recent road trip to EStates-info for all.

Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 11:17

ThreadID: 110984 Views:2655 Replies:6 FollowUps:6

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Member - mike g2

Hi all happy campers..just back from 3 1/2 mthsperth-esperance-nullabor and eastern states.
some useful basic info for others planning similar soon :

did trip plan + est of cost based on avge fuel/L in each state and $35 a nite for c/van sites + $100 pw spending. actual costs more than budjet x about a 1/3. largest component was spending! wives just love to shop! .Lisc, Rego , Ins , Eqpt for and contents of van pre trip cost needs to be allowed for ( we spent close to $20,000 all up)
Diesel costs towing a Jayco freedom journey with a D22 4x4 Navara was $2,800 tot Perth to Sydney. In my opinion, needed more power as tow capacity only just enough for loaded van and car. all vehicles 2014 plate.
Made usual mistake of taking too much stuff by far!
There is great value in being members of c/van groups such as big 4, top tourist and family parks. not expensive, get good discounts. try and book accom.
a laptop with internet 'doogle' highly useful to maintain contact.
Telstra payphone cards can be useful in country when mobile unavail, as coin facility often not avail ( card only) . Often found some mobile suppliers signal not avail from Norseman and onto nullabor... ( to be expected)
WA seniors card recognized in eastern states for concessions, maybe even more than pension card!.
RACWA membership recognized in ES as affiliated, also useful.
In general clubs in ES such as RSL and Leagues are v.good value for a visit/meal/entertainment
Main routes such as Hume Hwy, A1 have 'service centres' every 100 km or so , good value for fuel/food/rest stop, are well set up with trucky lounges as well.
More so in the cities, the amount of road safety/speed/crosswalk/redlight and T2 or bus only cameras is huge-!
Navman ,tom tom or similar extremely useful in large busy city such as Sydney, esp when towing the van.
I noted details of fuel availability and operating hrs for Nullabor were avail at main Norseman roadhouse.
Large section of roadworks coming out of Coolgardie towards southern cross.
ran into 'tour down under' in Adelaide- events such as this book up the accom and close streets. worth checking events calendars.
many country towns noted to be even more shut down compared to prev trips.
that's about it. if anyone want more detail or info - ask . MG.

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Reply By: Member - Ian F (WA) - Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 11:38

Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 11:38

Excellent information Mike

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Reply By: Kazza055 - Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 12:38

Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 12:38

Good info MG2, we are planning a similar trip for March but sticking to SA & VIC this time.

I assume that your mobile was not with Telstra as I have heard many times that Telstra can be received all the way from Norseman to Ceduna for both mobile and internet.

We last did the Nullarbor back in 2006 and luckily now the price of diesel is lower so hopefully I have over estimated our fuel costs ;=))

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Follow Up By: Rob J8 - Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 21:55

Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 21:55

Kazza, I might be wrong but have heard the trans line has full Telstra coverage not the Eyre Highway.
Rob J

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Follow Up By: Idler Chris - Vic - Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 22:38

Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 22:38

Rob J you are not wrong, and even then the railway line still has a few black spots in actual fact and that was in November 2014.

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Follow Up By: Member - Rod N (QLD) - Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 23:31

Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 23:31

A lot of the Eyre Highway has Telstra coverage. I didn't notice exactly how much but at least Balladonia, Caiguna. Eucla and Nullarbor areas for sure. We had phone and internet in those areas.

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Follow Up By: Idler Chris - Vic - Thursday, Feb 05, 2015 at 00:19

Thursday, Feb 05, 2015 at 00:19

Was there 3 months ago and had to make a call at Caiguna. They told me they had no coverage there and I had to use my sat phone. As for the other places I cannot remember but you are probably right. The main point is the coverage, if there is any, is only near the roadhouses. If you breakdown between them then the sat phone is your best friend.

