Accessories for Fraser Island?

[Mattt]

Not sure on the right section to put this in, but it's related to D3 accessories I guess....

I'm off to Fraser at NYE and it will be my first time sand driving, car is a standard 2009 Disco 3 SE Petrol V6 (no locking rear diff).

I am planning on having a look at the main sights, but not going too extreme.

What accessories will I require on an essential/helpful/luxury basis? Also any recommendations for suppliers (net/Brisbane) would be good.

I was thinking as essential: 2 x tyre pressure gauge, tyre compressor, tow shackles (which?), plate for jack, shovel, socket set/tools

Helpful: snatch strap, maxxtraxx

[AnD3rew]

The only real must haves are a good tyre gauge and a snatch strap with rated shackles, and a shovel is a good idea.

Make sure you take the covers off your front and rear recovery points before you hit the sand, make sure you drop your tyre pressures before you hit the sand and make sure you turn the DSC off before you hit the sand (also every time you stop it will turn itself back on so you have to remember to turn it off again, this is where I come unstuck). If you do get stuck hook up your snatch strap and wait for a good Samaritan ( lots of them around, but make sure you return the favour if you see someone else stuck)

Optional nice to haves are: maxxtraks and a compressor, but neither are must haves there's air on the barges (or used to be anyway I haven't been for a while)

[WhiteD3]

Maxtrax, snatch strap and shovel, 2nd battery and traxide kit if you're camping.

Some deep floor mats. I find the Bushranger mats fit very well in the front. Amazing how much sand a D3 want to bring back from Fraser!

18 psi, DSC off, sand mode on..............and you're away.

[patoz]

Syncing tide times / travelling is as good advice as I could give. Travelling on a retreating tide (the lower the better) will obviate the need to be too anal with tyre pressures.

[AnD3rew]

Syncing tide times / travelling is as good advice as I could give. Travelling on a retreating tide (the lower the better) will obviate the need to be too anal with tyre pressures.

Good point, the other must have is an up to date tide table.

But not sure I agree regards tyre pressures, the places people get stuck are where you have to get on and off the beach and some of the sandy bypass tracks, and then they are a PITA for everyone else trying to get through. Everyone gets stuck from time to time and mostly people are patient and helpful, but I must admit I would be cursing someone who blocks a main access track entrance for 15 minutes because they hadn't aired down.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

What does the sand setting change?

[AnD3rew]

What does the sand setting change?

I found this here

Overland Expo - Overland Tech & Travel - Land Rover's Terrain Response*explained (http://www.overlandexpo.com/overland-tech-travel/2011/7/28/land-rovers-terrain-response-explained.html)

Sand: Starting off from rest in sand requires gentle throttle action, but once the vehicle is moving you want to get up on top and maintain enough speed to avoid sinking. So the TR system initializes the accelerator pedal softly, but then ramps up the response with increasing speed. In the sand setting, the transmission shifts up at higher RPM, and downshifts quicker as well, to keep the engine in its optimum power band. This prevents a sudden patch of very soft sand from bogging down the engine. HDC is not automatically activated in this program, nor are differential thresholds altered. Traction control is set to reduce wheel spin but also to induce less torque intervention, to maintain smooth power application. Meanwhile, the message centre displays steering information and warns if ride height has not been reached

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Apologies to Matt but excellent post AnD3rew:cool:

[CaverD3]

D4 has different settings for sand and has sand launch which over rides the throttle response. :BigThumb:

[Mattt]

Thanks, any recommendations for shackles and snatch strap (rating and length)?

We're at Kingfisher bay, so not camping (not sure the Mrs would like that in the heat!).

[roamer]

Thanks, any recommendations for shackles and snatch strap (rating and length)?

We're at Kingfisher bay, so not camping (not sure the Mrs would like that in the heat!).



She won't notice the heat.
NYE is March fly and drunken hoon season up here
Take the aeroguard and an extra carton

Ken

[tonic]

Having just returned from our first trip to Fraser I would be looking strongly at your tide times. Kingfisher is some way from some of the sights.

We stayed at Dundaburra and a day trip to Sandy Cape had us driving home on soft sand after spending a couple of hours at the lighthouse. We also got help up for 1/2 an hour at a bypass on the way back with a bogged Prado. We also stopped at Orchid Beach for 1/2 an hour for fuel/ice.

