MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jeepers Creepers on September 16, 2012, 11:49:10 AM
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OK, Mrs Creepers said, you can't tell the full story, as the folks concerned may read it on here. :angel:
Well, she's gone out, so now you'll get the full story of us getting bogged in the soft stuff. >:D
We arrived at Inskip at about 6:15 on the day in question and spent a few minutes dropping some air out.
Now, for those that know Inskip, two vehicles and trailers parked say 50 metres short of the barge, from back at the dirt, would appear to have arrived at the barge, would they not?
Once you start onto the sand, your head turns immediately to the right, thus allowing the driver and crew, a decent look at Fraser and with the water sparkling clean and with a gentle ripple on it from the north/west breezes, it sort of takes your attention briefly.
It however, did not take long, before we realised just how soft the sand was that fatefull Friday. We were plugging through and going good as we came up on the right hand side of a stricken early model Nissan Patrol and the 4wd in front of it preparing to give him some snatch.
Oh Sh1t, i mumbled to myself, as we were slowing down now at a decent rate until a bit past the Nissan, we became stationary.
I jumped out, mentioned to the guy with the snatch, if we could be next and looked at me like I'd just been given his missus one.
Oh well, dig, dig dig, drop into low range, a few inches back and blast off.
Ha, we're moving and got a bit of a run on too, until it was stopsville again.
Same trick again, we're off again, but a shorter gain this time.
This happened a few times, so i wont bore you with every minute detail
By now, we've all but caught up with the other two stationary 4wd's, and it was obvious, that at least one of them was stuck and still with a bit to go to get to the barge.
Oh well, so now it was time to pool resources.
The bloke that came around the front of the nearest 4wd, was sort of side on to me, but as he turned, i thought OH MY BLOODY GOD.
He looked like he had two frying pans for ears.
I kid you not, a Volkswagen with the doors open had nothing on this bloke, so i nick named him Panhead and not because he had a Harley either.
Panhead has asked his mate, could he snatch him out and his mate goes off. I've already done it once, I've gotta drop the trailer off again and stormed over to his Toyota and drove it up the barge waiting area.
I thought to myself, at least he isn't bogged, but what a unit.
I said to Panhead, mate of yours? and he replied, brother-in-law.
Mrs Panhead was starting to whine now about being "over it" and i thought, what a lemon she was. No help, stand around bitching about being bogged. Wheres a good bird dropping when ya need it.
We were all pitching in to help Panhead and not going too bad.
For some reason, only known to him, his dopey brother-in-law who we might nick name Dufus, decides to drive his 4wd and trailer back from the barge area, bringing it around in a huge circle anticlockwise to come back to left side of Panheads 4wd, only to get his bogged as well.
So, now we have 3 to dig out. I couldn't believe it, he was fine, all we had to do, was all pitch in, but no, Dufus Donelittle decides to bog his as well. No sense being left out of the fun now, is there Dufus.
Then we all turned, as the first old Nissan has come to life back along the sand.
This thing sounded like it had pretty stout small block Chev in it and in low range, at about 9,000 rpm, its come flogging past, rooster tails of sand going everywhere, followed by his mate.
They drove straight onto the waiting barge, never to be seen again. Didn't think they looked like they wanted to help.
I should've got Mrs Jeepers to drop her cans out and see if it would've helped.
Wouldn't hurt, that's for sure.
Ya still with me? Hang in there..... :D
A fellow working on the second barge, carried over 4 Max Traks and i was so happy at the sight of ém, i wanted to root him then and there on the sand.
We got stuck into getting Panheads ready, with the plan to have one under each wheel. You see, when Panhead bogs something, he really bogs it
Dufus wonders off with 2 and starts working on his own and I'm now starting to get the sh1ts good and proper, as no-one seems to be working towards a common result.
Dufus wedges 2 Max Traks under his front wheels and gives it the berries.
All you hear, is the tyres spinning on the plastic. Yep, has ém upside down. Old Einstein can't ever get a frigging Max trak up the correct way. He should donate his brain to science, they wouldn't get too many that are brand new and still in the wrapper.
It was around then, another 4wd got stuck to the right of us and not long after that, a landcruiser got stuck back behind us and to one side.
