Happy New year for 2025

[skippydiesel]

29 minutes ago, BrendAn said:

Strange reply. 

The roo didn't look at our service history before he ran in front of us.😁

Unlucky then?😈

[facthunter]

Lots of vans do high Mileages and lots of stop start. Buy New. There's NO reason their reliability would be less than anything else In general they would be mechanically simpler Since the early 70's I've always had a Van. They are a way of life. Nev

[Blueadventures]

4 hours ago, BrendAn said:

Your just jealous because we are winners. We break all the records

They need to get money from somewhere to buy their Collingwood supporters gear and go to the games. (Apology if need from a Lions / Fitzroy supporter) Cheers.

[Blueadventures]

4 hours ago, Moneybox said:

I won't be stopping for these guys. I fly out on Virgin Saturday night landing in Melbourne 6:15am Sunday. If my friend has his Mercedes and trailer ready then I'll be driving that towing the Hyundai. If not I'll drive the Hyundai home. It has a smashed RH headlight so I might have a spare in my baggage.

Maybe take a radiator stop leak kit, as just in case needed.

[Moneybox]

2 hours ago, Blueadventures said:

Maybe take a radiator stop leak kit, as just in case needed.

I learned many years ago, if you take it you won't need it, if you need it you won't have it so now I don't carry spares but I usually have a good tool kit. This time I'm taking the only part I'm quite sure I need.

 

 

I just have to find a big enough suitcase.

[Moneybox]

We’re off to Perth in the morning to fly out to Melbourne. I should land there 6:15am Sunday. My first mistake was booking a flight on Jetstar, Virgin allow an extra 15kg of luggage, that helps when you have to pack tools and car parts.

That meant I had to go down to the shed for a carry-on sized bag. 



We got caught in the rain so we dived into an old boiler until the worst passed.


There’s been a storm brewing ever since I bought this van from the auction.



Hopefully, it’ll settle down soon, it’s a very long way to Melbourne and back.

[facthunter]

You should be working for Netflix with the Quality of that Production. 1 Hour in a Jet approximates a days driving. You might need a new bonnet cable too. Plenty of Hyundai Parts in Ballarat. Second hand VANS are not sold as "Pre Loved". Maybe "Pre Molested/abused " would be better. Life is Just an amalgamation of experiences, Just in passing , ANSETT Management once referred to It's Flight Attendants as "Old Boilers'.

    Three Hours in Jetstars small seats will seem like a Longer time but the Price is right,. Be ready for a Long walk when you arrive at Melbourne Terminal and Keep exercising your "sexy" Legs in the Plane to avoid DVT and Pee before boarding.  Bon voyage!. Nev

[onetrack]

Moneybox, I trust you've got a list of friends or associates you can call on, along the route, if things go pear-shaped, and that Hyundai lets you down.

The longest and loneliest section is Ceduna to Norseman. It's very hard to get anyone to stop out there, the truckies have their right foot glued to the floorboards and will not back off until they're forced to, and a lot of people in cars watched Wolfe Creek just before they left, and they'll floor it when they see someone standing by the roadside.

Make sure you take a suit, and put it on if you break down. 😄

 

Edited December 20, 2025 by onetrack

[BrendAn]

2 hours ago, onetrack said:

Moneybox, I trust you've got a list of friends or associates you can call on, along the route, if things go pear-shaped, and that Hyundai lets you down.

The longest and loneliest section is Ceduna to Norseman. It's very hard to get anyone to stop out there, the truckies have their right foot glued to the floorboards and will not back off until they're forced to, and a lot of people in cars watched Wolfe Creek just before they left, and they'll floor it when they see someone standing by the roadside.

Make sure you take a suit, and put it on if you break down. 😄

 

And never ever stop in northam according to one tracks travel guide.🤣

[onetrack]

Crime rate in Northam, Australia - RedSuburbs

REDSUBURBS.COM.AU

---

Crime rate profile of Northam

 

[BurnieM]

What ???

 

You know that you are going to have to start a new thread in a week ?

 

[BrendAn]

9 minutes ago, onetrack said:

Crime rate in Northam, Australia - RedSuburbs

REDSUBURBS.COM.AU

---

Crime rate profile of Northam

 

In Melbourne that would be a quiet suburb😁

[Moneybox]

Well you don’t have to worry now. I did a quick rebuild in Bunnings car park. I had prepared well but after dropping a few kilograms to meet to Jetstar requirements I turned up a little short of bits and pieces.

 

 

The hand luggage police were out, she grabbed my little suit case as I whipped the little tablet out to save some weight. It weighed 8.3kg “It’s a little heavy but you’ve only got one so we’ll let it go”. 

So I checked my suit case in and entered security, enjoyed the usual frisk of my upper left leg and made it through to the mini restaurant where I ordered a toasted sandwich.

 

While I’m waiting for that I hear my name called so back out again to the service desk. “Mr Box you have a lamp with a lithium battery in your checked baggage”. “No, that’s my Hyundai headlamp without any battery”. “Well you’d better take it back to the oversize guy so he can take another look”.

I looked around for some big bugger before I woke up to what she was on about. Anyhow the oversize guy was adamant I had a lithium battery so I had to open up. Sure enough I had a little camp lamp in there so it had to come out and into my carry-on bag.

 

That problem was solved but then I had to go back for another upper leg frisk. Not only that but they spotted the camp lamp in my carry-on. Eventually they gave up and sent me on my way.

