Fraser Island (Orchid Beach) maiden voyage for 2014 GXL

[Noonan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Noonan]

Hi everyone,

After years of 'thinking about it' we got rid of our old bush-bashing Pajero and picked up an EOFY deal on a Prado GXL D4D auto. The Pajero (1995 NJ 3.5lt petrol) had been to Fraser before and acquitted itself very well, but I did my research so I have full confidence that the Prado will do it even easier, plus it just might sneak in under the Pajero's >20L/100 average fuel economy

We bought the Prado through a broker and the only extras we picked up were the headlight and bonnet protectors. For everything else we went aftermarket. 3D floor mats and boot liner, Supertrim wetsuit seat covers, and tinting. Oh, and being the careful person I am I picked up one of Brain's TG150 guards. It stayed that way for a few months until we decided to do a Fraser trip with the 1 year old and the Grandparents...

So, off to Wynnum towbars for one of their no-cut bars (rear recovery point, mainly), next it will be left with the famous TJM Brendale crew for an Airtec snorkel (not really needed for Fraser, but the wife wanted it, so why argue?) and then to Caddy for the all-important cargo barrier. I've also picked up the Roadsafe recovery points, Rhino roof racks (for Foxwing and some TraxRax) and I've ordered the Air On-Board breather kit as it seems cheap insurance. I figure that the high speed run up the beach will get the diffs quite hot and then the wash outs will rapidly cool them which from what I've read is the most likely way to get water contamination.

Anyway, Fraser Island. We've been twice before, but this will be the first time with the little one and also the Grandparent's first time (they had plans to do it years ago, when they first bought the Pajero that we later bought off them). The plan is to head up from Brisbane at a civilised hour, leaving plenty of time for breaks (we do have a little one in tow) and have lunch at Rainbow which should coincide with the 3 hours after high tide time. Top off the tanks (although probably not needed) get our permits and the Manta Ray across. A sedate run up the beach with a few stops to break up the trip for the little guy, unless he's sleeping and then it will be a straight-shot. Get to the house late afternoon and have a quiet dinner and bed.

We've got the full week up there and the Grandparents have never been to Fraser, not anywhere off-road before, I believe. So, we'll be doing all the highlights, which as none of us are avid anglers should give us ample time to see things.

The challenges so far for the trip mainly come down to storage. We're not camping, but even still I think we're going to be pushing it to fit everything in the back. The cargo barrier will help, but we're still going to carrying recovery gear (compressor, snatch strap, shackles, bridle strap), food for 7 days (ice box and boxes) and drinks (in boxes and into the fridge once we arrive) plus clothes and linen for 4 adults and a toddler. The roof racks are earmarked to carry the Foxwing awning, Maxtrax, long-handled shovel and the portacot. We're usually fairly light packers, but I have this feeling with the baby and the Grandparents it will be different. I'm thinking of doing a packing list and working out how we're going for space before I get too concerned.

We don't have a lift in the Prado yet (had a 2 inch EFS lift and the factory 2 inch body lift in the Pajero), but I don't think we'll have any problem there. The storage situation is more about bulk than weight, so the factory suspension should cope. We're still running the Grandtreks, but I think they'll be fine once aired down. We've got the HEMA app for the iPad and also the paper version for navigation and 2 X UHF handhelds for communications, with 2 X iPhones on Telstra for contact with the outside world (we'll probably turn them off).

Food and drinks will largely be the Wife and her Mother's domain, but that is for the best. We intend to buy bread and Milk up there, but we'll be taking everything else. I've downloaded (and will print) the tide charts to help with our day-trips. I think that is pretty much all the planning taken care of; the next post will deal with the actual trip.

Thanks for reading!

N

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

You'll struggle to get past Hook point three hours past low, then you'll be nearly at high tide by the time you get to Indian head which means you'll be driving on the undulating hard sand at a snails pace or up near the dunes flogging your ring out. Might want to get on Fraser closer to dead low for the run.

[talk2tiny Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close talk2tiny]

If you're concerned about the packing situation, definitely make a list and see how you go but remember, a lot of food and drinks are available on the island. Sure it costs a bit more but for the sake of an extra $100, maybe keeping the weight down and buying food up there is worth the extra money. Especially as you sound like you won't be going with another vehicle for recovery if needed.