With this many people, i told Panhead, yell out when you give it the berries, we'll all push from the trailer and don't lift until you get to the hard sand by the barge.
He yells, we push, back wheels trying to pull it out, front one sitting there.
You sure you're in 4 wheel drive i bellow and everyone in a 5 klm radius checked if they were in or not. ;D
A very sheepish, yes came from Panhead and all of a sudden, bugger me, it drove out and we got it sorted.
Dufus was next, at least he was in 4 wheel drive.
Then Panheads wife says, oh look, the barge is nearly back.
I very politely, but forcefully said, yeah, forget that, no ones getting on unless we are all out of here. We leave no one behind.
The last bloke who got bogged sighed a bit of relief, as i think he thought he was going to left behind.
We came out next, and we were right.
Then the next one, and then the next one.
One fellow made sure the Max Traks went back to the right person.
Once i was on the barge, i went to check everybody was on and all good.
All up, about an hour and twenty i think it was, which wasn't too bad, all things considered.
One thing i can tell you, last time I'll ever leave the tyre pump at home. I was reluctant to drop the pressures any more than i had, as i knew we'd be right, once on the island.
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:worthles:
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Good story mate,. that is my biggest fear, getting stuck in the sand... and the pain in the a$%# getting it out...
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Cool story, and well told.
Reminds me of a time I got stuck on soft sand about 50m from the exit off the beach at Double Island Point. Fully loaded with a camper in tow. By the time I had dug in front of the wheels and dropped the tyres down to 10 PSI at least 20 vehicles had driven past, not one of them even slowing down to see if I was OK.
Not wanting to have a go at you, but any time you head for the beach you need to have a compressor with you.
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Hey Jenko,
Let me know next time you're in the area mate.
Hey Symon,
I did know to take the compressor, i just forgot it. Would've much rather forgot something else i think.
Hey D4D,
No pics of the bogging, but check out the boat grounding pics in the trip report section. sure feel sorry for the guy who owned the boat, but a once in a life time thing to see a boat destroyed so badly.
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The sand is really soft at Inskip at the moment. We had trouble getting into a camp site up there last weekend.
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I was reluctant to drop the pressures any more than i had, as i knew we'd be right, once on the island.
great story Jeepers, but there in lies the reason so many people get bogged at Inskip, they don't deflate their tyres either enough or at all, especially with the lack of any recent rain. i'd rather spend 10 minutes reinflating tyres, then trying unbog a vehicle in the hot sand.
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great story Jeepers, but there in lies the reason so many people get bogged at Inskip, they don't deflate their tyres either enough or at all, especially with the lack of any recent rain. i'd rather spend 10 minutes reinflating tyres, then trying unbog a vehicle in the hot sand.
Yeah, i know, but it was when i was airing down, i relised i'd left the air pump at home.
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LOL Good story mate you should be a writer for a magazine ;)
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Great story Jeepers ;D Similar thing happened to us at Inskip last year. Being our first time driving on sand, we had a good look before we went out. Sand was really soft and the ruts were deep, so we aired down to 20psi, lined her up and just gave it the berries. No worries, made it to the barge and we let out a big "WooHoo" with a few high fives thrown in! Jumped out expecting our mates to be right behind us, but instead saw them stuck probably 100m onto the sand. We turned around to help them out and promptly got bogged ourselves!! I reckon at least a dozen cars went by us without even a glance, let alone a "want a hand mate". We eventually got both cars out, learning some good lessons on the way.
Just astounded me that so many people could not be stuffed to even offer their help.
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Yeah, i know, but it was when i was airing down, i relised i'd left the air pump at home.
if you forget it next visit, you can always air up at the places that sell fuel on the island, or when you exit the island you can pump your tyres back up at the servos at Rainbow. if you drive at a reduced speed on the bitumin, it won't harm the tyres for the short drive to Rainbow, heaps of people reinflate their tyres back there.
cheers.
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Great story mate. That's the very reason my compressor lives in the car now!
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A fellow working on the second barge, carried over 4 Max Traks and i was so happy at the sight of ém, i wanted to root him then and there on the sand.
