Innamincka and back

We set out partly to test the towing ability, dust entry, water entry and stone corrugation handling of the Australian Offroad Odyssey camper trailer. We travelled 3000km of outback road in approximately 15 days. As well, Dot has an interest in Australian history and we wished to follow the trails of explorers as closely as possible.

The camper was new, so the regular type pre-delivery service was carried out: lights, stove, wheels, tyres, water tank, pump. There are no second chances when you are outback all alone. An outback adventure with a new Odyssey camper in tow was an experience for both us.

We chose to spend some money on our own Jackaroo 2000 model to bring it up to what we thought was required for a trip to Innamincka via the Strzelecki Track, Coongie Lakes, Cameron’s Corner, Tibooburra, White Cliffs and Menindee Lakes, with Birdsville a possibility.

We fitted five new Cooper tyres and took one extra for the camper and an extra for car, in all four spares. We fitted a special fuel filter system, snorkel and reusable air filter cartridge and UHF radio. We made in our own workshop a purpose-built drawer system for the back of the 4WD, as when using a camper extra space for food and supplies are essential. Tinned food was easily identifiable in the clear plastic boxes placed in these drawers – a real time saver. An Engel 49 litre fridge was mounted on top of the drawer system.

We were self-sufficient, with a 12V battery in the camper charged from the vehicle’s Anderson plug. When we camped on the Cooper Creek for four days, a 600W two-stroke 240V/12V generator was used to charge batteries for two to three hours while providing 12V lighting.

The Odyssey’s front locker was lined to carry firewood as in national parks the collection of wood is prohibited. The roof rack was used to carry two extra spare wheels and a 20 litre jerry can full of rainwater, which was in addition to the 130 litre tank in the camper. This proved to be too much, as it was available in creeks and caravan parks along the way.

As the trip began we travelled via Burra, Peterborough, Carrieton, Hawker and Parachilna to Angorchina Tourist Village in the Flinders Ranges. Our trip to this point was uneventful, with the camper towing beautifully. The tare was 950kg and fully loaded it was approximately 1350kg. The load consisted of the box of wood, 130 litres water, extra wheels and tyres, toolbox, food (enough for two weeks) and light clothing.

TAKE WHAT YOU NEED

As a caravan repairer and adviser I normally recommend to people planning a trip, to only take what you need. It’s amazing how easy this sounds, but when actually doing a trip ourselves it was a different story.

We can learn by experience – for example, after the trip make two piles: one with the things you used and the other with the unused items. In our case, it was too much wood, chainsaw not used, four jerry cans taken – three used, half the amount of tinned food and half the clothing. You only need one pair of sandals or thongs for showering, one pair of walking boots and one pair of sneakers.

When travelling in the outback, however, weather conditions can strand you for two to three days, so water and tinned food are your reserves.

It rained all our first night, which was a good test for camper’s canvas – it was lovely sleeping in the rain. The stainless steel poles and fittings we knew would stand their own test with no rust visible.

Our final destination for day two was Montecollina Bore, a unique little camping spot with small sand dunes and sandy soil. After a long day travelling, the bore provided relief with a hot spring ‘mini spa’.

After tea we were approached for a hammer by some people camped nearby. They were travelling back to Nappa Merrie from Murray Bridge to retrieve their tiny caravan (not offroad) which had broken an axle on the Birdsville Track the week before.

Their call for help on the UHF radio was heard from someone in Charters Towers, Qld, who contacted Nappa Merrie homestead to go to their aid. They put them up for the night, helped retrieve the van and held it for them. The homestead didn’t expect a penny for it – what lovely people they must be! This was a grim reminder to us that conditions in the outback are pretty harsh, and we were glad we had put a radio in our vehicle.

The next morning I looked under the camper, checked the tyre pressures of both camper and vehicle and wheel nut tensions, and visually inspected the tyres. The rough stone had taken quite a bit of paint off the suspension components and the rear A-frame, which immediately started my brain ticking to design something to prevent this from happening.

I don’t like stone chips on vehicle or camper and to prevent them on a camper costing around $28,000, which looks beautiful (and should look like that for years to come) correct protective devices are required. The Jackaroo had been protected around the wheel arches and in front of rear wheels with a roll of black duct tape which could be pulled off on our return. This worked 100 per cent and does not pull any of the paint off. The A-frame of the camper was protected in the same way. Extra mud flaps were fitted to the front and rear wheels.

