Post by Jim on Jan 14, 2006 12:45:49 GMT 10
G’day Will
Just in case you’re still considering driving to Morgan in your straight gas truck here’s some thoughts about the idea..
I’ve driven Melbourne to Perth and return ( and back via the coastal loop through Esperance) on straight gas with no problem.
I carried a reserve of gas (explained below) but I didn’t need it.
Obviously the range of your gas tank is important and you need to know what the realistic fuel consumption figure is.
To give you a guide..
My gas tank holds up to 78 litres (useable), so I use 75
My car's fuel consumption is a shade over 5km/lt when towing, so I use 5.0 and allow a reserve.
Range -- 75 x 5 = 375 km
Gas availability.. (using 350 km's as an acceptable range)
Perth, Coolgardie to Norseman.. no problem..
Perth, Augusta, Albany, Esperence to Norseman.. Also no problem
You can get gas at all the roadhouses east of Norseman across the Nullarbor, with the exception of Yalata Roadhouse in SA.
There’s no gas at the townships of Penong or Bookabie in SA, but it is available at Nundroo.
Fowlers Bay, a lovely spot a little off the highway, only has diesel.. (no petrol or gas)
On the WA side of the border the longest stretch between gas supplies is Norseman to Balladonia.. about 200 km’s.
All other WA roadhouses are fairly close together.
From the Border Village (WA/SA) to Nullarbor Roadhouse (SA) is the LONGEST stretch.. about 300 km’s.
Nullarbor Roadhouse to Ceduna is about 300 km’s with Nundroo almost right in the middle.
From Ceduna on through Port Augusta and towards Adelaide is no problem.
Even going from Ceduna via Port Lincoln along the Flinders Highway and up through Whyalla to Port Augusta isn't a problem getting gas.
You’ll probably turn off about Port Pirie/Crystal Brook to head to Morgan via Burra.
Both Jamestown and Burra have gas, although not 24/7.
Gas is available in those two places during business hours only.
Boiling it all down from the above, Nullarbor Roadhouse becomes THE critical fill point for gas on the whole trip, with Balladonia an important one as well.
You could probably leapfrog most other gas supplies along the way, although it's best to always fill when you can..
Keep in mind that Nundroo is the only gas supply between Nullarbor Roadhouse and Ceduna.
For years I've always carried what I call .. 'My Magic Hose" and a 4.5 kg gas cylinder in the car..
If you carry a hose, similar to the one in the picture below, and you have 20 pounder caravan gas cylinders available, each one can give you about another 75 km’s range (at about 5km/lt) if you need the reserve.
You’ve probably got a 20 pounder on the front of your van as it is.
Each standard 20 pound cylinder (9 kg’s if you prefer) is like a ‘gas jerrycan’ with about 75 km range in it for my car.
On a long trip, such as crossing “The No Tree Plains” I carry two 9 kg cylinders and a 4.5 kg cylinder.
The 4.5 kg cylinder is usually for the stove but it’s a matter of priorities if you’re stuck.
Touch wood, so far, I’ve never been close to running out on straight gas in a remote area, but with the magic hose even a hardware shop or servo with camp gas (no autogas) can keep you moving.
(There’s a knack to the decanting to do it best, which I can explain separately if needed.)
The hose in the picture is over 25 years old.
If I had a dollar for every time it’s got a car going when it’s run out of gas I could probably buy a new car.
Now, about your proposed two nights/three days from Perth to Morgan.. It's like.. WOW!!
Not for me mate.. Take a few extra of days, see the sights.. stop and smell the roses along the way or go look for whales (or should that be smell the saltbush?)
Jim
Just in case you’re still considering driving to Morgan in your straight gas truck here’s some thoughts about the idea..
I’ve driven Melbourne to Perth and return ( and back via the coastal loop through Esperance) on straight gas with no problem.
I carried a reserve of gas (explained below) but I didn’t need it.
Obviously the range of your gas tank is important and you need to know what the realistic fuel consumption figure is.
To give you a guide..
My gas tank holds up to 78 litres (useable), so I use 75
My car's fuel consumption is a shade over 5km/lt when towing, so I use 5.0 and allow a reserve.
Range -- 75 x 5 = 375 km
Gas availability.. (using 350 km's as an acceptable range)
Perth, Coolgardie to Norseman.. no problem..
Perth, Augusta, Albany, Esperence to Norseman.. Also no problem
You can get gas at all the roadhouses east of Norseman across the Nullarbor, with the exception of Yalata Roadhouse in SA.
There’s no gas at the townships of Penong or Bookabie in SA, but it is available at Nundroo.
Fowlers Bay, a lovely spot a little off the highway, only has diesel.. (no petrol or gas)
On the WA side of the border the longest stretch between gas supplies is Norseman to Balladonia.. about 200 km’s.
All other WA roadhouses are fairly close together.
From the Border Village (WA/SA) to Nullarbor Roadhouse (SA) is the LONGEST stretch.. about 300 km’s.
Nullarbor Roadhouse to Ceduna is about 300 km’s with Nundroo almost right in the middle.
From Ceduna on through Port Augusta and towards Adelaide is no problem.
Even going from Ceduna via Port Lincoln along the Flinders Highway and up through Whyalla to Port Augusta isn't a problem getting gas.
You’ll probably turn off about Port Pirie/Crystal Brook to head to Morgan via Burra.
Both Jamestown and Burra have gas, although not 24/7.
Gas is available in those two places during business hours only.
Boiling it all down from the above, Nullarbor Roadhouse becomes THE critical fill point for gas on the whole trip, with Balladonia an important one as well.
You could probably leapfrog most other gas supplies along the way, although it's best to always fill when you can..
Keep in mind that Nundroo is the only gas supply between Nullarbor Roadhouse and Ceduna.
For years I've always carried what I call .. 'My Magic Hose" and a 4.5 kg gas cylinder in the car..
If you carry a hose, similar to the one in the picture below, and you have 20 pounder caravan gas cylinders available, each one can give you about another 75 km’s range (at about 5km/lt) if you need the reserve.
You’ve probably got a 20 pounder on the front of your van as it is.
Each standard 20 pound cylinder (9 kg’s if you prefer) is like a ‘gas jerrycan’ with about 75 km range in it for my car.
On a long trip, such as crossing “The No Tree Plains” I carry two 9 kg cylinders and a 4.5 kg cylinder.
The 4.5 kg cylinder is usually for the stove but it’s a matter of priorities if you’re stuck.
Touch wood, so far, I’ve never been close to running out on straight gas in a remote area, but with the magic hose even a hardware shop or servo with camp gas (no autogas) can keep you moving.
(There’s a knack to the decanting to do it best, which I can explain separately if needed.)
The hose in the picture is over 25 years old.
If I had a dollar for every time it’s got a car going when it’s run out of gas I could probably buy a new car.
Now, about your proposed two nights/three days from Perth to Morgan.. It's like.. WOW!!
Not for me mate.. Take a few extra of days, see the sights.. stop and smell the roses along the way or go look for whales (or should that be smell the saltbush?)
Jim