You wanted to what? :o
Was up at Rainbow last weekend and the sand on the south side of Double Island was very soft. :4x4:
Foo
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Bricky not condoning the trucks all going past you , but Given that a lot of first timers hit the island,
They think, well you got stuck if I stop I will too, So I wont .. And lets face it a lot dont have any recovery gear with them either .
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Great story! We've been to inskip a fair bit before we got the camper. I really want to go with the swan but am terrified of getting bogged.
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Probably been posted before somewhere, but what is the general consensus of members RE tyre pressures for sand. Jeepers, 24psi is quite high for sand in my experience having been driving on all of the SE Qld beaches both as passenger and driver for the last 30 years.
I have always aired down to 18psi, towing heavy about 20 in the back, and never had a major problem. Just wondering why 24 was your limit. No offence intended, good to hear other opinions and experiences
PS have never rolled a tyre off a rim etc, just drive to the tyre condition ie max speed 60 (you're on holiday, what's the rush), no sharp turning, braking or accelerating and its all good for me.
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On the way off the island, 20 in the jeep and 16 in the CT.
I've never been a big fan of running tyres that low, but i am now. :D
By the way, how did you know the name of our boat? "What's the Rush?"......
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There are definitely drawbacks to running below 20psi but as long as you are aware of them and drive accordingly the benefits are worth it. Its interesting to note that whilst general consensus is that lower tyre pressures help protect tracks and put less strain on your vehicle, no official body (such as the government) will ever advise doing it or not. I believe this has something to do with insurance companies, specifically relating to hire vehicles. I wonder if I rolled my car on deflated tyres whether my ins company would pay up?
As for the boat, you're pulling my leg aren't you?!!
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Cool story. I'm sure I've met Dufus and Panhead. Actually, EVERY time I'm up at Inskip, I'm sure I bump into them.
As for towing people out, well every now and then I have a "nice" moment. It's rare and short lived, but does happen. So if someone's stuck, then I'll help them out. If they're stuck and someone's in front of them ready to tow them out, well then generally I'll keep going.
If they're on their own, I'll think first of all, "Why are you on your own? Why hasn't anyone else stopped? Is it because you're an obnoxious xxxxwit, and three others have tried to help, but gave up on your personality, and drove off?"
This time last year we spent a few weeks up there. The sand was the softest I'd ever seen it. We towed so many people it wasn't funny. I reckon it would be less than five actually said thank you. One pr!ck tried to take off with my snatch strap.
Some of the said bogged people, can't be helped. They are far too stupid, shouldn't be allowed to drive anywhere, let alone the beach, especially with kids in the car. These people really do my head in. It's not my fault YOU'RE bogged. It's not my fault it's 37 degrees. It's not my fault YOU married that screaming banshee who's too pedantic to get out of YOUR bogged over glorified family sedan. It's not my fault your kids spewed all through the back of your car. No doubt you would be in a crap mood. I would be too, married to that, a car that stinks like spew and bogged. But no, I'm not, so don't have the sh!ts with me. I'm the one offering YOU assistance. I'm the one getting burnt to a crisp, trying to kneel on the shadows why I try to dig YOU out. MY wife and kids are the ones standing over there, in the shade of a tree, bored as bat sh!t, because we felt sorry for YOU. WE were on our way to the beach to go swimming and fishing. But now WE are digging you out of your hole! A "thank you" would be nice.
Not having a go at anyone here, I'm not saying this IS anyone here, nor is it everyone that gets bogged, BUT, it is happening a LOT more often. So the next time you're bogged on the soft sand and someone drives right on past you, they may well be a self absorbed pr!ck who gives a sh!t about no one, or they may well be over the last week of towing people out of what is usually a self inflicted situation. Remember, we're on holiday too..........
Shane.
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Great story! We've been to inskip a fair bit before we got the camper. I really want to go with the swan but am terrified of getting bogged.
If you're worried about getting stuck, don't go now, the sand is VERY soft. Go after it has rained a bit. You'll drive around 90% of the time in 2wd.
Shane.
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Great story Jeepers!
We're praying for some rain to fall on the 28th cos come the 29th we are there regardless!
And yes it's a shame about how many people don't help but that's the Me Me Me attitude we see a LOT round there especially at holiday time.
I also think that it should be mandatory that people who venture onto full sand islands like Fraser and Moreton that if they don't have appropriate recovery gear they should cop a fine.
