|
|
|
|
||||||||||
| Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring.... |
| Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management |
 |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
11-04-2008, 05:42 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Took the X5 Offroad to World's Largest Sand Island
Fraser Island is accessible only by barge and only to 4WD vehicles. Thats because it is made entirely of sand and the island is 120 km long (75 miles to the metrically challenged). The only access is to drive along the beach or weave through a few 4WD tracks that are nothing but rut filled soft sand. I was a bit apprehensive at first, so I did some reading on this and some other forums and found a number of inspirational stories of people letting their X5's loose in the wild. So after being inspired, I thought stuff it, lets go. Before we got onto the barge I let the tyre pressure down from 40PSI to about 22. With the low profile tyres I was worried that too low pressure would see the tyres roll off the rims (no sweat there) - next time I think I will lower them a bit further. You roll off the barge and suddenly you are on a beach with waves pounding nearby.  Driving on the hard pack sand on the beach was easy, the east beach of Fraser Island is actually classed as a highway with a speed limit of 80kph. They have police doing speed checks and breath tests, plus you share it with airplanes landing & taking off. We headed inland on the tiny tracks, very bumpy and a bit nerve wracking as some of the climbs are fairly steep considering its all on dry sand.  We had no trouble driving around the inland tracks on day 1. Just make sure that DSC is off for this kind of thing, and drive in manual mode in 1st or 2nd - plenty of revs to keep it moving. We missed the tides and popped out onto the beach just near high tide. This meant that we were stuck (you can only travel across some sections 2 hours either side of low tide). So we had to get a room in a nearby place instead of getting up the beach to our camp site. The next day on an inland track we got bogged! The biggest issue the X5 has is the low clearance. I drove too slowly on a section with not enough revs, so we ploughed in and got firmly stuck!  Luckily a Landcruiser full of backpackers came along before too long and 6 big German boys pushed us out. I related this story to the guy at the camp site, he said "Mate, you got to drive the car like you just stole it!" Absolute words of wisdom they were - the next day we confront a track that the book says "Experienced 4WD drivers only! Low clearance vehicles not suited, the track is soft sand and deep ruts." So I did what any good Aussie boy would do, and I drove that X5 like I stole it! We bounced up hills, flew over tree roots, almost got sideways on sand - but did we get stuck - no way! We were red lining it regularly in the sand and that baby worked hard, but she overcame every single challenge I gave her!  So, if you are considering taking your X out onto the sand - give it a go. Lower the tyre pressure. Turn DSC off. Drive in 1st or 2nd gear Drive it like you stole it! Buy a tyre inflator - quality one. Have fun! The X5 is a beast and will do more than you think! 
Last edited by Brissy X5; 11-04-2008 at 05:15 PM. 
|
| Sponsored Links | |
|
|
|
|
#4
11-04-2008, 06:56 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
In POSTING Rules (Low left) is [IMG] code is On??? Very nice adventure, some more pics would help more, but I imagine that you were focused on driving and not taking pictures...!!!
|
|
#6
11-04-2008, 09:57 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
__________________
/ / / Michelle Administrator, Moderator, and Premier Member My Bimmer Garage 2018 F15 X5 35i M Sport (Sept 2020 to present) 2012 E70 X5 35d (Aug 2015 to Sept 2020) 2008 E70 X5 3.0si (Aug 2011 to Aug 2015) 2001 E53 X5 4.4i (May 2005 to May 2012) Support Xoutpost.com & become a Premier Member | Join the BMW CCA Rest In Peace SuperGreg <3
|
|
#9
11-04-2008, 03:01 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Nice one Matey!
I took mine on Stockton Beach near Newcastle for the day and it went like a champ.Your right about keeping the revs up to.
|
|
| Bookmarks |
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
