Preparing the Tig for an outback trip

[Brissie_Mick]

Hi guys,

I'm planning a 3600 km family road trip in the Tiguan - 2015 132TSI. Brisbane to Winton via Carnarvon Gorge and back via Rockhampton and Hervey Bay. Only have 12,000kms on the clock at the moment - 18 months old, so this will be a significant proportion of our VWs life!

I estimate I'll only be on gravel roads for 50kms during this trip, otherwise reasonable state controlled bitumen roads. Not planning on any off road stuff.

- Thinking of ditching the space saver for a full sized spare, and removing the boot floor trim to mount the space strapped in vertically to maximise remaining boot space. Good insurance or a waste of time & money? Perhaps take a spray can of tyre repair instead? I have a cig-lighter powered air pump I was going to put in the boot regardless. I suspect I couldn't get a 235/55/17 in a hurry away from the coast other than maybe in Roma or Emerald where there are VW dealers?

- Should I take some octane booster in case I can only get 91 RON fuel out west?

- Will VW assist come to my rescue out west if required or should I sign up with RACQ?

Anyone got some tips or lessons learned to share? (I've done a fair bit of driving out west for work - typically in a rental diesel Pajero - so not looking for general outback driving tips)

Thanks in advance,

MK

[Greg Roles]

Hi Mick,

I do lots of Highway kms and I seem to pick up self tapping screws. I've just gotten over the last one where I pulled the screw out and plugged it, and it would be fine for a few days then go flat. That saga went on for a while till I got a new tyre, and now that new one has a self tapper in it. I'm leaving it be as it is staying up!

That said I've had to use my space saver spare on a few occasions, once on a trip to and from Toowoomba in horrible rain, and it was fine. Obviously on the Warrego I had to push the space saver well past it's 80kph "sticker" limit, but in my Yeti the tyre is a conti rated to 240kph or something, and with AWD I didnlt notice a thing. I even took it for a bit of a fang out the back of Toowoomba so get a feel for how it may "let go" and slide, and with traction control on, it was almost impossible to get it to misbehave. So I think the typical AWD space saver is pretty good, as opposed to the Golfs where it truly is a bicycle wheel in width!

My bet is you will be pressed for space on a family trip, so in your shoes - and I want to take my kids camping at Carnarvon when it heats up a bit - I'll just take a small air compressor, a can of spray goo ( not the green slime stuff - that is HORRIBLE to drive on ) and my space saver spare.

As for octane, the Tig is designed to handle lower fuel grades for stints, the knock sensor will retard the timing if it detects ping, and so long as it's not a boiling hot day and you are not towing a big load or up it for the rent, you will be fine on basic fuel if need be. If you do have to drive on lower octane fuel, just go easy on the car and you will be fine - also I've yet to see any servo that doesn't have some Wynns on the shelf at twice normal price if you need it!

Driving that far, out west, perhaps look into some paint on or stock on body protection, like the sort of stuff they paint on glass in new houses, I'd consider putting that on the front and peeling it off when done, 3600kms is going to leave you with some good stone chips!

Finally I'd take some windscreen glue / sticker kits in case of a rock hit, I'd rate that as more likely that anything with all those friendly trucks!

[team_v]

We took the Tig out to Carnarvon Gorge and i was a little worried about not having access to 98Ron fuel.
There is enough BP service stations around on the way but the last one before Carnarvon is at Roma so be sure to fill up there and you shouldn't have any problems.
You could always take a 10L jerry can as well if it gives you comfort.
The thing is, you will be doing cruisy highway driving for most of it so fuel economy works out to be really good.

I had 19" wheels with sports oriented tyres and it handled the gravel roads in the National Park fine but it had been dry.
Didn't bother to take a full sized spare or a can of tyre sealant.

[Brissie_Mick]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into the temporary stone chip protection and tyre sealant / repair kit.

MK

[Brissie_Mick]

Some info on my trip if anyone is interested...

Preparation - bought a can of tyre inflator and puncture repair kit, took my cig lighter powered pump. (Didn't end up using any of these) Took out the boot false floor and foam to maximise space. Looked into standing the spare up on one side of the boot, but this would mean leaving the parcel shelf which I wanted to separate luggage from people and hide stuff in the boot.

Off roading - went through a couple of swollen floodways - I had measured the ground clearance to be about 30cm and these were less than that. Did about 60-80kms on gravel in the whole trip which was fine.

Damage - no damage as far as I can see. Car was absolutely covered in bugs after the first few days in central Queensland. I did a pressure wash to get the majority of bugs off on my last day away and didn't notice any stone chips.

Access to fuel - no worries. I have a BP card, so have always gone there and was able to get Ultimate 98 except in Longreach where I used BP 95 and in Winton where BP had no fuel at all (and no air pump either) and used Caltex 98.

Consumption - 8.9 l/100kms averaging 80km/h. 43hrs. 3430kms. Not really that impressed, as my old 4.0 2003 Falcon sits on about 7l/100kms on 91 or E10 on the highway. I would have thought that with hardly any air con use, windows up, 38PSI in the tyres, 98RON, and many, many hours of straight highway driving I would have got better.

Driving - Found that using Sport mode helped for highway overtaking. Seems to drop back from 7th to 4th or 5th for overtaking a bit quicker while reverting back to 7th once the cruise control is re-engaged.

Space - Fitted 3 largish bags, a small esky, a couple of backpacks and beach cricket set all in the boot. Had the back seats 3 notches forward so the kids lost an estimated 3cms of leg room that they didn't really notice.

MK

[MGV]

Consumption - 8.9 l/100kms averaging 80km/h. 43hrs. 3430kms. Not really that impressed, as my old 4.0 2003 Falcon sits on about 7l/100kms on 91 or E10 on the highway. I would have thought that with hardly any air con use, windows up, 38PSI in the tyres, 98RON, and many, many hours of straight highway driving I would have got better.

Mick, i would have thought you would have got better than that as well... I just got back from a 1000km round trip up the coast, mainly a mix of 110 motorway, 100 highway & back to 80 in sections where there were roadworks. Air con about half the time, surfboard on the roof racks the whole time & managed 8.2 on the way up & 8.3 on the way home! I had no passengers, though. And very little luggage.
Also won the 'traffic lights GP' against a 5.8 litre V8 Fairlane with aftermarket Cams stickers in the back window!! 2 sets in a row!

[Creampuff]

I just did a 2500km trip, mainly 110 (117 cruise) , and 106 in 100 zones, plus roadworks, Aircon on, 2 Adults, boot and back seat full of suitcases. average was 8.5 for me.

[Dingah]

I just did a 2500km trip, mainly 110 (117 cruise) , and 106 in 100 zones, plus roadworks, Aircon on, 2 Adults, boot and back seat full of suitcases. average was 8.5 for me.

Your figures appear very similar you our Tig on highway stuff to Sydney and back to Canberra.
Our Tig is a 155 R Line with APR Stage 1 so no great expectations when coming to consumption.
Eats fuel around town in the order of 10-11 l/100km but is very spritely - one outcome is the cost of the other.
It is basically a van with windows and not that aerodynamic.
If you are sufficiently calm and patient maybe try cruising for an hour on the highway not exceeding 100kph then a similar period at 110-115kph and see the difference in consumption.

Dingah