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Photo by Mark Newton, Mexican camping

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Mark Newton,
Camping in the Mexican desert



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  #16  
Old 2 Jul 2017
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Off-road is all in the mind. Not sure it can be classified by conventional means. Few examples:
  • Oodnadatta track is a friggin highway - 15m wide, hard unsealed and perfectly safe for 2WD cars with caravans.
  • Parmango road is 4x4 only and not suitable for caravans (according to the Shire), rocky when dry with bull-dust holes and gets so slippery when wet, you can't stand up on it (literally)
  • Lots of beaches are gazetted roads and can be traversed legally as roads.
  • Gun-barrel highway is a convoluted series of corrugates and sandy patches which not suited for anything without decent ground clearance and where you average speed in a 4x4 would be around 30km/h

There are many more examples of official roads that are/will be too hard-core for some people on a big dualie (not to mention with a pillion and luggage) where most people will only feel comfortable on a small trail-bike.

One person's off-road is another person's highway. For me, off-road is unsealed road/track leaning towards no track, single-line track or single car-width.
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  #17  
Old 2 Jul 2017
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Quote:
It's unlikely members here or elsewhere will go back to every thread they have pic in and REPOST them using another host. But the problem is 1000 times worse to Site owners.
That will be the case with me? it's called "shit happens"
Unless I spend weeks and weeks going back to many forums I have posted 3rd part links, then I am sorry all my pictures are now gone.
sorry lads.
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  #18  
Old 2 Jul 2017
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Originally Posted by Squily View Post
Off-road is all in the mind. Not sure it can be classified by conventional means. Few examples:
  • Oodnadatta track is a friggin highway - 15m wide, hard unsealed and perfectly safe for 2WD cars with caravans.
Not always.
Weather. If wet the track becomes impassable. And the council closes it to prevent damage .. usually some $1,000 per axle if caught.
Traffic. If lots of road trains use it then it can become cut up.

Skill. One of those Honda 4WDs (CR-V) used the Oodnadatta track - damaged the diff at William Creek - new diff on warranty. Hit a rock at speed. Salesman said it would be fine for the Oodnadatta track when purchased. Damaged diff again at Oodnadatta, another rock ... warranty refused.

Like all these things a lot depends on the driver. Britz hire 4WD came back from attempting the simpson - could not make it. I'm certain a good driver could take the same vehicle over the simpson. So I would never advise an unknown someone to attempt a unsealed road unless I knew the present state of the road and the skill level of the driver. Putting a blanket statement like the above - "2WD with caravan on the Oodnadatta" is asking for trouble.
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  #19  
Old 2 Jul 2017
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Originally Posted by Warin View Post
Not always.
Weather. If wet the track becomes impassable. And the council closes it to prevent damage .. usually some $1,000 per axle if caught.
Traffic. If lots of road trains use it then it can become cut up.

....

Putting a blanket statement like the above - "2WD with caravan on the Oodnadatta" is asking for trouble.
Closing of roads and them becoming impassable in the wet is pretty much true of almost all unsealed roads in Australia (as well as the fines). I was just trying to illustrate a point, not convince people to drive outside their skill levels. Point taken.
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  #20  
Old 2 Jul 2017
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Originally Posted by Nuff Said View Post
That will be the case with me? it's called "shit happens"
Unless I spend weeks and weeks going back to many forums I have posted 3rd part links, then I am sorry all my pictures are now gone.
sorry lads.
Yep, your pics will be gone, shame. But the real damage is to the Site ... as missing pics leaves big gaps in continuity of the thread, ruining it to some extent to future readers.
Cut enough pieces off the threads on a site and folks stop going there as none of the threads make any sense. Pics tie stories together, make it real. No idea what could be done to resolve this.
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  #21  
Old 2 Jul 2017
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Originally Posted by Squily View Post
Closing of roads and them becoming impassable in the wet is pretty much true of almost all unsealed roads in Australia (as well as the fines). I was just trying to illustrate a point, not convince people to drive outside their skill levels. Point taken.
Wet muddy roads will continue to be a major source of frustration for "OFF ROAD" motorcyclist. So many dirt roads are totally doable in the dry, even on a BIG GS or maybe even a Gold Wing.

Add water and everything changes. I even struggled in the mud in Asia on a 125cc Honda. On a bigger bike, would have been stuck for a while!

The locals are remarkably good at navigating through mud, even two up on a 100cc step through ... with flip flops!

Tourists may not have these "mud skills" so can get trapped. I ended up pushing my 125cc two stroke Honda a little ways to get beyond the bogs.
Then spent half hour washing the bike off before giving it back to rental place.

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