Date Registered: 08-2012 Location: Canberra, ACT TOTAL POSTS:479
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Stockton and Medowie State Forest Over the Anzac weekend, went to Nelson Bay for a nice long weekend.
The tides were perfect for a Friday sortie onto Stockton Beach. Daniel and Janyne had just bought a new Mitsu Challenger a week earlier, and were keen to give it (and the new Micky T tyres) a whirl on the beach. Todd and his sister + niece and nephew came up from Sydney as well on whim.
Started airing down a bit after 11am at Anna Bay end of Stockton, as high tide had peaked at 8:30am.
After a BBQ lunch and play in the RVA area, we returned via Lavis Lane where Todd et al. made the journey back to Sydney and we headed back to Nelson Bay
The next day, Daniel/Janyne and Tara and I went to Medowie State Forest. I'll post up the vids when I pick up my GoPro from Sydney. Hoping to get some photos as well from Daniel's camera (which I was operating). It was very muddy - couldn't go too far in, as the challenger didn't have bash plates, and Daniel had only had the car for less than a fortnight
D&J had to leave early after Medowie, so Tara and I decided to go hit Stockton in the afternoon as the tides were good (I drove along the low tide area in 4th gear) and check out Tin Town. This time, we aired down and entered via Lavis Lane (which is notorious for being rough).
Anyway... this trip was destined to be bad. Having done nearly 35,000kms since I bought the car in August 2012, it was time for something to happen. And boy did it!
We'll start with the least worst one. Leaving via Anna Bay exit, I accidentally took the pond/puddle exit route - most were shallow until this one (Note - i walked this AFTER going through it at full speed - looking for my towpoint cover in the water).
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
The maxtrax on the roof... were wet... luckily no water in the engine! gopro had run out of battery
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
No major damage except the number plate and towpoint cover, which I found
Anyway... back to the other issue. During the entry onto the beach via Lavis Lane earlier, I hit some corrugations/washouts a bit too fast. The shaking of the car actually dislodged by boot floor - even though it had a 40l waeco fridge on top of it and the contents of the drawers were spilled everywhere. I stopped the car, and looked for damage - but not even the bash plates had been touched, and the car was running. I just assumed the shocks got a decent work out.
Upon coming home to Canberra, I had the car on ramps to clean out the salt and noticed this through the lower grill (yep - thats the intercooler).
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
The next night, I removed the bumper bar
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
and this is what we were greeted with:
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
So now the fun begins. Its not leaking, but its very bent. Using prybars, it was bent back roughly into shape, but will probably need replacing as the Intercooler isn't sitting properly in its brackets.
--- Michael K
2012 X-Trail Series IV Diesel TS
Member X-2600 (C)
Mods: Pedders Lift Kit, Bash Plates, 16" X-trail Steel Rims, 235/70/16 A/T Tyres, Heavy Duty shock absorbers
Date Registered: 08-2012 Location: Canberra, ACT TOTAL POSTS:479
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Re: No... the brackets and the intercooler actually bent.it was still sitting above it mounting points - it never dropped. The plastic wind covers were smashed to bits though.
--- Michael K
2012 X-Trail Series IV Diesel TS
Member X-2600 (C)
Mods: Pedders Lift Kit, Bash Plates, 16" X-trail Steel Rims, 235/70/16 A/T Tyres, Heavy Duty shock absorbers
Date Registered: 08-2011 Location: Lalor Park, NSW TOTAL POSTS:1663
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Re: Stockton and Medowie State Forest Was a fun day out Friday. Thanks for the invite. The kids had a good day.
Looks like Saturday was even more fun for you Ah well at least the intercooler is an easy replace you can do yourself.
(it was doable, but you had to slide into the rut then push left to get out again)
All Photo and Video credit to Daniel - none of these are mine.
--- Michael K
2012 X-Trail Series IV Diesel TS
Member X-2600 (C)
Mods: Pedders Lift Kit, Bash Plates, 16" X-trail Steel Rims, 235/70/16 A/T Tyres, Heavy Duty shock absorbers
Date Registered: 08-2012 Location: Canberra, ACT TOTAL POSTS:479
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Re: This is one that I found on my GoPro. Not sure why it took a photo, because it wasn't supposed to be switched on... and its always set to video mode. You can see how wet and damaged the tracks were.
Untitled by konazz, on Flickr
Last edited by konazz, 2/May/2013, 11:58 pm
--- Michael K
2012 X-Trail Series IV Diesel TS
Member X-2600 (C)
Mods: Pedders Lift Kit, Bash Plates, 16" X-trail Steel Rims, 235/70/16 A/T Tyres, Heavy Duty shock absorbers
--- Michael K
2012 X-Trail Series IV Diesel TS
Member X-2600 (C)
Mods: Pedders Lift Kit, Bash Plates, 16" X-trail Steel Rims, 235/70/16 A/T Tyres, Heavy Duty shock absorbers
Re: Stockton and Medowie State Forest Hi, What a great trip report. Looks like you guys had some great fun at Stockton. I have been on the beach up there a while ago in a 2003 Pathfinder. Found going on the soft sand really tough going. Looking forward to driving on the beach in the Xtrail. Maybe one day i can join you for a day out. Not all that experienced but willing to give it a go. Safety in numbers would also help.