 

The Hyundai is shooting along fine apart from a damaged cruise control switch. I might try to do something with that in the morning. Right now I’m camped in a little parking bay at Wail.

 

 

This lousy Victorian weather makes it near impossible to boil the kettle. Yes I know I’m using old technology, lithium is much preferred as a heating source with instant ignition and being almost impossible to extinguish it takes a lot of beating.

[onetrack]

Wow! Look out, everyone along the Nullarbor, for the Ratchet Strap Special!  😄 This gives me a whole new level of respect for Chinese ratchet straps!

 

Edited December 21, 2025 by onetrack

[turboplanner]

5 hours ago, onetrack said:

Wow! Look out, everyone along the Nullarbor, for the Ratchet Strap Special!  😄 This gives me a whole new level of respect for Chinese ratchet straps!

 

Chinese saying: "Man who use ratchet strap usually ratsh!t before destination."

[Moneybox]

 

I’m halfway, just 2/3rd to go. With 2340km left I should get there just after Rudolph. 

[BrendAn]

41 minutes ago, Moneybox said:

 

I’m halfway, just 2/3rd to go. With 2340km left I should get there just after Rudolph. 

have you been asked to quote any glazing jobs 😁

[onetrack]

Brendan, it's Moneybox's eyes that will be glazed, after the next two thousand kays!  😄

 

[onetrack]

SWMBO told me recently that her ex-hubby, before he married, bought a used van that had been a washing machine repairmans van. It was still plastered with the repairmans signwriting, advertising washing machine repairs.

She said he took a couple of mates and drove across the Nullarbor to the East Coast, and up to N Qld in it, for a grand holiday tour - but whenever they stopped, people would regularly come out of nowhere, asking the blokes if they could fix their broken-down washing machine! 😄 

 

Moneybox has jagged one huge advantage in his trip across the Long Paddock - a huge high pressure system is setting up in the Bight, with fine weather and a handy SE tailwind all the way.

That makes a big difference when traversing that route, as against fighting strong Westerly headwinds all the way.

Fuel costs get pretty astronomical across the Nullarbor, I paid $2.55 for diesel at Mundrabilla in May 2024. I hope Moneybox bought some jerrycans to extend his range. Diesel is $2.92 today at Nullarbor Roadhouse.

[facthunter]

Those glass carrying racks would slow it down, lots.  Nev

[Blueadventures]

13 hours ago, Moneybox said:

 

I’m halfway, just 2/3rd to go. With 2340km left I should get there just after Rudolph. 

The old owner might pay me to remove the phone number to reduce calls that don't lead to work / jobs.🙃  Looks a good buy.

 

Also, if Bill Board had a car that would be it🙂

Edited December 23, 2025 by Blueadventures

[Moneybox]

20 hours ago, facthunter said:

Those glass carrying racks would slow it down, lots.  Nev

The racks don’t slow it down but they help chew the fuel, 11.5 L/100km.

 

 

Another milestone. 


 

A poor unlucky bustard so it was time to look for a camp. I at Caiguna Blowhole waiting for sunrise. 

[onetrack]

Once you get into the farming country, it will be pink and grey galahs, corellas, and ringneck parrots feeding by the roadside on spilt grain, that will be decorating your grille!

 

Good to hear the trip is going O.K.  Is the Christmas traffic heavy?

 

When I lived alongside the Coolgardie-Norseman Rd at Higginsville, the traffic levels built up enormously before Christmas Day - then on Christmas Day itself, we could hold a party in the middle of the highway, with hardly a vehicle to be seen!

Even 50 years ago, traffic levels reached nearly 1,000 vehicles a day going through Norseman. I believe the numbers haven't altered greatly in 50 years, with a reported average of 700 vehicles a day through Norseman, and 2/3rds of them, East-West trucks.

Cheap airline fares killed driving the East-West route. The drive still gives you an appreciation of the vastness of Australia, same as driving the Great Central Road does.

 

11 years ago, I bought a good used 2WD petrol Hilux traytop at auction in Alice Springs. When I went to arrange a flight to Alice Springs from Perth, I couldn't fly direct, there were no flights!

So, I ended up flying to Sydney, then back to Alice Springs! The fares were actually quite cheap, back then.

 

I got into Alice Springs mid-afternoon, picked up the Hilux, fuelled it, got some food and water and a couple of jerrycans, and took off for the West that afternoon.

I just camped on the tray of the Hilux at a suitable spot the first night - although I did pull into Warakurna Roadhouse/Caravan Park the second night, for the showers and camp kitchen. 

The third night, I softened up, and camped in the White House Hotel in Leonora. I pulled into Kalgoorlie early the next day, licenced the Hilux for W.A., and was home that night!

 

I put up some photos of my trip, it was a good trip, and the road was well maintained over nearly all of its length. Running into numerous Indigenes and assisting with their car (and fuel) problems was all part of the trip excitement! I've still got the Hilux, it's a backup vehicle, although I don't really need it now. 

 

https://pbase.com/onetrack/tjukaruru_rd__grt_central_road

 

 

Edited December 24, 2025 by onetrack

[facthunter]

I found Insects blocking the AIR/Cond  and Radiator core to be a bit of an issue. IF you are towing you have the Pedal well down  to keep up and if you slipstream you get less cooling air. Road surface Temps can be High,  I would always check all Belts and oil and Filters  Air Cond and coolant  and tyres before driving the Nullabor with a Second Hand Vehicle of unknown Background. Nev

[Moneybox]

It’s a very long way from Caiguna to Cue but I’m home.