Gear ratios & highway speed

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Peter and Lang

Lang the simplicity of your approach is really to be commended. All of us were concentrating on the technical end and you hit the key elements of the question how long and whats a reasonable distance a day.

The comments on the other long distance antique vehicle tours are also on point.

Cheers Phil

[Ken Hughes]

Hi Phil, The F30 originaly had 10x50x16s fitted and the speed was the early 30s,bearing in mind the v8 is not fully run in.
I have now fitted 8x25x20s on military rims made by GM !! as the 16s were all cracking in the tire walls and treadand cant source local tires of 10x50x16.
The original 20s were 10x50x20,and the speedo drives were different in the number of teeth fitted(in parts manual).
With the 20s fitted it looks like the truck has grown up!.
The difference between an F30 and a F60S is the 60 has an extra leaf spring in the front springs, bigger stearing ends,although not allways.and air assisted breaking system and wheel size, oh and somtimes a bigger stearing box.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Pete - I have been following this thread with interest but I think it is a matter of not seeing the wood for the trees. You would incur a lot of time and expense modifying a perfectly adequate vehicle. It might be a slower and rougher drive but military trucks were made for that purpose. Lang is the adventurer and I concur with what he says.

As you get closer to the departure time you must let us know the route and approximate timings. There will be numerous MLUers on the route so accommodation would not be a problem and we can promote this fund raiser in our areas. Many of us are in the RSL so they would be greatly interested. You may even be able to get a grant from Veteran Affairs.

Bob

[Howard]

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi Pete...As you get closer to the departure time you must let us know the route and approximate timings. There will be numerous MLUers on the route so accommodation would not be a problem and we can promote this fund raiser in our areas....Bob

Absolutley! Let us know the details when you have them and/or feel free to make a visit to us a part of your itinerary!
H

[Pete Solomon]

Once again thanks to all for your input.

Once I have got official sanction from Legacy I will start another thread devoted specifically to the trip. Havent worked out the exact route yet but am thinking 5th of May 2013 as a departure date as that makes it 70 years to the day the C8AX was built. This would also work in relation to weather in the top end and across the Nullabor as it will be cooler & more truck friendly. My copilot will be visiting in the next few weeks so we will nut out more details then but we will have at least 9 weeks - maybe as many as 12 depending on our leave (both emergency service personnel)

Lang is of course right - we can do the trip in the vehicle in its original configuration with out any modifications with no dramas - My main concern was about the safety aspect of being on major highways at 70 kph or so as for some legs we will not have a support vehicle.

Watch this space!

[Lang]

Pete,

We have run the Postie Bike Challenge for 10 years now (40-60 riders on Honda 110cc stepthroughs) 3,000km through the outback. They travel at 70kph and we have never had a bike run down. A CMP is a heck of a lot bigger target so you will have no problem. You must spend $150 and get a UHF radio so you can talk to the road trains and other trucks. You will find they are some of your best salesmen and will spread the word.

We had great support from them on our prostate cancer trip in the 1915 Willys Overland www.willys.com.au Feel free to use any ideas from our trip to plan yours.

Lang

[motto (RIP)]

Once again with his vast experience at conning slow moving machinery across the face of the planet Lang's opinion is worth listening to. Travel times are not a real consideration. What I point out to people who query that aspect of a vehicle with a low cruising speed is that ships sail around the world at 25 or 30 MPH and it's quite an adequate rate of travel.

Having said that, some images/incidents flash to mind. One is of a DUKW (NOT a small vehicle) upside down on top of the Armco railing alongside an English motorway as the result of a semi-trailer changing lanes a fraction too late.

I also remember talking to the owner of a Leyland Hippo in Normandy 2009 who was run into from behind on the motorway on his way down to the docks. (Again, NOT a small vehicle) The amusing part of this incident was the wry observation from the owner that he glanced at the speedo at the moment of impact and it was showing 33 MPH instead of the usual top of 28. He said that's the fastest she'd ever gone. Damage to Hippo=bent mudguard, damage to VW impacting vehicle= total write-off, driver=multiple injuries inc two broken legs.

Another, more recent incident was the death of a well know and greatly liked British MV identity in his Jeep when hit from behind. He had taken part in a tour to Italy and was only a few miles from his English home.

Like it or not, low speed is a safety issue if only because of the blind bastards out there and luck plays a huge part in the outcome of any time spent on the road. I painted the rear bolster on my 3 ton Chev vivid white and seriously considered putting an amber rotating beacon on the vehicle. I have it in the shed yet and it won't take much prompting to use it.

Consider.

David