Tread Lightly - Sand Driving

Gidday,To me it looks like a very large sand hill he is trying to get up.Also he is flying a flag and look at the large craters in the track in front of the 4by.And having travelled the Simpson(east to west) it can happen.
Seeya Locallaw

It looks to be a steep undulating hill which would require quite a bit of momentum. This being the case, and especially with tyres that sit outside the gaurds, this scene would not be uncommon. It results from the vehicle bouncing around while trying to find traction in the soft sand, which is readily thrown into the air.

G'day Robert
I reckon it is irresponsible to post photos like that. Just gives the enemy more ammo. Obviously if you wish to dig big melon holes then that is the way to drive!

Hi Robert,

I have nothing to do with the photo, but recognise the country. Its on a private property in the South East area of South Australia which is used for 4wd recreation as well as driver training. Quite a few properties in this area have sand blows interrupting their grazing land - these sand blows support some mallee vegetation, but are ideal areas to use for this purpose.

Much better that people learn and practice sand driving on such a property instead of ripping up national parks, and other wilderness areas.

Its actually no different to a photo of a vehicle in mud during say the "warn winch challenge".

What message does it convey? I agree theres an issue there, as this depends entirely on the reader, and their knowledge (or lack of). This is the major problem with TV advertising - where people are led to believe that flying thru the air, ripping up beaches or hooning thru the Bungle Bungles os OK - which of course is not the case.

Cheers
Phil

Why did you bother posting on this website if all ya gonna do is argue with everybody without giving people a chance to say what they think?

can't see a problem with shifting a bit of sand some one place to another. The rain and wind shift more sand and dirt than all the 4x4's on the planet.

If I had been video taped or photographed I would be able to provide images exactly like that one, even though I am one of the more environmentally friendly 4wders. I can't believe that people are saying what he is doing is wrong. When you have a steep ascent, you need power and momentum. You give it some stick, and if your front or rear wheels happen to lose traction due to recovering from a bump, then they hit the sand harder, flick sand up under the guard and normally out, even sometimes with tyres let down to 15. I don't see anything wrong even if it is a national park. So what, we don't drive on tracks and leave them exactly the same, our tyres move the sand no matter what they are doing. If we're so worried about sand moving, drive on the bitumen. And what about the firewood we use, depleting insects, reptiles and small mammals of their home. Shame shame shame.

p.s. I've had wheelspin, tramples saltbush, dislodged rocks and even cut some grooves in wet dirt tracks. I was going to get on the HF and request one of those huge military helicoptors to airlift me out so I didn't have to, but thought that would be a little over the top.

As 4wders, let's not make excuses for what we do. Otherwise it looks like we are trying to cover something up.

Strong opinion, I know, but I thought it had to be said.

D-Jack

Robert,
I am as enviromentally friendly as the next guy..... but I don't think anyone should be commenting on that pic, adversely or otherwise unless we were actually there to see for ourselves just what happened. He may have climbed that hill to just that point before spinning sand up for a fraction of a second, the same second the pic was taken.... who knows??? Unless we were all there, none of us do!
And like Ray said, nature has it's own way of moving sand around anyway and it's much more effective at it than an old 40 series tojo!

as a member of said forum, even tho i live i W.A. , i just went and had a quick peek at the " offending" photo.
looks normal to me, however, if Robert here has such a beef about it, why hasnt he simply asked the person who's photo it is, what was happening that day?
its quite easy actually, photo section, under Yahoo photos,,,,THERE IT IS,,,,mick is the name under the photo.
simply put, what is your beef Robert, go ask the man who's 4by it is what happened, don't go bagging him.

rick.
p.s,,,,just found the post relating to the photo,,,,,,,it IS Dorado Downs.

Robert

My only comment on your post is - why have you asked here, and on a Yahoo Campertrailer Group as well?

If you had the common decency to ask on the 4WDooA group first then I would have been pleased to discuss your issue with you. As Im sure the photographer would, and anyone else that was there.

All you are doing is trying to whip up some negative 4WD publicity rather than address what you see as an issue. Isnt that what you state you wanted to avoid?

Sorry, but in my opinion your motives are questionable.

Andrew Hiscock
moderator - 4WDooA Yahoo Group

It is a big steep hill! I did need speed to try get up it! It is on private property! My tyres are down to 14psi! Sorry to have offended anyone!

Cheers......HB (Mick)

Hello All,
This is Micks other half who was in the vehicle at the time the photo was taken. I am surprised at how accurate some of the guys assessments have been on the circumstances in which the pic was taken, you certainly know your stuff, well done. Poor Mick is feeling like he's done the wrong thing. Yes it is a private property called Dorado Downs, can't recall if it was the hill known as 'muther hill' but it was a tough one and that is as far as we got. It was a moments spray after getting stuck and then we retreated back down the hill. Maybe Mick tried a second too long to beat the challenge, it was our first time travelling with other 4wdrivers and therefore the first time we got to attempt the 'big ones'. We had a fantastic weekend with a great bunch of people, and as we were in the second oldest vehicle there and had the least power, we were delighted to scale a few hills that others in better vehicles could not. Thanks to the guys who have been sopportive.
Cheers, Tracy.

I notice Robert hasn't got any more to say.
Tracy.

Do you know anything at all about the track, the hill, the conditions, or the day, or anything apart from whats in the photo?

So how can you judge anything without the facts?

Didnt think so.

If this is acceptable damage, then what's all the fuss about people towing trailers in places such as the Simpson. We constantly see comments that they are causing damage!

Hi Robert,

The exact cirumstances under which that photo was taken have been fully explained in this forum, yet you still seem to be questioning our morals. Here I am, I was in the vehicle, ask me anything and I will explain it again, Thanks, Tracy. (an appreciator of nature and conservationist).

Well, I think we should just forget this whole thing and get back to having fun (responsibly). Isn't that why we have these vehicles anyway (please don't answer)? I know I'm a responsibly person and I don't have anything to prove.
No hard feeling Robert, c ya in the sand sometime :) .

Cheers.........Mick.