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Fraser Island Trip

Submitted: Monday, Oct 03, 2005 at 08:06

Member - Norm C (QLD)

We are heading off on our first trip to Fraser on Wednesday. Plan on staying a week at Waddy Point. We will be towing our Odyssey CT with an 05 TD Hilux. I've done a search and read heaps on this forum, but still have a couple of questions:

1. If I fully load the CT (4 gerries of fuel, 200 lt water, etc) it weighs about 1400kg and has a ball weight a bit over 200KG. I'm a bit worried about the ball weight in soft sand. Thought I'd leave the front water tank empty and possibly only fill a couple of the gerries with fuel to reduce it a bit. The questions are:

From your experience on Fraser should I be worried about the ball weight?

If I leave a water tank empty, is there a tap at Waddy with good drinking water that I can use to fill when I get there?

From what I have read, the main soft sand we will encounter while towing the CT will be getting on to the ferry at Inskip and getting around Indian Head. Is that right? If so, providing I get on to the ferry OK, I can empty gerries into the vehicle before I tackle Indian Head to further reduce ball weight.

Any other advice?

Thanks in advance.
Norm C
New 70 Series and Kedron Van Oh What a Feeling
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Not so Grey Nomads. Now travelling this great land full time, towing our home behind us.
Norm C
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AnswerID: 132778   Submitted: Monday, Oct 03, 2005 at 08:21

Member - MrBitchi (QLD) replied:

Leave the jerries empty. There's fuel and water available at Waddy (Orchid Beach shop has a hose you can use for the camper). Fuel's expensive but if you start with full tanks at Rainbow you shouldn't need to buy much.
Inskip is usually not a problem. Just let your tyres down a bit before you hit the sand. Remember you have about an 80K run to Indian on hard sand so don't let too much air out (or pump up again once on the hard stuff. Pays to have a GOOD compressor).
Indian can be a pain as it gets real soft. Low pressures (~15psi) are the go. Leave them down for the remainder of the run to Waddy as there are some soft spots on the track and also the track to the shop can get real chewed up.

Cheers.....

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gawk; grep; unzip; touch; finger; mount; fsck; gasp; yes; umount; sleep!!
Reply 1 of 7
FollowupID: 387083   Submitted: Monday, Oct 03, 2005 at 08:30

andy1 posted:

read about your vehicle sounds nice.
read you have a rosco bass catcher.
i am seriously thinking of bying one.
can you tell me if you are pleased with it.
is there plenty of leg room in it.
FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 387085   Submitted: Monday, Oct 03, 2005 at 08:48

Member - MrBitchi (QLD) posted:

Truck's great. It actually has more legroom than a cruiser (I'm 6'4" so need my space).
Had cruiser on my list as a replacemanet for the NH Pajero we'd had for a few years but find the NM more comfortable to drive (we both have suspect backs so comfort was a priority) and more economical.

Cheers....

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gawk; grep; unzip; touch; finger; mount; fsck; gasp; yes; umount; sleep!!
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 132782   Submitted: Monday, Oct 03, 2005 at 09:06

andy1 replied:

sorry john this is my first day on this site.
i was actually trying to get some information on norm c canoe that he said he had.
sorry for the confusion.
Reply 2 of 7
FollowupID: 387095   Submitted: Monday, Oct 03, 2005 at 10:32

Member - Norm C (QLD) posted:

Hi Andy. The Bass Catcher has heaps of room, particularly for the person in the back seat (normally me). I can put an esky, tackle box etc in front of me and still stretch the legs out fully. Front seat has plenty of room, but not for esky etc due to narrowing at the front.
We have the removable plastic seats with backs. Very comfortable. Also have an outrigger. Wife likes to be nice and stable when on the water. With the outrigger on there is no problem standing up to fish.

Rosco aslo makes a Bass Catcher Extreme (think that is the right name) which is even bigger. It is so big though, that I thought it would be a pain to carry. With ours, the wife and I have no trouble carrying it, loading on the vehicle etc.
Hope this helps.
NOrm C
New 70 Series and Kedron Van Oh What a Feeling
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Not so Grey Nomads. Now travelling this great land full time, towing our home behind us.
Norm C
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 132802   Submitted: Monday, Oct 03, 2005 at 11:21

ShnogDog replied:

1. You can get water at Waddy.
2. At low tide, the run up will be great. The only place you will need to drop your tyres is when you cross behind Indian head.
3. You'll love it up there. Picked a nice time to go too.

Enjoy
Reply 3 of 7
AnswerID: 132805   Submitted: Monday, Oct 03, 2005 at 11:56

Farside replied:

Norm

We have just come back from Fraser. At low tide you should have no issues at all, even around the back of Indian Head and Waddy. I normaly take enough diesel to keep me going for two weeks, but I do get my water on the island (tastes great).

I am only towing a box trailer and I keep the ball weight as close to 50kg as possible (could not tell you what the weight of the fully laiden trailer is). I have seen on this trip and many other to Fraser all sorts of thing being towed up the beach past Indian Head and Waddy (some of the boats and carravans are huge).

Diesel was 1.70 at orchid beach and about 1.66 at catherdral.

Have a great time, hopefully the weed has cleared so the fishing should be great.

Angus
Reply 4 of 7
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AnswerID: 132834   Submitted: Monday, Oct 03, 2005 at 16:55

Member - Brian (Gold Coast) replied:

Norm
Remind me at tomorrow nights meeting...... I can help you with few Fraser "tips"
My Chrissy Prezzy
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http://www.goldcoast4wdclub.org.au/
Reply 5 of 7
FollowupID: 387118   Submitted: Monday, Oct 03, 2005 at 17:44

Member - Norm C (QLD) posted:

Was going to ask you anyway Brian. See you 2moro.
New 70 Series and Kedron Van Oh What a Feeling
Click Image to Enlarge
Not so Grey Nomads. Now travelling this great land full time, towing our home behind us.
Norm C
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 132870   Submitted: Monday, Oct 03, 2005 at 19:42

Hun replied:

G"day Norm

Just returned from Inskip point.Fuel at rainbow Beach is 1.31 for Diesel and a bit more for Petrol..
The track to the beach at inskip point is very soft let your tyres down to 15 PSI.Third gear low range and don't stop for anything. there were heaps of people bogged in the track over the weekend.If you stop you will need a good sand shovel or someone to pull you out cause you will get stuck.If you can....check the track to see if it's clear before you go.I've got a 02 td dualcab hilux and found third gear low the bets for power and momentum.Take your fuel and water with you it will be cheaper than buying it over there

Good Luck and enjoy your trip

Barge Fees are now 70 Dollars on the MANTA RAY
Reply 6 of 7
AnswerID: 132904   Submitted: Monday, Oct 03, 2005 at 22:00

Neil replied:

Hi Norm

Have taken a fully stocked camper trailer up there, you will have a ball, had a few problems as the NM Pajero sits a bit low with two kids and all the gear, with the trailer, the Paj has a winch thank god got us out a couple of times, used it more pulling back packers out in there hired troopies. The hilux should do it just remember keep that momentem going, and dont stop, and if you do theres always help.....Fuel is expensive on the island, but hey your on holiday and support the locals....Dont forget your rod....its a good spot for fishin...

Happy camping

Neil
Reply 7 of 7

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