by mini on Sat Mar 30, 2019 11:33 am
Hi there,
Did the Canning Stock Route in my 2008 ML Triton Dual cab GLX-R. I agree 100% with the other lads about what to do. The biggest threat is shock absorbers, I left with brand new ones from a national and reputable suspension place with a 50 mm lift and new coil springs. On return home, the shockers were completely routed (if you get my drift and bad spelling) and the suspension place replaced them without a whimper. They were absolutely amazed and sent them back to the factory for R&D to look at.
Bolt down your second spare wheel assy, I made a steel plate and did that so it would not move. Funnily enough I never even got a puncture but that was just pure luck. If I did it again, I would still take 2 wheels. I presume you have a puncture repair kit and a compressor. Did not need any recovery stuff but snatch strap good as trax are.
They say overloading is the killer as it is a long stretch, my recorded mileage was 2,050 from Wiluna to Halls Creek. I had 12 gerry's of diesel and used only 11. I did not fuel at Well 23 nor Kunawaritji nor Bilununa, consumption was 12.97 litres/100 kilometres for the 2050 kilometres. My ML was a manual transmission (now have a MQ) and we averaged 137 kilometres a day over 15 days. I was with others but would have prefferred to take longer. Remember, air down and take your time, hope you don't mind some pin stripes, not as bad as Talawana Track but there are some narrow sections.
It is a great challenge, easy does it, you will have corrugations, rocky surfaces, corrugations, washouts, corrugations, a water crossing, corrugations, sand, corrugations, dunes, corrugations etc. Did I mention corrugations ??. There will be detours, then detours around detours etc., all heaps of fun. The lower half is more spectacular I think and more dunes and a higher fuel consumption with the dunes to the north. Carry at least 1 fire extinguisher, preferably 2 and beer is just as good with a shake up. Fortunately I was able to save mine for drinking. Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy. Vehicle spares were minimal, fuses, tools, fencing wire etc. No roof racks, we did not need the kitchen sink.