And I think it was my first Fraser trip that I found out my prado has a rev limiter!
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Quote.... "As for the boat, you're pulling my leg aren't you?!!"
"What's the Rush?"..... See, i told ya.
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/figjam007/SL377206.jpg)
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Great story and very well written...
Bill
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Bricky not condoning the trucks all going past you , but Given that a lot of first timers hit the island,
They think, well you got stuck if I stop I will too, So I wont .. And lets face it a lot dont have any recovery gear with them either .
Yeah edz, I'm not suggesting that there's any obligation to stop and help (as the risk is there that they themselves will get stuck), but I guess I was kind of expecting it as that is what I would do if the situation was reversed.
Anyway, no harm was done, and as I said, a good learning experience for us.
Cheers
Matt
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Quote.... "As for the boat, you're pulling my leg aren't you?!!"
"What's the Rush?"..... See, i told ya.
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/figjam007/SL377206.jpg)
Now that's one helluva pile of grass clippings :cheers:
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Not having a go at anyone here, I'm not saying this IS anyone here, nor is it everyone that gets bogged, BUT, it is happening a LOT more often. So the next time you're bogged on the soft sand and someone drives right on past you, they may well be a self absorbed pr!ck who gives a sh!t about no one, or they may well be over the last week of towing people out of what is usually a self inflicted situation. Remember, we're on holiday too..........
You can understand why some people don't bother helping others out. Slightly off topic, but along the same lines I remember as a teenager my dad stopping to help two young blokes in a V8 Torana that had got stuck just off the side of the road. It was wet and muddy and these guys were just spinning their wheels trying to get back on to the bitumen. We were on the way to a party, so Dad was dressed in his Sunday best, but tip toed through the mud to give the back of the car a bit of a push and get them out of strife. "Just take it real easy on the gas" said Dad. His pushing at the back of the car was just enough to get them moving, and once they got momentum the driver decided to show Dad his full gratitude by giving the clutch a bit of a flick to get the wheels spinning and the revs up to redline. Consequently he got covered head to toe in mud and these blokes never stopped to say thanks or even sorry and simply roared up the road with their air horn playing "la cucaracha".....
After that incident it was a long time before he stopped to help someone again, and it's no wonder!
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That was a hilarious read :)
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Geez i miss that Torana. ;D
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Surely that couldn't be a Torana driver
Greg
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I was at inskip point camping last week on my trip around oz and while trying to find a camp spot in the multiple camping areas in and around the trees I got stuck going down a track that turned to crap and ended up coming to a stop with my caravan on weighting in at 5ton gcvm (as per weight bridge darwin) well tyre pressures right down and a lot of go forward as far as I can followed by going back and repeated with every time going 1 metre further forward until I was out. anyway my boring story with no picture of the bogging as I never think of it when I am deep in it. lol
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nice read. I pulled up the moment traction was depleting to air down the Patrol & caravan I we took on their a couple of years back. While I was out letting the tyres down a group of 4wds came past only to slow & laugh...oh to soon. Once I had the Patrol & the caravans pressures down I put it into low range & primed the air without engaging the locker to feel if there was enough to get going. Since I had stopped before digging it was an easy take off. The kids even got a chance to call out to the 4wds that had a good laugh, "thanks." Once at the landing point for the barge I unhooked then returned to assist the no longer laughing treasure hunters....well they were doing a lot of digging. All made the ferry in the end but was amazed to see the guys that wanted to laugh not realising we weren't in trouble as yet, didn't have a single snatch strap or shackle between them & asked why I was letting air out???? Once we got on the barge I let SWMBO know about the new finding so she would understand the urgency of breaking free of the mayhem.
Must say the Island is always a favourite :cup: would hate it to be ever closed on us
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Great story and I can picture Panhead and his Brother in-law.
I do a lot of beach driving/camping and that 100m sprint through the road to the barge is up there when it comes to a challenge. This stretch of sand gets more 4WD’s bogged than any other place I know. This 100m really does deserver respect otherwise your could well be it’s next victim.
We Holiday at Rainbow beach at least once per year and we use to spend each morning at Inskip Point with the kids. But I use to spend more time helping others who were bogged then time with my own kids, so while this sounds selfish we had start going around the corner.
