Hi. I am a long time follower of Johnno. Saw his video some weeks ago thinking, WOW, he picked the perfect co-star for an episode. WTF is this guy? He is hilarious. Now I follow you both. You are great (,) guys!
I once asked a cross country trucker I know if he prefers sunrises or sunsets. His response was something of genius. "It really depends on what direction I'm driving. No one likes the sun in their eyes."
Yep.Your first sunrise, you say everyone should see this beautiful sight.A month later you are thinking, "I wish I had washed the windscreen.The combination of smeared bugs and sunshine turns a driver into a blind man"
It's not the same but they make trucking simulators and you can buy a wheel and basically drive anywhere! I would look into it if you think that fondly of it.
Millenial truck driver here. You can really learn a lot from these old hats such as Jonno. Shame a lot of 'em are retiring as time goes on. But to learn how to drive manual (10-13-18-speed) and also be "raised" by old school truck drivers, is a blessing. A lot of the time they're just like Jonno in terms of humor and just enjoying what he does and fill in any questions anyone might have. Good video and great spotlight on the industry. I might be in the states, but the mindset is truly universal.
Do you think you could kick off the ole Tims in the back of one of those trucks and cross Australia, you've done it in a luxury train, how's about a road train?? hehe
I'm only 10 minutes in and I'm just grinning like a little kid. I dont think you could have found a better bloke to do this trip with than Johnno. Johnno, if you read this, thanks a million for taking us along on this trip!
@@RoadTrainAdventures In case anyone ever reads this. I myself thought this life could be for me. When Johnno was explaining how it can be stressful to learn the realities of the job, he's not by any means kidding. It can be hard to get homesick and be days away from being able to see family. Every moment of free time you have outside of working is meant for sleep because every moment you don't spend driving is lost money. Keep in mind that while you're driving all of your attention is given to the road. This leaves very little free time to actually build or mend connections. Don't get me wrong. Driving a truck can be great. But most truck driving jobs where you can go home every night require incredibly stressful city driving. Getting cut off every few minutes while hauling 15/30/60+ thousand pounds is a whole other level of stress. You have to be okay with letting other people hurt themselves and its a strange experience.
I used to run a B-double from Sydney to Perth. My last trip over there was 2 years ago and it used to cost Over $8000 in fuel and adblue for a return trip. I now run between Sydney and Melbourne all week. And it cost over $4000 in fuel each week. I would also like to say, you did an awesome job of showing the life of us long haul Aussie truckies
5 minutes in, and this is already better than any episode of Outback Truckers. As an Aussie this makes me so happy. Everyone must do a trip across to Perth by road. I was so so happy to get to do that with my Father in a B-double. Even as a passenger, it was tiring, and I couldn't imagine doing it week after week like he did.
Ah but this is real. Not hyped up TV drama. Loved Johnos videos on this and having just as much fun watching this one Makes a Guy want to cross the Nullabor again.😁
I guessed 2,000! 35 yr truckdriver here in the US. Love to watch what our Aussie brothers and sisters are doing down that way. So nice to see him floating the gears in an 18sp. Up here we have switched to automatics in a big way reserving gears for older trucks specialized heavy loads or log trucks etc. Wife's 1st husband and father were career military so she is used to someone gone weeks or months at a time. What a great video explaining the life most people never notice.
First thing I want to say is thank you both for the RUclips video 31 years I drove across Australia. I was told to retire as my heart and lungs are not the best by doctors and you brought a tear to an old truckie's eye watching that. THANK YOU AND SAFE TRIP.
"To see a sunrise is a promise of a new day. To see a sunset is to let me know I lived another day." This is a poem my Dad told to us kids frequently. I'm like my Dad both are equally beautiful.
Good on ya Johno for showing this Canadian, the real Australia. I immigrated here with my family back in the early 70's, it truly is a beautiful sunburn country, but it is the people, or average battler (Joe) that makes it so much more special.
It's honestly nice to see what life as a trucker is like in Australian. Especially the road trains. Here in Germany, trucks with semi-trailers can only be just under 17 meters long. Truck with dolly about 18.75m.
Mike- this is the best video you have done in years! I became so engrossed in it I totally lost track of time, even where I was. With no exaggeration I really really enjoyed it!
Mike, Believe me when I say this that you and Jeb Brooks are the only RUclipsrs that make me genuinely laugh with the videos and moments you capture. You shine the light on the side of humanity that is so rare to see these days! Thanks for all the hard work and cheers to your next adventure!
Check out Steve Marsh - mostly focussed on Scotland/Britain/Europe and budget orientated, but really very very good. You might also enjoy Ryan Twomey if USA travel/food/Van Life interests you. All the Best!
Johnno is an absolute LEGEND! What a guy!!! Was not sure what to expect when I started watching but by the middle I was loving every minute! Australia is such a beautiful country.
