RECCIE RUN no.2 - For the 2014 high country G.T.G

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

Cheers guys, appreciated and looking forward to it... Cheers Steve

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

We did the right thing and continued on the logging Rd for option number 2. Fortunately this was not closed but has been touched up with some fine dozer work that has turned what was definitely a top ten 4wd track into a top five. This track was un-describably beautiful with cobalt sky, red dirt and the views. Did I mention the driving, it is steep enough that if it does not alter your heart rate, it is because your dead. This is one track I am going to recommend petrol autos not try as you will not be able to control them. Some of the humpies on this track would be over three metres high and slopes recorded at 37°.

Was this steep slope uphill or downhill James? I'm just asking because you mention it not being suitable for petrol autos in terms of being able to control them and wondering why that is. Having watched through Sav's videos it looks like you had quite a few steep climbs to navigate.

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

Looking forward to this GTG.
It will be a good excuse to fit the winch and snorkel, then anything else I can think of.

[barajak Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barajak]

Was this steep slope uphill or downhill James? I'm just asking because you mention it not being suitable for petrol autos in terms of being able to control them and wondering why that is. Having watched through Sav's videos it looks like you had quite a few steep climbs to navigate.

If I was leading a trip down this track in the same condition it was in for us, I would recommend petrol autos go via the logging road because I believe the downslope exceeds the vehicles ability. I am reasonably experienced and it was not easy to keep the diesel under control. The revs were running away and a slight touch of the brakes lost steering and the application of handbrake was causing traction loss also. You could try lower tyre pressures but I was on 22psi, it is just that steep and to much fun for a petrol head.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

A time comes in decents that you cannot beat a diesel manual.
This track was around 30 degrees and a few touches over, now this steep!
The track conditions were very good, as in traction was very good.
There were a few slippery sections of red clay, if the was anything from a little wetter to a lot wetter, it starts to rule out what vehicles could get up or down safely.
I think it was myself on the day that said, petrol auto might struggle to decent the safely.
Now with the traction aids on the kaka, it would likely have been ok on the day, but any wetter and you would be testing any vehicle and or the drivers ability.
It's just not possible in these slippery conditions that brakes even with aids can keep you under control, only the engine is smooth enough to do this safely.
Simply autos run a little faster than the manuals & the petrols have much less compression to keep the speed down.
One you get going too fast on a steep slippery clay track like this, there will be no stopping you.
Once there are ruts, it might be safer, but as it was just graded, you will go with gravity

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Sounds like a good excuse to get the Nomad valve body and manual lock up kit fitted before the GTG

Cheers Andrew

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

Can people tell me what was the choice of tyre they used ?? A/T's or muddies the best for this terrain or the A/T's did ok ??........Cheers Steve

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

On this run, all tyres did well as the traction was good.
Personally I'm now using bfg a/t.
If they can't do it, I don't need to do it. All your going to do is rip up the track.
I've had km2 muddies many other tyres & most conditions I Find the a/t do the job.
In the Vic high country many hills are rocky shaily so reccomended strong tyres.
I would worry too much about what tyres for it, just avoid stock tyres like grand trek.

Hope that helps somewhat.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Thanks James and #### for the explanation re the steep descent. I'm still learning so was just asking to increase my knowledge. There were a couple of steep slopes we didn't try on the Wombat run due to inexperience, the vehicle may have been capable but there was no point being reckless.

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

Thanks ####, Im getting new tyres next week (at long last) still hadn't made my mind up which ones to get either mud or A/T's. I am running two sets of rims. I don't want to gouge the alloys like I did the old 90 so I have bought 5 steel rims from the later 120GX so they are the same width and diameter as the GXL alloys. Few people I spoke to tonight in the club have recommended the Bridgestone D697, seem to have a pretty good review as well. I have always run BF A/T's but was thinking some thing different this time. I was thinking muddies all along but seems to be overkill for what I intend doing.........Cheers Steve

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Few people I spoke to tonight in the club have recommended the Bridgestone D697, seem to have a pretty good review as well. I have always run BF A/T's but was thinking some thing different this time.

I've had both BFGs and Bridgestone D697s on the Kaka. While I never got to try the BFGs off-road I think they would be better suited to the job as they have better side lugs (I think that's the correct term), the D697s have more rounded edges (the old model D694 was better in that regard). The D697s do however work better on the bitumen, found the BFGs to be a little skittish on the black stuff. Tried the D697s off-road on the Wombat run 2 weekends ago and they handled everything we tried, just a bit of wheel spin here and there. Sorry for going OT but hope it helps with your tyre decision.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Thanks ####, Im getting new tyres next week (at long last) still hadn't made my mind up which ones to get either mud or A/T's. I am running two sets of rims. I don't want to gouge the alloys like I did the old 90 so I have bought 5 steel rims from the later 120GX so they are the same width and diameter as the GXL alloys. Few people I spoke to tonight in the club have recommended the Bridgestone D697, seem to have a pretty good review as well. I have always run BF A/T's but was thinking some thing different this time. I was thinking muddies all along but seems to be overkill for what I intend doing.........Cheers Steve

I used to run 2 sets.
Km2 on those steel rims & Stz on alloys.
Tired of having 2 sets, got rid of them.
I think if you go to the trouble of having steel rims then put muddies on them, my choice would be Mtz or km2.
I think the Bridgestone are a good tyre too, but I'm sticking with bfg a/t or Mickey Stz for my a/t.
Maybe you need 2 sets lol......

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Then there's always the hybrid: (in between) MT atz4rib. Or cooper stmax.

[Dupes68 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dupes68]

Then there's always the hybrid: (in between) MT atz4rib. Or cooper stmax.

I know this isn't a thread on what tyres to use, but in response to your query Steve M, I was on this trip and have been using the Cooper ST Maxx tyres for almost 2 years. They had done about 70,000kms when we did the recce and still have plenty of tread and performed very well. The key is having enough tread and getting the tyre pressures correct for the conditions, in my opinion.

I agree with ####'s comments that Muddies would really be overkill for the tracks proposed on the GTG as most of them are fast-draining shail/rock. A good A/T tyre would be more than adequate.

[barajak Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barajak]

Probably be fair to say that the sidewall should be as strong as you can get it as they will rub against rocks. Good open tread on the shoulders is going to be a big help in the wet.