Sundown Np

hi all

the mrs and i are keen to do the tour of Sundown from the dirty weekends book, however are a little worried how is says its only for experienced drivers with high ground clearance.
We have a jeep cherokee 04 with 2" lift atr tyres. The thing is it doesnt say why we need the high ground clearance.
We have done about 7 or 8 other tours so far and was keen to do sundown this weekend.

Ive tried to look up info on it from other sites, and it varies from people saying its easy tp other people saying its very hard.

Ive been 4x4ing for about a year now since we bought this car, in that year we go out every weekend somewhere. Its hard to tell if this tour would suit us or not. We dont want to go out all that way and see it and think woh this is out of our league! lol

If anyone can give me details about sundown that would be great. How long the tour takes, how far from Brisbane, do we need a modded patrol/cruiser to do it, are atr tyres ok for it, do we need to let tyre pressure down if so is there a town nearby after the tour to pump the tyres back up ( we havent got a compressor yet) etc etc
The more details the better

Thank you
Aza
 

bmurray2250

4x4 Earth Contributer
Best thing is to call the EPA for information about the track conditions. The Jeep should be ok as many stock 4x4 vehicles can get through. Tyre pressures at 20lb would help to get over the rough sections but a air compressor should be a item you should buy. EBay has them at good prices. If you are unsure take a friend that has all the gear and experience and follow them. I would avoid doing the track if it is wet as that area has clay in it.

Off there website

To reach the park's eastern boundary (and 4WD entrance) it is 16km from Ballandean via Curr Rd and Sundown Rd. A rough four-wheel-drive track then leads 20km to Burrows' Waterhole camping area. It is about two hours from the entrance to Burrows’ Waterhole.

https://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks/iaparks/gds/IAGDS020.do?parkId=13
 
thanks for the info
looks like ill need to invest in air compressor first
i was looking at getting an ARB one in the near future but was trying to put it off for awhile due to tough $$$ times atm
might have to look at another tour for this weekend a bit closer to home, especially one i dont have to let tyres down.
 

rodw

New Member
Stanthorpe is about 2 hours from Brissy and Ballandean would ba about 20 minutes further south. I must confess I have not done Sundown on account of it being the first 4WD track a company car could not negotiate! There is also a camp ground at the western end on the Stanthorpe/Texas Road. There used to be a road right through it but I am unsure if you can still drive it.

Another good easy weekend trip would be the Dirty Weekend's Condamine gorge trip and stay at Queen Mary Falls. Take a day to go south to Bald Rock (walk up the ridge, not the rock face or you miss a lot) and Boonoo Boonoo falls, go on to Tenterfield, Girraween National park, walk the Pyramid and case Sundown while you are there. Now I've written that, sound like you'd need a week and I ave not even sent you to Glenlyon dam yet!

Plenty of dirt road all round Stanthorpe if you have good maps but I left there in 95. You can get from Girraween back to town without touching the highway.
 

dipmaker

New Member
thanks for the info
looks like ill need to invest in air compressor first
i was looking at getting an ARB one in the near future but was trying to put it off for awhile due to tough $$$ times atm
might have to look at another tour for this weekend a bit closer to home, especially one i dont have to let tyres down.

If it is any help SuperCheap and nasty have a copy of the Bushranger air compressor for about $120. I know in the past a lot of people have knocked these compressors but I have had mine for about five years, it has done a lot of work and still goes very well and they are also one of the fastest.
Cheers, Dipmaker.:)

p.s It's also a good idea to have a think about joining a 4wd club, can help get you out of sticky situations at times.
 
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might have to check out that cheap compressor
and as for the club, im looking at joining one asap, when i find one that suits what we are after
 

rodw

New Member
might have to check out that cheap compressor
and as for the club, im looking at joining one asap, when i find one that suits what we are after

I've got a compressor to offload now I got a bluetongue one under the hood. Had it for a couple of years. Bought it from TJM. Not a big one, but adequate unless you are running 35" tyres. The thermal cutout has never cut in. I've extended the lead so it reaches all tyres. You might need to swap over the Hella power plug to a cig plug again. Have a look when we catch up one day. You could have it for $35.
 

dan86

New Member
Hey Aza,

Did you make it out to sundown?? If not, my wife and I (both 23) are keen to head out there one weekend aswell, but have been hesidant because they recomended going with another 4x4 incase. We have a 2000 jackaroo with 2inch lift and AT Tyres. Send us a PM if intrested.

