How wet becomes too wet for the tracks?

[Doweymex]

I was watching an old 4WD action dvd today with my son who wasn't well (he wanted to watch Ninjago but I changed his mind  ) and the tracks they were taking were just wet slop.  This got me thinking about the damage they were actually doing to tracks. In mountain biking we try and not damage the trails too much. I've cancelled or cut short races due to conditions and the damage that can be done.

Is this the same for 4wders? I understand a little bit of mud can be fun but they were doing just seemed ridiculous; on both track and vehicle. I simply don't see the fun in having to winch 5 vehicles through every bog hole due to conditions.

My personal preferences aside, does it ever become too wet and people call it a day instead of pushing on? This wasn't one of the high country tracks that they close but it was in the high country, WW1 track I believe.

[Chris J]

As far as the DVD’s go, If the DVD’d didn’t show the mayhem and the adrenalin packed action who would buy or watch their rubbish dvd's

In the north we leave this to the main roads, local councils and national parks to control, if a track is to deemed too wet or dangerous the road is closed, signs are put in place, as the roads and tracks reopen maximum axle loads will be in place, as conditions improve restrictions are lifted.

My view - if the roads are open why not try, I have a serious financial investment in my vehicles and I know their capabilities, I weigh up my options, if the track or crossing is going to cause me problems in reaching my final destination, damaging the vehicle or injury to passengers then I will abort and find a more suitable way to proceed.

Regards, Chris.

[marvellous_matt]

Its a pet hate of mine people with extremely capable 4wd turing bush tracks in to 4wd only by using them when they are wet. Unfortunate for others that might visit 3 weeks after the track is dry, but is impassable for all but the lifted go anywhere 4wd that dug up the track.
The damage done impacts heavily on those responsible for road maintenance, for example a National Park has $xxx in its budget, the more spent repairing tracks the less available for new facilities, walking tracks, or conservation, research. And they are not able to be at all places at all times to officially close tracks.

So my judgement is if I will be moving the road material, (flinging mud, getting bogged and deepening ruts) do I really need to be going forward. Unless there is a really compelling reason (and at times there could be) I will find another way.

[austastar]

Hi,
  I favour minimum impact driving if at all possible. I'm happy if no one can see where I've been.


cheers

[ATC]

I saw one of those videos, with 6-10 vehicles, some towing campers.
Trying to drive up a muddy track, in the rain, most having to reverse back and have a 2nd go, with a bigger boot on the skinny pedal.

Did a shed load of damage, to the track.

It they don't want Australia locked up, the don't damage it doing stupid stuff & filming it!

[Jakster1]

The wetter, the better!
I love 4 wheel driving in the wet season after or during a big rain.
It makes it way more challenging and snatching and winching out of the mud is great fun.
The most memorable and talked about 4wd adventures aren't  the ones that are just a leisurely drive down a dirt road now are they, it's the ones that we barely made back to camp alive.
Mind you, I'm talking about 4wd only tracks to start with, that never intended anything less to travel on.
The go pro footage with the inside of the car upto the windows and the esky floating inside the car is hilarious.

[alnjan]

Unfortunately there will always be that crew that as soon as it rains they will take to the tracks to have 'fun' without realising or caring what track damage they are doing.  There are places where it can be done   without affecting the 'fun' value but for whatever reason there will be that few that will always want to stuff it up for everyone else.   

[treads]

I've always been a big believer in 'Tread Lightly' and 'Do I really have to go there?"; however if I'm at work and 4WDing some high country track in the rain, snow and slush it normally means "Yes, I really do need to go there!". Usually it's to rescue lost bushwalkers, bogged 4WDers, broken motocross riders, etc.
That also means that my job will be made even harder by the d!@%heads with their 35" muddies rutting up the tracks and making them impassable to normal 4WD's 

[doc evil]

Also can depend an situation as well as location.
We copped fairly heavy overnight rain on the david carnegie rd recently.