For example, Fingfisher is about an hour and a half to Dundaburra. The track from Kingfisher to the the east side is a 15km/h track, or faster without he wife instructing about the bumps. It is also narrow, so at your time of year you might be pulling over more to let others past.

As for what you need, WhiteD3 is the go on that, I just watched him and his learner driver son go all over the place with no hold ups.

[AnD3rew]

Thanks, any recommendations for shackles and snatch strap (rating and length)?


I think they are mostly about the same length, about 9m, as for ratings others may have more accurate numbers, but I think you need at least 2x the weight of your vehicle.

[AnD3rew]

Having just returned from our first trip to Fraser I would be looking strongly at your tide times. Kingfisher is some way from some of the sights.

We stayed at Dundaburra and a day trip to Sandy Cape had us driving home on soft sand after spending a couple of hours at the lighthouse. We also got help up for 1/2 an hour at a bypass on the way back with a bogged Prado. We also stopped at Orchid Beach for 1/2 an hour for fuel/ice.

For example, Fingfisher is about an hour and a half to Dundaburra. The track from Kingfisher to the the east side is a 15km/h track, or faster without he wife instructing about the bumps. It is also narrow, so at your time of year you might be pulling over more to let others past.

As for what you need, WhiteD3 is the go on that, I just watched him and his learner driver son go all over the place with no hold ups.

I have used Kingfisher as a base before and it is true you need to plan your days carefully, if you do it right and the tide times are friendly you plan to be travelling the inland roads during the higher stages of the tide so that when you get to the beach you maximise your time there and then plan to be back at one of the inland access roads well before the end of the safe driving margin then ou can take your time back to Kingfisher. But you are right it can be pretty slow going but fun and beautiful. Also don't get too disheartened if the tides are not friendly every day because some of my favourite places are the inland lakes and creeks, on days when you might not get a lot of time on the beaches plan to spend them seeing the inland sights.

[Ashes]

Also consider removing mudflaps if you have them fitted.

The rear ones can act like a plough in the soft sand and are prone to ripping off. Same goes for the tow bar.

I have maxtrax and they are a great option on sand and especially if you get caught out alone. To me they are always a safer option than the snatch strap.

[sniegy]

Maxtrax, snatch strap and shovel, 2nd battery and traxide kit if you're camping.

Some deep floor mats. I find the Bushranger mats fit very well in the front. Amazing how much sand a D3 want to bring back from Fraser!

18 psi, DSC off, sand mode on..............and you're away.

The only thing i would add too the above list is a "Long" handled shovel.
I do a fair bit of travelling to Robe in S.A. & last year got burried in Very Soft moving sand, 3 hrs later we were out & cant say how much a long handled shovel makes things easier.
Have a good trip.;)

[scarry]

Not a vehicle accessory,but i hope you are taking a line.Good 13ft surf rod is the go,dig some pipis at low/mid tide and away you go.

Fantastic place,have a great trip.

Another thing is watch your fuel,as you will use a lot and the tank is not the largest around,that is unless you have an aftermarket one fitted.

As sneigy said a good shovel is very important.If you don't need it to dig yourself out,it may help to get someone else out of the way.

Air down,momentum is extremely important,and you will be OK.

[WhiteD3]

car is a standard 2009 Disco 3 SE Petrol V6 (no locking rear diff).

Forgot an important point. From experience; in this car on Fraser you'll be doing ~ 28-30 L/100km which means a range of < 300km. Something to keep in ind.

[DiscoWeb]

Thanks, any recommendations for shackles and snatch strap (rating and length)?

We're at Kingfisher bay, so not camping (not sure the Mrs would like that in the heat!).

Matt, go to any reputable 4WD shop and tell them what you drive and they should point you in the right direction regards both straps and shackles.

George

[Celtoid]

Another bit of good advice, if you go on the surf side beach.....

Watch those washouts!!!

Seriously, you can legally do 80KPH on sections of the beach and a Disco will do that very, very easily. The washouts change a lot and are often hard to see until you are right on them. Plenty...and I mean plenty of folks have been caught out when one just 'appears' in front of them.

I've talked to heaps of people that have seriously damaged cars on Fraser.

Cheers,

Kev.

[Redback]

Thanks, any recommendations for shackles and snatch strap (rating and length)?

