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Thanks to everyone for an interesting and challenging day.
I've just spent the morning underneath the FL2 removing a few sticks and things from under the fuel tank. The good news is that it appears that the bits that got bumped around a bit are all unimportant bits of plastic and metal. The fuel tank and exhaust are beat up but the damage is only cosmetic except for my fuel sender which has quit working. The front bash plate has taken some punishment but has done its job.
I'm lucky that I was out with a group of experienced and friendly bunch who were able to get me down. Thanks especially to Harry, Caroline and Mark and of course Dranged and his winch.
Even thought the place is essentially City View I think the guys running it have got the right idea and seem to be trying really hard to improve the place. The Tour Drives that we did after lunch would have been really enjoyable except for the rain making things extremely slippery.
Going up Handbrake Hill I was really happy with the FL2 because I nailed the right line and it walked up without any dramas. I think Mark even commented that he was sure I would need a snatch over one section.
Going down Handbrake Hill was just plain scary! Goodyear Wranglers are not appropriate for that kind of work. In hindsight I was silly to hang around with the threat of rain around.
For the first part there was a nasty rut that provided good traction but at the bottom of the hill it would have directed the vehicle of the track down a steeper slope. Harry went down first and had some fun getting his disco out of the rut at the bottom.
It was decided that it was best to keep me and Mark out of the rut so we didn't get into trouble at the bottom. Harry and Mark connected me up to the D3 via 2 snatch straps and the Courier Mail and pulled me up the hill a bit so we could take a different line. With Mark acting as an anchor while Harry helped keep the FL2 to the left of the track we inched down slowly.
Mrs Ho Har drove down the next section and had a free ride down the slope as a passenger coming to a stop in a rut on a right hand bend. Harry took over and got out of the rut but slipped and slid round the bend straight into a little tree. As Harry said at the time "That's what the bull bar is for".
After a long discussion about how we could get me through the same section the rest of the vehicles had caught up Justin manoeuvred into position while Harry and I (mostly Harry) filled in some of the rut and cut the edges off the drop offs with a shovel and pick.
Winching me down that section was the smoothest part of the entire decent. Thank god for Rangie!
In all that hour and half was a massive learning exercise and challenge but boy was I glad to get to the bottom of that hill.
Thanks again to everyone who worked damm hard to get me down safely. You are a great bunch!
More pictures on Flickr
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...009/04/986.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...009/04/987.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...009/04/988.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...009/04/989.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...009/04/990.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...009/04/991.jpg
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I think for that kind of work the FL2 needs the Mantec guards and even then sill or other damage is possible. It makes challenging terrain all that more difficult as you really have to think before you place your wheels and use the limited ground clearance you have.
As you know I have AT tyres fitted to my FL2 and they give you a lot more confidence and capability especially on dirt or rock surfaces but mud, side slopes and gravity sometimes will mean you're just along for the ride.
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https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...009/04/926.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...009/04/927.jpg
Was a great trip for the day, well lead and a little fun with some slip and slide nice park too. The D2 felt great and did everything all day long - thanks for some great spotting bolts.
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Great pics, especially the 2 Rangies climbing up that track (would have been great if it was 3, hey Guy :wasntme:) . It had to be done since the majority didn't want to attempt but the track looked worse than it was to be quite honest :)
Trav
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Pics
Great pics Sledgehammer.
Thanks for getting some great shots of thr old Rangies. The shot of Travs and ours climbing up the track great. Thanks for the shot of my "Silver highlights". Thanks again everyone for a great day. Would have to be the most varied bunch of vehicles on a single trip we've had for a while.
Justin
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Great pics and report guys and Justin.................like the new plates:cool::cool:
Aye, Mick
