T4 off road capabilities?

[farmsyncro]

HI,
We are considering a trip to Lake Eyre to make the most of the opportunity of it being full. Has anyone done this trip in a T4 or similar? We are looking at going via Oodnadatta track, Maree, William creek & East to lake eyre.

Wedel.1 I have read some of your adventures on this forum, have you been on the Oodnadatta track?

We have a T4 syncro TDI & I have a lot of off road experiance (but not much remote stuff....)

I'de appreciate comments.
Regards,
FarmSyncro

[Seano]

You'll be fine on the Ood....just make sure you have two tyre & wheel spares (not just one) and that they are reasonably new. The Ood is bit of a tyre chipper.

Other things to consider is the health of your front shocks. Fast, unsealed roads tend to fade the shocks and you start to pogo....this is not great as you can chin scrape on the belly pan. If yours have a few years on them then it might be a good excuse to swap them out.

An all around lift is not a bad idea either......either new (King or Aurora) springs out back or an extra spring plate....and wind up the front to suit.

It would be a really good idea to get high spec roadside service just in case you do need vehicle recovery....its expensive and time consuming out there and all the help you can get is not bad insurance.

But in truth....the usual precautions and you'll be fine. Highly recommend the run from William Creek to Coober Pedy as well...

[jets]

Many years ago we did the loop from Coober Pedy to Oodnadatta, William Creek & back to Coober Pedy. I remember it was very rough & was glad to be in someone elses car, an OKA. The driver said that every time they went out they would put the vehicle over the pits afterwards to check for damage & things working loose. As Seano has said, take a couple of spare tyres with you & make sure everything is in top shape. The shocks will be severely stressed as well. I don't recall the potential need for 4WD but then again we didn't go on the road to Lake Eyre.

[farmsyncro]

This is a bit like talking to yourself - replying to my own posts - Maybe I am mad?

Following on from this question I am now looking for another wheel to take as 2nd spare. Does anyone have any standard T4 wheels for sale? Does anyone know when the wheels changed offset? I found a 10mm difference between early rectangular hole wheels and later round hole wheels...
Regards,
FarmSyncro

[Seano]

I might be able to help....I've a few (six) round hole wheels wearing 205/65R15C as a result of our own touring. They are powdercoated so they probably won't match yours. I'd be happy to lend you one for the trip if you fancy a slight detour to Sunraysia.....

[jets]

If you don't fancy a detour to Sunraysia, there is a wrecker in Lonsdale called Volks Torque on 83820900. He just wrecks VWs & has dismantled a no. of T4s.