Our Darwin guys have been adventuring again!
Sunday 23rd October 2011
Toyota Prado 120 – Steve
Isuzu Dmax – Neil & Family
Nissan Navara D22 – Shane & John
Toyota Hilux – Beau & Norm
Mitsubishi Triton – Tim
Nissan GU 4.2 – Savvas
- Left Adelaide River, down Dorat rd, right along Daly River rd, passed Tipperary station and entered the park on the border with Litchfield station, where we spent the next hour waiting for Steve's Prado to cool down after boiling due to an ill-fitting radiator cap.
- Followed the station/park fence line, very slow going as the park fire break is very over grown and rutted.
- A lot of steep drop offs and climbs as we made our way through the south east corner of the park. The first sandy creek crossing proved to be only a minor challenge, all vehicles made it through without too much hassle. A couple of us in lower utes needed to have a few goes, but the snatch straps stayed in the cars and we all made it under our own power.
- The track continued through more dry creeks on its way north. So many different landscapes; from dry bush to rainforest - very scenic.
- The next challenge was another dry sandy creek bed. After the descent and then a short drive along the bed it was found that the previous wet season had destroyed the exit and a new one had to be created.
- After going as far as we could, we found a steep sand bank that seemed to be our only option. Steve in his Prado had a few goes getting over, only to get to the top and have the front MTZ's dig in and not be able to go any further.
- Whilst Steve decided to drop his tyre pressures even more, Savvas had a go, only to have his Baja Claws dig in and turn what was a smooth steep bank into a rutted mess.
- Thankfully Beau had a shovel and he and John cleaned up the track so Steve could have another go at getting the Prado over the top – this time successful.
- It was decided that we would get the other vehicles as far as we could and then winch them from there.
- Savva's Patrol gave the ascent a good go again, but even with max trax, supplied by Shane, was still unable to reach the top. Winching time!
- With the Prado wedged firmly against a tree, the Premier winch was put into action, alas with little success - not because the winch wasn't strong enough, but because the Patrol was too heavy and was pulling the Prado - and the tree!
- With the winch spooled in, the snatch strap was used with success to get the GU over the lip.
- Shane was next to go up in the D22. He almost made it but the snatch was used again to get him over the top.
- Beau was next in the Hilux with and was a carbon copy of Shane - the snatch was used again.
- Tim in the Triton was very successful getting the front tyres over the top and then must have thought it was too easy and decided to stop. We all convinced him that he would have made it by himself so he backed down to give it another go - this time all the way.
- Neil in the Dmax was up next. He backed all the way up to the far bank for a decent run up and put everyone else to shame making it over the top no hassles.
- After this, with everyone over the top, we packed everything up and headed to the lunch stop about 4kms away. However, we ran into more problems, this time with the GU. As Savvas was moving off, he drove over a sharp log and staked one of his brand new Baja Claws through the side wall. Not a happy camper! With 33" tyres on the car and 31" as spares, we decided to put the spare on the front and move the front claw to the back.
- After lunch we had about another 10kms or so to cover to get back to bitumen. However due to many more creeks and ruts those 10k's took us almost 2 hours.
Once back at Adelaide River we reinflated tyres and discussed our little adventure. Good Fun!