We arrived at Innamincka with the beautiful Coopers Creek flowing past and decided to make camp near King’s Memorial. With each day the camper was becoming easier to fold out and we set up the toilet tent and that night had a welcoming shower standing in a plastic recycled bin with a 12V portable shower kit – just lovely.

Next day Dot prepared and cooked silverside and vegies for dinner in her new Dream-Pot, which slow-cooks over a period of six to seven hours in its own heat. At the end of the day with minimal effort and energy a lovely tea awaited us – this Dream-Pot is a great bonus for campers.

The camper was so easy and very efficient to fold down and all our belongings were packed quickly in their respective places.

NO TV TO DRIVE YOU MAD

It seems early to rise and early to bed is the order of the day in the outback. We used a rest day to do our ‘housekeeping’: charging batteries on the camper and checking wheel nuts, tyre pressures and checking under camper for loose bolts and fittings. Cleaning of air cleaner elements, topping up the windscreen wiper bottles, checking radiator core for obstructions, driving lights and fittings for movement are also good insurance policies against heartache on the track. Ninety minutes spent doing this is well worth it.

A few days later we returned to Innamincka. We decided to treat ourselves to some local hospitality in the Innamincka Pub for the Sunday night roast. This would have to be a must for all weary travellers – a great atmosphere – and the publican a real character.

We broke camp efficiently next day with travel to Cameron Corner on our agenda, but not before the ‘shock horror of Dot losing her handbag (with all our worldly monetary possessions in tow). She had left it in the showers early in the morning, but some very honest camper had handed it in at the trading post to the proprietors, Bob and Belinda Dowling. A very special ‘thank you’ to them and the honest person who handed it in. Integrity seems to rule in the bush!

We travelled east to Cameron Corner from the Merty Merty/Lyndhurst intersection (some idiot had stolen the Cameron Corner sign). I got ‘sandhill sick’ after travelling over 180 dunes.

Cameron Corner is another oasis in the red desert. We set up camp in the mulga bush right next to the dingo fence, and had a lovely T-bone steak, chips and salad for tea at the corner store, where the owner was very friendly and the locals interesting to talk to. We returned to our campfire. It was a lovely balmy night with masses of stars up above, absolutely gorgeous with the moon fuller each night.

Tibooburra was a very unusual place nestled in between granite rocks (it is the Aboriginal name for ‘lots of rocks’). It was a clean, friendly town, the highlight definitely being the family hotel where murals of nudes were painted on the walls by a famous artist.

At Mount Wood Station I took the opportunity to do running repairs on the Jackaroo and we cooked tea on the Odyssey camper’s stainless steel slideout kitchen, which is absolutely fantastic with all facilities readily available – sink, two-burner and griller stove, 12V pump delivering water from the 130 litre tank and removable shelf.

I loved towing the camper with its long travel suspension as it glided over the corrugations with no kickback through the vehicle. Most of the time I had to look in the rear vision mirror to see if it was still there.

After an exhausting climb up Mount Poole we decided to go to White Cliffs. The road was just horrendous, with potholes everywhere. It was on this road that the Australian Offroad Camper was put to the severest dust test – not a scrap entered the camper, much to our relief. Our two extra spares on the roof, which were tied on with motorbike hold-downs came adrift, however.

The camper was a real pleasure to sleep in – the mattress was very comfortable and the flexible bed reading lights very handy. Under the mattress was a lift-up base operated by gas struts with extensive storage underneath and a pull-out stainless steel drawer to house clothing and belongings.

HOME AGAIN

The Australian Offroad Odyssey camper performed to its optimum potential. The canvas sustained no ‘injuries’, the stainless steel components showed no signs of rusting, the pullout kitchen assembly worked beautifully, and the offroad suspension and tyres were ready to face the outback again!

The camper has true offroad ability and will go anywhere your 4WD can pull it. I particularly liked the coupling system that rotated 360° and the double locking pin. The rear water tank alleviated heavy ball weight and the fit, finish and balance of the system as a whole were a credit to the manufacturer.

Mike Griggs Caravan Service Centre, (08) 8261 5308, is an agent for the Australian Offroad Odyssey camper. website www.mikegriggs.com.au