We're at Kingfisher bay, so not camping (not sure the Mrs would like that in the heat!).

Shackles should be 3.7t and over and snatch anything over 9000kg, choose a good brand name, ARB straps are good quality and fairly reasonably priced.

Baz

[AnD3rew]

Another bit of good advice, if you go on the surf side beach.....

Watch those washouts!!!

Seriously, you can legally do 80KPH on sections of the beach and a Disco will do that very, very easily. The washouts change a lot and are often hard to see until you are right on them. Plenty...and I mean plenty of folks have been caught out when one just 'appears' in front of them.

I've talked to heaps of people that have seriously damaged cars on Fraser.

Cheers,


Kev.

Not just cars, far too many people killed and seriously injured over the years due to these.

[patoz]

Good point, the other must have is an up to date tide table.

But not sure I agree regards tyre pressures, the places people get stuck are where you have to get on and off the beach and some of the sandy bypass tracks, and then they are a PITA for everyone else trying to get through. Everyone gets stuck from time to time and mostly people are patient and helpful, but I must admit I would be cursing someone who blocks a main access track entrance for 15 minutes because they hadn't aired down.
Hi AnD3rew -
I didn't intend to dismiss entirely the need to air-down mate ...just point out that "basically" a soft-core visit to FI will remain that IF tides / travelling are factored in from the get-go.
The point relating to access through the various sand blows is indeed valid and bought back memories of almost "losing" a Suzuki LWB 4WD in the early 70's (with Wife, three kids and a weeks camping-gear aboard) just south of the rocks at Rainbow whilst trying to avoid back-tracking the odd 20k's through the Sand-track via "Running the Gauntlet" to Rainbow (coming up from Noosa) on a rising tide.
Getting out of that one was indeed a Minties-moment ...and from that point onward, The Tides booklet became my Bible whenever we ventured up that way.

[AnD3rew]

I came close one day also in a Suzuki Vitara LWB, making the last 1 km dash in the soft stuff back to a track entrance, very very tight and I was sweating bullets the whole way, I thought we were done for when a freak wave hit the side of the car with a solid blow. That was my first trip and I learnt my lesson I have never contemplated cutting it that fine ever again very lucky to get away with that one.

[patoz]

Same here ...although I'd been up there a few previous times with mates, that was my first solo trip with the Family.
To this day I don't know how I got out of it - Vehicle down to the axles, tide coming in, just on dusk, waves lapping at the running-board, ...eeek!
Armed with only an Army-disposals folding Shovel ...and several Hail-Mary's, I'm sure providence intervened.
I made a few promises to God that eve - all of which I (of course) promptly broke within a week or so.
Consequently I'm not relishing Judgement Day one little bit AnD3rew ;-)
...so you're the bloke in the Suzuki on FI in the seventies? You owe me BIG TIME!

[boofdtl]

1 Fishing rod
2 cold drinks
3 Good 4x4 which you have
4 Enjoy the trip

[AnD3rew]

Same here ...although I'd been up there a few previous times with mates, that was my first solo trip with the Family.
To this day I don't know how I got out of it - Vehicle down to the axles, tide coming in, just on dusk, waves lapping at the running-board, ...eeek!
Armed with only an Army-disposals folding Shovel ...and several Hail-Mary's, I'm sure providence intervened.
I made a few promises to God that eve - all of which I (of course) promptly broke within a week or so.
Consequently I'm not relishing Judgement Day one little bit AnD3rew ;-)
...so you're the bloke in the Suzuki on FI in the seventies? You owe me BIG TIME!

Hah you might have a bit of explaining to do.

[Celtoid]

I don't think it's been mentioned as most folks know, the difference between being able to reverse back and choose another line or speed and getting bogged, is knowing when to 'call it'.

Last time I was on Fraser, I stayed at KFB too and used that as a staging point. It had been dry for months so the tracks were very, very soft and deep and extremely chewed up.

Just before we got there it rained. Often this helps improve the tracks but in this case it made very chewed up tracks worse as the sand just became very heavy and deep. Cars were getting bogged everywhere.

