Last week we got back from a trip to Birdsville from Sydney. Two and a half days up and two and a half days back with 3 nights in Birdsville, 4 nights at Big Red and 1 night on a clay pan half way back to town. No we weren’t at the Big Red Bash but the Big Red Run. 250km ultra marathon over 6 days raising funds for juvenile diabetes research.
Any way on the way up after leaving Windorah it rained. We turned left onto the Development Rd and copped a heap of mud across the front of the van despite using a Stone Stomper. I would hate to see the results without one. Further on we came out of the rain onto dry dirt road so the dust combined with a wet van made it even dirtier. The trip out to Big Red and back was on dry dirt road and the trip home was on a mostly dry and dusty Development Road but with some road works a water tanker made for some muddy sections.
Where I am going with this is after washing the van today it gave me a chance to check the damage.
I think next time I travel outback dirt roads I am going to run duct tape around the front lid gaps. Apart from getting dust in the front bed area inside the van through the gaps around the lid, the water, grit and dust sat on the bottom edge where the lid latched and combined with the sail track for the storm bed end covers it ground through the gel coat. Also the gel coat on the outside of the front lid is covered in stone chips despite the Stone Stomper.
Around 2 years ago we did the Darling River Run from Menindee Lakes north and ended up in Lighting Ridge and the black coating across the bottom front of the van suffered damage again travelling with a Stone Stomper fitted. Don’t get me wrong I am not bagging the Stone Stomper as it does an excellent job of protecting the rear of the tow vehicle and is probably the best stone protection product on the market.
If I had a spare couple of hundred dollars lying around I would investigate getting a padded cover for the front of the van like a car bra and have it fixed along the top with press studs or similar and shock cord down lower. Would also help with bug guts across the front of the van.
I have corflute covers I duct tape to the vents on the sides of the van to keep dust at bay but has anyone else experienced this type of damage both on the front of the lid and at the bottom internal edge.
Would anyone else like to offer their tips on protection when travelling the outback.
Any way on the way up after leaving Windorah it rained. We turned left onto the Development Rd and copped a heap of mud across the front of the van despite using a Stone Stomper. I would hate to see the results without one. Further on we came out of the rain onto dry dirt road so the dust combined with a wet van made it even dirtier. The trip out to Big Red and back was on dry dirt road and the trip home was on a mostly dry and dusty Development Road but with some road works a water tanker made for some muddy sections.
Where I am going with this is after washing the van today it gave me a chance to check the damage.
I think next time I travel outback dirt roads I am going to run duct tape around the front lid gaps. Apart from getting dust in the front bed area inside the van through the gaps around the lid, the water, grit and dust sat on the bottom edge where the lid latched and combined with the sail track for the storm bed end covers it ground through the gel coat. Also the gel coat on the outside of the front lid is covered in stone chips despite the Stone Stomper.
Around 2 years ago we did the Darling River Run from Menindee Lakes north and ended up in Lighting Ridge and the black coating across the bottom front of the van suffered damage again travelling with a Stone Stomper fitted. Don’t get me wrong I am not bagging the Stone Stomper as it does an excellent job of protecting the rear of the tow vehicle and is probably the best stone protection product on the market.
If I had a spare couple of hundred dollars lying around I would investigate getting a padded cover for the front of the van like a car bra and have it fixed along the top with press studs or similar and shock cord down lower. Would also help with bug guts across the front of the van.
I have corflute covers I duct tape to the vents on the sides of the van to keep dust at bay but has anyone else experienced this type of damage both on the front of the lid and at the bottom internal edge.
Would anyone else like to offer their tips on protection when travelling the outback.