Simpson Desert Part 5 - A series of unfortunate mechanical events & bush repairs

In the latest chapter of our Simpson Desert journey, the outback tests our mettle with a slew of mechanical troubles. Starting with a stubborn ignition that won't turn over, the troubles snowball from there. Yet, amidst the technical tangles, we traverse some of the desert's most stunning landscapes and stumble upon echoes of ancient history at an Indigenous Midden Site.
Our resourcefulness is put to the test with impromptu bush repairs after the Cruiser loses a few pieces to the relentless desert. Each bend in the Hay River track adds to our tale, while an eerie noise from Chop's Landcruiser thickens the plot.
Satellite connections become our lifeline, and punctures become an all-too-common part of our narrative. A series of repairs, including a precarious fuel tank fix, marks our progress. Despite the setbacks, the outback rewards us with an unexpected oasis and moments of levity from a fellow traveller's rant.
As we inch closer to Bedourie, the spirit of adventure never wanes. Tune in to see how we fare against the harsh but breathtaking backdrop of the Australian desert.
00:00 - Start
01:18 - Stephen Cars won't start - the beginning of our misfortunes
02:49 - Some of the pretties Desert Driving you find
03:29 - Indiginous Midden Site
05:14 - I lost parts of the Cruiser - Cable tie bush repair
06:20 - How many bends does the Hay River track have??
07:10 - Chop's Landcruiser making a funny noise…
08:15 - Stephens repairs
10:12 - One reason to carry a Sat Phone
11:04 - Hay River Cinematic
12:34 - Next day on the Hay - Will Stephen's Car Start?
14:20 - Mt Winnecke
14:57 - Jervois Station
15:51 - Disaster strikes…
18:58 - I have a puncture….
20:42 - Campers Pantry Dinner after a long day.
21:34 - The next day, will Stephen's fuel tank repair hold?
22:54 - Tyre Stakes
23:22 - And another Puncture and repair, this time for Dave
25:28 - Tobermory Station - An outback Oasis
26:16 - Grey Nomad’s Rant
26:51 - Bedouri
27:59 - Outro
Affiliate links for the gear I use.
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Radix Dehydrated Food www.radixnutrition.com.au/ALLOFFROAD10
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Memory Map Hema 4wd Map Pack ($10 off)
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Gaia
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Helinox Savanna Chair
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OLIGHT Olantern Classic 2
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Camera Gear:
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[@raymondricciardi]

"It's not every day you come across a Maxibon". It'd be a tough choice between a beer and a Maxibon if you hadn't seen either in a while - be it at 9am or anytime 😂 Truly picturesque scenery. Thank you. I'm off to buy some Araldite for the kit.

[@AlloffroadAu]

Well said!

[@michaelwhyte3995]

Another Brilliant series. Awesome Photography

[@AlloffroadAu]

Thanks again!

[@davidbulbert7765]

Just beautiful I've done the hay River track 3 times in a 100 series hdj such a wonderful experience

[@AlloffroadAu]

yes also my 3rd time

[@biggles333999]

The red dune and sunset shots...STUNNING.

[@AlloffroadAu]

thank you 🙏

[@rickhall7180]

Great videography 👍. Always look forward to videos. Many thanks.

[@AlloffroadAu]

Many thanks!

[@adrianwhite888]

Get some "plug and dyke" tank repair putty for your tool kit, will stick to a leaking tank and works with petrol oil and diesel. The firies use it and is often included in site spill kits. Ovesco sell it online in Au

[@AlloffroadAu]

interesting will look in to that

[@cyclemoto8744]

Thank you for your time as always. Cheers

[@AlloffroadAu]

My pleasure!

[@andrewmorgan4306]

The photography is the desert was brilliant pitty about the grey nomads have no idea about driving on dirt roads.

[@AlloffroadAu]

yes some people should not be towing on the road

[@beast6able]

That is why factory tanks usually have bash guards.

[@AlloffroadAu]

yea with a rear tank would take departure angle away, steel doesn’t crack that easily but Stephen gave it a good bang in the VHC two days before we left. Lasted many many years as it was.

[@sodoffxx]

great story thank you!