I never got boggod once but had to stop, back up and try again about a dozen times. I just watched my revs, speed and wheelspin. When that combo got ugly I called it and stopped before my 2.6+T and 600nm created 4 massive holes. :o

Another complicator for FI can be the width of the tracks...in places trees are strategically placed to prevent line change when trying to keep out of the ruts....;)

[andrewchr]

Hi Mattt
I'm sure you will love fraser.
The track in and out of kingfisher is often the hardest part of the trip. Its usually very chewed up by the buses and very bouncy as a result. Not good for wife acceptance factor. Ditto for the tracks leading up to Lake Mackenzie.
Airing down to 16-18 vital at the beach access points and the back of Indian Head. Knowing you have a long handled shovel, maxtrax, shackles and snatch straps is reassuring, even if you dont use it helps to decrease the anxiety factor. Tide times very important especially if the beaches have been chewed up. Agree that knowing when to call it and back off can save a lot of embarassment. Even if the tide times arent favourable there is so much to see in the middle of the island - central station, pile valley and the less visited lakes.
Feeling very envious- have fun.
Andrew

[Celtoid]

Hi Mattt
I'm sure you will love fraser.
The track in and out of kingfisher is often the hardest part of the trip. Its usually very chewed up by the buses and very bouncy as a result. Not good for wife acceptance factor. Ditto for the tracks leading up to Lake Mackenzie.
Airing down to 16-18 vital at the beach access points and the back of Indian Head. Knowing you have a long handled shovel, maxtrax, shackles and snatch straps is reassuring, even if you dont use it helps to decrease the anxiety factor. Tide times very important especially if the beaches have been chewed up. Agree that knowing when to call it and back off can save a lot of embarassment. Even if the tide times arent favourable there is so much to see in the middle of the island - central station, pile valley and the less visited lakes.
Feeling very envious- have fun.
Andrew

Very good points Andrew....I guess we have all been concentrating on the safety and practicality points and have forgotten how awesome the place is. It is truely sureal.

Salt scrub to massive, ancient rainforests within a few clicks. The sight of Sandblows literally swallowing massive gum trees, gorgeous beaches, etc, etc, etc....

Sniff, sniff....need to go there again.....:)

Oh BTW...the Dingo's....:(

Didn't see many from the KFB side but on a previous trip where we were staying in a house at Eurong (?), we saw heaps. They are pretty nosey and cheeky....just be careful if you have kids. Mine (kids) almost got cut off between the cars and myself and my mate, fishing in the surf only a few mtrs away, by a group of three young Dingos that were probably looking for bait but their brassy attitude could result in badness if your kids are small and panic.

Beautiful animals..but there is always the potential.

Cheers,

Kev.

[lpj]

Ditto on the Dingo's.

I admit that I thought the whole "Dingo took my Baby" was BS...until I went to Fraser. They are very cheeky and were trying to snatch peoples lunches right out of their hands.
It doesn't help when idiots ignore the "don't feed the Dingo's" signs everywhere either!

[Rohan]

Only been there once, but found a sense of humour very important, especially when ANOTHER (expletive deleted) TOUR BUS almost wipes you out!
Had a ball though.... enjoy, I'm jealous.:D

[AnD3rew]

Only been there once, but found a sense of humour very important, especially when ANOTHER (expletive deleted) TOUR BUS almost wipes you out!
Had a ball though.... enjoy, I'm jealous.:D

Yes the tour bus operators are complete arseholes and won't stop or get out of the way for anyone. If I saw one stuck on the beach I would be mighty tempted to stop, set up a deckchair open a beer and watch the waves take them rather than help:twisted:

[DoctorJ]

Yes the tour bus operators are complete arseholes and won't stop or get out of the way for anyone. If I saw one stuck on the beach I would be mighty tempted to stop, set up a deckchair open a beer and watch the waves take them rather than help:twisted:

Nicely said

[Rickoz]

Not sure on the right section to put this in, but it's related to D3 accessories I guess....
I'm off to Fraser at NYE and it will be my first time sand driving, car is a standard 2009 Disco 3 SE Petrol V6 (no locking rear diff).
I am planning on having a look at the main sights, but not going too extreme.
Fraser: Nice have fun
NYE: It's bound to be busy
STD Landrover: That's all you need

What accessories will I require on an essential/helpful/luxury basis?
Maybe a CB radio or contact numbers of local Police, Tow Truck, Ambo ect

Also any recommendations for suppliers (net/Brisbane) would be good
?