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Reply By: Geepeem - Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 14:28

Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 14:28

Good information. Thanks for posting.
Out of interest what was the average fuel consumption when towing (litres/100km)?
Thanks

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Reply By: Member - Odog - Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 16:13

Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 16:13

Hi mike
We did queanbeyan to perth via eyre peninsula, then perth, augusta, to esperance, then home via fowlers bay and clare..
Spent 5 days at sons place in perth, towed a cub regal with manual prado 2012.
Rest of the time was cv parks, bush, and Nat parks, motel in clare, and hay.
Spent 8 weeks, did 10500km, spent $2400 think on fuel... All up we spent $8400.. averaged 13.5L per 100km... And roughly works out $1000 a week.. We had a diary, and
wrote down every time we spent money.... Hey, I'm no accountant, we were keen to know what we spent for future trips, and to see where we could have saved money. Could have done it cheaper, but that's not what it's about all the time..
Spent quite a bit, getting set up, but now you got it all, only a matter of packing... And time off... Doh!
Cheers Odog

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Reply By: Member - Allan L2 - Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 17:53

Wednesday, Feb 04, 2015 at 17:53

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the report as we are in the planning stages for our WA trip later this year.
Interested in your fuel costing $2,800 Perth to Sydney? that's a lot more than we had budgeted for. Syd/Perth is approximately 4000Km. By my calculations if fuel cost averaged $2.50 per Ltr, your average consumption was about 28Ltr per 100 Km. Maybe my calculation are wrong?
Cheers,
Allan.

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Follow Up By: Member - mike g2 - Thursday, Feb 05, 2015 at 11:42

Thursday, Feb 05, 2015 at 11:42

Thanks all, have kept a full log. Cost was more for me I believe as was pulling a full van ( jayco is 1.8t empty) and navara rates at 2.5 ton tow . I feel I made mistake here as its not really the best tow vehicle power wise for my combo rig.
avge speed 90kmh. kept to 0830-1600 ( daylight hrs) for driving to reduce roo risk, generally no more than 3-400km daily as taking it easy.

NOTE: extra cost may have been in going via albany, Esperance AND the fact that Navara has a dealer fitted sangroper upgrade- 2" lift , bar etc and Hercules Terratracs on 17" rims. ( LT 265/70R17 ), these are 60/40 off roaders I believe. the tyre size/tread affected my speedo by close to 10% so would also effect mileage/fuel efficiency.

did consider changing these over to road tyres and back to standard issue rim , but would get little value back on the fairly expensive kit ( Mullins CSA rims) fitted currently and would loose some of the advantage of the off road capacity. did check out a few tracks on trip.

as everyone knows , can reduce costs by using free/cheap stays easily ( see camps 8 or 9 book), but dear wife likes the luxury of the c/van parks!
following sample fuel costs for interest: ( period sep 2014- late jan 2015)
Perth 85.7 L diesel- $128. Denmark 30.8L -$50. Albany 54L- $85
Mogas port augusta-33.4 L $50
BP Ceduna 59.8L- $90. Nundroo 31L $50 Mundrabilla 65.8L- $124
United Bendigo-34.7 L -$50.
I am sure fuel cost is avail via fuelwatch in most states and RAC, etc..

test run towing to geraldton did a tank full. ( I think that's 60L on the d22 2.5 L TD STR navara)
I was averaging about 400 k to the day to a tank to EStates with reserve in Jerrycans in back. should have weighbridged myself- am sure it would have been quite heavy with all the gear and shopping!
MG.

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Follow Up By: Member - Rod N (QLD) - Thursday, Feb 05, 2015 at 15:41

Thursday, Feb 05, 2015 at 15:41

We did Toowoomba to Perth and return in early 2014, Kia Sorento towing 2200 kg Ecotourer van.
Figures are 9712 km, 1324.5 litres of diesel, cost $2238.40, average fuel consumption 7.35 km/l, average price $1.70

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Reply By: Gronk - Thursday, Feb 05, 2015 at 15:20

Thursday, Feb 05, 2015 at 15:20

Not sure if your fuel figures are correct, but my calcs suggest fuel was approx $1.55/L......you did 4,000 K's Perth to Sydney.......that works out to 40 l/hk ???

If that's the case, I'd be getting under the 4wd and trying to find your fuel leak !!!

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