Fraser Island

As I said, I have been over there many times!

Steve, I doubt anyone would have a problem at low tide on the hard packed sand as you say, the difficulty is getting to that hard packed sand! The beach access at Rainbow beach to get onto the ferry has about a 50m stretch of very deep soft sand, and this is the only area that I could forsee a problem. I have personally seen plenty of people get bogged there, even without towing anything, although never had a problem myself. I have a LC100 TD with diff locks f+r and tow a camper that weighs around 1.2t at the moment. Tyres down to 20psi allround including the trailer - no prob's. People who get stuck there usually picked the wrong gear, or didn't adjust tyre pressure, or didn't engage hubs etc etc. BUT, I am wondering if a 3.2t BT would be a different proposition? Tyres down to maybe 12-14psi all round, low range 2nd, diff locks on, I reckon I'd be OK, but wanted input from people who have done it?

With regards to salt and sand, I've always just washed everthing down with fresh water thoroughly at the earliest opportunity. Never had a problem with cars or vans or tents or any other gear if looked after properly.

Steve, thanks for the reply. Fraser is a favourite spot for our family, and we have been thinking about upgrading to a BT for quite a while. BUT, if we were told that it would be impossible to take our BT onto the island we would have reservations about the purchase - it is an annual destination for us and we would want to take our BT there when we purchase one.

Regards, Carl

Carl,
I am going going to be Fair Dinkum here as much as is humanly possible... Now, I have had a few medicinal scotches, so I may be blunt here...

Fraser Island? That is not what Bushtracker was made for. Hell, buy a timeshare in the bloody resort or something out there.. Really! You might be a little off the track here, if your soul or sole reason for buy a Bushtracker, or even your main reason is Fraser Island.

These Boots were made for walkin.... Look, I could not justify such and expenditure of a Land Yacht built to last a lifetime for the sand of Fraser... Sorry.... In fact, I doubt you will even be able to camp on Fraser within 5 years. The greenies have so sown it up, only a regulated Tour Guide with Canberra Licences, and Aerial Photos of projected routes and ensueing Enviornmental Impact reports of tyre pressure gradients..... Will even be allowed on the island in the next 5 years...

The bloody greenies want to "Preserve" it totally away from us Australians, so it is saved just for close Airport transit for International Tourists to look at out of bus windows. Bushtracker is about getting away from all the Canberra over legislation that will probably spawn a cultural revolution to take back our country "FOR THE PEOPLE".

Alright, I have had my little rave, now back to reality.... If all you want is a little family camp on Fraser, I am not going to tell you Bushtracker is where it is at. That is not what the design is for.... How about that for Trust....

Bushtracker is more for long distance travel, self sufficiency, independence, and luxury anywhere in the Bush in remote regions. If you are just going to a regulated Greenie Park like Canberra Rangers to escort you through the gardens, you probably do not need a Bushtracker...

Kind Regards from a Friend....... lone Ranger will ride again..........

Steve,

I think you misunderstand where I am coming from - I do not want a BT just to take to Fraser - that it just one destination, and it happens to be an annual one for my family. So please don't think that is my 'sole' reason for considering your product!

As for buying a timeshare in the resort!!!! Mate you have no idea where I am at!! We camp on the beach, behind the first dunes. We are fully self sufficient for the 10 days or so we are there - we carry all our drinking water, fuel, food, shower, toilet etc with us, and we have noone else within cooee! (unless we have invited some friends who share our values).

So anyway, your first reply states that 'many have gone there', 'some from the first week of brand new', so I don't think I am alone in wanting to go there with a BT. If this is correct I am pleased to hear it - however I would still like to hear from anyone who has actually done it please.

Thanks for your thoughts, Carl.

Alright Carl,
You just put up with my sense of humour..... What threw me was the line of: "Fraser is a favourite spot for our family" and I took it to mean a major theme for your wanting a Bushtracker... Once a year is a different theme...

Over the years, I would have heard of maybe 10 going to Fraser, I just don't know of any in the B.O.G. off hand. Leave it run for awhile... As to these 50 metre soft spots, I have always done the huge run up and power on through these in a gear that does not run out of power. I think that is the secret, as you well know, in low range depending on the vehicle, probably second or third not to bog down and keep up the momentum and I do not think you will have too much of a problem... Some vehicles it could be second in high range or third in low range, from memory...

Personally I would carry a great huge aluminium Danforth Sand Anchor, incase I did get stuck. I would also leave a lead rope on the bottom of it, so I could pull it out in reverse when it is buried... Then send me a picture of the anchor on the front of the Bullbar, a real Land Yacht. If I was doing much beach work, this is what I would travel with. I always fear people would rather be entertained watching you founder.... And prefer to be independent just in case. I almost lost it with a Cruiser hitting quicksand on a beach up north, all alone.... Drove across a quicksand creek and lost it to the running boards... Pulled mangroves with the winch, nothing solid to winch to, then realized I was below the high tide mark on a deserted beach up north in 1988... Big Panic!!! I ended up getting out with a Hi-Lift jack, jacking driftwood down deep enough to hit a firm bottom, and then doing one corner at a time filling the holes with mangrove and driftwood, to finally drive out without losing the rig... SCARY....

Anyway, good luck finding a Bogger that has been to Fraser. Hope there is one here.
Regards, Ranger, back at work, but hugging a pillow...