Preperation for first beach run

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

Hi all,

I am heading out to North Stradbroke for the Labour day weekend and would be interested in how others prep to avoid salt corrosion without electronic wizardry. I obviously wont be intentionally be in contact with salt water but want to be prepared.

Thanks

Greig

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

I find that Matrax tend to avoid serious corrosion caused by incoming tides combined with bogged rigs.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Some spray lanolin underneath, I think that is a bit old school, I think more important is the time u spend cleaning it out when u get home. I would spend between 1-2 hours underneath with a hose making sure I get all of the sand out.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Agree with Hutch. I usually put a garden sprinkler under the car to give it a good soaking and drag it through slowly whilst sucking on a cold one. Also ensure you flush out the Chassis rails. I try not to use high pressure water under the car when it comes to post beach cleaning as it will push the sand up into places you don't want it. I finish off with hand washing the car with a good car wash detergent and a couple of cap fulls of kero added and before the bucket is empty, pour the remains over the car allowing the kero to soak into all the gaps (between the guard flares etc...) Finishing off with a good chamois is required as I have a black car!

[Chewbacca Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chewbacca]

Some spray lanolin underneath, I think that is a bit old school, I think more important is the time u spend cleaning it out when u get home. I would spend between 1-2 hours underneath with a hose making sure I get all of the sand out.

I agree, I find that lanolin just makes the sand stick underneath more!

Also I wouldn't use the car washes that are close to the beach, at Rainbow for example. Just give it a thorough wash when you get home.

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

Thanks for the replys guys.

I had heard that spraying the underside of the car with a mix of sump oil and diesel was the done thing, but it sounded a bit messy.

The idea of using the sprinkler whilst sucking on a few coldies sounds like a much better way to finish the weekend.

Cheers

Greig

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

The sprinkler is good but it will only get about 50% of the sand out. Put it on the grass get on the ground and house away.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

The sprinkler is good but it will only get about 50% of the sand out. Put it on the grass get on the ground and house away.

Whilst sucking on a cold one!!!

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

Heading to NorthStradbroke on Sunday for our beach driving course and will be getting the lanolin out and spraying all under the car. Then spend time looking at the damage under the car from Ormeau when I clean it that night.

[Wazza2 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wazza2]

Craigm knows his stuff. My 2004 120 that I just sold was in great condition in spite of roughly 3 or 4 trips every year to the likes of straddie. I used the soaker hose which did a good job of creating a mist that got in everywhere to rinse it all out. Take the hose nozzle off and shove the hose down the chassis etc. give all the sump guards etc a good going over also. Low pressure hose not high pressure.

When you see what washes out you'll know it was worth being thorough. Definitely more than a single coldie job to get it finished. If you think there's a little left after one wash then give it a second go the next weekend

BTW, if you head onto Flinders beach via Flinders beach dv and take the track to the right about 200m b4 you get to the beach, expect the creek crossing to be deep!

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

I also use the garden sprayer, fill it up with some truck wash and give it a good soaking by spraying under neath everything, I some times use one of the old click on weed and feed containers, again put some truck wash in it (have to water it down as well so it sucks it through) connect to hose and give a good soaking but 9 times out of 10 I use the weed sprayer, fill it up, pump her up and with the wand can get in pretty much every where............Definately pays to clean them right up. I get in under the battery tray as well, behind brake booster, everywhere as sand will make its way into what ever it can as well. I also try and get in the drain holes/slits under the the front guards and as mentioned above stick the hose as far in the chassis rails you can get (must admit I turn the hose on flat out to get a nice flow of water to remove sand). A trap on the older 90s was the tube that ran between the chassis rails, sand would sit in there. Dont forget to give the alloys a good wash and rinse in behind as well........And I dont like useing that lanolin spray either, I reckon every bit of bloody sand sticks to it and ten times harder to remove. Not sure why its recomended to use ?? Its not going to rust if its washed properly afterwoods. Must admit I have seen a few bolts one was the crankshaft bolt on the old 90 it didnt like the salt air. Even if ive been up the coast for a night to my mums or sisters that arvo or the next day it gets a wash to get rid of the salt residue as they live on the coast.........Cheers Steve

[Geoffury Find all posts View Profile Close Geoffury]

Just like when you play in the sand yourself, it gets in everywhere!
Always check up inside the wheel arches, behind any plastic/rubber
guards, corners and the like. Also, keep an eye on any sections you
may have drilled into to add on gear. If it hasn't been protected after
being drilled, you'll soon see rust spreading.
Also bash plates love holding onto that sand for you.

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

We've had a permanant van at Pt Lookout for 15+ years with a 1997 90 series spending most of it time over there and our 150 being over there for two years as well.

No rust in either, our method was to ensure a good coat of wax before going over for extended periods and then when possible just washing underneath the car with a hose when possible, and then the old "sprinkler under the car trick" when we got home.

Personally I would be wary of applying any coatings that are "sticky" but think that Chemtech truck wash wouldn't hurt.

We have put a Couplertec rust preventer on the 150 as the underneath does not have anywhere near as good paint protection as the 90 series.

I have been given a sneak preview of the new regulations with the turning the island into a National Park, have a great time before the govt, greenies and the new park owners (Indigenous Islanders) stop you from going anywhere with out paying a fortune.

See ya on the tracks, Richo.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

I have been given a sneak preview of the new regulations with the turning the island into a National Park, have a great time before the govt, greenies and the new park owners (Indigenous Islanders) stop you from going anywhere with out paying a fortune.

Sorry to go off topic, Whats the timeline on these new regs?

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

The more fresh water you can get into it, the more salt will get disolved. Salt is the main culprit in rusting - though sand does rub on the paint and expose bare metal.