Author Topic: What is the toughest (off road) track you have been on !!! (Read 28261 times)

McGirr · « **on:** February 23, 2012, 01:43:05 PM »

This should be interesting to see what tough tracks are out there !

For me living in Cairns would have to be the OTL track at the Cape as it changes every year depending on the wet season.

The water crossings, narrow washed away tracks and the steep drop offs are what makes this part of Australia a challenging and exciting one.

Mark

Blinky Bill · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2012, 02:31:37 PM »

I'd have to say for me that apart from my track to home after heavy flooding

, the road to Cape Leveque (out of Broome), into Middle Lagoon and then onto Cape Leveque itself, was probably it for me.

The combination the road (deep corregations, dust and deep soft sand) combined with drivers who were trying to set land speed records, really tested me out. After that trip I needed a holiday.

The Gibb River Road into El Questro rates an honorable mention. It too had it's fair share of 'speed is the best way to cope with corregations' style of drivers. Loads of prangs too.

Keen to see what others reckon - Wayne

UTE 701 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2012, 02:38:38 PM »

We did the CREB Track the hard way .... we had a Pajero in our group that blew a clutch , and we had to tow him out .

I remember a track they called the Camel's Hump that went up the Toowoomba Range : that was pretty crazy .

cetacean · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2012, 03:00:16 PM »

The track on the Mitchell Plateau can be quite corrugated and rough at times,but NOTHING compared to the track that leads from the plateau down to the coast at Walsh Point. Full of washaways,rocks, potholes, cane grass etc, it' can sometimes be an all day event to do the 20 odd kms from the top of the plateau down to the water.
I reckon it's worth the effort though

JCOJ · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2012, 04:04:01 PM »

The Old Ghan railway between Finke and the turn off to Chamgers Gorge.

It was corrugation hell that claimed the front springs on a KJ Jeep, a home made offroad trailer was falling to bits along the way, the Trak Shak spring came out of its cradle, and a Kimberley Kamper had parts of it's kitchen rattle off. Plus you have to keep and eye out the whole way for the old railway stakes that would go through your tyres like butter!

gunna · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2012, 04:51:49 PM »

I was talkin to a mate that spends a lot of time out west they done the Connie Sue last winter
he reckins it was a solid drive

sheeds

Chippy76 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2012, 04:58:53 PM »

I still have never seen anything tougher than the tracks we tackled when I was in the Army. Nothing says "give it a go" like driving someone sles 4wd ,lol ... especially when it is as capable as a land rover or unimog. Puckapunyal training area had some seriously gnarly 4wding, such a pity it is not accessable to the public. There was also some great tracks up at tin can bay and shoalwater bay. And most of the time I was towing a trailer or a 2 tonne gun ...

In terms of public access areas there are some pretty tough tracks down at sundown NP. And the rocks have a tendency to tear your tyres apart if you get a little too excited ...

Cheers Chippy

ozbogwam · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2012, 05:10:50 PM »

Most of the stuff we did at Moab was tough but the hardest was Upper Helldorado and the final waterfall

Symon · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2012, 05:18:37 PM »

There is a short track above the diggings campground at Eungella. Not very long but it is heavily rutted and is definitely lockers country, especially when wet.

The CREB track was interesting with a camper on, it would be just plain crazy in the wet.

qlddsl · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2012, 05:38:02 PM »

X 2 on the old Ghana railway (finke desert race track) testing a mates off road race car average speed 110 kmh for 2 hours, top speed of over 170. My kidneys new about it for the next 2 weeks, and that was with a kidney belt!

JCAT · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2012, 06:41:40 PM »

The track into Halligan Bay for me but I am only new to 4wding.

It did claim a battery after it broke the clamp.

Plenty of corrugations and wash outs.

TOPNDR · « **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2012, 06:44:53 PM »

The CREB's been the most challenging for me, thus far.

I'd love to take the Quantum but the Bush Pin Striping combined with the Minister's angry look when I mention it, put me off. :'(

DannyG · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2012, 06:54:21 PM »

A year or so a go I spent 9 hours doing 5 kays around a forestry plantation.......the first couple of hours was fun.....................

MarkGU · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2012, 06:59:07 PM »

Pacific Highway.

seen the state of it lately

MrCruza · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2012, 08:45:33 AM »

Quote from: Chippy76 on February 23, 2012, 04:58:53 PM

I still have never seen anything tougher than the tracks we tackled when I was in the Army. Nothing says "give it a go" like driving someone sles 4wd ,lol ... especially when it is as capable as a land rover or unimog. Puckapunyal training area had some seriously gnarly 4wding, such a pity it is not accessable to the public. There was also some great tracks up at tin can bay and shoalwater bay. And most of the time I was towing a trailer or a 2 tonne gun ...

