How to drive onto the beach and the barge to get to Fraser Island
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- How to drive onto the beach and the barge to get to Fraser Island
Learn how to drive on the sand and get to the barge to Fraser Island is easy simple terms. Steve runs through tyre pressure, beach permits, getting onto the beach and ultimately onto the barge.
Steve talks about basic concepts required to set up and drive onto the beach with confidence.
Before you drive onto the beach especially when travelling to Fraser Island there are some things you need to go through before trying to navigate to the barge.
Stop at the services station;
• Fill your fuel tank
• Check coolant level
• Check engine oil level
• Check gearbox oil level
• Check windscreen water level
Barge Tickets and Beach Permit
www.npsr.qld.g...
mantarayfraseri...
Tyre Pressure;
People hold different opinions as to which is the right pressure and this does vary from vehicle to vehicle and tyre to tyre. I would recommend somewhere between 20 and 24 PSI is a safe bet. For the FJ Cruiser I deflate my tyres to 24 PSI as this give me a little room to move if we get to some really soft sand and 24 is not too soft for driving on the hard sand which Fraser has a lot of.
I always carry a 12 volt compressor for when I need to inflate the tyres back to the recommended pressure. Ridge Ryder Air Compressor, 12 Volt, Ultimate
I use
Shaun automatic tyre deflators www.stauntyredeflators.com.au
Ridge Ryder Air Compressor, 12 Volt, Ultimate www.supercheapauto.com.au/Product/Ridge-Ryder-Air-Compressor-12-Volt-Ultimate/299651
4WD
H4 or L4
Low 4WD or L4 give your car more power at lower speeds which you will need to maintain speed when travelling through really soft sand.
High 4WD or H4 gives you the traction of 4WD with the vehicle operating at normal gear ratios.
Driving through Soft Sand
When approaching the beach take the time to pick your path. Look for tracks recently used by a car before you, get to speed before you hit the sand and maintain the speed through the soft stuff. Try not to Jack Rabbit that is keep a constant pressure on the accelerator and so the car does not jump up and down in speed.
If you have any question please comment.
Hi Steve, this is a bit late but I like a few others agree 24psi is way to high. Ok you made it easily on that day, but why not have your tyres down to around 16psi and the trailer even lower. It's better have your tyre pressure low and not get into trouble in the first place. Once you get bogged, lowering the pressures generally will not get you out, it's out with the shovel and max tracks. It only takes an extra 30 seconds of time per tyre to pump up, so go low.
Hi George, Sorry I have been away from here. The FJ drives considerable lightly compared to a dual cab or full sedan like a Prado. I appreciate the comments and for every other car I have had on Fraser I would totally agree 16 - 18 PSI would be try choice as well. With the FJ we conducted many tests and different pressures trying as hard as we could to get stuck and the result was 24. To be honest we drove most of the Island in 2WD at this pressure and only engaged 4WD to get to the barge and over Indian Head (which we trialed the crawl assist - made it easily).
I hope this helps. and Thank you for your comment.
24 is too high. In a car like that id say 18 maximum. Personally in my car i run 16 and have never been stuck in sand.
Hi Tim,
For most cars I would totally agree with you however, depending on the types of tyres, we range from 16 to 18PSI.
For the FJ cruiser we have never had any issues at this pressure and have conducted tests a lower pressures and the car performed just as well. It is my preference to run a slightly higher pressure in this instance.
I will say that conditions at that time were very good and we drove around the Island in 2WD for most of the trip.
Thank you for your comments.
Steve, I'm sure you know already, holding down the traction control button for three seconds turns it off. TC is like having the handbrake on in sand.I like to call it going old school. LOL
HI, thanks for the comment and yes I agree Old School is great. My favourite all time car was my old BJ 40. wheels, breaks, gear box, steering wheel, rust and not much else. Unfortunately she had a touch life but was much loved. I do love the FJ though, to be honest I spend most of the time even on Fraser in 2wd however I did enjoy going up Indian head past everyone who was stuck using the crawl control with my feet out the window. LOL
In most cases (dry hot day) you need to go 20psi or less just to get on and off the bardge at inskip...u dont wanna b the noob who gets bogged 15M off the bardge on Fraser then hold everyone up for 20+ mins
Hi, Thanks for your comments and normally I would agree with you, a lower pressure would seem the right choice. We conducted tests with the FJ and the car performed just as well at 24PSI as it did at 18PSI and lower. It is a personal choice to drive at 24PSI for this vehicle but I will admit the condition were almost perfect.
@@myfathertaughtmethat you may have been there after rain . I travelled around at 16psi for 2 weeks and never looked like getting bogged .If it is very dry sand 24psi will get you bogged at Ngala .
Thank You APPRECIATED.
Do you put your tyre pressure back up when on the hard sand? or leave while over there?
