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Here's one of my all time favourite High Country trips. Yep, the Snowy River, with my mate Big Steve Robson debuting on his first ever off-road journey and another good mate Paul Fry. Both Steve and Paul have passed since then and the world's a much smaller place without them. RIP men.
Robbo was ecstatic because it was also a chance to try out the new lockers back and front. Having seen first hand the difference locked diffs can make Steve was hanging out to give them a try. I assured him that we’d have no problems finding some locker suitable hills because the Terrain Tamer driver was Paul Fry and the Fry family go back several generations in those Snowy Mountain hills.
With Steve driving the Lux down from Sydney, Paul coming up from Melbourne in the Shorty and me coming down the inland way from Queensland we organised to meet up at a farmhouse belonging to a friend of Paul’s family tucked up in the hills behind McKillops Bridge. Mud maps were drawn over the phone and after a couple of big days driving it was just turning dark when Milo and I wound down the big hill in to the little town of Buchan, last stop before the farmhouse according to Paul.
After the obligatory oil and water checks we left early next morning for McKillops Bridge over the Snowy River, starting point for our trip and a bit of a legend in it’s own right. The current bridge was completed in 1936, replacing an earlier effort that had washed away in the sort of freak floods that were common before the Snowy Scheme tamed some of the rivers. At 255 metres long and 4.5 metres wide it was considered an engineering marvel at the time because it featured welded steel trusses sitting on one piece reinforced concrete pillars. The arc welding technique used on the trusses was developed here in Australia and was far ahead of anything British or American engineers were using at the time, despite the fact that the world was still trying to pick itself up from the Great Depression.
Talking strong arms, Paul had his work cut out going first up the Armstrong almost as soon as we hit the hard bit. Normally a Shorty with big rubber and plenty of power (the TT truck is fitted with a 350 Chevy engine) will clamber up almost anything even without lockers but the dirt here was so loose that there was almost negligible traction. Eventually Paul scrabbled to the top but the track was so dug up it took the longer wheelbased Milo a few goes with both lockers on before we made it up behind him.
Having seen all this Steve realised he was in for a big ride. I suggested trying it without the trailer but Steve wanted to at least give it a go. It was a pretty amazing effort but even with the Hilux bringing all that extra power and lockers both ends to the battle, it just wasn’t going to do it. So we disconnected the trailer, Steve aimed it up the track and with both lockers in he hit it hard.
Steve really proved the point though. After skewing the Hilux side to side all the way up the slope he not only made it to the top, he made it with the trailer in tow. Anyone who’s ever doubted the value of locked diffs would do well to pay attention to that segment of the video.
The Snowies are the country of Australian legend. Steep, forbidding slopes, crystal clear rivers, dramatic scenery and plenty of danger if you don’t get it right, it’s no wonder this part of our wonderful Australia has such an incredible reputation. All I can add is that after many years of touring the High Country, I’m still finding new tracks and breaking new ground.
It’s just too good. You should get down there and have a go yourself. There’s a lifetime’s worth of incredible bush touring to be had here, it just needs you and your truck to complete the picture!
Let me know how you go eh?


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