Intro
Want to head out into the wide blue yonder ?
Well sit down & take a short break to prepare yourself for what's out there …
Index
- Trips
- Basic Radio Procedures
- Phonetic Alphabet
- Basic Convoy Rules
- Recovery Gear
- Locations
- Tips & Tricks
Making Trips
Before heading off, You need to be aware of a few things - Old saying 'Be prepared' … its also a good idea to have some of the following items in your kit :
- CB radio, good for when there's no mobile reception
- Recovery Gear with a Snatch / tow strap and or cable, shackles to attach to tow points or hooks.
- Shovel(s)
- Air compressor and tyre pressure gauge
- A mate or several
- Basic tool set
- Spare tyre, emergency tyre inflator/repair bottle, tyre chains
- Torch
- Important spare parts if able
- Tractor or high-lift jack, bottle jack
- Maxtracks or similar
Basic Radio Procedures
Phonetic Alphabet
A-Alpha B-Bravo C-Charlie D-Delta E-Echo F-Foxtrot G-Golf H-Hotel I-India J-Juliette K-Kilo L-Lima M-Mike N-November O-Oscar P-Papa Q-Quebec R-Romeo S-Sierra T-Tango U-Uniform V-Victor W-Whiskey X-X-ray Y-Yankee Z-Zulu
Basic Convoy Rules/Convoy Procedures
- Trip leader to call convoy group meeting prior to start and remind members of convoy procedure.
- Leader to appoint ‘Tail End Charlie’ for each trip.
- Observe road rules at all times.
- On the bitumen leave enough room between vehicles for other traffic to pass through the convoy.
- All vehicles are responsible for the following vehicle when turning off road and at crossroads.
- Vehicles leaving the convoy for any reason are to call the remainder of convoy through and inform ‘Tail End Charlie’ of their intention.
- No vehicles to overtake the leader, unless in an emergency.
- Keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front at all times especially when in hilly terrain or when brakes are wet.
- Allow vehicles in front to get over the crest of a difficult hill before you attempt to follow. If you get stuck, tell the vehicle behind you to wait.
- Lead vehicle to carry a flag on sand hills when possible.
- Nominated track marshals will regulate traffic on sites nominated by trip leader.
- In the event of winching being necessary, the winch operator will automatically become a track marshal.
- In the event of an accident or mishap on a run, all non-emergency vehicles are to leave the immediate area of the accident.
- Any driver not complying with instructions given by track marshals or emergency personnel will be referred to Executive Committee for disciplinary action (i.e. suspension of membership or a fine). All drivers are responsible for their passengers at all times.
Recovery Gear
Snatch 'em Strap
Always try to attach strap to frame or to other solid metal attached to the frame ( bullbar, hitch, frame hooks, etc. NEVER tow balls - they kill.)
Pulling leverage(sometimes to get best leverage pull diagonally)This technique works best for high centred vehicles
Always use a good strap, preferably one that is rated for loads much more than the weight of your vehicle
Bow Saw and/or chain saws
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Winch Info
If nothing solid is available to hook onto bury a tyre a little more than half into ground and wrap cable around it. Also pounding a large stake into the ground at an angle facing away from the winch then hooking the cable to the base is a good technique. Small boat anchors buried can be very effective. Always stand clear when using winch in case of cable break.
First Aid Kits
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Basic Kit
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++Advanced Kits
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Tips & Tricks
- If you run out of wheel travel you're not going fast enough.
Locations to Visit
Queensland
Double Island Point
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Beerburrum State Forest
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Kenilworth State Forest
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New South Wales
Stockton Beach
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Barrington Tops
Awesome playground and beaut camping spots. From Moonan Flat (60 klicks out of Scone), turn right on to the dirt road heading to Glousecter and follow this for about five klicks. Instead of turning left to go up to the Dingo Gate, go straight ahead and keep following Moonan brook upstream. This will turn into the top end of Stewarts Brook road and then eventually middle ridge and bungaree (I think) trails. My old subey wagon could not drive up the long 500 metre steep section, due to the lack of power in low range (yes it is that steep. Needed front and rear lockers in my other 4wd to get up it). Have driven down this track a few times in the sube (easier to go down than up) and makes for an interesting drive at the best of times.
Camping spots: Junction holes, Devil Holes, Water mark, Mt Barrington, Gummi Falls. Heaps of others than I cant think of. Big Hole and Careys Peak you need to bushwalk in to - very pretty and worth the trip.
Victoria
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South Australia
SA has some great offroad destinations. Unfortunately most are at least a couple of hours at least from Adelaide.
Trips I've done in my brief 4wding career include:
Robe - Beachport. (Great sand driving - very soft and 'boggable' in parts.)
Goolwa - Murray mouth. (Not too difficult unless a high tide which can make things scary. Great for learning sand driving on beaches - plenty of passers by to help if things get nasty.)
Morgan. (Around the old quarry and near the dump. Some great tracks for the inexperienced and experienced alike.)
Flinders Ranges. (Several drives, some on private land or pastoral leases which charge fees. Some great scenery.)
Peake. (Private farming property with plenty of interesting sand dune country. Great if you love sand driving. Lots of clubs use this area, must book ahead.)
Simpson Desert. (From Adelaide you need a good 10-12 days for this trip. Lots of info on the web about this area.)
Innamincka and Coongie Lakes. (Fantastic spot to camp for a few days. Even some good fishing! Be careful, can be easy to get stranded if it rains!)
Ceduna & Great Australian Bight. (Some excellent beach driving around this area. Not so speak of the fishing!)
Bendleby Ranges. (Some fairly tough 4wding available here for the experienced, but some great tracks for anyone with a 4wd. Some spectacular scenery, great camping, even farmhouse accommodation for those looking for something a bit more comfortable.)
Ngarkat NP & Border Track. (This area is once again dominated by sand driving. The border track is an iconic 4wd destination. A bit chewed up by irresponsible idiots in parts but still a great 2-3 day trip.)
Lots more places that I've not seen, but SA's great for 4wding in general.
Western Australia
Western Australia has some wild and wonderful country. The State abounds with areas and attractions of outstanding natural beauty, from the remote and rugged landscapes of the Kimberley and Pilbara Regions to vast inland desert areas and the majestic forests of the lower south-west. In addition, we also have a rich heritage of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultural features and historic sites.
Each year, more and more people are discovering that the best way to experience Western Australia is to pack up their four-wheel drive and head bush.
For access to the following trips use this link (below) (http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/national_parks/previous_parks_month/rudall.html) Rudall River National Park, Purnululu National Park, Cape Arid National Park, Fitzgerald River National Park, D'Entrecasteaux National Park, Francois Peron National Park, Gnangarra Park.
Northern Territory
There are quite a few places to visit, although there may be some that are hard to get to, with long travel distances, little fuel between stops & some will require permits to access aboriginal land. Some are inaccessible during the wet season too … !
Top end - there's Litchfield, Kakadu, Katherine region & heading towards the Kimberly on WA side.
Through the centre, there's quite bit of desert via Uluru, Alice Springs way.
South through to SA / QLD there the salt lakes & opal mining.
Notes
Added some extra info from the Territory, if you have any to add just let us know … Bantum.
Credits
to this page: web archive, TOONGA, 60766244, Bantum