Mike I am living my dream vicariously through you. I always respected tractor trailer truckers. It was a dream of mine to be one. I just told my granddaughter I just want drive one time. So Johnno is doing it for me. Thanks for introducing me to Johnno he is Truck Star. This is a great video.
This trucker is impressive… I drove B-trains for 25 years and backed them up no problem… But A-train….that’s a different story… Some companies actually will fire you if your caught backing them up… Great job Mike…and John…my hat is off to you…mate!!!
Ive had family that were truckers. The respect I have for this work is undeniable. Also, people don't realize the skill it takes to drive a machine like this. Same type of people that think they can fight a bear think they can hop in a drive.
Johnno was definitely right about one thing. The trucking lifestyle, except for local gigs, isn't for everyone. It's great for single people that like to travel and for couples without kids in the house, either as a team or a driver with passenger setup. Those with families that want to drive a truck are usually best suited with a local job that gets them home every day.
The road isn’t the only one of the longest stretches of straight peices of road but the rail line through the Nulabour is the longest peace of straight railway line in the world
As a trucker of 18 years i loved this video! Great insight on Ozzy trucking, I'm sure alot of people learnt alot from this type of trucking because i did 😮 10/10
I'm English but my wife's Cousin is australian who drives the Freight Train across Australia.Some of his stories are Amazing. Can't wait to visit on day.👍
This was a great video. You are a champ and natural presenter. The trucker was also so genuine. This took me away from other issues for a while. Sincere thanks to both of you.
Pulling a "double" to Perth from the eastern seaboard is a LOT easier than it used to be. The trucks now commonly have 600hp whereas in the 1980's they had only on average 400hp. That extra power cuts about 2 hours off a days drive. Running Perth especially, going east to west almost always means headwinds, and those can be really hard on the truck and fuel consumption. At Port Augusta, it was previously necessary to "shuttle" the trailers over Horrocks Pass, which took at least 4 hours, and unhooking/hooking up. Backing a dolly under a trailer, in a yard at night was always tricky. If a driver was really tired, he would put the front of the truck on the dolly and push it under the second trailer......it ends up being quicker. The trucks of the 1980's and 1990's were also rough and noisy......modern trucks are very civilized by comparison.
@@Kwunt-l3q yeah, that was an issue for the Adelaide/Melb guys. Us Sydney runners had Port Augusta to Peterborough in the early days, and a shuttle from Sydney/Newcastle to Nyngan. Fortunately from 1991 to 1999 we had a series of improvements which cut those shuttles shorter. We got Nyngan to Narromine and lastly Dubbo, and Peterborough moved to Orroroo then Wilmington. In NSW especially it was a battle against whingers in little towns, which didnt change until we had farmers convince councils to remove their opposition.
As a former trucker, I'm excited to watch truckees from down under. We're all the same, we work hard, eat garbage, sleep when we can, eat garbage, and love the views. It's how other countries drive on the other side of the road that makes me antsy at times
American in the Northern Territory and road trains boggle my mind! Appreciate our truckies so much. Kangaroo eyes don’t reflect like most wildlife, they are like deer? Much of Australia is wild and remote soooo bulls are also a problem, sometimes camels too lol!! I’m homesick, I hope you had fun!!!
I swear I burst out laughing and saw this on repeat an endless amount of times. I love playing this joke on my friends, but with a small Seat Ibiza, never thought I'd see this with a damn road train. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Johnno is an absolute LEGEND!
Hey Mike you are blessed to have driven whith a true Australian truck driver Johnno is a credit to our industry I'm retired now but he is but he is a good guy no crap good operator the best documentary I've ever seen 👍
37:30 woah! Those are haul truck buckets. In the US, generally speaking haul trucks are too big to be built and shipped to mines, the big trucks anyways, so each mine will have their trucks built on site. You'll frequently see tires on truck beds going up to the mine, but the buckets and trucks themselves are all welded together on site. Absolutely wild
Retired trucker here USA, I've always loved seeing those Australian road trains , That was a great trip ,no trouble with any roo,s dashing across in front of you lol , love the shirt and Johnny going back for one himself lol , great trip guys.
All right.... A Canadian RUclipsr traveling with an Aussie Trucky that plays Billy Joel's "Piano Man" at a roadhouse in Western Australia.... Good on ya mate!!!
@@lenniedavis1294 Not many. Most other travel RUclipsrs are either: 1) A hopelessly generic couple channel going to "exotic" places and having all of the most average reactions and insights possible. 2) Sensationalist but ultra-repetitive "poverty p*rn", aka "look how bad these people have it! Look at the danger I'm getting myself into!" 3) People with clear political agendas pretending to show the "real" side of a place, and then only highlighting crime, homelessness, desolation and despair, pretending like everything else is just an act. There are literally only two travel channels I follow and Downie is one of them, because he's fresh, uplifting, diverse in his content and down-to-earth.
