Thread: Coffs 2010

Pretty sure its 'Sando'

Looks like a great trip.

Look at these pictures carefully



Did you see it......?

What type of Rover do all the people in the second picture drive.??????

What does it say about the RRC that only a Disco driver was keen....
While the RRC drivers looked on.......

Disco's Rule
Running for cover now.

Tyre tracks going up the right hand side then up above the vertical step?

Thats pretty crazy!

Gary, what did you think of the KM2's?

The sensible ones are watching, wondering why you would want to walk/climb up that steep hill.

Okay, I guess I better put my assessment of the weekend up.

I do have video, but my PC is being repaired atm and I am using a loaner til it's fixed so the software to edit it is not able to be loaded (bloody Vista ).

Anyway, started off on the Friday at the BP Chinderah where Justin and kids as well as Kelvin were sitting having a coffee wilts I was gouging myself with the McDonald's breakfast (not that it's what you call nourishing but good ti fill you up). I also wilts filling up seen Gary filling up his Disco on another fuel bowser so pretty much we were all there ready to take on Coffs once fed and watered.

The trip down was uneventful but rainy. It was looking a bit better when we reached Grafton but then as we got closer to Coffs it was back to that rainy look with a few patches of rain here and there as we reached Coffs. On the bullet front, it was playing mind games with the starter motor (turned out to be a dodgy positive cable to the battery I found out once I got home ) so it would click click a couple of times and then start but sometimes start as if theres not an issue then not at all then it wouldn't do a bloody thing I hate those sort of problems . Not a big deal but bloody annoying all the same and you can't push start and auto either if it was to fail altogether

Once at Coffs, the thirsty V8's (Gaz and me) filled up again, caught up with Philippe, Eve and the kids after they had spent some time buying some new clothes for the kids with the persistent rain the day before had exhausted all there dry sets. Once all together as a group we headed off to Shane's property for our base camp. This a a great spot and worth another visit some point in the future plus cheap as well for $15 a night. Once we arrived at the campsite it was soggy after it had a fair whack of rain during the week as well as the day we arrived but we all got our tents/camper trailers up and we're keen for a drive for the arvo.

Gaz was keen to lead us astray at this point and had a few interesting tracks for us to tackle but not long after we left the rain started again This was the bane of our existence all weekend and had hampered any effort to try some of the more challenging tracks but we had to do with what was safe and sensible. Still even with the lesser hardcore options it was a red/G4 trips in some instances so it wasn't any walk in the park at any point for out mere Land Rovers..

Anyway back on track, Gaz deiced to have a crack at Johns hill even after we we're told it was a no go hill but Gaza being Gaz had to have a crack in Cheeky. The track had a curve at a steep point which on slippery condition isn't a totally wise thing to attempt but Gaz was doing okay tail he suddenly ran out of grip. Cheeky did a slide backward but then gained momentum. At this point Kelvin had been standing behind Cheeky next to a rather old but massive tree stump but the rate of knots that Cheeky had took off backwards had Kelvin heading for the scrub at lightening pace. At this point, Cheeky headed for the tree stump which threatened to make Cheeky Australia's first bobtail D1 by default
Anyway, Gaz returned back onto more solid and safer ground and we found a couple of other off-shoots to have a go at that were safe.

We found another track that we had a good go at although all but Kelvin had to winch (thanks el-president Josh for the loan of the winch, it works well and got the dunga king seal of approval ). It had a rocky step-up which in dry condition was easy to drive up with no assistance if you chose the right line but with rain and now at this point getting heavier it was more a winch job for most. Anyway, got yo use my 'borrowed' winch at least before I remove it and return it back to it's rightful (and dormant ) owner .

After that episode, it was back to camp to find that Tim (long stroke) and his dad Rod turned up in the Disco and County respectively. Not long after Keith showed up on the orange Rangie Ute in tow behind his D2 to join in on the fun for the weekend. We had dinner and ready for the best part on a camping trip apart from the driving, the campfire. Me being me, it had to be on the big and hot side so on with the wood between sleeps in one case (Justin would call out 'wake up Trav, the fire is getting low' ) and I would throw on another heap of timber. Once fed, watered and the like we had a visit from one of Gaza's Jeep mates, Wayne. This bloke is as one-eyed Jeep as I am a one-eyed rangie man, lets just say he's an 'interesting' character and I'll leave it at that but friendly enough (more on his Jeep adventure later). A few beers and yours truly dozing off in front of the fire as per GCLRO standard for any camping trip it was off to bed for another day of off-road excitement.

