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1500 miles through the aussie outback in 26hrs

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220
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1500 miles through the aussie outback in 26hrs

Post by 220 » Sat Dec 14, 2019 5:06 am

Son arrived home for christmas just after lunch today. He is with the Army based at Townsville in North Queensland, close enough to 1500 miles from where we are in Southern New South Wales. He had a offsider that needed a lift so they drove straight through and shared the driving for the first 1300 miles.
As you can imagine a bit of wildlife on the roads of a night, dawn and dusk. His estimate was thousands of kangaroos seen dodged about 300 and hit 8. A big kangaroo can nudge 200lb and stand 7' tall or more you can imagine the damage when struck at over 60mph.
There is a reason the majority of vehicles in the Aussie outback wear what we call bull or roo bars. Sure some fit them just to make their vehicle look tough but they do exactly what they are designed for, protect the front from damage with animal strikes and prevent you being stranded.
Sons bar looks a little worse for wear but only cosmetic damage, a few creases in both front fenders where a couple struck on the corners of the bar whipped around. Needs a good wash to get rid of the blood and guts and realigning where it has moved on the mounting bolts but considering every one would have disabled a car without a bar it has done its job.
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Re: 1500 miles through the aussie outback in 26hrs

Post by TMB » Sat Dec 14, 2019 5:30 am

My younger brother lived in Australia for some years. He said those were an absolute necessity for travel outside the city.
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Re: 1500 miles through the aussie outback in 26hrs

Post by JEBar » Sat Dec 14, 2019 7:45 am

220 wrote:
Sat Dec 14, 2019 5:06 am
hit 8.
amazing .... we see similar bars on many vehicles in Texas .... I've hit deer twice and did considerable damage both times .... hitting 8 on one drive is almost unbelievable

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Re: 1500 miles through the aussie outback in 26hrs

Post by BrokenolMarine » Sat Dec 14, 2019 7:46 am

That's a serious bully bar. I installed one on the front of several of my trucks here.. We have taken out several large deer, and the last one Tina hit was with the Titan... It was being chased by a pack of dogs, ran out of the woods into the front quarter panel on the side of the truck... A bar wouldn't have helped. Caved in the quarter panel and ripped down the right side of the truck. Didn't miss a single body panel on that side. More than $7,000 in damage.

The deer? A big buck. He jumped up, shook his head, and took off again with the dog pack in hot pursuit. Tina was unharmed, but very angry. Truck was in the shop a month.

Glad your son made it home safely.
Last edited by BrokenolMarine on Sat Dec 14, 2019 7:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 1500 miles through the aussie outback in 26hrs

Post by PT7 » Sat Dec 14, 2019 7:47 am

That is some wildlife story, 220. And that roo bar is an impressive piece of front-end protection.
Glad your son arrived safely home for Christmas.

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Re: 1500 miles through the aussie outback in 26hrs

Post by markiver54 » Sat Dec 14, 2019 10:51 am

Not surprised. Some time back, I watched a documentary about the roo problem because of the numbers there.
They showed aerial footage from a helicopter...unbelievable!
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Re: 1500 miles through the aussie outback in 26hrs

Post by BigAl52 » Sat Dec 14, 2019 12:26 pm

Man Id love to make that trip. I think it would be fun and great to see. Someday maybe I can see some of the land down under and get me one of those vegamite sandwiches to. Glad your son made it home and enjoy the holidays.
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Re: 1500 miles through the aussie outback in 26hrs

Post by JEBar » Sat Dec 14, 2019 2:47 pm

BigAl52 wrote:
Sat Dec 14, 2019 12:26 pm
vegamite sandwiches

no way .... toooooo tough for me :shock:

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Re: 1500 miles through the aussie outback in 26hrs

Post by Mistered » Sat Dec 14, 2019 3:44 pm

Hmm..
Kangaroo - might have to try it sometime!
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Re: 1500 miles through the aussie outback in 26hrs

Post by markiver54 » Sat Dec 14, 2019 6:05 pm

I will try almost anything, at least once.
Would be nice if it's good because there is an endless supply of it; right 220?😁
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