Thread: My first time out.

Originally Posted by Aaron

Well i just got back from Mt Mee.

I went on a trail that was called "The Break" it was this or another trail, which i wont even bother trying to spell.

It was very easy at the beginning, and slowly got hard and harder until i got to a fairly steep (i thought it was at the time) decent, which i guess you could say had like camel humps mixed in it. I got through it with no real issue, but i was hopping that would be as hard as it got.

A little further down the track I was faced with a cliff, i mean steeper hill.... far steeper. Again I Stayed at the top questioning whether to do it or not. I 100 percent did not want to do it, but at the time, i thought it would be to hard to go back up the hill i just came down ( Pfft... i relise how easy that hill is now) so down i went. 1st low cdl. and it crawled (amazing machine). I was pretty much held into my seat by the seat belt, I was just amazed at home it can go down so SLOW and not break traction, especially on the Grabbers.

A minute or two later i was down the bottom and i got out and looked back. It just looks like a wall rather than a hill.

I got back in the car, and looked at my GPS - middle of no where. Again, decision time. Do i proceed and risk it getting worse ? Do i proceed and assume it will take me to the end of the track, and onto a main road ?

I decided it was time to turn around, and climb the wall. Having no experience, all that i kept thinking was all the 4wd course advertising that they teach you stall recovery on hills etc. So my only plan was to NOT stall. 1st low cdl in place, up i went. I didn't no what to put my wheels on, the gravel/rock/big rocks, or the glass like hardened clay. (please advise me for future reference) I went with the hardened glass like clay, why ? I'm not sure. But a decision had to be made with in one or two seconds, and that was what i decided, and thats what i kept to.

Going up the wall... i mean hill, i was waiting for the engine to start slowing down, and stall. It didn't, it didn't even sound close. My biggest fear was rolling back like a snow ball, or having to much weight transfered to the back that the front wheels would loose traction. No, nothing like that happened, and i got to the top, rather scared, rather amazed and bloody excited. These cars are amazing. Do they stop ?

At this time I was pretty excited about the hill that I previously didn't want to go up, because i knew i could do it, and i knew it would be easy enough for me to carry enough speed to make a splash in the mud between the camel humps :P

Seriously, I cant believe how capable these cars are. And the thing is, I'm damn sure with my skill, its only working its capability to 20 percent.

Does anyone know this track, and the hill i was talking about ? If so, how is the track get after that ?

I will organise some pictures now.

G'day Mate,

Great to hear you're enjoying the advantages of being a Land Rover driver, pity it's not a Disco though.
On a more serious note, don't ever forget that you are alone, and believe me you can get stuck or worse, break something. The cost of having to get your vehicle recovered will leave a large dent in your wallet. Get some recovery gear and learn how to use it safely.
Great Fender though mate, top buy!!

Originally Posted by Aaron

Sorry. What i meant was, driving through the track i was getting brushed by branches etc. Id have felt horrible had i been in the highly polished D2 i wanted.

No worries! I bought a white disco specifically cause I knew it would get scratched...my disco doesnt get an easy life. lol

Angus

Well i enjoyed ure story immensly,
Reminded me of the 1st time I took my 1st series 2 off road.
3 hours to extricate it from a bog hole as I had not locked the hubs or read any material at all on offroading.
My bro was less than impressed as we walked for 45 minutes just to borrow a shovel from a local home.
woops.
I now go well prepared.
PS love the pictures

Excellent stories - and I'm looking forward to more "dirty" pictures.

Now for your next, more difficult challenge - go and park in the city

i think i can park in the new carpark under David Jones. its 2.1 meters. should i ?

man.. i hope your new car is good, i cant believe u sold this one

Originally Posted by Aaron

i think i can park in the new carpark under David Jones. its 2.1 meters. should i ?

You will tap the bar as you go in but once you're in there it should be OK. I think it is just when the back kicks up on the ramp down.

I generally avoid anything under 2.2m just to be safe. Fire sprinklers can sometimes be installed a bit lower than the height gauge.

Originally Posted by Aaron

man.. i hope your new car is good, i cant believe u sold this one

Ahhh... one day you too will experience the firm guidance of a strong-willed wife.

Originally Posted by Hymie

Mate, all you have to remember is to ask yourself, "Do I really need to drive up this track"?
That will save a lot of anxiety.

The answer to that is ALWAYS "Bloody oath I do .."