mickyd t31
X-TRAIL NEWBIE
Date Registered: 02-2013
Location: Gold Coast
TOTAL POSTS: 38
|
|
|
|
Bribie Island 12 January 2014
Teed up a day trip with a couple of friends and their families. Were were originally aiming to go somewhere on the 5th Jan but the tides were terrible, so the 12th it was and Bribie Island the destination for the day. High tide was about 7am so was perfect to leave the Gold Coast at about that same time.
I was travelling with a 1yo Ford Ranger and a series 1 Disco V8 with a decent lift, so I knew I had backup if I needed it at all during the day. To be honest I think they were salivating at the potential opportunity to pull me out of some mess.
We got to the bait shop to get our Permits, then head off to the main beach entry at Woorim. We aired down there. I dropped the Xtrail to 18psi on the standard Dunlops, then we head down the track.
The beach access was dry, deep, but no problems. When we hit the beach the outgoing tide was perfect for a 2 lane highway with no need to venture onto the dry sand to pass. Not only was it a beautify day, but it was a great run all the way north till be hit the point of no further vehicle access. We found a spot near one of the bunkers for the first swim for the day.
After a swim it was getting close to lunch, so we head off again to find a spot to set everyone up for a feed. After a feed and another swim, it was time to pack up and have some fun in the cars!
We checked out the locations of a couple of camping areas, and camping on Bribie is now on the list of potential camping trip locations.
At lunch we parked up on the soft stuff. It has been bloody hot up here and the sand was certainly soft a long way down, however the Xtrail took off in the soft stuff with ease and we head off to the northern beach exit to have a crack at the inland track.
Exiting the beach ppresented no issue either, and I probably even carried a little too much speed by the time I hit the hard track. The bait shop had warned us about the inland track, saying that it is pretty worn, chopped up, and in generally poor condition due to the dry weather and the amount of use it has copped over the school holidays.
We set off in convoy, and I'm pleased to say that my little rig never even looked like getting stopped. I was stoked with its performance, as my previous ventures onto the sand with this thing have only been on the firmer sands of the beaches around Sandens Creek.
We came across a bigger 4wd bogged to the sills, with about a dozen blokes all there trying to get him out. Asked if they needed assistance but they were all good.
While travelling the inland track we stopped off at Poverty Creek for a sticky beak, and to let the kids chase crabs for a while, then head off again. The only part of the trip that was not enjoyable were the parts of the track that were firmer gravel and VERY heavily corrigated.
So overall, it was a very successfull day. No dramas with the cars and noone needed to be recovered. The Xtrail ate up anything in front of it, however my mate reckons it did a good impersonation of a bobcat shifting sand in the soft deep stuff....
My suggestion for any Xtrail tackling Bribie Island is that ANY standard Exy will have no problems going on and off the Woorim entry. Just make sure you plan your tides well to give you the maximum amount of beach to drive on.
I have bash plates on my T31, and if you want to go anywhere near the sift the stuff, or even dream of running the inland track in its current condition, bash plates would be the minimum requirement to avoid damage to the expensive bit and tearing your bumper off.
I ran 18 psi all day and had no issues anywhere. At no time did I feel the need to drop them further, even in the very deep stuff that I was bulldozing through. Just keep the momentum up and its all good!
I did get some pics, but I don;t have any photo hosting accounts as yet. I will update this post once (if) I pull my finger out.
Bring on Ballina/Evans Head in a few weeks time!!
Last edited by mickyd t31, 16/Jan/2014, 5:26 am
--- Michael X-2919
2012 Series V ST-L X-Trail
Diamond Black
Bash Plates (well tested).
|
15/Jan/2014, 8:49 pm
|
|
jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
|
|
|
|
Re:
Wow Mike, that's a pretty detailed trip report for a trip that is taking place next month LOL
|
15/Jan/2014, 8:57 pm
|
|
darvidanoar
X-TRAIL NEWBIE
Date Registered: 07-2013
Location: Brisbane, Queensland
TOTAL POSTS: 66
|
|
|
|
Re:
thanks Michael, that sounds like a great trek. Good to read a report on a local location too. Maybe I'll get brave soon and get up there for a look myself.
--- David
Member No: X-3186
2012 Nissan X-Trail ST-L
|
15/Jan/2014, 9:20 pm
|
|