In terms of public access areas there are some pretty tough tracks down at sundown NP. And the rocks have a tendency to tear your tyres apart if you get a little too excited ...

Cheers Chippy

Ah.. Man after me own heart. Done all those areas but usually I was driving the ACV, pulling out all the bogged Mk5 gun tractors.. LOL Serious fun

Gunna Do · « **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2012, 10:14:27 AM »

After travelling to Cape York (via the OTL both ways) and then travelling around the Victorian High Country six months later, both times towing our camper trailer everywhere we went, I'd have to say that the High Country offers some of the toughest tracks I've ever driven on, and makes the famed OTL of Cape York pale in comparison. The High Country was tough not only on the vehicle but also on the skill and nerve of the driver, and I have never been so far outside my comfort zone when touring before, let alone when four wheel driving.

I've driven some other tracks which were not easy at the time, but more so because they were slow and time consuming. An example of these would be going into Bathurst Bay/Cape Melville via Starke Station years ago where it took 10 hrs to travel 70 kms, however most of this was washed out rutted tracks where 1st and 2nd gear was used most of the day, rather than four wheel drive. I also spent a very long night back when I had my 60 Series, getting into 5 Rocks Queensland, where around every corner was a bog hole, or sandy climb, or wash out track.

Matto · « **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2012, 10:41:20 AM »

My driveway.

Thanks!
Matto

griz066 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 24, 2012, 11:25:13 AM »

Any road west of Ipswich

Beachman · « **Reply #18 on:** February 24, 2012, 12:09:57 PM »

This was 7 years ago, but the track into Jowalbinna to Maytown.

Another one was Fraser Island 5 years ago during the QLD drought as the sand was that dry it was just like powder and made using the inland tracks a real effort.

GU Rich · « **Reply #19 on:** February 24, 2012, 12:31:00 PM »

I did a track many years ago in my 01 Hilux, it was stock other than a winch and ARB canopy which wasn't going to help this day. I was running split rims with Super Grippers wrapped around them. Myself and Cruza Driver were on this trip out the back of Warburton, it was the track where Roothy rolled Milo.

The ruts were so deep and it was raining all day I needed to winch the hilux all the way DOWN this particular track The hiux didn't have the flex or clearance. It was nearly on its side on more than one occasion. Cruza was in a 45 series tray fitted with coils and even that was belly up. The X9 Superwinch was awesome and performed all day without a hiccup!

Water was running down the ruts like a river it was comparable to the Malaysian rainforest challenge...almost but the clay was the same

This is what it looked like when I sold it. It took us to some great places in SA,NSW and QLD

If I can find a pic of the hilux when I bought it I'll post it up too

morcon · « **Reply #20 on:** February 24, 2012, 12:39:15 PM »

Quote from: navara04 on February 23, 2012, 06:59:07 PM

Pacific Highway.

seen the state of it lately

x 2 - especially Macksville to Ballina

Top.ender · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2012, 01:04:04 PM »

Although all the funs been taken out of it due to the enevitable thing called progress (bitumen) the road to Cape Leveque in days gone by would have to be up there.Along with the Renyolds River Track into Litchfield.

ddr · « **Reply #22 on:** February 24, 2012, 01:38:57 PM »

Its closed now sadly, but Abbot Creek Track near Woods Point was the hardest ive done. It was closed due to too many roll overs & after doing the track I could see why. The Weekend before we went some of the 4wd Monthy guys had a roll over on the track.

Its funny to see some of these other tracks listed as hardest. When we did some of them they were extremely disappointing & easy ie OTL. Time can change many things.

McGirr · « **Reply #23 on:** February 24, 2012, 01:50:07 PM »

Taking people on trips to the Cape it is interesting to hear their perceptions of what a tough track isand their thoughts after driving it.

Driving the Cape peoples expectations can be so different depending on what they have driven on prevously and also the reputation of the OTL plus the names of the crossings has alot to do with it.

Mark

ddr · « **Reply #24 on:** February 24, 2012, 01:56:38 PM »

Quote from: McGirr on February 24, 2012, 01:50:07 PM

Driving the Cape peoples expectations can be so different depending on what they have driven on prevously and also the reputation of the OTL plus the names of the crossings has alot to do with it.

Too true, another example from me is "Sky Trek", we got to the end & said to each other "When does the 4wding start??"

I love taking people new 4wding to the Vic High country. Typically their first statement to me is "Were NOT going up there are we???"

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Author Topic: What is the toughest (off road) track you have been on !!! (Read 28261 times)