Tips for Jeep/Beach Newbie

[Pipeliner]

If you are going by yourselves, get a pair of sand tracks. Maxtrax are the best (around $290 a pair) but there are several cheaper varieties which should enable you to drive out of a bog rather than have to wait for someone to snatch you out.

[Chopper in Oz]

Originally Posted by Pipeliner

If you are going by yourselves, get a pair of sand tracks. Maxtrax are the best (around $290 a pair) but there are several cheaper varieties which should enable you to drive out of a bog rather than have to wait for someone to snatch you out.

...and the biggest difference between Maxtrax and the alternatives, is that Maxtrax actually work

[Barny]

Originally Posted by adamj

We want to go up to fraser the week before xmas........................And I wanted a bit of advice on the bare essentials..........

The bare essentials - you won't need a thing.

The basic Jeep is a good 4WD and performs very well on sand. The week before Christmas will be plenty of people on Fraser to get you out of trouble. Don't go in the water and watch the tide and you will be fine. Plenty of good advice above, however I have never had to let my tyres down (including when towing) and never had a problem (I have a auto JK).

Think about a cheap hand held UHF CB. You can get a 1 watt Uniden for about $50 - well worth the investment.

Regards

Barny

[Pipeliner]

Originally Posted by Barny

The bare essentials - you won't need a thing.

The basic Jeep is a good 4WD and performs very well on sand. The week before Christmas will be plenty of people on Fraser to get you out of trouble. Don't go in the water and watch the tide and you will be fine. Plenty of good advice above, however I have never had to let my tyres down (including when towing) and never had a problem (I have a auto JK).

Think about a cheap hand held UHF CB. You can get a 1 watt Uniden for about $50 - well worth the investment.

Regards

Barny

Bad advice. Granted you may be able to get by without needing to be recovered, just as you may never have an accident on the highway - but would you not insure your car against the possibility?

If you do get stuck, whoever comes to your rescue will expect you to provide the snatch strap - and if you don't have rated recovery points they will probably refuse to snatch you out anyway as the risk to their safety is too great.

And if you don't let your tyres down you possibly won't even get on to the ferry at Inskip as the sand there can be very soft.

[Axeman]

also on the beach indicate on the side you want to pass an approaching vehicle, avoids confusion with traffic up and down the beach

[BennyWA]

Let your tyres down, it'll save you straining your engine!! (and overheating the JK gearbox)

[xjrob]

Also remember you don't need steep slops to use low range.

If you look like getting stuck, or your engine sounds like it is working hard, LOW range can be your friend, it will allow you to keep forward motion and reduce strain on everything.

That said, most of Fraser can be done in 2WD if driven close to low tide, but when you need to go through the soft stuff, prepare first, if manual select a gear and stay in it, if auto you should have no problems, but if it looks super soft, use low range.

Have a great trip, make sure you check out Lake Mackenzie