It was great to see a part of Australia that wasn't the usual New South Wa;es and Victoria. It seemed like all the roads were perfectly straight and the topography as flat as Kansas. Johnno was such a great, mellow travel companion.
Johno is great road train partner...mobile Barista...good father...And love-d the WOK BOX part of the video...about him wanting more...yup.."Chinese food? you will want more in an hour😁👍👍 Great insights from him too about life on the road...
Awesome video. Yet another unique mode of transit that I had heard of but never seen so intimately. When Johnno walked out in his matching shirt I burst out laughing. Can't wait for the next one
Wow....I wasn't expecting seeing parts of the video where it reminded me of driving up California's Pacific Coast Highway 1 and the "SUSHI" stop . AWESOME VIDEO
I love your channel and yes, I may be a little bit biased [I'm an aussie] but Mike...this might be the BEST video vlog you've done....so entertaining - Johnno is a legend, the truck is a legend, the country is a legend - and now, so are you. Thoroughly enjoyed this episode - made my weekend :)
It would appear that not all Australian trucks that size have the 3 Michigan marker lights centered at the top on each end, amber front, red rear. North American trucks of that size (and buses) have them.
4 days on a road train across Australia? Now that’s what I call a true Outback adventure! 🚛 The landscapes, the endless roads, and the freedom of the open highway-this is the ultimate way to experience the heart of Australia! Can't wait to see what unique moments and breathtaking views you captured along the way!
I was a truck driver for 15 years in the US, now I drive a desk. Always wanted to do a trip like this with an Australian truckee. Thanks for doing this, great job.
get a working visa and do it yourself, mate of mine keeps offering me a job way up north in the mines, $65hr, but i have to keep reminding him i never got my licence. he used to drive power trains which are wild rigs.
Precisely, just like the possums are as well as rabbits & foxes, not forgetting camels & horses in the outback where they breed like flies. If we get seasons of rain, then they breed like crazy, then the drought arrives & they head for the homesteads or towns to find water & food. I have seen hundreds around outback towns vying for the bales of food set out for livestock. Three winters ago we had a mouse plague in NSW & it was the worst we have seen in many a long year.
Where I live we get deer and roos. Seeing more deer every year now... Deer do more damage but the roos are like heat seeking missiles with their determination to headbutt your car. But I would never come accros Atleast 100 roos on my way to and from work. Insurance company says we've been the worst place in Australia for people hitting roos more years than you can count on both hands 🇦🇺🇦🇺
$3300 USD in California for 686 gallons of average price Unleaded/Diesel fuel at $4.75. Trucks only get between 6-8 miles to the gallon. At 8 miles per gallon it would give a fuel range of about 5500 miles. However, in Australia $3800 converts into American dollars to about $2500. Meaning Australians are paying $800 less in fuel, for the same range but with the added benefit that the cost of hauling 2 extra trailers (a total of 4) over the American limitation of only 2 trailers is built in and is extra profit being able to be delivered at the same time on one truck, double the amount of goods with a 1/4 savings makes Australian truck shipping extremely lucrative, and American truck shipping less so.
As a patriotic american my most favorite part of australian culture is the roadtrains due to my passion in big mighty rigs thanks for this awesome episode
your president roosevelt worked on a gold mine not far from kalgoorlie, sons of gwalia i think. he was the manager and his house is still there, you can even stay there i believe.
Love seeing how our Aussie cousins get things done. There’s maybe 2 miles of road in the whole of the uk straight and wide enough for one of those bad boys lol
Yep. But travelling those donkey-cart rural roads of the British Isles and dodging stock, farm machinery, locals and TOURISTS can be just as exciting! 😱🙄😂😂
I'm so glad this one was done and I came along for it. This was an absolute blast to watch. I got to see part of Australia that I never would have imagined. Johnno's personality was fantastic. You two got along so well and he had such a fun time with you. Did he ever decide if he is a sunrise or sunset kind of guy? Oh, and doing the twinsie thing with the roadhouse shirt absolutely broke me. I smiled and laughed through this whole video. Nearly and hour long in length was an extra bonus.
I worked in traffic management years ago and we escorted the road testing equipment from Southern Cross to SA, down to Esperance and up to Wiluna..and back. Seismic testing every 400m....average speed 20kmh..3 months it took... there's nothing out there and yet there's everything out there, made me realise how much you miss at 110kmh
You picked the perfect co-star for this episode. Johnno has a great personality, really lively and witty.
Bloody oath, he's a rippa of an Aussie and that makes the trip and video all the better.
Awesome
What a true blue Aussie
Hi. I am a long time follower of Johnno. Saw his video some weeks ago thinking, WOW, he picked the perfect co-star for an episode. WTF is this guy? He is hilarious. Now I follow you both. You are great (,) guys!
