150 KM OF BRUTAL CORRUGATION, WASHOUTS & BOGGY SAND | THE MEREENIE LOOP ROAD, NT | HOW WE PREPARE!!!

The Mereenie Loop Rd links some of Central Australia’s most exciting attractions - Uluru & Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), Kings Canyon (Watarrka) and the West MacDonnell Ranges (Tjoritja).
It is a road that many think carefully about before attempting and comes with plenty of warnings to read before making up your mind. Carry plenty of fuel, water and spare tyres. Slow down for large animals. Check the weather conditions. Check the road conditions.
You’re not allowed to camp anywhere along the road and you’re not allowed to travel on the road without paying $6.50 for a pass which must be carried with you at all times. The cost of the pass not only assists with the maintenance of the road, but also goes to support the Aboriginal communities who own and live on this land. More than half of the land in the NT belongs to Aboriginal people and a permit system regulates entry.
This is 150 km of brutal corrugation, boggy sand and washouts. Donkeys, camels, brumby and kangaroos all live alongside and make regular appearances.
So why do people choose to take this route from Kings Canyon to the West MacDonnell Ranges? Because its 300 km shorter than the 450 km it takes if you go via Erldunda, through Alice Springs and back through to the West Macs.
Is it worth the risk? For many, no. For those with a capable off-road set up and the knowledge of how to drive on these roads, absolutely.
In this video we show you how we prepare both the caravan and Chevy to tackle this track. We made it across with absolutely no damage whatsoever, and since, have come across a few people who didn’t fare so well.
🔳INFO AND DISCOUNT LINKS:
▪️ Mikes Shock Shop (King Shocks Australia)
▪️ Airbag Man: airbagman.com.au/
▪️ Toyo Tires: www.aussiedesti...
▪️ Method Race Wheels (Race Wheels Australia): www.aussiedesti...
▪️ Caravans Coffs Coast: www.aussiedesti...
▪️ GCI Traytec: www.aussiedesti...
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[@quinnmarsden9375]

Done the Merrenie Loop this year and tyre pressure is on major key factor to get across it safely. The LC 200 with the blown tyre looked like Highway tyre treads? If so that was a factor in the blow out. Any long distance driving should require a UHF radio, especially in the dust, had to follow a few travellers for many kilometres on the loop road

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Agree! UHF should be mandatory 👍🏼

[@Aussieadventureawaits]

What size tyres are you running on the van. Are they just stock? Also little trick. When hooking up the air air hose, just press the tyre inflator as you connect the hose so the air flows through and its not so hard to plush together.

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Running 265/75/16 on the van (stock)- and thanks for the tip 😁😁

[@Neil-clare]

Thank you for showing how you go about getting the permit 👍🏻 I’m going to be doing that section of road shortly so it was very helpful 🙌🏻

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Happy to help!! 😁

[@robertnewland90]

Brutal

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Apparently … wasn’t for us - but it’s broken many 😅

[@roaming-aus]

Did that road on my BMW R1200 GS motorbike. The dirt section took 4.5 hrs as the bull dust was just thick as up on the escarpment section. Glad to have done it even if it was a struggle.

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Wow! That would be awesome on a bike! Definitely something to tick off the bucket list 😁👍🏼

[@gusrogers95]

Get on with it!!!!

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

👍🏼

[@sspacegghost]

thousands of dollars damage to my 4wd and the contents banging around in the back....dont do it. go the long way. Drive into kings canyon then go back the way you came, get back to the bitumen. coz of the length of my dual cab and it having a torneau cover (which makes it more rigid so no flex) i had to drop down to 25kmph...for what felt like 9 hours....driving thru the night. Was the worst. The frequency of corrigation for my 4wd was just not right, other 4wds were skipping over it, doing double the speed i was...my rig couldnt

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

we had no problem at all....setup and correct speed is the key

[@shaddonaghue]

I didn’t find this road any worse than any other dirt road in the centre, actually it’s probably one of the better ones. Did you guys go to lamberts centre ?

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

This was nowhere near as bad as the Old 4x4 road to Finke! We are doing Lamberts and Chambers Pillar next week - but not with the van 👍🏼

[@shaddonaghue]

@@AussieDestinationsUnknown awesome, we just been all through there, such a great area. Enjoy it and look forward to more videos

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

We are at Chambers Pillar tomorrow night - can’t wait! 😁😁

[@shaddonaghue]

@@AussieDestinationsUnknown yeah, that will be awesome, better than where i am im telling you 😂. Enjoy guys , looking forward to this vlog 👌👌

[@lachlanstill]

Just about to embark on an Uluru trip, and contemplating the Mereenie Loop. I think we'll do it, looks great. Thanks for the content & explanation on max load ratings!

