Fraser Island July 2017

Submitted: Monday, Jul 17, 2017 at 21:00
ThreadID: 135271 Views:2659 Replies:8 FollowUps:2
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We are looking at going up the eastern side of Fraser Island in the next week or so, catching the ferry from Inskip Point. Would like to go to Waddy Point but feel concern about soft, boggy sand.
We are driving a 200 Series Landcruiser, pulling an Ultimate Nautilus camper, a fairly heavy combination.
Any advice on sand conditions, I understand there can be problems at Inskip Point even before getting onto the island.
Are we being overly ambitious hoping to get around Indian Head with this combination of car and trailer.
Also need to be camped in a sunny spot to enable our solar to function effectively.
Any advice on a peaceful, quiet place to camp.
Scout

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Reply By: Gronk - Monday, Jul 17, 2017 at 21:45

Monday, Jul 17, 2017 at 21:45
Have you been towing on a beach before ?
If not, think twice about it.
If so, you shouldn't need telling, but here goes.....BEFORE leaving the tar.....tyres down to 16 psi, including the trailer.
Watch others at Inskip and find the best line.
Momentum......keep your speed up and don't think about stopping until on hard sand.
Low range 2nd or 3rd ( sports mode )with centre diff locked.Keep the revs up.
Hit the island on LOW tide.
Have you thought about staying at Dilli Village....solves a few towing issues and plenty of sun.

When you say Nautilus camper.....it really is a big caravan !! lol
AnswerID: 612572

Reply By: Supersi - Monday, Jul 17, 2017 at 22:02

Monday, Jul 17, 2017 at 22:02
As Gronk said 16 psi car and trailer and you should be ok. Sand driving conditions change all the time, if it's really soft travel early morning when it's cooler, obviously tide permitting on Fraser. I've towed an Aussie swag with a BT50 around Fraser including lots of inland tracks and across to the beautiful western side with no issues. Take a shovel and some maxtrax

Good luck and have fun.
AnswerID: 612573

Reply By: rumpig - Monday, Jul 17, 2017 at 22:15

Monday, Jul 17, 2017 at 22:15
You'll be fine if you do 2 things...
1- deflate your tyres sufficiently (trailer included), do this on the last bit of bitumen at Inskip ... 18psi is a good start, go lower if required...16 psi will do it easier
2- time your arrival on the island for 2 hours before lowtide (allows you to drive up the beach on the hard sand)
Was just on Fraser 2 weeks ago, the beach was very rollercoaster like then, but may have improved since. If you are a first time visitor to the island, i'd say Waddy is to far North to see the majority of attractions on the island easily, on the beach just South of Dundaburra would be my choice, it's more central to everything.
AnswerID: 612574

Reply By: Michael H9 - Tuesday, Jul 18, 2017 at 00:40

Tuesday, Jul 18, 2017 at 00:40
The most ridiculous part of the whole thing is that QLD NP want you to book and pay for your campsites in advance before you have seen them or even know how far you'll get or where you'd prefer to stay. Mobile phone reception is pretty patchy so don't expect to be able to book easily on the go.
AnswerID: 612576

Reply By: Tim F3 - Tuesday, Jul 18, 2017 at 08:24

Tuesday, Jul 18, 2017 at 08:24
The main caravan park area at waddy has very little sun due to the proliferation of trees. Chances are your solar wont work well.

But there is a smaller area on the beachfront ( only has sbout 4 sites for campervans...from memory..) with lots of sun ,its where large boats are stored there.

Also there is camping further north than waddy that would be better for solar panels.

Getting a large van up indian head etc will be very difficult. The locals use tractors or two 4wd strapped together to two large boats over indian head.
AnswerID: 612578

Reply By: duck - Tuesday, Jul 18, 2017 at 08:27

Tuesday, Jul 18, 2017 at 08:27
Its Fraser Island, it can be easy or it could be hard pending the day, tide & how & what has travelled before you, In days gone by I've towed large boats up & around/over Indian head for the fishing classic & a few times its been easy but most times it’s been a hard slog & you have to be prepared & experienced in sand or you are gunner get stuck big time

The sand at Inskip point is normally soft & churned up & more so now then years ago as a lot of travellers try to keep there psi high so when they do the southern point of the island on that road/track, Where before you aired down on the mainland & drove around the point on sand you now see a lot of 4x4s airing down on the Island as they don't want to just take it easy on the track/road
I have not come in by Inskip point for a few years now so it may have changed

You will be at a low psi but do not go on PSI check that all tires have the same foot print & if your trailer has a wider wheel track it will be all the harder again

go thru the truck & van & only take what is needed & throw out half of that again (std rule of travelling don't over load & don't take anything you will not use except recovery gear as you will be using that)

it is a nice option if you have someone else travelling with you that's capable with a capable 4x4 that's NOT towing

you will get people that will help you & others that will abuse you

have ago & have a good trip & please don't block the exits off the beach when the tide coming in north of Indian head
AnswerID: 612579

Follow Up By: rumpig - Tuesday, Jul 18, 2017 at 11:53

Tuesday, Jul 18, 2017 at 11:53
Sand wasn't overly soft at Indian Head 2 weeks ago, but the track currently has huge corrugation type bumps all along it due to people not deflating their tyres. If you try going quick you'll get airbourne on them, so with tyres deflated we just walked through there at a snails pace.
Inskip was it's usual chewed up mess, but with tyres deflated properly it's a shortish run out to the barge now. Did see a fella towing a camper bogged at the very start of that sand on our return back to the mainland a few weeks ago...pretty obvious he hadn't deflated his tyres either at all or sufficiently with how far he didn't get
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FollowupID: 882859

Reply By: Pushy - Tuesday, Jul 18, 2017 at 10:42

Tuesday, Jul 18, 2017 at 10:42
If you are on fb check out "I got bogged at Inskip Point".
As they say " air down and drive like you stole it"
AnswerID: 612584

Follow Up By: rumpig - Tuesday, Jul 18, 2017 at 11:56

Tuesday, Jul 18, 2017 at 11:56
Air down enough and there is no need to drive it like you stole it...tyre pressure is what it's all about. Have climbed Big Red with 10psi rears and 8 psi fronts when nobody was getting up it several years back (water either side of the sand dune meant no run ups)...it's all about tyre pressures in the end.
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FollowupID: 882860

Reply By: Loddo48 - Tuesday, Jul 25, 2017 at 16:38

Tuesday, Jul 25, 2017 at 16:38
air down ,centre dif locked, low range and turn off traction controll. you will have no problem with the 200 if you do that.
AnswerID: 612710

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