Seeing Inskip is so chewed up and when it hasn’t rained for months, the sand gets really dry and soft. So when someone is bogged you can’t use snatch straps and once you stop to help, your also stuck. I’ve seen people stuck have been the most experienced 4WDer with well set up rigs. I have also seen others believe what the car salesperson told them about there All Wheel Drive being just as capable as a Cruiser/Patrol. Or my favourite is the ones who believe there 4WD is superior and they don’t need to let air out of the tyres
Good thing about Inspkip is it’s a wake up call to a lot of drivers, so they then normally take time to assess the upcoming challengers of Fraser. That plus if the barge guys see you trying to get yourself out, then after about 30 minutes they then offer there maxitracks.
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We Holiday at Rainbow beach at least once per year and we use to spend each morning at Inskip Point with the kids. But I use to spend more time helping others who were bogged then time with my own kids, so while this sounds selfish we had start going around the corner.
That was exactly my point earlier. I'm the first to offer assistance if it's needed. But by the end of a week, it wears very thin.
The profile pic I'm using was taken in the very spot this thread is about, this time last year. We towed so many people out at the point, that it prompted me to make a sign out of a beer carton, "Will tow for beer." Obviously no-one offered any beer, most can't even thank you for your time or effort. It did however make a few unhappy bogged travelers smile, even the local coppers.
Shane.
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most can't even thank you for your time or effort.
... thats the killer for me...
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Now that's one helluva pile of grass clippings :cheers:
Yeah, ta mate. I do mow a lot of lawns. 8)
We'll be going out on it for the week-end if the weather report is still on the money.
Its nice inside too, lashings of white leather, all the fruit and all that.
Refuelling can be a bitch though, i've been known to burst into tears half way through at the marina bowser. :'(
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I'm quitting my job to take up mowing lawns. (after investing half my super in BP)
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when i read threads from eastern staters about beach driving and the general consensus being that letting tyres down to 18 psi because the sand is really soft is really pushing it - i dont know what to think - theres a beach a few k's from here where 12 psi might get you through with a heap of berries =- but 8 psi gets you through no worries - and if i get bogged i just keep letting them down till i get traction. you can see when someone doesnt want to let their tyres down enogh as there are whoop de doos all the way down the track - bloody annoying
i read these threads and you mob will spend 1/2 an hour digging yourselves out - id rather let my tyres down a bit more and pump em up a bit down the track
as long as you keep your speed down and dont turn sharply you dont roll tyres off the rim - i dont actually know anyone over here that has with modern 4wd tyres and weve been in bad spots where we have been down at 4psi.
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when i read threads from eastern staters about beach driving and the general consensus being that letting tyres down to 18 psi because the sand is really soft is really pushing it - i dont know what to think - theres a beach a few k's from here where 12 psi might get you through with a heap of berries =- but 8 psi gets you through no worries - and if i get bogged i just keep letting them down till i get traction. you can see when someone doesnt want to let their tyres down enogh as there are whoop de doos all the way down the track - bloody annoying
i read these threads and you mob will spend 1/2 an hour digging yourselves out - id rather let my tyres down a bit more and pump em up a bit down the track
as long as you keep your speed down and dont turn sharply you dont roll tyres off the rim - i dont actually know anyone over here that has with modern 4wd tyres and weve been in bad spots where we have been down at 4psi.
yes it'a amazing how many people think 18 -20 psi is a low tyre pressures isn't it. 2 years ago i was running 10 psi rears and 8 psi fronts to get over Big Red in the Simpson Desert. i watched for ages as vehicles tried and tried again to get over the sand dune, and one of them was running 12 psi rear and 10 psi fronts. after a while i went down the bottom and deflated to pressures already mentioned, it took 3 attempts but i got over, all because i was prepared to lower the pressures far enough. the vehicle running 12 and 10 psi pressures who had failed numerous times previously then dropped to the same pressures i was running, and drove straight over the dune also.
at Inskip i have dropped to 14 psi previously when i got bogged towing a caravan coming off of the island, i was running 25 psi before getting bogged and had forgotten to deflate for the soft sand back on the mainland. once i knew i was going to get bogged i stopped immediately and deflated the tyres to 14 psi, chucked some Maxtrax under the rear wheels of the fourby, tooted at the nice man in front of me who was reversing back to snatch me out to please get out of the way, then drove straight out from where i was stopped.