Thanks heaps y'all. We had a lot of fun making this.
While washing the truck he says "I forgot my bikini's" that line is how I knew our stranger was a friend. 10/10 comedy.
OMG the matching shirts ha ha ha!
The funny things we say without thinking.
Totally agree 😂
He has his own channel so he's obviously not going to be a dickhead
Agreed! It really is an epic video, the forehead smash on the horn button though!!! Johnno is my kinda guy!
I once asked a cross country trucker I know if he prefers sunrises or sunsets. His response was something of genius. "It really depends on what direction I'm driving. No one likes the sun in their eyes."
no shit (respectfully)
Facts
Real. A pair of polarized sunglasses helps a LOT
Yep.Your first sunrise, you say everyone should see this beautiful sight.A month later you are thinking, "I wish I had washed the windscreen.The combination of smeared bugs
and sunshine turns a driver into a blind man"
It's not the same but they make trucking simulators and you can buy a wheel and basically drive anywhere! I would look into it if you think that fondly of it.
Johnno went from awesome to absolute LEGEND at first touch of the piano!
No doubt🤩🙂↕️
Billy Joel · Piano Man
Millenial truck driver here. You can really learn a lot from these old hats such as Jonno. Shame a lot of 'em are retiring as time goes on. But to learn how to drive manual (10-13-18-speed) and also be "raised" by old school truck drivers, is a blessing. A lot of the time they're just like Jonno in terms of humor and just enjoying what he does and fill in any questions anyone might have. Good video and great spotlight on the industry. I might be in the states, but the mindset is truly universal.
This is what RUclips is for...this is truly amazing and wholesome...big truck fan here from Kenya
This is what RUclips is all about, some of the most unique and entertaining content. Loved this one Mike
You have to do one
I just finished your video before this one! How cool
Omg some of my 2 of my fave RUclipsrs being buddies is absolutely amazing! And I have to agree. This is an awesome video. So entertaining
Thanks Will! We'll have to link up at some point soon!
Do you think you could kick off the ole Tims in the back of one of those trucks and cross Australia, you've done it in a luxury train, how's about a road train?? hehe
Johnno is a top bloke, and these honest, hard-working dudes are the backbone of the country.
I hope it was an epic trip, Mike.
I love Johnno’s YT channel “Road Train Adventures”. Reminds me of the trips I’d take with my grandpa in his Mack Superliner here in the States.
Epic trip.😄😄
@@roughneckmp that's very cool bro
They are the back bone of every country. Legends
Johnno is a great ambassodor for «truckies»
What a nice and amaziing guy😊
Best wishes from Norwegian truck driver
I'm only 10 minutes in and I'm just grinning like a little kid. I dont think you could have found a better bloke to do this trip with than Johnno. Johnno, if you read this, thanks a million for taking us along on this trip!
Awesome. It was a lot of fun making this so it was our pleasure.
@@RoadTrainAdventures In case anyone ever reads this. I myself thought this life could be for me. When Johnno was explaining how it can be stressful to learn the realities of the job, he's not by any means kidding. It can be hard to get homesick and be days away from being able to see family. Every moment of free time you have outside of working is meant for sleep because every moment you don't spend driving is lost money. Keep in mind that while you're driving all of your attention is given to the road. This leaves very little free time to actually build or mend connections.
Don't get me wrong. Driving a truck can be great. But most truck driving jobs where you can go home every night require incredibly stressful city driving. Getting cut off every few minutes while hauling 15/30/60+ thousand pounds is a whole other level of stress. You have to be okay with letting other people hurt themselves and its a strange experience.
i am a german Truckdriver, everytime, if someone asks what i do for a living i say: I sit in front of my bed and stare out of the window
😂😂good one
I used to run a B-double from Sydney to Perth. My last trip over there was 2 years ago and it used to cost Over $8000 in fuel and adblue for a return trip. I now run between Sydney and Melbourne all week. And it cost over $4000 in fuel each week.
I would also like to say, you did an awesome job of showing the life of us long haul Aussie truckies
Very nice. It was great to have you along
Mike, you and Johnno twinning in roadhouse merch was priceless. Thanks for taking me along for the ride.
Very good
Best part
@@Stevenhlms04 ha ha
bro was so confident to sit down n start playing piano man, bravo
Piano Man is such a lovely song to play, too.
Chief can play.
5 minutes in, and this is already better than any episode of Outback Truckers. As an Aussie this makes me so happy. Everyone must do a trip across to Perth by road. I was so so happy to get to do that with my Father in a B-double. Even as a passenger, it was tiring, and I couldn't imagine doing it week after week like he did.
Very nice
Honestly! No drama, good vibes and road house reviews. I'd rather watch this any day.
