A bit too complacent

[mtb_gary]

We took the Rangie for a short sightseeing trip of a couple of Western Australias natural features over the weekend with a couple of Dutch family members over here on holiday. Heading North from Perth to Lancelin sand dunes, The Pinnacles and then on to Kalbarri for a 3 day weekend covering 1300k's. We were not going too far off road so I left the 18" wheels on that have the (barely legal tread depth) road tyres rather than the Maxxis Bighorn 265/75/16's. Having driven around the Lancelin Dunes and tracks many times in the past I thought "we're only going for a short drive, I can'tbe bothered letting down the tyres"......mistake! The dunes were OK but when we got down towards the beach the sand got very soft and the forward momentum stopped....the worst part was the comment from my wife just before entering the dunes area "should't you let the tyres down? followed by my response of "no we'll be OK". Don't you hate it when they're right :angel:. Anyway, as you probably guessed we got bogged in the sand :eek:, so down went the tyre pressures from 45psi to around 15psi and a quick clearing of the sand immediately in front of each wheel and out we drove, unlike the Navara and Pajero that we saw digging furiously as the tide was coming in. We did offer to snatch them out but they refused????

Moral of the story, don't get too complacent when venturing off the bitumen, and prepare the vehicle properley including the right tyres and tyre pressures. (I was carrying the compressor as well as a shovel and recovery gear).

Gary

[wayneg]

Well at least you knew how to get out of the situation and show the rellies how its done plus had the recovery gear in case. It never ceases to amaze me when I get an offer of a snatch declined, maybe they took advantage of the big $$ recovery service advertised all along the tracks up that way.

[Hoges]

Quote: We did offer to snatch them out but they refused????

Perhaps couldn't bear the thought of 'photos' appearing on the Net...:D:twisted:

[Keithy P38]

I agree totally, even if its just a quick punt up your local track, it's Murphy's law that the one day you decide not to let the tyres down or not to bring the recovery gear - you need it.

[mtb_gary]

Quote: We did offer to snatch them out but they refused????

Perhaps couldn't bear the thought of 'photos' appearing on the Net...:D:twisted:

Hoges I reckon this was probably the best reason! I guess another 30 minutes of digging whilst watching the tide come in was better than the humiliation :twisted::D

[jezza89]

Just got back from Kalbarri yesterday... wonderful area! I almost got stuck on a beach for this very same reason!

The Kalbarri National Park is definitely worth a visit, but the 30km corrugated unsealed road can't be too friendly on the rangie...

[mtb_gary]

Just got back from Kalbarri yesterday... wonderful area! I almost got stuck on a beach for this very same reason!

The Kalbarri National Park is definitely worth a visit, but the 30km corrugated unsealed road can't be too friendly on the rangie...

I take it that was the drive into z bend and natures window. Fantastic scenery and well worth the drive. I found sitting on 85-90 the car was smoother over the corrugations. The cornering was interesting though, somewhat of a controlled drift than a direct corner :D

[Keithy P38]

30psi is my rule over corrugations, check tyre pressures after an hour, if they have risen by 4psi the ill pump them up by 2psi at a time until they stay below 4psi increase over cold pressures.

On standard shocks mine soaks up the corrugations happily at 80km/h.

[jezza89]

I take it that was the drive into z bend and natures window. Fantastic scenery and well worth the drive. I found sitting on 85-90 the car was smoother over the corrugations. The cornering was interesting though, somewhat of a controlled drift than a direct corner :D

Yep that's the one. I was only game enough to take it up to 70-80 on the gravel corrugations, I haven't had much experience with gravel driving and my steering is pretty sloppy. Even at that speed I could feel the car twitching and losing traction :p