've seen any kinds of issues that would make me consider not camping there it has been close to towns.

Hewy54 · Senior Member

I consider camping to relatively safe, but we did have an incident on the Nullabor several years ago.
We were camped about 800 m off the road and had cooked a roast tea and were settling in for the night. A car drove in towards us and switched off their lights on the way in.
We took little notice, but a little while later we were stalked by persons unknown, at least two, who stayed out from our camp and threw rocks at us and our camper.
We had no idea who it was, but felt uncomfortable staying there, so packed up and moved on to a roadhouse for the night.
Was probably just some local kids, but we did not want to stay around.

Hetho · Senior Member

Hi Terry.

We have done the crossing 31 times now, Perth - Melbourne return, and we left Perth on 13th Jan 18. Currently in Tassie on our way up to far north Qld, back down the East coast to Melbourne for Xmas, 18; then back home.

In my opinion the safest place in Australia is the Nullabor between Norseman and Ceduna.

Most people will stop for vehicles on the side of the road, roadhouses are friendly and well serviced. However not all are equipped to supply support services for breakdown.

Carry a puncture repair kit, compressor, spare oil, filters, cable ties and a basic tool kit.

In all my trips I have carried all of these and never used. But it will give you some security.

Its a beautiful part of Australia, and I look forward to crossing it again after Xmas this year.

Regards.

Hetho.

dieseltojo · Senior Member

Hi Terry, As mentioned by Desert Dweller, the puncture kits are very effective. And to me any they save taking off the caravan wheel.

Ok, it might be a good idea to jack it up to get to the nail say, but here I fixed this tyre in 15 minutes during a forced rest stop. I twas a screw right through the tread.

Most time you drive forward and wifey will see the screw or nail to stop you. smile

Not relevant for most roads, but I once had 15 stakes in the one tyre whilst four wheel driving. Never once took off the wheel.

-- Edited by dieseltojo on Saturday 7th of April 2018 08:10:50 PM

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Memory Maker - have crossed both ways across the Nullarbor at least five times. Occasionally have stayed at roadhouse campsites, but mostly free camping - so many great spots - Head of Bight - huge free, flat area at the front, near the entry gate - no facilities, but can go in to the toilets in the carpark of the centre. Many others, names escape me - but some of the ones in WA have toilets, dump point AND wi fi. Usually a lot of space, and others camping - so all safe. Not really anywhere to get drinking water, unless you buy bottled, of course. And I must say, there is a lot of freight cost on most stuff sold in the roadhouses, but we try and get something - coffee or a drink or ice cream.

But truly, try and be off the road by about 3 - 4pm - animals love the dusk, and the grass is always greener right next to the road. Don't forget the quarantine regulations - you can find them online - and the next place to buy fresh after there is Norseman - which has an IGA, post office, free RV Camp, right in town, dump point and water. Couple of good cafe's in town, good meal at the BP.

Enjoy your trip. You will be safe.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Meredith wrote:
memory maker wrote:
I was told not to camp on the Nullabor only at the road houses, that it wasn't safe. Is there any reason why, I was told there had been assualts by the local indigenous people. I s this true or were they just trying to frighten a greenhorn
We have camped several times crossing the Nullabor and never seen any problems. I have also never heard of anybody having any problems. I would say this is an unfounded rumour repeated by people. Generally the only places I've seen any kinds of issues that would make me consider not camping there it has been close to towns.

Meredith - how true that is about in or very close to a town - had exactly that happen to us in a biggish town in WA, we jumped out of bed, into the front and drove straight out. Will never stay there again. However one we really like in a town in Kambalda free RV Camp, walking distance to Woolies, with bottle, recreation centre next door is great - nice café, and you can get a hot shower for $2.50. There is a dump point, and potable water down near the tennis courts.

Oh, and if the ranger visit you - say G'day to Wombat the Hairy Nosed Ranger! Nice guy, tells you the rules and regs, and good places to see.