24 psi ? must have very different sand over there , i"m from WA and we need 12 psi for most of our beaches especially when towing
Absolutely 12psi for me all the time.
Same down on stockton beach in NSW 12psi...
'just ease onto the beach' lol this guy is going to get so many people stuck....classic
Hello Rebecca,
Thank you for your comments, but yes maintaining momentum is the key to driving on the sand, not speed. In most cases speed in not your friend. You will notice some tracks weaving from side to side rather than a straight line. This is caused by an inexperience using speed to get through the sand. I agree with some of the comments made by other viewers regarding tyre pressures for other makes of vehicles however I stand by my advice of using momentum not speed.
Not really good advice on tyre pressure and gear selection. 24 is to high. Should be 18psi.
And 4H should be a starting point. Not 4 low. Most people who get stuck at inskip point and Indian head get stuck because their tyre pressure is over 20.
Hi Bruno, Hope you are well and thank you for your comments.
Tyre pressure is a heavily contested topic as there are many factors. For me it works but I travel light. If the vehicle is heavily loaded I completely agree better to lower the pressure a little more to 22 or even 20. Be mindful that going lower than 18 can cause other issues especially for factory tyres. In terms of 4H or 4L, I am sorry I don't agree, starting in 4H is bad advice. You will find most people get stuck at Inskip because of lost momentum, not the tyre pressure. Momentum is key and 4L give you access to more power to maintain your speed.
Hi Bruno, I agree with 4 High mate. Absolutely just select a low gear and keep the revs up. Easy as. Momentum is the key.
@@myfathertaughtmethat I agree with being L4 but still not on pressures. Having pressures low for soft sand driving, not driving to fast, no hard turns will not damage your tyres. I regularly go down to 12psi on our beaches when it's soft and it takes the pressure of the car and less damage to the beach.
@@myfathertaughtmethat where do the people sit on barge?
Totally agree !! My God....!! 24 psi !! I start at 18, and sometimes in really soft sand drop to 15. And definitely 4H...wow....cant believe this guy...!!
Starting point is 20psi, and did you put the gear in D or what? For people who don't know.
Good safe advice. They should make evryone watch this when they get a permit. Way to go, if you want no troubles.
15psi at the end of November 2020... 24psi would = a bog... i have a Nissan Patrol and used 4H and just drove the auto.only once locked into 2nd gear.. never once use 4L ....the day you filmed that sand was hard....
Great video Steve! Theres alot of 4wdrivers that need to watch this and actually let down there tyre pressures and keep the momentum up as they drive through sand haha SOOO many videos of people getting bogged at inskip! Check out my Fraser Island 4x4 videos too :D Cheers!
would you recommend taking a 2002 Toyota rav4 to frazer
Nope.
"How to drive onto the beach and the barge to get to Fraser Island" Drive to rainbow beach barge its half the cost,
I agree Rainbow is very beautiful. I would highly recommend everyone to stop in the town and enjoy some the food and craft found in Rainbow. Well worth the walk to the sand blow, especially at sunset.
Where’s the rest of the vids?
HI Jarrod, I am sorry for the delay. I have been very unwell for a while however I am back. There are more videos coming in the next few weeks. Thank you for your support.
Hi Steve, have read heaps of blogs on Fraser Island and would like to try it. Have some experience driving on sand but nothing like Fraser from what I have read. Biggest concern for me is would my car handle it. Have a Cherokee Blackhawk do you think it would be ok, would be looking at staying in zone 2 which is all that is available. Tks Jeff
Hi Jeff, The Blackhawk is more than capable of taking a trip to Fraser, however going with friends is always a great idea especially with your first trip. Many factors can effect the sand including rain, traffic and even wind. Keep a constant speed, don't overload the vehicle and make sure you let your tires down. If it is your first time I would recommend letting them down lower than i said in the video.
Good luck I have you have a wonderful trip.
Thanks mate was a bit worried as has 1850 ground clearance and most articles say need higher. Do you know which barge is best for zone 2 camping acces
Jeff Crowe Mantaray barge from inskip is the best i think.
Take the inland track if tides high to avoid the narrow beach section, we drove that beach 2 hours after low tide, wouldn't do it again.
I also sugest using high 4 for most of the island, reckon i used low range only twice when i was there last year in the 60 series cruiser running 18psi front, 25 at the rear due to overloading the tyres bagged out the tyres fine at 25. Enjoy your trip its a magic place.
Blur Festival
I it's bit late, you say you have Jeep Grand Cherokee, is it the V6 diesel? I sure it would do it easily. I have Jeep WH Limited V6 diesel and they are great on sand, it's all about tyre pressures i would be have run 14psi and good momentum. HOW DID YOU GO, hopefully good.
You did mean low 4 not low 2... lol
Karen Smith Hi Karen. Whoops definitely low 4.sorry everyone. Did get it right in the end.