Subaru Outback and a Jayco dove off road

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 13:15
ThreadID: 53780 Views:3430 Replies:6 FollowUps:2
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I have a Subaru Outback and a Jayco dove off road. Will I be able to go off road in WA enough to get to some great beach camping sites?
Thanks
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Reply By: KSV. - Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 13:17

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 13:17
How is heavy your Jayco?
AnswerID: 283098

Follow Up By: tasman - Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 14:09

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 14:09
1000kg
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Reply By: Willem - Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 14:17

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 14:17
Drop your tyre pressures on the Outback to 15psi and 10psi on the Jayco and you should be OK.

Drop 'em down further if you need to.
AnswerID: 283109

Reply By: KSV. - Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 14:17

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 14:17
I would say it should be OK for easy off-road. But you definitely will struggle in soft sand

Cheers
Serg
AnswerID: 283110

Reply By: Member - Captain (WA) - Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 15:44

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 15:44
Hi Tasman,

Basically hard packed sandy tracks that are well traversed should be OK, but soft beach tracks would present an issue. Best rule of thumb when towing offroad is if a 2WD could get thru, then a 4WD towing a van may be able to.

Obviously many factors to take into account, as a diff-locked 33" tyred Patrol would be able to tow the same van much further than a 29" tyred Subaru.

I have towed vans and trailers on soft sand and it is always hard work and I avoid it where possible as too often I have become bogged - but hey, thats half the fun :) check out my pic on the link below

Cheers

Captain
AnswerID: 283138

Reply By: mfewster - Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 17:04

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 17:04
Your big issue is going to be clearance. You wont have off road 4WD clearance to begin with, then when you drop tyre pressures, you will reduce clearance further and the van will also squat the tail. If you start to drop down into soft sand, you will have the sump and diffs acting like anchors. It can be done, but will needs lots of care, keeping a close eye on clearance and playing smart rather than being sorry wherever clearance and slopes look doubtful. I would find some appropriate areas close to home to play on and have a friend with a full off road 4WD and tow rope available and do some practicing to get a feel for what can be done and what can't and the tyre pressures you need, before I tried it in a remote area.
AnswerID: 283146

Reply By: furph - Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 19:39

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 19:39
I would not rely too much on what your advised your limitations would be, but what in fact you can actually do yourself.
Forty five years ago I used to drive a Ford Prefect ute over dunes to get to a fishing spot on the Vic. 90 mile beach, the only other vehicle to do it was a VW beetle.
Then the 4wd's discovered the access, and alas the old Prefect could go there no more. (wonder why?)
Since you mention WA, try the road up to Quandong Pt., north of Broome.
It is an excellent beach camp spot, supposedly limited to 3 days, but for the week we stayed saw no one except a few other campers.
You will find the road in sandy and corrugated, the tracks around the beach area quite deep dry sand, but driven with an eye to the conditions you will soon determine what you can or cannot do.
What I would avoid like the plague are those treacherous places like out the back of Cleaverville, 40 mile beach, further south around Dongera/Cervantes.
My daughter has one of those Subaru models, camping all over the WA coast and NP's, very happy with its ability.
furph


AnswerID: 283172

Follow Up By: tasman - Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 20:12

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 20:12
Many thanks for the advice everyone. I know what I need is a Patrol/landie but hey it's the wife's care, go figure.
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