[@AlloffroadAu]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@matthutch5919]

😂😂 They drive Nissan's, who made these tracks? Nissan. Another fantastic series 👏 👌 👍 Following the tracks Nissan made possible🤘 What brand of tank is that? My Brown Davis long-range tank has copped a full flogging. It was 165lt now dinted to 160lt 🤣🤣 still no leaks, over gvm, it's a Nissan thing as the next Toyota cops a failure 😂🤣 Nissan running 10min behind but getting their without a problem 😉 Your video is proof 💯

[@graemetowner7257]

great to see the sat phone still going strong, i bought same after watching your reviews a few years back....when travelling remote (or anywhere out of sydney ..ha ha!) especially with kids its good to have in emergency or just so the kids can call their friends for quick chat

[@AlloffroadAu]

yes definitely 👍 Thuraya so far has not let me down

[@JakeEdgar-sc4gz]

Thanks for your series on the Simpson. I'm planning a trip in a couple of months. What is your thoughts about inside cabin wireless tyre pressure monitors?

[@AlloffroadAu]

Yeah, I had some. They do work, but they are a bit cumbersome (at least the on-valve one) as you need to take them off for each air up or down. I used them on one trip and have never used them again. They are probably more important for faster dirt road driving than actual desert driving.

[@whiteunicornDR659]

What a great series - loved it! I’m planning to do the Hay River next year. Would you recommend one direction to drive it over the other?

[@AlloffroadAu]

Doesn't really matter what direction, North South is a little harder on the few dunes with little approach

[@whiteunicornDR659]

Okay good to know. Keep filming - love your work.

[@vdynmx]

Imagine living in Australia without flies.

[@AlloffroadAu]

lol that would be something, but even more people would go out bush than ;-)

[@Legaleze]

You could really appreciate the wilderness then!

[@stevegoodwin5841]

Great vid Stefan. Do you rate Hema HX-2 + Navigator for road and off road in Australia for about $850? Is it your go to for road and off road or is there something better. I need to move on from ExplorOz on my old windows 10 lap top for touring.

[@AlloffroadAu]

no, would never buy Hema Hardware, an Ipad or Samsung Tablet has Millions in investment dollars behind it and will be better and more versatile in 99% of applications

[@glenhopes8233]

Great video, the Hay River Track was one of our more memorable outback trips... just stunning!! It amazes me how many long range fuel tank issues are on KZbin. Is it bad workmanship or perhaps pushing the boundaries of ground clearance to get an extra few litres capacity? Would the tank in question would be much stronger if the bottom was one piece with a fold and not a weld perhaps, or am I seeing things?

[@AlloffroadAu]

na just bad luck, the tank was in the car for many many years and it got a big hit in the VHC two days before Stephen left for the Desert.

[@trickster8635]

You are seeing things. The bottom plate is one piece but does have a fold across it to allow for clearance. I slammed it down on a deep mud hole in the High Country a couple of weeks prior to the desert. The dent was exactly on the fold of the metal and cracked along the fold, about 50mm diameter dent.

[@obs2746]

Would you recommend underbody protection plates, or would they only accumulate vegetation buildup and risk fire

[@AlloffroadAu]

I do have them though if you only do Desert probably not needed. I blow them out with a small leave dryer and have an old diesel without DPF need to be more careful with modern DPF vehicles. If you don’t do cross country should not have much build up stuff anyway.

[@trickster8635]

The problem with bash plates in remote overland driving it the tendancy for grass and seed build up between the bash plate and whatever. This can lead to vehicle fires. For cross country work, I recommend removing the plates altogether. However, different story if you are going into an area known to be littered with rocks or stumps, where the risk of damage is greater.

[@AlloffroadAu]

yes though never know what you encounter so I rather have the protection and the air blower to blow away and seeds and spinifex

[@Pat.Mustard]

Shame you can’t use flies to plug a hole.

[@AlloffroadAu]

lol that would be something

[@spudboy1328]

Something to be said for having a poly tank...

[@AlloffroadAu]

steel is stronger and in that location I would take steel over poly any day.

[@spudboy1328]

@@AlloffroadAu And yet the dings in the metal tank caused it to leak. Which might have been absorbed if it was a poly tank.

[@trickster8635]

Six of one, half a dozen of the other..... I don't like plastic tanks for the lack of drain plug. (it weakens the structure), and the amount of times I have got a load of cruddy fuel from dodgey outback sellers is not to be counted on one hand. Quick and easy to drain water/crud from a conventional steel tanks with drain.

[@roberthayseniorcounselcomm6523]

Super photography

[@AlloffroadAu]

Thank you so much 🙂