Just completed following the Canning Stock Route in Australia. 1900 kms., 13 days, and met only one other person. Temps generally between 104 and 110.

For some photos of the (previously run) Simpson Desert French Line track (~1000 dunes crossed), and others of Oz, see Oz Pics http://homepage.mac.com/fearles1. The Edge was on level 3 and needed to push the 5.18 metric ton rig through the soft sand and over the dunes.

The rig performed famously whch is amazing given that the Canning included a few hundred miles of AWFUL, AWFUL washboard:eek:. There were a few near-primal screams of frustration released. Beat out the bushings of the front Bilsteins but some replacements are on the way. The tread of the Revo E's got chewed up pretty good and I got two slashed sidewalls and a sidewall puncture. I've concluded that the Revos are not up to really harsh treatment, particularly the sidewalls. I just had a set of Toyos mounted today. My geologist brother swears by them for crawling around the (Canadian) outback.

Photos of the Canning will be posted to the above site shortly.

Awesome pics, Freddyo!! Cant wait to see the additional pics. Do you have any lift on that truck? What are HD torsion bars? Just beefed up t-bars? where can you buy them?

--Ben

more pics please-

Cool pics. Hit any "roos" yet?

I spent 3 years there in the mining industry. 97 to 2000 I see you started somewhere around the East coast. Did you get a chance head up thru Orange NSW...really nice country up there. I've done the Adelaide to Sydney run thru the outback. Never forget it. Got 3 kanaroos that trip (night time near Broken Hill is insane).

When I left Auz, they were just bringing in NEW model year 2000 suburbans (gas jobs) and right hand conversions for almost $85,000 (AUD) which was close to "Par" with the Canadian dollar at the time. Crazy prices for everything there. What is the $ for diesel?

Do you see any full size Chev/GM/Holden "utes" (Aussie for pickup-trucks) running around there now. Toyotas, Nissans were very popular but 4cyl natural aspirated diesels were exactly what you'd expect.

Good to see some pics of my 2nd home...you've brought back alot of memories.

Thanks and good luck.

what else do you use that rig for? you could live outta that thing

That looks real cool.

Where did you fill up out there?

That is an awesome truck. That would be the trip of a lifetime for me.

looks like a blast, can't wait to see more pics...

Nice pics. More please. Give the rest of us something to dream about. I really like all the mods to the truck!!

Ben -

Do you have any lift on that truck? What are HD torsion bars? Just beefed up t-bars? where can you buy them?

The hD torsion bars are those from GM that come w/ the snowplow package.

Where did you fill up out there?

You carry lots. There are aborigial communities that are waking up to the fact that they can make money selling fuel (and buy things with the money). On the Canning Route I had a barrel of fuel dropped for me at well 23.

Fredrick

Glad you made it back in one piece.:cool: That was a trip of a life time. Wish I could have made it with you. Awsome.:ro)
mike

Nice pics! looks like an awesome trip. Did you push the OnStar button when you were in the middle of nowhere and ask for directions? I would have just to see what they said.

More pics are up on the Tanami and the Canning Stock Route trip.

I have throughly enjoyed these pics. My sister spent a summer down there a year or two ago and would hvae loved to go down and visit. Now I think I'd like to take a cross continent trip. Very nice Pics...

Very nice rig you got there! I really enjoyed all the pics, looks like alot of fun!

Freddyo, All I can say is WOW.

:thankyou2 I felt like I was part of the trip looking at the pictures.


P.S. Got room for one more!!

Where did you get fuel from? Do you have larger tanks??
That really looks cool and I would love to do something like this. I am pretty much on vacation from the middle of dec. till the middle of march. Maybe I should just get in the truck and drive somewhere.