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

You’re welcome! Have fun 😁🙌🏼

[@jorjimaco5331]

Zip tie the bolt to the shackle. Never lost one yet. Hack 101.

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Great tip 😁🙌🏼

[@robmorley7041]

This is an excellent ep. Chris and Miriam. The advice is important, perfectly and simply presented. Tyre pressures and driving are so important on crappy Outback roads. We did the Gibb in 2019 in our Discovery 5 on 20’s wrapped in Duratracs towing our then Silverline Outback. 30psi all round 35 in the D5’s rear cold and not one puncture.

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Thank you! Yes, it’s often overlooked but is such an important part! 😃🙏🏼

[@Robert-cu9bm]

Just use a ziptie on your shackles, it'll stop them unwinding.

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

yeah great idea but im always unhooking the van so it becomes a pain in the arse

[@go_somewhere_trvloz6304]

Awesome video! Loved it! Thanks for the info 🙌

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Thanks! And you’re very welcome 😁😁

[@owen9934]

Hi Mate what compressor are you using to inflate your tyres??? cheers Al

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

It’s an Airbag Man one 😁

[@sambulli]

Another great episode and I think very fair to pay to go through traditional land. I love the van and can't wait to see the new one, I hear it's mad.

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Thank you!! And yes. The next van is going to be insane!!! 😁😁😁

[@Robert-cu9bm]

What about paying to drive through Australian's land?

[@sambulli]

@@Robert-cu9bm we do everyday. It's called fuel tax.

[@Robert-cu9bm]

@@sambullithen we shouldn't have to pay for this

[@kboomer1993]

What time of the year did you do this drive?

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Winter 👍🏼

[@sebwilson8177]

New tyres? Thought you were running blackbears 👌

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

We were running BB muds, but found mud tyres were wearing too quickly because of the weight - so back to a hybrid tyre 😁🤙🏼

[@wheelieburgo1974]

That was a great video guys.

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Thanks so much 😊🙏🏼

[@johnmettam1573]

Great video and great advice on tire pressures, dirt road driving and corrugations.

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Thanks! We will be doing a longer one with more footage of the actual road soon too 😁

[@andrewmorgan4306]

the guy in the 200,s a d,head running road tyres on the rough road.

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Andrew the tread pattern has nothing to do with it. It’s all about the pressures. If you don’t have that right pressures then that’s how the tyre fails. Not low enough and you damage the side walls, too low and you overheat the tyre.

[@andrewmorgan4306]

@@AussieDestinationsUnknown i agree but the tyres he had on were not off road tyres with strong side walls they were stock 200 series tyres from the factory ,if he was was running off road tyres he wouldn,t had an issue ,the tyres were distroid by the week side walls .

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

@@andrewmorgan4306 they were 4x4 tyres mate with an on road tread pattern. They are not standard car tyres. They have a load rating to suit larger, heavier 4x4s. I’d put $100 down that the pressures were to low and the tyre got extremely hot…as soon as it hit the hot bitumen that’s when it failed

[@redbitter1232]

How do you like the toyo rt. They look great

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Yeah, they’re awesome - we love them. We had them on the Hilux too 😁🤙🏼

[@timphoto83ec]

Am i missing something here? We found this road in our rental camper to be a total non event. Maybe if you have never driven on dirt but really no worse than many roads.

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

It wasn't that bad for us either .. bu we were led to believe it was a shocker! We also met many people who didn't survive the journey, or started and turned around and went back the other way. Testament to a good off road set up and correct preparation I guess!

[@tukawuyal4971]

Not anymore

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

What do you mean?

[@tukawuyal4971]

@@AussieDestinationsUnknown we did the loop about 3-4 weeks ago and most of it (majority) had been graded, only the last ~50km section on the Alice side was not graded but was not to bad.

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

Ah nice! 😁

[@jarrettryan6596]

Whats the song in this video?

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

It is Crazy for You by the Wildflowers :)

[@mickbenq]

50psi on a car…..F…….

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

2.9t on the rear axles and 2.4t on the front - these are perfect tyre pressures for maintaining load ratings and not destroying the tyre. 👍🏼

[@tonycurrie2964]

Is there electronically adjustable suspension available for trucks? I love it on motorcycles.

[@AussieDestinationsUnknown]

No, there isn’t 👍🏼