Please advise me on planning a trip.

[Mike21]

Hi All,

I have been wanting to visit the Arkaroola (http://www.arkaroola.com.au/astronomy.php) centre in the Flinders Ranges for some time now and finally, it seems, I have someone else to push me to make the trip.

I am starting this thread because I am interested in what to do and what not to do - I am hoping someone here will read this and help me out. I have sent the centre enquiring emails but they don't seem particularly responsive.

I'd also like advice on the best time of 2014 to go with regards to viewing.

So let loose and let me know what you have experienced or think about my wish to go to the Flinders Ranges.

[AstralTraveller]

I'm not sure what you want to know about (observing, accommodation travel), so perhaps a bit more detail would help. My first though about time of year is to pick a time where the sky is likely to be clear - see their web site - and when the weather isn't too hot. July-Sept looks good to me.

[Mike21]

That is the kind of thing I was talking about David, I agree July seems to be an ideal time regarding temperature and weather.

I was after any info at all really. It is one of those trips where I imagine planning can make or break it. I just wanted other peoples' considerations on anything they thought may be easy to overlook.

[doppler]

I made quite a few trips to the Flinders ranges in my younger days. Not good around Christmas, one time it got to 48 degrees and only down to 35 at night even the swimming pool was warm. Easter gets really busy as do school holidays, we used to try and avoid these times ... no point going to a remote area when there are a lot of people driving around. I would go for early spring as the nights would be a bit more pleasant temperature wise.

[glenc]

Michael
Take a good look at the temperatures and cloud at
http://www.arkaroola.com.au/climate.php
March looks to be the best for clear skies.

And pick the road you want to take
http://goo.gl/maps/dUtc1

[Stefan Buda]

Michael,

All I can advise is that you make sure your tyres are on the soft side as pressure goes. There are sharp rocks on the road that can easily cut your tyres if they are inflated for bitumen road use. The higher temperatures out there will increase the pressure if you start off from a cold place. I found out the hard way, back in 2006, when my back left tyre exploded.
Afterwards I counted the remnants of about 50 disintegrated tyres on the side of the road for the last 100km to Arkaroola.

Cheers,

Stefan

[seeker372011]

I never got as far but travelled to hawker and then Wilpena Pound last summer... stupid idea

Go when it's autumn or winter, even if it means driving over more than one day ( you don't want to be driving at twilight, just too many roos, emus)

Dark dark skies over the flinders ranges. And even if you discount astronomy and observing just a stunning place.

[leon]

Stefan, letting tyers down on pressure on rocky roads is a proven no, no, If anything increase the pressure or at least keep them at the recommended pressure.

Low pressure tyers expose the sidewalls, hence causing more punctures, the sidewalls are not as strong as the actual treaded surface.

This is why one sees so many shredded tyers along the off road tracks.

Leon

[rally]

Mike,

Sent you a PM

Agreed Strong sidewalls is the key not low pressure
Lost a tyre on the way to Ark - a sharp stone caught in one of the many cattle grids - smashed through the tyre into the rim and put a 2-3cm dent in the rim at only 70kmh at 1.00am in the morning
Tyre and rim destroyed

Just travel carefully and you'll be fine, but have a spare and take the creek beds at an appropriate speed and watch the wildlife !!!

[AstralTraveller]

Sorry, but simply untrue. There are great number of opinions either way but the majority seem to favour lowering pressure. My experience has also been that lower pressures are better, though I don't go as low as some suggest. For my Landcruiser Troopcarrier running BFG A/T on 8" rims I have found about 5-7psi below highway pressure is good (so ca. 32 front and 37 rear). Much reduced shake, better traction and no tyre damage (and I've driven all the roads Mike is considering traveling on). People here take work vehicles out to central Aust and generally don't lower pressures. They haven't had too many punctures but they do chew out the tread in no time flat. [ Of course one bozo let the tyres right down to get through sand and then drove back to Wollongong at that pressure. He delaminated the tread from the case.]

The other thing the experts say is that every vehicle/tyre/load combination is different. So it could well be that for Mike keeping to highway pressures is the best. One thing is certain, the faster you travel the greater the strain on the tyre. Certainly check the spare before you leave and make sure you have all the gear to change a wheel - just last holiday I loaned a wheel-brace to someone who found he had the wrong sized socket. (While I'm at it: carry spare water and maybe also some food. Those roads aren't truly remote but it will still be hours between vehicles. If you get stuck you could be there overnight. I also carry a reasonable first aid kit.)

http://www.arb.com.au/getting-started/ask-arb/general/080%20Tyre%20pressures.php
http://4x4online.com.au/tyres.html
http://www.aawen4x4.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1:4psi-rule&catid=2:current&Itemid=7
http://www.direct4wd.com.au/tours/TYRE%20PRESSURE.htm
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread.php?17022-Tyre-Pressure-on-corrugated-bull-dust
http://www.4x4earth.com.au/forum/information-newbies/15410-tyre-pressure-2.html

[Kunama]

More important than tyre pressure is to choose your speed based on road surface, for example, rocky roads - cut your speed back 20%.
As far as pressure goes, depends on your tyres and load. Tyres with billowing sidewalls (B/S Dueler, Yokohama) are more likely to get cut or staked if pressures are lowered. Better to keep the highway pressure but lower the speed.

Tyres like the BFG A/T have quite firm sidewalls and can run at a lower pressure. Cooper tyres seem to be made of harder rubber compound and can also run a lower pressure.

The biggest killer of tyres, transmissions, suspensions is excessive speed for the road conditions, not to mention that you can't enjoy the drive if you're constantly focused on trying to keep it on the road. Allow lots of travel time, the holiday starts when you leave home.