Fraser island driving

KDA

KDA

New Member
Gday all,

just wondering what kind of experience is needed for a day of driving on fraser island? Is it only for the very experienced or can most 4x4 drivers handle it?

My partner and i were looking to go their for a day, but sand driving is not a strong suit for us, i have a majority of the recommended recovery equipment watched many videos and read books on the subject and have even been practicing driving on soft and hard sand.

But driving on soft sand and traveling alone has made me raise some questions and maybe question weather its do-able,

any help or advice?
 
teza h

teza h

Well-Known Member
Hi KDA ,I would say go for it mate, sounds like you are fairly well prepared, just travel on the low tides, low tyre pressure, and there is plenty of people around if you need a tug out of a bog. It's a great place for a trip,well worth the effort. Definitely a must do.......Enjoy.
 
frosty

frosty

4x4 Earth Contributer
Grab some Max Trax, hession bags or if you have a winch, a sand anchor. You'll be set then. Just a thought, 1 day is'nt very long on Fraser considering the cost of the barge and how big it is. It's about a days drive from hook point to orchid and back.

Bribie Is is a good day trip location, if you have'nt done it yet.
 
N

NickE

New Member
Go for it... Fraser Is is a great place to get some sand experience! I'm only recent to the 4wding game, but have been bought up on the beach. As long as you're not playing silly buggers, then there is nothing to worry about. Stick to the low tides, and enjoy a fish or hike during high tides...
As for recovery gear, take a snatch strap, and if you can get a hold of some sort of traction aid (maxtrax etc..), then that's all you really need...oh, and a shovel! There are plenty of others around up there to help you out.

But yeah, 1 day is not worth the trip - make it at least 3 to make the costs of permits and barge fees worth while, and besides you could spend days doing all the track and still not see eveything Fraser has to offer!

...just don't follow those backpacker troopie hire cars!
 
KDA

KDA

New Member
thanks guys,

all the advice has really helped, and is helping feel more comfortable in my driving. I have my basic recovery stuff, snatch strap, exhaust jack, ezy tyre deflator etc but the trax turned out to be too expensive.

But Frosty what were the hession bags for?

We would like to stay for longer on the island however time and Funds $$$$ dont really permit, Buts its something ive wanted to do for such a long time and ever since i got my own 4x4.

might have to see if i can stretch it to 2 days.
 
bmurray2250

bmurray2250

4x4 Earth Contributer
Hessian bages are to be put under you tyres like the maxtrax to get you out of a bog.

20lb of air in the tyres have worked great on Fraser and Moreton. Tides are the big thing and making sure you drive on the hard sand is no difference than drive the blacktop.
 
M

mikl

New Member
KDA said:
Gday all,

just wondering what kind of experience is needed for a day of driving on fraser island? Is it only for the very experienced or can most 4x4 drivers handle it?

My partner and i were looking to go their for a day, but sand driving is not a strong suit for us, i have a majority of the recommended recovery equipment watched many videos and read books on the subject and have even been practicing driving on soft and hard sand.

But driving on soft sand and traveling alone has made me raise some questions and maybe question weather its do-able,

any help or advice?
Click to expand...

Believe me, you will never be alone on Fraser! Press on and have some fun
Michael
 
bmurray2250

bmurray2250

4x4 Earth Contributer
Over Christmas period, you would need to book into a camping site or stay at the resorts. I like the tides to be around midday, which give me time to head along the beach to location and come back in the afternoon. A day trip is a bit expensive when you pay for the barge and permit to drive on the island. If it just beach driving you are after, the north shore at Noosa (Teewah) is great and busy with traffic. Some video from 4wd TV

[YOUTUBE]38skhVWoWII[/YOUTUBE]
 
goldrush

goldrush

Moderator
Bmurray, love that clip. What a great vehicle that first one on the film is. OH. It's "The Golden One."
 
bmurray2250

bmurray2250

4x4 Earth Contributer
KDA, I do have some Fraser video on the below links of the conditions when I was there. One thing to remember, is the beach conditions can change very tide. 1 storm added some vehicle booby-traps have some photos of them
 
DazzGUIV

DazzGUIV

4x4 Earth Contributer
Get on there and have some fun...

Coming from Syd, I was surprised at how soft the sand was on fraser. But definately well worth it, a real must for anyone.

As people have said above low air pressure and use the low tides.

Vehicle preservation is the key, if you get stuck just take your time and work it out. Dont go blowing a clutch or cooking the engine trying to get unstuck in a hurry, it'll cost you for a tow truck to get you off the island!

There were people stuck in the sand trying to get to the barge at inskip point when i was there! i think they had a long holiday ahead of them

By the way, i was on there for a week and though i saw alot, i really only scratch the surface.

Cheers,

Dazz
 
bmurray2250

bmurray2250

4x4 Earth Contributer
Hi Dazz

I would have said Stockton Beach/dunes were softer but there are some tricky areas on Fraser. The sand being dry or wet makes a huge difference. That is from my experiences but I will have to test stockton out again on the 3rd of Jan just to refresh my memory :D
 
DazzGUIV

DazzGUIV

4x4 Earth Contributer
Hi bmurray,

Actually i was on stockton the other week and it was pretty soft - well the back dues are always soft! Always a great bit of fun close to Syd though.

I had some real soft stuff on frazer, i took the beach way round from the southern tip. The tide was probably a little too high, but falling and forced me up on the soft stuff.

The fun of beach driving - its always on the move!

Good luck on the 3rd... i'll be avoiding the reported quick sand patches on the west coast of tassie :D
 
bmurray2250

bmurray2250

4x4 Earth Contributer
Besides driving on the dunes, we are planning to sand-ski down them. I have built the board and it is ready to speed down them
 
vitara94

vitara94

New Member
lol be careful of indian heads, pretty soft there... if u have a toyota just get a zook to recover u...lol

i went last xmas and had a ball... was there for nearly 2 weeks, loved it.... just dont go with roof racks with a ton of gear on them cause u will be asking for trouble-possible rollover...:p

hmm just thinkin about it... buy a zook u will not need recovery equip...lol

i recovered 6 hilux's at indian heads...lol

oh yeah let your tyres right down, my mate with his cruiser goes down to 10psi with no beadlocks and has no dramas on sand...


hey daz i wanna check out this quick sand in tazzi!!! i might have a crack at it:p
 
DazzGUIV

DazzGUIV

4x4 Earth Contributer
vitara94 said:
lol be careful of indian heads, pretty soft there... if u have a toyota just get a zook to recover u...lol

i went last xmas and had a ball... was there for nearly 2 weeks, loved it.... just dont go with roof racks with a ton of gear on them cause u will be asking for trouble-possible rollover...:p

hmm just thinkin about it... buy a zook u will not need recovery equip...lol

i recovered 6 hilux's at indian heads...lol

oh yeah let your tyres right down, my mate with his cruiser goes down to 10psi with no beadlocks and has no dramas on sand...


hey daz i wanna check out this quick sand in tazzi!!! i might have a crack at it:p
Click to expand...

Ha! no probs, I'll take a snatchy just in case we need to use the patrol - the worlds best zook recovery vehicle :D
 
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