Fraser Island 4x4. Subaru L Series

Obviously the beach is OK.

The question is the tracks.

They can be good, such as after a bit of rain and a grade.
Or they can be chopped up and very dry.
Conditions vary all the time.

The entrance/exists off the beach can also be a problem.

With the closure of Hook Pt and the manidatory use of the alternative track, which is notorious already, using the ferry from Rainbow Beach may not be a good idea.

But if you use the ferry from near Hervey Bay, you need to use tracks across the island.

So clearance is really the question.
Have seen 4wd Ford Territories have problems bellying out.

If you can jack up the suspension you could be OK.

Very hard to give you a definitive answer. How much are you willing to push it, and be cheeky enough to ask for help if you get stuck?
Decision we all make, even for LCs and Patrols.

If you go, drive to the conditions, and be willing to limit your extent of travel if the tracks are bad.

i took a stock-standard wagon with 13 inch wheels up to Teerwah/Cooloola two months ago - some notes

going in loaded,

pak stuff so the front lifts, this increases the travel of the front suspension and allows the front to climb and drag the rear through

dont go in the deeper wheel tracks, make your own.

be prepared to unload heavy stuff, the extra inchs help

take a hall runner or other long pieces of carpet to place under one sides wheels - acts like a tank track

dont be afraid to go to 10lb's tyre preassure FOR ONLY A SHORT WHILE, no use bogged on 15lb

Unloaded

These things are so light they float over soft stuff - I was able to drive mine all over the soft-stuff with inpunity

Big problem is track entry and exits, you should be able to make it to Indian Head without too much drama but anything past there is iffy....

please tell us how you go

Red up
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Back in the late 70's we took our toyota tercel on to fraser.

Wife was fairly pregnant and had difficulty clearing the sand from under the belly of the car. (LOL)

Looking back we can see the funny side (at least I can).

You basically have to keep out of the ruts and do a little more planning for certain parts of the sand And tracks etc.

We even had to dig it out when we Stopped for petrol at Urong.

We did get to Indian head and Central station.

It can be done but with care. Also keep an eye out for the creeks on the hard sand they can be a bit rough. Dilli creek went over the bonnet.

Regards Bob

If the bush tracks are deeply eroded clearance will be your main problem. 2 years ago our Disco was ploughing the centre hump with the diffs. Back then Fraser was at the end of 6 or 7 years of drought and the tracks were in a distressed state. Things could be very different now. Someone who's been there recently is bound to post a reply with current conditions are like. The beach entrances may still be a challenge, but you won't be an orphan. Also check Road conditions on this site- go to Topics (above) / Road Conditions and scan down the page until you get to Fraser Island.
Think about either going onto Fraser, or returning via Rainbow Beach, recommend allow at least one night for camping on Rainbow, it's great extension to a brilliant experience.

Why knock a softroader around doing what it is not really intended to do?

However assuming you are interested, take recovery gear (which everyone should do) and get competent advice on recovery points.

This reminds me, it would be useful if there could be photos somewhere on Exploroz of the tow and recovery points (where provided) on common vehicles. It is a common concern yet such information is not readily available even in chat areas devoted to makes.

EV700

Frazer Island?, I was there in 2004, intended taking over the Challenger, (which has a fairly high clearance), decided against it at the last. Glad I did, the tracks there had two foot ruts, the Challenger would have "Bottomed" on all the roads there. Be OK on the beach, but you have to drive over these tracks to get to the beach.
My suggestion, take an excursion in one of the 4X4 Okkas, save the car and enjoy the experience.
Good luck, whatever you choose.

I can't see why the little subaru would be a problem. I've seen many outbacks, foresters, x-trails etc etc there. I've even seen an adventra(?) (commodore on steroids) or 2 there.
My advice would be to go in winter. The sand is usually a bit firmer when it is cool.

hi red up, took my family there during the easter break 2007. the more commonly used tracks were badly chopped up and some with deep ruts. the less used tracks were a bit easier (note, a bit) so care must be taken by lower clearance vehicles. I have a prado 120 with the rear air suspension. I tried the normal setting on some deeper tracks and got the bottom scraping occassionaly. with high setting, no problem.

just choose your line carefully, and be prepared with straps and the trusty shovel.