Ah but this is real. Not hyped up TV drama. Loved Johnos videos on this and having just as much fun watching this one Makes a Guy want to cross the Nullabor again.😁
Why not just actual trains though?
Seems like literally the easiest place to build them too.
@@anthonyrowland9072 Private interests.
I guessed 2,000! 35 yr truckdriver here in the US. Love to watch what our Aussie brothers and sisters are doing down that way. So nice to see him floating the gears in an 18sp. Up here we have switched to automatics in a big way reserving gears for older trucks specialized heavy loads or log trucks etc. Wife's 1st husband and father were career military so she is used to someone gone weeks or months at a time. What a great video explaining the life most people never notice.
Randomly started watching this... thought to myself, what am I watching??... couldn't stop watching. Found the right trucker to make the video with
Pretty much same here!! Really enjoyed this
First thing I want to say is thank you both for the RUclips video 31 years I drove across Australia. I was told to retire as my heart and lungs are not the best by doctors and you brought a tear to an old truckie's eye watching that. THANK YOU AND SAFE TRIP.
Good on you quittin the winnie blues mate
@@bigbelix He never said he quit ciggies, he just quit driving...
"To see a sunrise is a promise of a new day. To see a sunset is to let me know I lived another day." This is a poem my Dad told to us kids frequently. I'm like my Dad both are equally beautiful.
...and modest.
Johnno has such a great vibe and charisma. What a great guy!
Very nice
As a trucker myself in America I've always wanted to experience this in Australia. Also, I feel like truckers everywhere have bad diets.
Good on ya Johno for showing this Canadian, the real Australia. I immigrated here with my family back in the early 70's, it truly is a beautiful sunburn country, but it is the people, or average battler (Joe) that makes it so much more special.
This is exactly why I love this channel. The experience is so random but the enthusiasm is consistent.
Great vid indeed he’s 🙌🏽 I had to comment now for laughing at going through the motion of locking the chain on motel door 🤣 with no lock, so funny 🤣
What a chipper fella you got to ride with. He seems to like being on the camera too. Thanks for the video bud, you’re the best!
Yes we worked very well together.
I hope that guy lives a long fulfilling life, what a great genuine guy
laying down now with some flu, pneumonia and temperature and your video just pure joy to watch, thank you both!
I hope you feel better soon
Same boat
It's honestly nice to see what life as a trucker is like in Australian. Especially the road trains. Here in Germany, trucks with semi-trailers can only be just under 17 meters long. Truck with dolly about 18.75m.
Mike- this is the best video you have done in years! I became so engrossed in it I totally lost track of time, even where I was. With no exaggeration I really really enjoyed it!
Thanks! That's exactly the kind of response I was hoping for.
Ditto
@@DownieLiveyeah, classic Mike!
Still kept the TRAIN emphasis for what your known for Mike. I noticed that you filmed this before Bathurst 1000.🤔🇦🇺🦘🪃🇦🇺🦘🪃
Very nice. You guys are the best.
I love how natural Johnno is on camera. And I didn't think he'd have a YT channel of his own.
But I gues that's why he's not camera shy.🙂
It took a little practice as I want that good in front of the camera.
@@RoadTrainAdventures when exactly was downie in Australia
@@southaussiegarbo2054 he mentioned August in the video, so.. probably august.
Mike, Believe me when I say this that you and Jeb Brooks are the only RUclipsrs that make me genuinely laugh with the videos and moments you capture. You shine the light on the side of humanity that is so rare to see these days! Thanks for all the hard work and cheers to your next adventure!
Check out Steve Marsh - mostly focussed on Scotland/Britain/Europe and budget orientated, but really very very good. You might also enjoy Ryan Twomey if USA travel/food/Van Life interests you.
All the Best!
@@jonnywas2665I was literally just about to recommend Steve! 😁
@@jonnywas2665 will do. Thanks!🫶🏻
Steve Marsh is awesome. His videos are long and there’s a lot of walking, yet the time flies by.
Jeb and Mike both have a similar sense of whimsy
Johnno is an absolute LEGEND! What a guy!!! Was not sure what to expect when I started watching but by the middle I was loving every minute! Australia is such a beautiful country.
I never thought I would sit through an hour of truck driving. You guys did a great job.
Thanks
one of the rare times the co-star had a RUclips channel and was an instant subscribe
This is probably your best video yet, so many fun moments, funny jokes, and a wonderful landscape!! Johnno is an absolute legend!!!!
Very nice. Thanks heaps
Mike I am living my dream vicariously through you. I always respected tractor trailer truckers. It was a dream of mine to be one. I just told my granddaughter I just
want drive one time. So Johnno is doing it for me. Thanks for introducing me to Johnno he is Truck Star. This is a great video.
Thanks heaps Delores. It was our pleasure to make.
It's a pity Toots Holzheimer predated the RUclips era. She is still a legend in the North! Her old MAN is now displayed in Winton.
