Where are some good beginner tracks in Victoria

[Ser_Egg]

So as many of you will know or have come to realise, im pretty fresh to the 4WD/Offroading scene. Some of you will also know that ive taken the Foz to Lerderderg State Forest with a bunch of more than capable offroad Mercs and a couple of Ford Rangers and showed them and other drivers that werent with us, what the Forester is capable off with just good tyres, no lift or anything else fancy to increase offroad capability.

Now that these covid restrictions are being eased, we can go on day trips again, well i reckon we can anyway. I want to get into some basic offroading to get my skills up, learn more about the car and how it handles offroad, so what are some basic tracks i can take on solo without worrying too much about all the technical stuff but at the same time have abit of fun

 

[Ratbag]

Phasmid Track, Bunyip State Park ...

300m drop in 900m ... f'ugly!

 

[Ratbag]

The ABS braking kept trying to kill us.

Fortunately, I know how to use impulse braking to override and negate the ABS. That helped prevent early wheel lockup and sliding caused by the ABS.

It took us three hours to get down that 900m ...

It is very easy to get into serious trouble, even quite close to home!

 

[Ser_Egg]

Is anyone organising day trips or anything yet, wouldnt mind going out with some of you guys as well. You all have alot of knowledge to offer

 

[Ben Up North]

It took us three hours to get down that 900m ...

At least you weren't trying to go up it!

Not that I've done many tracks up here, a lot of them seem to be pretty equal in the up and down bits. No way would I try them when wet, too easy to end up in the bottom of a gully with nothing to do but wait for the track to dry. And if it really starts raining while you're down there, bye bye car.

It's a funny thing, normally we're moving into peak 4wd time in the tropics but we've had almost 120mm in the last few days so the tracks will be soggy as. And it's cold! top of 22C today, only 21C yesterday. This is really cold for Cairns, feels like English spring/summer . As usual, I blame Southern Australia coz that's where the cold weather comes from.

 

[Ratbag]

Ben, couldn't go back up. Only way out was down - very carefully!

I slid the last 50m or so on my belly (the car's, that is).

If I'd been in my 1968 Landcruiser, I would have lost both diffs and the transfer case ...

 

[El_Freddo]

I need to swap my steering rack before I consider driving Ruby Scoo again!

Once that’s sorted it’s just finding time to head bush. There are some ripper little tracks around the Macedon ranges that are perfect for a beginner. I’d be more than happy to show you around on those tracks.

Cheers

Bennie

 

[Ser_Egg]

whats up with your rack? and hell yeah man i live like 20 mins away from Macedon

 

[El_Freddo]

whats up with your rack? and hell yeah man i live like 20 mins away from Macedon

I think one of the rack ends is flogging out in the threads. When I replaced them years ago, one didn’t seem to be right. Nothing I did would change that and it’s played on my mind ever since. Now it seems to have some play so it’s time to do something about it!

Cheers

Bennie

 

[Ser_Egg]

just get a reco kit and do it yourself. I just bought an O ring kit from bunnings and looks to have size i want. Will suss out the connections tomorrow night or during the weekend

 

[Ratbag]

O rings are not all the same. You need an O ring that is made for purpose - e.g. oil/heat resistant, wear resistant, etc.

Best to buy oem parts for this kind of thing ...

 

[Ser_Egg]

O rings are not all the same. You need an O ring that is made for purpose - e.g. oil/heat resistant, wear resistant, etc.

Best to buy oem parts for this kind of thing ...

indeed, but we'll see how these gnly store i found for OEM is overseas, subaru australia dont have an online parts list either

 

[Ratbag]

That's a bugger.

 

[Ser_Egg]

Sure is.