Andrew (Bris) replied:

I just got back Monday night after 10 days on the island.
After regular trips to Fraser a couple of times a year I thought the inland tracks were in some of the worst condition I've ever seen. The island was really dry. I've never seen so many vehicles getting stuck. We were there in the GU together with our daughter in her Pathfinder, as well as 3 other friends cars - 2 more GU's and a GQ.

Some of the sights on the roads were quite incredible.

1. The cake went to the 7 people in the Pathfinder that were stuck between Mackenzie and Central Station. Bogged badly, 6 people pushing, driving with his foot flat to the floor and sand flying everywhere. I went up to them and offered to help, only to be told in no uncertain terms that help wasn't needed - we've been stuck in the same spot 3 times in 3 days, we know what we are doing.

2. The GU driver sitting behind a troopie being pushed by it's 9 passengers having a chuckle about their antics, only to get stuck in the same spot himself when the troopie finally got away. After watching him make several attempts to get out, I walked up to offer help only to see the passenger skimming through the owners manual looking for help. A friendly word about better gear selection, and they were on their way.

3. Came across a large jam of vehicles behind a very heavily loaded suzuki bogged badly. Watched a Rodeo driver trying to get him out with a fully extended winch cable attached to a snatch strap which was attached to the suzukis towball. We eventually took control and needed two GU's to do a double snatch to get him out. By this stage we had a 15 vehicle convoy getting very frustrated.

4. A bogged troopie was blocking our way. Managed to get around him and offered to snatch him out. He was most appreciative because he'd already been bogged 3 times that day. I attached a snatch strap to my car, and gave him the other end which he promptly tried to attach to his grille - oops - had to give a quick lesson in better recovery techniques.

5. No thanks to the impatient driver of the landcruiser at Indian Head who couldn't wait for the other cars already making their way through the soft sand, and tried to charge through and sideswioed one of our cars. Unlucky for her, the GU she hit was at least siz inches higher than the cruiser and had very solid steel front and rear bars - the result - Patrol had a little dint in the Kaymar bar, Cruiser lost its wheel flare.

Everywhere we went the softroaders seemed to be having trouble. With the sand so soft they tended to be bulldozing the middle of the road whereever they went.

In ten days we saw a Rodeo, Explorer, Hilux, Landrover and Honda CRV to tilt trays, as well as a GQ limping along with a broken diff.

We had a great time despite the heat and flies.

Member - Jeff H (QLD) replied:

What can one say?
Been over 30 years since I fished Fraser, and the Lady has 'never' visited, although we now live 2hrs distant. We drive one of them soft-roader, Rodeo thingies.
Folks, I would nominate Fraser Island as the Inexperienced Driver Capital of the [locally known]World/Universe.. We have our own City folk: we have Backpackers; Honeymooners with unlimited financial resources;Cretins such as myself, all vying for the same space.
No thanks.
You get a hire car bingle 200km from the coast,(possibly anywhere in Aust., apart from the Adelaide/Darwin run) and it's possibly a Troopy. Both wallet and ego damaged.Rollover. No lasting damage.Stop.
Similar vehicle, Fraser Is., and you stand the chance of major trauma: head-on? "muckin around", bleep again (now I wouldn't know about that, would I?)
I guess what I've blabbed on about AU-2, is that population pressure is rapidly making itself evident. Good on yer for persisting: maybe you had no option, but twice is my limit.(See a prior post where a member helped a goose, Repeatedly.
Mate, I dread the day when I drive on ice/snow -----.Maybe sand and gravel just seem sexier.

dags666 replied:

just had a good laugh bogged 3 three times in the same spot and know what im doing what a knob, have been going to Fraser for 30 years and never been snatched or pulled out in all sand conditions. at the stage now if we don't need to get around you or you don't have your own recovery gear pitch a tent. the trouble is hire companies should be made to show a video on at least the basics on sand driving and safety,most think because it is a 4wd it will go any where. the hire mobs tell them not to let air out of the tyres and that's have the battle the other have is me no speak English or the mobs that do have sold their encyclopedias because they know f...... every thing. old saying never too old to learn.on the tracks, we believe they leave them rough to slow the idiots down every time there is a accident on the island the 4wd bull.... starts up again Dags

zha zha cruiser replied:

Well I was in fits of laughter when I read that. Why would you keep going back there-just to get bogged again. Have to tell about the troopy that helped me... This is one for the ladies. I was on middle road, after dropping 2 kids and ex hubby at tangaloomer - I drove back over to the ocean side to pick up tent and stuff with my 13 year old son. We had to come to a complete stop as this huge tree had just been blown accross the road. Thank god it hadn't fallen on top of us or we would have been killed. So I tried to push it with my bull bar, but it was wedged against the walls of the track. Ricky and I tried to lift it - impossible. Couldn't snatch it in reverse either. Finally someone in a troopy came along - I thought typically my luck they won't speak english. Yep true, only one spoke broken english, but the boys all were muscly and without shirts. I showned them why we could not drive any further, so a couple more boys were summond from the back of troopy (muscles and no shirts) they all picked up this incredibly huge tree and were able to move it over to the side of the road to enable traffic to pass. Then suggested to my son- "get back to the gym".

I think they may have been sweedish, who cares they were very nice.

Member - Brian (Gold Coast) replied:

The hot sand thing is a good heads up!! Something I would never thought of, but will now!

We spent from Wednesday morning to Sunday morning there for the clean up and agree that the sand was softer than we had seen before. For the first time, we had several occasions where we were stopped by soft sand and had to reverse and get a bit more momentum to get through. South Ngkala bypass was three goes for me going north, but coming back south I had learnt and got through first time. Even Eurong, previously a "no-brainer" had to be driven properly. At Indian Head on Thursday I saw a Patrol attaching a snatch strap to a Suzuki Viatra, he had the strap shackled to the "D" ring on the rear of the Patrol and no dampener on the strap. A recipe for disaster I thought.
A club mate in a Suzuki Sierra got stuck outside Eurong, we were behind him and offered to help but he was adamant that he (and his shovel) were fine.... proven a few minutes later when he drove off as though he was on bitumen, proving that a shovel is your best friend in sand and snatch straps should stay in the recovery kit iuntil all avenues are exhausted.

Our "help" tally was two;
1) A couple in a Challenger who were very new to 4wd'ing, stuck in the soft sand behind Happy Valley, they were very keen to find out the right way to do it, I helped them deflate tyres and gave a few sand driving tips, then Voila! They drove straight up the track!!!! Very nice people who were willing to learn and are now thinking of joining a club.

2) A Japanese tourist who swam to the far side of Lake Wabby but got into difficulty on the way back. His tour guide swam out to help him, the Japanese guy was now in real trouble so I swam out and grabbed his other arm to help bring him in. Poor bugger could hardly move... he was very thankful!

Just my opinion

Cheers

Brian

Upstart replied:

I went to fraser last October for the first time and loved it but I think it is a bit too crowded. I couldn't believe that you could just pop down the shop to get the paper and an ice cream! I think people have to be patient over there and help out if the can.