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Kranky, you're dead right about the deflating worries. My father used to run 12-15psi in his series 2A landie, never had a problem (mind you, with a top speed of 80km/h on a flat road there was hardly an issue with overpowering the wheels!) and had to go to 8psi a few times on the north western beaches of Fraser which have now been closed for many many years. It's really that simple, and until you've done it you won't realize how much difference every 2psi makes. It's a question of heat build up and how far and fast you intend to drive. A 12v portable air compressor should be as mandatory as a bull bar (or any other accessory all the popular 4wd mags tell you that you need) when driving on sand, and then it's not really an issue. Which would you rather do - spend 10mins deflating your tyres the extra 4-6psi, then 20 mins re-imflating, or ???hrs digging yourself ( and others if you're in the mood) out of a preventable situation in the heat. I'd choose the first option and enjoy a few coldies in the mean time....
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Sicilianmama, I did Fraser last year with a Jayco Swan OB, 4 more sleeps and I will be on there again with the Swan. I drive up the beach to Dilli villiage and use it as base and explore from there. I'm in agreement with everyone else here. I drop the tyre pressure down to 18 psi. Last year we got to the entrance to Dilli, there were two Prado's one with a CT and one without. Both were bogged. I offered to help, they told me they were fine. I watched them for about 10 min then dropped the tyres to 15 psi and drove past both of them without a problem. Everytime I go to the island I go to 18 psi and thats about where they stay the whole time I'm there, never have any problems.
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Tyre pressure is obviously vehicle and conditions related. But the biggest issue I see is times change, but a LOT of people don't.
"18 psi is what Dad ran when he was still alive back in the 90's and he was a beach driving Guru. So that's what I'm gunna run cause Dad knew his stuff. Dad would have forgotten more than you'll ever know. I'm sticking with 18 psi."
You hear it all the time.
One of the vehicles I drive runs 5.5 psi in 32"s, just to get down a concrete path!
Shane.
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It's not so much the amount of air in the tyre it has more to do with getting the right sized shape into the tyre itself
Just so happens that for the average loaded 4WD 18psi is just right.
However if you have a very hard tyre carcass, or not as heavily loaded you probably need to go lower to get the same shape if faces with really soft sand.
I've found that for our 90 Prado loaded with CT on the back, having the tyres at 18 rear, 16 front and (I think) 14 in the CT is OK
as far as driving approach, for patches like Inskip and Indian head 2nd low, maybe 3rd low and keep the engine spinning at app 5,000 rpm gets us through on just the right balance of speed and having access to maximum available power instantly if I have to floor it
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as far as driving approach, for patches like Inskip and Indian head 2nd low, maybe 3rd low and keep the engine spinning at app 5,000 rpm gets us through on just the right balance of speed and having access to maximum available power instantly if I have to floor it
Agree that the tyre pressures need to be adjusted depending on how much weight is in the 4WD to balloon the tyres. Plus getting to places like Inskip point is 3+ hour trip on the blacktop. So 18 PSI in hot tyres will give a totally different reading if I checked them cold the next morning.
For years I use to do the 2nd or 3rd low but didn’t always find it to be that successful especially if bumps were involved. Now I do the slow and steady approach with 1st high and it’s less bumpy and I find I have more control over the torque band. But each 4WD and driver are different, so whatever works :cheers:
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Its good input on this.
Until now, i would've been a bit wary to go under 18, but i would now with the information that has come forward.
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it's a V6 petrol beachman, they have no torque so a few revs is all we have to go by. after al it's just sand LOL!
Plus.. we are always conscious of our C of G, never carry anything on the roof, all heavy stuff is a low as possible. I thik that's also a very important consideration for dealing with deep sand
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Its good input on this.
Until now, i would've been a bit wary to go under 18, but i would now with the information that has come forward.
Running up and down the beach with low pressures in soft sand at low speed generally wont cause an issue. It's not ideal for the side wall of the tyres though.
But, don't ever try to drive through the inland tracks with tyres that low, as the first tree root will almost certainly put the rim through the side wall.
Shane.