ford territory and frasier island

Sadly , i dont think so .

I havent been to Fraser in 10 years but my lkast timew there I had to wincg a Subaru out of a situation on an ordinary track. Not sure of how powerful the Ford Territory is but high clearance is a necessity on Fraser.

I would say that you probably could do it but you wont be doing your vehicle any favours and the chances for mega hassles are rife.

Well never been there myself but a quick peruse of the trek notes reveals these (one must assume) erudite comments..

"Fraser Island is strictly four-wheel-driving territory.

This is not easy sand driving and if you intend to go, make sure you have enough sand driving experience to know that it's all a matter of reduced tyre pressures, correct revs and being mindful of the tide."

Give it a go - if you lack a bit of experience, try and team up with others who have some local knowledge and experience and maybe avoid the tricky areas (which may well reduce dramatically areas you can get to??)

Would not be at all put off by the comments of the soothsayers of doom. “Serious” 4WDers make a habit of getting stuck/bogged, but have the gear/experience to get out and there is no reason why the owners of "softroaders" can't do the same ie get bogged and spend the rest of the day getting out..even if it is in less "challenging" terrain:). I personally would refuse all help from anyone in a red Nissan though.

Cheers
Greg

Hi Relrod,

I go to Fraser Island regularly (only live an hour away) and have seen plenty of the new Territory's over there.

The secret to Fraser is tyre pressure and power.

Sure a bit of ground clearance helps but you will have no problems on the main tracks as most of the soft bits now have board walks on the tracks. Just don't try to get to the top of the island, keep your beach driving to low tide, and keep your tyre pressure to about 15 - 18 psi max. and you will have no problems.

There are still enough Subaru's, Terios's etc. getting around on the island that would have about the same ground clearance as a Territory but a much smaller wheel diameter and nowhere near the power.

Good luck with your decision.

BW

Hi relrod
I had a customer with a new one that towed a trailer to Fraser in Feb this year.

Whilst he had no probs on the beach or getting the trailer to Central he did have a clearance problem whilst going up the steep hills (the ones with the timber slats/sleepers inserted the help with traction).

The customer had dramas when a section hit the undercarage and he had to be towed of the island.

Here's a report from someone who took an X-Trail up there recently. I think the ground clearance on these is about the same. It may help.

Click here

Jack

Don't be put off by people who say don't go with the Territory, especially from people who haven't been to Fraser. I was on Fraser in August in my Pathfinder and saw quite a number of AWD "soft roaders" travelling the island with no problems. I found myself doing most of the island in 4WD "auto mode". As one previous poster said, tyre pressures and power are the go. I ran 32 psi on hard beach sand and for most of the hard tracks on the island, down to 25 psi on some of the more softer stuff with no problems. Maybe access the island from Urangan instead of Inskip Pt.
Mate go with the Territory and pack a fishing rod an have a good trip.

Been to Fraser numereous times, and every year I see more and more soft roaders. As long as you pick your line, have your tyre pressure right you should have no hassels.

Pack your rod and have a great time.

Angus

I was up there the other week and saw a couple of soft roaders - a Terri and Xtrail. The xtrail was getting around to all the lakes and I only saw the Territory on the hard packed beach sand.
I would take it across and have a go. Tyre pressures are very important. I ended up running 16 psi around the tracks in the end as the sand was getting very hot and dry. Also momentum is your friend! If you get stuck it will be on the deeper sandy tracks.
It would be nice if you had a tow hitch on the rear for recovery and also a proper recovery point on the front of your vehicle.
We had a ball and you will too.

Leroy

Went Up there in January, me in an LC80 and the outlaws in a rav with lots of plastic, the rav was fine on the beach and would have been on most of the tracks. If a rav can do it I'm sure a territory could
NickR

Hi Relrod..if you do plan a trip over there please purchase a decent snatch strap..l have lost count of the number of times l've recovered bogged 4wd's and had to use my own snatch strap...like what is said in the above posts a lot of poeple go there don't let the tires down and don't carry the right recovery gear.
l'm always ready to help out a fellow 4wd'er but it cheeses me off when i have to use my own gear to do it.
Have a good trip...govo

Hi
Two month ago while in Birdsville came across a group of 4WDs that had just crossed the Simpson, one was a Territory. Asked the Nissan driver who was leading the part how it went, the only sand dune they snatched it across was Old Big Red. It had damaged the bash plate under neath but that was because the driver went across a clay pan and hit a ditch
Give it ago, lower the tyres and take a snatch strap with you.
Ray

im pretty sure ford done most of there testing on fraser island i think i read it in a motoring magazine.
cheers

A problem with snatching out soft roaders is locating strong tow points.

I am wary of snatching out those I am unfamiliar with and these days that includes a lot of vehicles. people are very inclined to sue these days even where you were helping them at their request.

Maybe it would be useful if some day someone could publish tow points for various stock vehicles on the site.

Even better if makers could colour/label rated tow points.

Most of what I'd say has probably been covered. I agree that clearance may be a problem on some tracks, but if you take the barge from River Heads instead of Inskip, you should be fine. Before you go, may be a good idea to locate your recovery points and find out if they are good for anything more than a tilt tray (some soft roaders are only ok for tilt trays). If not get some decent revovery points fitted. Take recovery gear (snatch strap, shackles and a shovel etc.) There are only a few places on the main routes that you may get stuck, such as passing behind Indian Head, but you dont need to go that far up to see the lakes, rainforest etc anyway.

Myself, I wouldnt take a vehicle with low clearance over there, only because it limits where I might be able to go, but that said I've never driven a Territory. I've taken a Subaru Forester over there and had no real trouble at all. Take your Territory, you'll be fine. Check with the rangers and other drivers about track conditions if youre going somewhere.

I'm happy to stick with my 120 series.

Go and have fun. Have seen a honda CRV north of narkalla rocks heading south, we have been going there for years and were surpirses. The bottom half of the island you will have very little problem, just pick your tides and tyre preassure.

crazie