Cheers Dan

PS we have a compressor and recovery gear.
 
hey

unfortunately the mrs worked sat and mon so all we did was two tours from the dirty weekends book on friday
first the Glasshouse Mountains tour (boring) then the Blackhall Range tour (short)

quite disappointing really

am excited for sundown tho i know i will freeze my nuts off

actually im trying to convince the mrs that we should go to morton soon....still sunny days and the crowds are probably as small as they will get.
 

bmurray2250

4x4 Earth Contributer
Moreton is great, I normally stay at Blue Lagoon camp site but there are others. The temp is dropping here quickly but the temp is close to the ocean temp at Moreton besides the cold winds. The cost to go there is expensive on the MiCat but if you stay 5+ days that isn't a issue. You could stay at the resort and do day trips around the island. Pick favourable tides for your activities because at 1/2 to 2/3 tide incoming you will not be driving any where along the beach. That could mean you will be stopped for 2 hours either side of the hign tide. It also depends if the surf is big and how much beach is above the high tide mark.
 

4whl_billycart

New Member
Dredging up an old post!

Wondering if anyone has done this track lately from the Sundown road point of Entry.
I have a stocker ATM so am wondering how difficult this track is. Id like a little use of the little stick but since I still have Road Tyers & standard height I am a little hesitant.

Whats the camp ground like when you make it in?
PS the tracks & maps part of this site has this track rated as meduim ?
 

Big Rig

4x4 Earth Contributer
I've done Sundown many times over the last 20 or more years. The dirty weekends book is quite right. It is bloody rugged and requires a reasonable level of skill to drive. The high ground clearance is a must cus the whole place is littered with giant red rocks. There aren't too many tracks in there however the loop to Rats Castle is an interesting drive. I wouldn't suggest going in there alone especially for a day drive cuz it's easy to get stuck or fall down a mine shaft.. Later on in the year I'd be up for a trip in there again. It might be a good one to post up on the forum. I'm sure there would be takers judging by the fact that not many have been in there.
 
still havent done this track even tho i was the one who started the thread ! lol
am very keek tho in the midst of selling the Jeep kj cherokee so might wait till we get a patrol or landcruiser before attemtping it. Am very keen tho as it sounds amazing:D
 

Big Rig

4x4 Earth Contributer
still havent done this track even tho i was the one who started the thread ! lol
am very keek tho in the midst of selling the Jeep kj cherokee so might wait till we get a patrol or landcruiser before attemtping it. Am very keen tho as it sounds amazing:D


Not that i'm knocking Jeeps but your probably making the right decision. We got a KJ and its only good for going shopping in ;) Your right, stick with the Nissan or if you really want a good ride go Toyota :rolleyes:
 
have to disagree
it son par with prados.. infact have now recovered 2 prados at moreton and straddie and a patrol at sth ballina. its clearance is an issue but so are pretty much all stock 4x4s esp prados...wrangler being the only one off hand i know that is decent, maybe defender too.
 

Big Rig

4x4 Earth Contributer
have to disagree
it son par with prados.. infact have now recovered 2 prados at moreton and straddie and a patrol at sth ballina. its clearance is an issue but so are pretty much all stock 4x4s esp prados...wrangler being the only one off hand i know that is decent, maybe defender too.

Unfortunately a lot of inexperienced people misunderstand the difference between driver experience and car capability. There are just fourbys out there that just don't cut it. The KJ Jeep is a great beach car with a little lift but not much chop for anything else without spending a fortune. The Prado is such a popular car especially for soccer mums (yea Frosty I said it and No I'm not a soccer mum yet:p) that their drivers, with absolutely no experience whatsoever decide "I've got a spare weekend, lets go up the beach" This is generally where they get into trouble because they think the beach is like driving on the road. Your comment is Fair enough.... however I'm talking about -out of the box fourbys- I own both vehicles, KJ Jeep CRD and a VX Prado and in my experience for what it is worth driving both off road the Prado is miles ahead. Actually our Jeep will be traded on another Toyota this coming Friday..:eek:
 
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we were looking at getting a prado, 120 series recently..... but apart from a bigger fuel tank didnt feel like much of an upgrade. i think a patrol is the next logical step for us..we have done all of the dirty weekends book bar sundown in the KJ.. next step a nice beefy Patrol lol only problem was the ones i test drove my left leg in the manuals would hit part of the dashboard when lifting leg to use the clutch. oh well another auto it is.
back to topic tho.. i am really dying to go camping a weekend down sundown esp over winter when its cold. will have to keep in touch with people keen to go over winter, best not to go alone i think lol:eek:
 

Big Rig

4x4 Earth Contributer
Like I say. I'm keen. Probably a quick day trip first to look for camping areas then make a weekend out of it. It would be good to map it on OziExplorer actually.
 
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