I was thinking as essential: 2 x tyre pressure gauge, tyre compressor, tow shackles (which?), plate for jack, shovel, socket set/tools
Helpful: snatch strap, maxxtraxx
Good list.

I've been a few times, all i had taken with me was basic tools, 40L extra fuel & 40L of water.
Did not lower my tyre pressures have used 10" & 9" on different trips & the tyres 10" are far better, big difference in the sand of corse i did not have the worlds best 4WD, i only had a STD 87 Toyota 4Runner so you will be far better off from what i have read on this Web site about Lanies :unsure:
Keep your weight down & u'll be fine, have fun when you do go :)

[Datt]

Ditto on the Dingo's.

I admit that I thought the whole "Dingo took my Baby" was BS...until I went to Fraser. They are very cheeky and were trying to snatch peoples lunches right out of their hands.
It doesn't help when idiots ignore the "don't feed the Dingo's" signs everywhere either!

Agreed. Have done a fair few trips to Fraser as a kid through to now as an adult. As a kid I've been stalked by a couple of dingos when playing near coffee rock with my brothers and other family friends (parents were fishing). One trip one of the other kids got nipped. They are very cunning and get excited when kids run.

A few years back we were at Lake McKenzie for the day and I actually saw a young dingo grab a baby by it's nappy and drag it about a meter or so. The baby was sitting up no further than 2 meters from it's parents. The dingo gave up when it realised a dozen people (including me) were after it. Baby was fine, the dingo grabbed it by the nappy only. I instantly thought of Lindy Chamberlain though.

I wouldn't let this ruin your trip at all, just something to be mindful of. Kingfisher has a dingo fence. I beleive it's pretty effective at keeping them out.

It doesn't help that people feed them as well. Last trip up there I saw some awsome close up photos of some dingos for sale. Obviously done by a professional and they were charging accordingly. Later that trip I stumbled upon how they got the photos. I saw the photographer on the beach feeding a dingo and it's pups so that she could get the shots. If I had my witts about me I should have stopped and photographed her, then drop it into the ranger/police station.

Like everyone says though it's an awsome place.

I'll be there in a couple of weeks. I'll probably be either head down and bum up catching sand worms, with a rod in hand chasing some whiting in a gutter (hopefully there's no weed or blueys) or with beer in hand at the house we're renting at Happy Valley.

My tips are the same as everyone else pretty much. Air down, take a snatch strap, know how to use it safely and be prepared to help others. I've recently bought some maxtrax for a Cape York trip earlier this year. I might take them to have a play with.

In all the trips I've done I've always been able to reverse out of getting stuck and get through taking a different tactic, except for one time. It was a Cruiser loaded to the gunnels on the access track at Inskip Point. It was very dry and a few people had gotten stuck (mainly due to tyre pressure). I was heading home and saw this bloke with no-one helping so I turned around and offered assistance. I checked to make sure he was aired down and hubs in, hooked up to snatch him towards the barges and proceeded with the recovery. Didn't happen, got stuck myself and had to be snatched.

Turns out he had no drive to the rear wheels which he omitted to tell me until we pulled him back the other way, twice!!! He was more concerned with getting onto the barge. We left him while he was having his third attempt. Sometimes you have to give up on people who won't help themselves.

Matt.

[ozscott]

Mate you will have a ball. It does take a while to get from Kingfisher to the ocean side, but a fun drive just the same.

As for the original question - the best accessory to take to Fraser Island...a mate with a D2:D:D:D:D:wasntme::wasntme::wasntme:

Have fun and post some pics

Cheers

[4evershiva]

thinking of doing the frazer trip in Jan 2015, have a 3 year old daughter and a 5 month old son, bit concerned if it will be too much for my 5 month old son. Any advices as to whether I should go with caution or should consider avoiding the trip altogether.

[Canaussie]

I'd go we took out four year old and 7 mos old up the Cape and no dramas, just be mindful of dingoes, and realise if bub is crawling sand is a pita and also very hot

[AndyG]

Is turning off DSC applicable in this case, in the sand.

[discotwinturbo]

Is turning off DSC applicable in this case, in the sand.

Absolutely. You will need to do it each time you turn it back on, and also place in sand mode each time.

Don't be afraid to go low in pressures if needed.

Low range also helps big time in soft sand.

Brett....