This trucker is impressive…
I drove B-trains for 25 years and backed them up no problem…
But A-train….that’s a different story…
Some companies actually will fire you if your caught backing them up…
Great job Mike…and John…my hat is off to you…mate!!!
Ive had family that were truckers. The respect I have for this work is undeniable. Also, people don't realize the skill it takes to drive a machine like this. Same type of people that think they can fight a bear think they can hop in a drive.
Johnno was definitely right about one thing. The trucking lifestyle, except for local gigs, isn't for everyone. It's great for single people that like to travel and for couples without kids in the house, either as a team or a driver with passenger setup. Those with families that want to drive a truck are usually best suited with a local job that gets them home every day.
The road isn’t the only one of the longest stretches of straight peices of road but the rail line through the Nulabour is the longest peace of straight railway line in the world
And where Flying Scotsman set the record of 680 km for a non-stop steam hauled train in 1989
You found the best guy to travel with ever! I was gobsmacked when he parallel parked that truck.... Then he plays the piano... Very cool skills
As a trucker of 18 years i loved this video!
Great insight on Ozzy trucking, I'm sure alot of people learnt alot from this type of trucking because i did 😮 10/10
I'm English but my wife's Cousin is australian who drives the Freight Train across Australia.Some of his stories are Amazing. Can't wait to visit on day.👍
This was a great video. You are a champ and natural presenter. The trucker was also so genuine. This took me away from other issues for a while. Sincere thanks to both of you.
Pulling a "double" to Perth from the eastern seaboard is a LOT easier than it used to be. The trucks now commonly have 600hp whereas in the 1980's they had only on average 400hp. That extra power cuts about 2 hours off a days drive. Running Perth especially, going east to west almost always means headwinds, and those can be really hard on the truck and fuel consumption. At Port Augusta, it was previously necessary to "shuttle" the trailers over Horrocks Pass, which took at least 4 hours, and unhooking/hooking up. Backing a dolly under a trailer, in a yard at night was always tricky. If a driver was really tired, he would put the front of the truck on the dolly and push it under the second trailer......it ends up being quicker. The trucks of the 1980's and 1990's were also rough and noisy......modern trucks are very civilized by comparison.
Going from an 85 Mack Superliner to a 17 Scania R730 was a full on life change to me 😅
Not forgetting, splitting the Road Train up at Pt Augusta and bringing one trailer at a time to Adelaide.
@@Kwunt-l3q yeah, that was an issue for the Adelaide/Melb guys. Us Sydney runners had Port Augusta to Peterborough in the early days, and a shuttle from Sydney/Newcastle to Nyngan. Fortunately from 1991 to 1999 we had a series of improvements which cut those shuttles shorter. We got Nyngan to Narromine and lastly Dubbo, and Peterborough moved to Orroroo then Wilmington. In NSW especially it was a battle against whingers in little towns, which didnt change until we had farmers convince councils to remove their opposition.
CB banter is always the best 😂😂 "full on paparazzi"
That was hilarious! "That guy had a wild camera" 😂😂😂
It’s not often you see people with proper equipment out in those parts
@@carriehowlter3312 He probably saw the fluffy thing on the mic and thought it was a marsupial lol
As a former trucker, I'm excited to watch truckees from down under. We're all the same, we work hard, eat garbage, sleep when we can, eat garbage, and love the views. It's how other countries drive on the other side of the road that makes me antsy at times
Cheers bloke 👍
American in the Northern Territory and road trains boggle my mind! Appreciate our truckies so much. Kangaroo eyes don’t reflect like most wildlife, they are like deer? Much of Australia is wild and remote soooo bulls are also a problem, sometimes camels too lol!! I’m homesick, I hope you had fun!!!
Omg him passing out on the wheel was too good. Very funny johnno 😅😅 43:27
I swear I burst out laughing and saw this on repeat an endless amount of times. I love playing this joke on my friends, but with a small Seat Ibiza, never thought I'd see this with a damn road train. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Johnno is an absolute LEGEND!
Man Johnno is a such a cool guy What a personality on him, both of yal really did the most taking us on that journey wow
What an episode, what an adventure with Johnno ! Really one of the best so far, totally engrossed and over too soon !
I've been a trucker for 10 years here in the USA the sunsets are beautiful I've been to 48 states the mountains outwest are beautiful
43:22 REALLY GOT ME!! How nice it is Johnno.
Greetings from Venezuela
As someone who's grown up riding with his dad over the road since I was 3, this brings back so many memories...
Very nice
Agreed. So many memories.
We are the lucky ones, missed many many weeks off school 😅
@Kwunt-l3q but learned so much!