Saturday dawned and it was still cloudy, bugger, I was hoping for some sunshine Never mind, this is the card we were dealt so we had to live with it and not let it dampen out spirit of adventure. After a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs and sausages it was off for some more terrain to have a crack at. Sando, one of the local blokes was more than keen to point us in the right direction as well as Phill who we met last year on the trips in his 110 Defender running 35's and maxi drives all round with a few of his mates as well. Tim and Rod, of course, also local Coffs Harbor blokes so we we're not too worried where the good stuff was. It was decided that the driving would be more north of Coffs away from that awful red soil. Our first track I think was Morbid trail, nothing too hard but the last section the power mob had flattened the road, in the dry we would have whinged it was too easy but after rain with all that loose soil it was downright dangerous. Phill (another local Coffs bloke) and Gaz had a crack wilts Gaz had to winch the rest of the way. We opted for the alternative track and to be honest it was about on par although safer option. I was the last vehicle in the convoy at one point so I was more sliding than driving down hills but all good without incident.

All back and accounted for it was time to tackle a creek and a steep-ish hill (good V8 territory noise-wise ) It was a tad technical at the start with a dodging of a tree here and there and the steep finale with the bullet opening up at nearly full noise and trying to kill Kelvin again (if it wasn't Gaz it was me, sorry ) when the bullet grabbed for traction it was heading in kelvin's direction once again but all was good as I total control of the situation . All made it through and back in convoy to tackle another hill. This has a bit of a shelf with a tree stump which snagged all of us resulting in a re-altering on panels for some (gotta love a tray back hey Keith ). As usual, I copped a dent in the rear qtr on the passenger side the size of a 50 cent piece and a scrape but the panel was already christened so it was just another trophy to take home As usual we had a breakage, Phill in the 110 'Fender had broken his drivers side Cv joint. This wilts a simple job is always a bugger which takes time to remove and re-assemble. Justin on hand performed the CV joint removal with some help here and there but after about an hour it was off again for some more driving, a look at Commando (none of us mere mortals were keen to try, too many pucker moment for non-rollcage vehicles ) then lunch at the Cooramba pub. This is a great pub with good tucker and beer of course. The prices were reasnoble and it was better than a couple of sangers any day of the week.

After lunch, more trails, some detours and down, then up Jeep hill. This is another track we did last year that was more rutted out this time but the access road from ther bottom was wahsed away so it was down, then up Jeep hill. The track down had a couple of intersting points with the rain made the access from the top quite slippery but down, up Jeep hill with some good airtime from Philippe and myself it was all good and gave little trouble to all.

A few more tracks and once again it was back to camp for the campfire, Phill in the 110 headed off back home and did well in 3WD or rear wheel drive at times with that busted CV . Once tea had been cooked, eaten we had a impending visit from Wayne who was staying at Shane's house on the other side of the hill from where the campsite was in a lets say 'cheerful' mood and decided to take on the slippery and shortest route back to our campsite in his J10 Jeep. You could hear the roar of the 350 Chev in the background til Wayne come a cropper half-way down the hill and Gaz was off to the rescue with Kelvin in support. Gaz was having issues getting Cheeky up to Wayne to throw on the winch cable and get him back onto the track but after several attempts it was decided to leave the Disco and Waynes Jeep til the morninhg with more daylight. Anyway, back at camp, Wayne had a few more coldies and saeen totally at ease at th fact his beloverd Jeep was about to be rescued by a land Rover (maybe that's what the beer was for ). As usual, I was dozing off in front of the fire but eventually I was off to bed at around 10PM I think

