Frazier Island 4wd hire knoobs
Submitted: Monday, Oct 09, 2006 at 20:11
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govo
Just returned from a week over at Frazier Island, had a ball and could not fault the weather.
What really got me going was the Harvey Bay 4wd hire poeple..had to help out some backpackers who had a hire troopy with a stuffed gear box and bogged to the axles at Indain Head..when I mentioned about the tires on the troopy pumped up hard they said they were told not to let them down as they will forfit the insurance and yes that they were getting bogged a lot thus causing the gear box to fail.
They had no revesre and first gear would constantly jump out of gear when trying to get through soft sand.When I asked about a snatch strap they said the hire mob told them that there would be plenty of 4wd's on the Island that carry them and to use those, they were a bit worried when I told them that I don't mind helping out other 4wd'ers but prefer to use thier snatch straps and use
mine when I'm bogged, but gave them a snatch anyway
Could not believe that the hire mob would be that stupid...hope the enjoy repairing all the stuffed gear boxs
Reply By: jondg - Monday, Oct 09, 2006 at 21:05
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 at 21:05
i was in exactly their situation 10 years ago, when i was backpacking in qld and we got bogged on fraser. the hire co. had told us nothing about 4wd safety/recovery except not to drive too fast on
the beach, in case of washouts.
luckily some guys snatched us out.
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Reply By: Exploder - Monday, Oct 09, 2006 at 21:10
Monday, Oct 09, 2006 at 21:10
Apart from that sounds like a good trip
Should of gave the hire company a call and told em what a bunch of tossers they are, and you and other holiday makers have better things to do than recoverer there Bogged 4WD’s driven by backpackers who have gotten them self into trouble as a result of the advise handed out by the company, and for them to enjoy all the bugged gear boxes they will be paying for.
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Reply By: Dave from P7OFFROAD Accredited Driver Training - Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 02:50
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 02:50
As a Hervey Bay local I would just like to add that not all of the hire companies are that bad.
As for the snatch strap, I believe that it would be far worse if they did give their customers recovery gear, at least there is the hope that the recreational 4wder on the island will have some idea how to use the equipment correctly, can you imagine the dramas if a couple of troopies full of backpackers set about rescuing each other??!!
I know it's a bad situtation but i hasten to add that i have also come across many non-hire cars without recovery gear or a clue!
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Follow Up By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 06:54
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 06:54
I agree with you there Dave....... 100%
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Follow Up By: robak (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 10:36
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 10:36
perhaps they should give them recovery gear AND training or provide a contact on the island who will help with the recovery.
Unfortumately the backpacker industry is very cut-throat and anyone providing that level of service will quickly go bankrupt.
R.
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Reply By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 06:46
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 06:46
Our introduction to 4 Wheel Driving came about after hiring a Range Rover from a hire place at
Rainbow Beach. We had no recovery gear either, but at least we had lower tyre pressures, and the owner took us onto
the beach and gave us a quick run-down on what to do and what NOT to do. We had a great time with it, listened and did as he instructed and didn't get bogged. And loved it so much that we bought our own 4by and changed our lives basically!
So not ALL the hirers are to blame, and given that a lot of the back packers are from O/S, doesn't it paint a better picture of Australia if we help them when they are in strife?
Good on you govo for giving them a helping hand!
Cheers
Brian
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Reply By: Member - Toolman (VIC) - Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 07:28
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 07:28
I hired a 4wd from the Kingfisher resort on Fraser Island in July this year. Before I was allowed to drive I had to sit a 45 minute video which gave excellent instructions on sand driving, beach driving, how to keep from bogging, how to get yourself un-bogged, rules and protocols and many other helpful bits of advice. I left feeling a lot more comfortable with the proposition of driving in the sand and
the beach. The hire company had no-go
places clearly indicated on the map as
well as
places to see and the best
routes to get there. They could not have been more helpful. As a long time 4wder myself, I had no experience of driving in sand, especially beach sand for extended period so I leant a lot.
We were not equipped with recovery gear either and would have liked some but then I do have experience with recovery gear. I can imagine some people who hire and drive a 4wd for the first time could cause themselves and others some serious injuries if they tried a recovery incorrectly.
Toolman
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Reply By: Rokkitt - Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 07:34
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 07:34
Hi,
Just back from a trip onto the Island - recovered several vehicles and not one of them had a snatch strap and they weren't all back packers either....seems almost ironic that the people who were carrying the right equipment didn't really need it and those who weren't did!
Those with the recovery gear had enough experience (sense) not to get into trouble in the first place...:)
What a fantastic place...writing up my trip report currently.
Rod
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198497
Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 07:47
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 07:47
It is becoming more of a problem.
Good to hear one 4wd hire company did the right thing with a video.
Have helped a few too.
One german who was trying to do the right thing in a suzuki didn't have the front manual hubs locked, and when I mentioned it , he said he was told not to engage them, or let the tyres down. The other three hire suzukis there at the time were the same. We just left alone.
But, last time on the island we helped more people who had borrowed a 4wd from a friend/relative who still didn't have any recovery gear and no idea!
We did sit at
Indian Head for a little while, out of the way, and watched the different approaches to the soft sand and people being bogged. No, we didn't just sit there, but did help a few people too before we left, but it was an interesting time.
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Reply By: Bytemrk - Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 21:22
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2006 at 21:22
It certainly makes sense not to give untrained 4x4 newbies recovery gear with their Hire ..... it's just too risky.
BUT it would be nice to see more hire companies give these guys some basic training... the video is great.
I was on Fraser a few weeks ago - We helped a
young group of Irish back packers... they where stuck in soft sand after stopping on one of the tracks for an on coming car.
I found after suggesting that careful use of low range might be good... that no one in the car - had any idea what the small stick was for - and yes that had unlocked front hubs and over 30psi!..
I agree not all the hire companies should be tarred with the same brush... but the crowd that hired this one are mongrels in my eyes.... just after a dollar and not willing to provide any customer service for it...
Just my thoughts..
Mark
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