You may also want to post up the dates you're going once you've picked them. You never know, there might be someone else heading that way at the same time who you can hook up with (or someone with a weekend off and nothing better to do who might feel like a run).

Hope you have a great trip and update us with a report when you get back.

Tiny

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

You may also want to post up the dates you're going once you've picked them. You never know, there might be someone else heading that way at the same time who you can hook up with (or someone with a weekend off and nothing better to do who might feel like a run).

Tiny

Like the 6 prados going on the island Friday

[baders Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close baders]

I would not be buying my bread and milk on the island. The price they charge it should be wrapped in gold leaf

Good luck on the trip. The Grandtreks will be fine. Remember not to feed the nice doggies and watch your little one at all times.

[talk2tiny Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close talk2tiny]

Like the 6 prados going on the island Friday

Yeah, rub it in. Still dirty I have to miss that one. Two weeks later and the family have ditched me for a long weekend and I can do what I like. Might go to fraser by myself.

[Noonan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Noonan]

Thanks for the responses everyone. talk2tiny, thanks for the food suggestion, that will be our plan B.

The snorkel went on at Brendale TJM yesterday; a completely painless experience. The Airtec looks great and whilst it might be a 'placebo' effect, the engine seems to be pulling stronger.

We're going up on Monday the 10th of November and the tides will be:

Low 0305 0.48
High 0959 2.02
Low 1635 0.65
High 2211 1.36

So when would you recommend timing our landing at Hook Point?

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

If it was me then about 2:30pm and if you can't get through Hook you won't have to wait long.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

We got back 2 weeks ago. With my 2008 120 D4D we filled up in Gympie before going in and averaged about 16.8L/100km. You'll find the Prado does well. We got there about 2 hours after high tide and the ferry guys said people had been going through hook point for about 30 mins. We had no issues on the trip up. Just ask them for some advice when you get there. Bearing in mind it starts to get dark around 5:30. Personally, I dont' fancy driving on the beach in the dark. And it can change overnight. We had one night of wind and rain (night of the eclipse) and the beach had changed completely and the washouts were much bigger.

The Prado just breezed through it all though. We had no issues with getting bogged, but then I do have the best Prado made. Did see a 200 series get stuck outside Orchid Beach shops and followed a Pajero that liked getting bogged from Orchid to Indian Head, and managed to get my brother's Bravo stuck at the bottom of Cornwells Break Rd. We were in HL for most of the time, but one run after high tide to Indian head in the soft sand did see the Trans temp get up to 94.6 degrees. Just stopped and let it cool before we headed over to Orchid beach. When it started to get high on the inland tracks I just put it in LL for a while till it dropped again. I'm probably over cautious.

Packing is an issue for us as well with 3 kids under 7. The 7mth old seems to triple our gear load. I have limited everyone to one medium sized duffle bag for clothes and having small kids means the footwells are well used, all of which helps. By my calculations we are near or at the 80Kg roof limit (Oz tent, Maxtrax, awning, chairs and stroller) and only about 150kg off GVM when fully loaded. Meal planning is the key for us so we don't over pack. We pretty much had one meal left when we got off the island. But this time we bit the bullet and bought beer on the island ($70 for a case fo XXXX gold and $75 for Toohey's extra dry). I think we will soon need to get a decent off road box trailer (or a 200 upgrade, but most likely the trailer)

Anyway have a blast. Its a lovely place. I'm just sad that I live over 15 hours drive from it.

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

I went the trailer option, 500kg loading is going be double any wagon and a steal at $2500.

[Noonan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Noonan]

That's an option as well. The brother in law took the Grandparent's trailer up for his most recent Fraser trip. So if it is all too hard we could do the same. I hope it doesn't get to that point, though.

r4ndll, Randall? Thanks for the tips and feedback. The smaller the kids are the more stuff they need, it seems.

N

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Having done lots of trips in the past with 3 small kids, a trailer is almost unavoidable and it actually gives you a lot of flexibility. If you take one have the tyres down around 10-12 psi on the sand.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

r4ndll, Randall? Thanks for the tips and feedback. The smaller the kids are the more stuff they need, it seems.

N

Yeah, was devoid of inspiration when I signed up.
Not camping drastically reduces the stuff you got to carry.
We did see a Mazda CX-9 coming from the Cape past Orchid beach breeze through where the 200 got stuck. But they had hardly any load.