Hey Mike you are blessed to have driven whith a true Australian truck driver Johnno is a credit to our industry I'm retired now but he is but he is a good guy no crap good operator the best documentary I've ever seen 👍
37:30 woah! Those are haul truck buckets. In the US, generally speaking haul trucks are too big to be built and shipped to mines, the big trucks anyways, so each mine will have their trucks built on site. You'll frequently see tires on truck beds going up to the mine, but the buckets and trucks themselves are all welded together on site. Absolutely wild
The piano man was just. Lovely!! He is what I always thought an Aussie is...
Retired trucker here USA, I've always loved seeing those Australian road trains , That was a great trip ,no trouble with any roo,s dashing across in front of you lol , love the shirt and Johnny going back for one himself lol , great trip guys.
All right.... A Canadian RUclipsr traveling with an Aussie Trucky that plays Billy Joel's "Piano Man" at a roadhouse in Western Australia.... Good on ya mate!!!
ngl im rlly surprised this guy hasn’t won an award for best travel youtuber
Same here. He really is the best.
He's alright but there's so much better. EDIT: But don't get me wrong I really do love Mike's channel.
@@lenniedavis1294why would you even say anything ..
@@lenniedavis1294 Not many. Most other travel RUclipsrs are either:
1) A hopelessly generic couple channel going to "exotic" places and having all of the most average reactions and insights possible.
2) Sensationalist but ultra-repetitive "poverty p*rn", aka "look how bad these people have it! Look at the danger I'm getting myself into!"
3) People with clear political agendas pretending to show the "real" side of a place, and then only highlighting crime, homelessness, desolation and despair, pretending like everything else is just an act.
There are literally only two travel channels I follow and Downie is one of them, because he's fresh, uplifting, diverse in his content and down-to-earth.
@@bahnspotterEU wow that's amazing......
Your opinion vs another's opinion.
Imagine thinking you have the correct opinion?
It was great to see a part of Australia that wasn't the usual New South Wa;es and Victoria. It seemed like all the roads were perfectly straight and the topography as flat as Kansas. Johnno was such a great, mellow travel companion.
This is an excellent video... the truckie (driver) excellently demonstrated speed shifting (when you don't use the clutch to change gears).
Johno is great road train partner...mobile Barista...good father...And love-d the WOK BOX part of the video...about him wanting more...yup.."Chinese food? you will want more in an hour😁👍👍 Great insights from him too about life on the road...
Awesome
CLASSIC DownieLive move there with the matching sweatshirt!
Awesome video. Yet another unique mode of transit that I had heard of but never seen so intimately. When Johnno walked out in his matching shirt I burst out laughing. Can't wait for the next one
From the movie Step Brothers… 36:30 “Did we just become best friends!?”✋ “Yep!” 😂🚦🚚
I'm a trucker in the USA, but as soon as you mentioned Skylab...Wow! I remember when it went up and when it came down!
this is the first trucking video that did not bored me.. Good job my man!
Two absolute legends, what an incredible video!! I love your channel for all the random adventures, never know what’s next!
One of the nicest and realest videos you made in a while. Keep up the good work and your co-star is just a gem. Best wishes for him. ❤😀
One of the most interesting and entertaining videos you have made. Greetings from Perth, Western Australia.
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed the ride.
almost one hour episode, what a joy and humor. Thanks for a great road-trip with you guys.
Wow....I wasn't expecting seeing parts of the video where it reminded me of driving up California's Pacific Coast Highway 1 and the "SUSHI" stop . AWESOME VIDEO
I love your channel and yes, I may be a little bit biased [I'm an aussie] but Mike...this might be the BEST video vlog you've done....so entertaining - Johnno is a legend, the truck is a legend, the country is a legend - and now, so are you. Thoroughly enjoyed this episode - made my weekend :)
Very nice. Thanks Sharon
I didn't think I'd be interested in this episode, but your story telling is unparalleled. I really enjoyed it. Glad I watched.
This was great. The matching truckie shirts and the high five were EPIC.
Johnno is the typical Aussie. they work hard, down to the earth, fun, warm heart, always smile to their lives.
This was highly entertaining. As an Aussie myself, i always love watching these types of videos. Good job 👌
What a great episode, loved to see this as an Aussie! Glad you enjoyed it, Johnno seems like a great bloke! Truckies here are certainly characters
Johnno is absolutely great. I’m 10 mins into the video and he’s already convinced me of my next profession.
Great video, original content and super interesting. Thanks for the ride Johnno & Downie!
36:46 bloodyhell that was the best part of this video. Hahahah
What an amazing insight into Johnno"s truckee life. Not one boring moment with you two guys on the road. I really had to watch it twice ;).Thanks!
I drive one of these in America & it's so cool to see how they do it overseas. We basically do the same thing, but we have different terminology
Yes. I'd be lost in USA with the difference in terminology for everything.