Sunday was upon us and after breakfast it was off to rescue Wayne and his Jeep. Wayne, who was a tad on the seedy side, put on a brave face to assist in the rescue of his Jeep with Cheeky half-way up the hill. After getting the Jeep back onto the track and after walking up the hill and a heart attack later you can see how far Wayne had slid off the track . It took about 2 hours to get him back onto the track but all good in the end. Keith also was on hand and took the sensible option in his Rangie ute to pull the Jeep back up on top of the hill and down the other side which was safer and sesible alternative. Once sorted out, we still had some wheelng to do, we wern't going home without another drive, too far to just pack up and go home early. Philippe had taken off early as he had the 'in laws' to visit but the rest of us had taken off for a few hourts to do a few more tracks. I had Wayne as a passenger (this could of been interesting but nothing eventuated thankfully) but was okay so I was able to concentrate in my driving. One of the tracks that we done had a rickety old bridge which taken the wrong approiach could have been very interesting But using some nous and taking it easy it was all good so off we went. A few off-camber bits andf some washed-out racks we had a look at Koala trail which about 4 years ago we had done with a 2002 Rangie L322 (drivesafes). These days it's for the foolhardy and possible 'grover teritory', too many off-camber, steep section for the bullet which was shaking in it's Federals

Anyway, a couple of off-shoots which Kelvin having a real crack at one it was time to get back to camp and pack up ready to head off back to the GC and Jimboomba fopr me (I had the longest distance to go, which is unusual ). A stop at Hungry Jacks for a feed and on the road which was uneventful and a quick caffinbe fix at Woodburn we kept on truckinhg on til we all eventually got home.

This is a great trip and well worth the visit and as usual great company with skilled drivers. Once again, thanks to Sando, Tim and Rod for there expertise on the local tracks and to the people who turned up on the trip.

Okay, what we learned-

I still fall asleep in front of the fire and make it bigger than it should be
Justin, is they're anything you don't have on board
Jeeps and one well lubricated owner do not mix
Johns hill best done when it's not raining let alone wet
Kelvin has 9 lives, almost geting killed by a Rangie and a Disco

Anyway, til next time see you all later

Trav

Originally Posted by Psimpson7

Tyre tracks going up the right hand side then up above the vertical step?

Thats pretty crazy!

Gary, what did you think of the KM2's?

I am a big BFG fan. They are a good choice for an all round tyre.
The BFG Mud Terrain is as forgiving on road as most All Terrains IMHO
Having said that I was a bit disappointed with the Km2 in one regard
It does not clear mud as well as I expected.
I believe that the Silverstone Sport scratched better in the Mud…

That said, I have come to believe that there is no perfect tyre for every condition.
For example for mud clearance you would want a centipede or some Claws.
But on rock centipede’s are not much chop. In fact this is one terrain that the KM2 really does well, I reckon better than the centipede.
On Jeep Hill Cheeky crawled all the way without even stopping once, the Km2 felt great.
For a trip to The Springs the KM2 is your tyre.

On the black stuff the BFG is great, quite, smooth and if the older KM is a guide will last and last.
The latter point is why I got them. Cheryl does lots of kilometers in Cheeky between club trips.
(Ok maybe not this week, it has taken me all week cleaning her and I still have the inside to do)
I would have purchased the Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ except for the mileage issue. I was not confident MTZ’s would last.

I was at Brett's today he showed me the first Mazzis I like the look of, the Mudzilla. Thats an aggressive tyre.

A slight correction - Two disco owners and a bunch of kids ventured up the widow-maker hill - Kelvin was first though




Torquit as always attacked the hills - here is a rangie diff screaming at the hill to get out of the way!



We were the trailer pony in the crowd - with doggy auto heating issues we did not risk it also we left home with the MT117 Extremes on ready for Mud after confirming with Justin that might be needed and Eric suggesting same before we left.


Rangie made for great camping gear storage while on the trailer when coming down! So there are other uses for Rangies.

Originally Posted by CheekyD1

I was at Brett's today he showed me the first Mazzis I like the look of, the Mudzilla. Thats an aggressive tyre.

You wont be impressed with the mudzilla onroad
You will cry at the rate of tread depletion

It's actually the only 4x4 maxxis tyre I wouldn't recommend (due to much better alternatives)

In saying the above offroad they did go pretty damn well, but what maxxis tyre doesnt .

I think the KM2s were an excellent choice Gaz