-- Edited by jules47 on Saturday 7th of April 2018 08:14:31 PM

Desert Dweller · Guru

Leo wrote:
Desert Dweller wrote:
We always carry a puncture repair kit. www.sparesbox.com.au/mean-mother-mmtg200-tyre-repair-kit-heavy-duty-mmtg200
We also carry a 12V air compressor. https://outbaxcamping.com.au/yaponcha-12v-air-compressor-car-tyre-deflator-inflator-portable?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjaj93_6m2gIV0wMqCh1yBAsKEAQYAiABEgLSPvD_BwE
Even those cans of self inflating leak seal would get you out of trouble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf_giGbrzNM
Thanks for the information. Have you put that pump to much use? I need a new one.

We check our tyre pressures with it all the time, haven't been near a service station pump for years.

Leo · Senior Member

Desert Dweller wrote:
Leo wrote:
Desert Dweller wrote:
We always carry a puncture repair kit. www.sparesbox.com.au/mean-mother-mmtg200-tyre-repair-kit-heavy-duty-mmtg200
We also carry a 12V air compressor. https://outbaxcamping.com.au/yaponcha-12v-air-compressor-car-tyre-deflator-inflator-portable?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjaj93_6m2gIV0wMqCh1yBAsKEAQYAiABEgLSPvD_BwE
Even those cans of self inflating leak seal would get you out of trouble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf_giGbrzNM
Thanks for the information. Have you put that pump to much use? I need a new one.
We check our tyre pressures with it all the time, haven't been near a service station pump for years.

Thanks for that, my previous pump had similar use and by others as well. Good price and performance, I should get one of those.

As a general comment on tyre puncture repair, although I always put good name tyres on the 4X4, we have used puncture repair a number of times. Coincidentally, as recent as several days ago, as I was filling the tank for a mountains run, my son spotted a nail in the rear tyre of the fourby . Fortunately, the long small diameter hardened nail had not broken through to cause a leak and the prompt removal removed that risk.

I liken kit like tyre repair and first aid, to insurance - readiness, hopeful not to have to use it.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Some times it pays to leave screw or nail in tyre ?? Lol just be aware if your pulling it out . The tyre MAY deflat !! Plenty of old warnout tyres have nails etc through them.

Desert Dweller · Guru

True story, a friend of ours had been having trouble with blow outs on his boat trailer. After a 3 week holiday together with us he drove home from Mallacoota to near Wangaratta VIC (500+kms) without a problem. 10kms from home he pulled over for a comfort stop on the side of the road. He was so happy with his tyres not causing any trouble that he said to his wife that they'd solved the problem as he kicked one of the tyres. It went BANG!

Leo · Senior Member

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Some times it pays to leave screw or nail in tyre ?? Lol just be aware if your pulling it out . The tyre MAY deflat !! Plenty of old warnout tyres have nails etc through them.

Do you really want to be encouraging trusting, less knowledgeable drivers to be casual and 'keep on trucking' with an object through the vehicle's tyre?

I would never seriously contemplate driving any distance and/or at any speed with a nail in a tyre. Most should realise why, with the lowest risk being more damage to a tyre. For me it is immediately find a safe park off the road and fix or swap the tyre. We removed ours (necessary for a plug anyhow) and with some suds cleaner established there was no slow leak.

If anyone with a nail in a tyre wants to go at reduced speed (and not on a freeway or where they might inconvenience/hold up traffic, ie., without causing risk to other road users), to an available tyre fitter known to be close nearby and the affected tyre is at an adequate pressure and not losing it, then that is their decision and at their own risk.

However, the example was solely to demonstrate why some may find that tyre repair kit and a portable 12V compressor can be cheap insurance.

PeterInSa · Guru

re ( tyre repair kit and a portable 12V compressor can be cheap insurance.)

Some experience in using a repair kit helps along with a quality air compressor.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Never said to keep driving .or ignore any safety ! Just be aware thereâs a BIG chance of it going flat . Infact a good big self tapper can fix . When desperate measures prevail . Iâve used my repaire kit many times on other vehicles . Only once on mine . Btw the repair kits are frowned upon too as they donât seal water getting under steel or webbing .