It would appear that not all Australian trucks that size have the 3 Michigan marker lights centered at the top on each end, amber front, red rear. North American trucks of that size (and buses) have them.
@@smwca123 Very good
From an Aussie 🇦🇺 that was bloody awesome, mate! Well done guys!
Very good
Johnno is an awesome travel partner. Your personalities mix perfectly. What a fun video.
4 days on a road train across Australia? Now that’s what I call a true Outback adventure! 🚛 The landscapes, the endless roads, and the freedom of the open highway-this is the ultimate way to experience the heart of Australia! Can't wait to see what unique moments and breathtaking views you captured along the way!
Always makes me appreciate my job when I see how others see it from the outside, I tell people “if kids stop and gawk “ then it’s gotta be a good job
I was a truck driver for 15 years in the US, now I drive a desk. Always wanted to do a trip like this with an Australian truckee. Thanks for doing this, great job.
get a working visa and do it yourself, mate of mine keeps offering me a job way up north in the mines, $65hr, but i have to keep reminding him i never got my licence. he used to drive power trains which are wild rigs.
Johnno was a great guy to experience that trip with. So are you now "Downie Down Under"? Truck on dude.😅
8:45 - sounds like kangaroos are just Australian deer.
Precisely, just like the possums are as well as rabbits & foxes, not forgetting camels & horses in the outback where they breed like flies. If we get seasons of rain, then they breed like crazy, then the drought arrives & they head for the homesteads or towns to find water & food. I have seen hundreds around outback towns vying for the bales of food set out for livestock. Three winters ago we had a mouse plague in NSW & it was the worst we have seen in many a long year.
Where I live we get deer and roos. Seeing more deer every year now... Deer do more damage but the roos are like heat seeking missiles with their determination to headbutt your car. But I would never come accros Atleast 100 roos on my way to and from work. Insurance company says we've been the worst place in Australia for people hitting roos more years than you can count on both hands 🇦🇺🇦🇺
very much so. as an aussie and hit a roo, now in TX, the deer do the same stupid shit.
$3300 USD in California for 686 gallons of average price Unleaded/Diesel fuel at $4.75. Trucks only get between 6-8 miles to the gallon. At 8 miles per gallon it would give a fuel range of about 5500 miles. However, in Australia $3800 converts into American dollars to about $2500. Meaning Australians are paying $800 less in fuel, for the same range but with the added benefit that the cost of hauling 2 extra trailers (a total of 4) over the American limitation of only 2 trailers is built in and is extra profit being able to be delivered at the same time on one truck, double the amount of goods with a 1/4 savings makes Australian truck shipping extremely lucrative, and American truck shipping less so.
You got it. The more trailers we pull, the more efficient it is
Visiting WA from Ireland and this was a great video. Respect to these guys. Australia is huge!!
Very nice
As a patriotic american my most favorite part of australian culture is the roadtrains due to my passion in big mighty rigs thanks for this awesome episode
You should see the mining trains. “BHP” train is 5 miles long. And they built their own rail line - 800 miles from mine site to port.
your president roosevelt worked on a gold mine not far from kalgoorlie, sons of gwalia i think. he was the manager and his house is still there, you can even stay there i believe.
I enjoyed that tremendously! Tell Johnno he is a star! Love from Kenya!
Love seeing how our Aussie cousins get things done. There’s maybe 2 miles of road in the whole of the uk straight and wide enough for one of those bad boys lol
Yep. But travelling those donkey-cart rural roads of the British Isles and dodging stock, farm machinery, locals and TOURISTS can be just as exciting! 😱🙄😂😂
@@theoztreecrasher2647 😁 especially when you're doing 70mph on a major road and still have to deal with the same things.
Johno is an absolute delight! i love playing truck sim so this might be my all-time fav vid. respect to all the irl truckies
Thoroughly enjoyed your show on the road train. Great view of the outback of that great country.
Excellent
I'm so glad this one was done and I came along for it. This was an absolute blast to watch. I got to see part of Australia that I never would have imagined. Johnno's personality was fantastic. You two got along so well and he had such a fun time with you. Did he ever decide if he is a sunrise or sunset kind of guy? Oh, and doing the twinsie thing with the roadhouse shirt absolutely broke me. I smiled and laughed through this whole video. Nearly and hour long in length was an extra bonus.
I think I'll go with sunrise as I'm more of a morning person.
What a great episode Mike. You and Johnno work off each other amazingly well. Like you're soul brothers 😂
I worked in traffic management years ago and we escorted the road testing equipment from Southern Cross to SA, down to Esperance and up to Wiluna..and back.
Seismic testing every 400m....average speed 20kmh..3 months it took...
there's nothing out there and yet there's everything out there,
made me realise how much you miss at 110kmh
Johnno is an absolute legend! Glad you took us on your trip!
What a wonderful truckie Johnno is - so happy and funny - and the views are spectacular!