SuperMono
3rd January 2009, 09:27 AM
Currently my Freebie has 2 sets of feet to choose from, low profile (near slicks) on 17 inch rims for the road, good condition (but not aggressive) M&S on 15 inch for the dirt. Plan for a while has been to go with something a little more aggressive like the BFG A/T but it hasn’t happened yet.
I actually know the answer why, haven't got around to it and currently between jobs so watching the spend at the moment.
Prompting this post was a day trip I did with my brother around the Rubicon (Vic) area a few days ago. Having taken a wrong turn up among the logging areas we decided to take an alternative track down to the Rubicon river.
Started out OK and with my Freebie leading the way we headed downhill.
Hill descent engaged and all happy, until the point where gravity overcame available traction and away we went, no stopping, speed increasing.
Wheels completely locked meant no steering, easing off on the brake and letting ABS do it's thing was very dodgy and not pulling us up, HDC alone gave a lot more control but going much faster than was comfortable (call it scary).
Rode along until the track softened and levelled a bit and I pulled it up.
Had a look and although the surface was not sloppy the cover was like clay and was clogging the tread. Locally it appeared to have been a lot of overnight rain.
Warned my brother over the radio, dropped the pressures to help a bit and set off very carefully down the remainder. Basically had to drive through the brakes at 1 kph for about 500 metres of descent (vertical not travel) with several significant slips and slides including at one point a slow 180-degree rotation at about 0.5 kph.
Note that my brother was driving a Jackaroo (diesel) with open blocked tyres and faced very nearly as 'exciting' a descent even with low range to assist and the warnings from me both verbal and slide marks on the track. Both his kids’ walked/slid down the worst bits. It still would have been hairy in a D3.
Lesson learned, take more notice of the local overnight rainfall (we stayed about 20km away and it was only light there), expect steep descents (when you are at 1000 metres and heading towards a river) and stay within conservative estimates of total vehicle/driver/conditions capability.
We had a great day out aside from this, found some new areas to explore further, a couple of good camping spots and had plenty of fun.
Looking at the GPS data logging yesterday I found we touched 22kph downhill which sounds slow, but next time you are descending at 5kph, imagine 4 times that speed between the trees.
Will revisit that track again, but uphill, when dry.
I actually know the answer why, haven't got around to it and currently between jobs so watching the spend at the moment.
Prompting this post was a day trip I did with my brother around the Rubicon (Vic) area a few days ago. Having taken a wrong turn up among the logging areas we decided to take an alternative track down to the Rubicon river.
Started out OK and with my Freebie leading the way we headed downhill.
Hill descent engaged and all happy, until the point where gravity overcame available traction and away we went, no stopping, speed increasing.
Wheels completely locked meant no steering, easing off on the brake and letting ABS do it's thing was very dodgy and not pulling us up, HDC alone gave a lot more control but going much faster than was comfortable (call it scary).
Rode along until the track softened and levelled a bit and I pulled it up.
Had a look and although the surface was not sloppy the cover was like clay and was clogging the tread. Locally it appeared to have been a lot of overnight rain.
Warned my brother over the radio, dropped the pressures to help a bit and set off very carefully down the remainder. Basically had to drive through the brakes at 1 kph for about 500 metres of descent (vertical not travel) with several significant slips and slides including at one point a slow 180-degree rotation at about 0.5 kph.
Note that my brother was driving a Jackaroo (diesel) with open blocked tyres and faced very nearly as 'exciting' a descent even with low range to assist and the warnings from me both verbal and slide marks on the track. Both his kids’ walked/slid down the worst bits. It still would have been hairy in a D3.
Lesson learned, take more notice of the local overnight rainfall (we stayed about 20km away and it was only light there), expect steep descents (when you are at 1000 metres and heading towards a river) and stay within conservative estimates of total vehicle/driver/conditions capability.
We had a great day out aside from this, found some new areas to explore further, a couple of good camping spots and had plenty of fun.
Looking at the GPS data logging yesterday I found we touched 22kph downhill which sounds slow, but next time you are descending at 5kph, imagine 4 times that speed between the trees.
Will revisit that track again, but uphill, when dry.