Bogged on a wet bush road - what would you do?

You could always just start with just front lokka, and then tyres.
I was thinking of ground anchors a while ago as those fold up one's have a lot of moving parts and don't fold up that small,
I was thinking a simple spike for your harder grounds, with a detachable blade for soft grounds.
But work and family have sorta stopped it.
You probably don't wanna be beta testing gear like this for your work but happy to have a chat and design something specific for you.
Have seen a few designs which use Star pickets, again, happy to chat.

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Originally Posted by MudRunnerTD

Hey Rafa, yeah I have been kinda following what your planning. I understand your business plan and your going to have a great time mate. Going to be a Blast. Good luck.

So not withstanding the mods you will do for creature comforts and to build your car into something almost unstoppable for the top end this is My List

2" to 3" lift with quality parts (Amadas remote shocks and drop boxes if you go 3")
Front and Rear AirLockers or the electric Elocker
12,000lb winch with synthetic winch rope
34" Simex Jungle Trekka II on Rockcrawler 16x8 rims
Ground anchor
Maxtrax 2 pair
20m winch extension strap 8000kg
60m x 10mm synthetic winch rope with a hoop on 1 end and Hook n the other
Tree trunk protector
Drag chain
Exhaust Jack

For a start.

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Pretty sure it has a 2 " lift from Telstra.

Tomorrow it's getting a new 12000 winch (ironman) with rope.

Have roll out trax x 2

And a kit bag with snatch strap. Winch extention etc.

The biggest thing missing is the experience.

Main thing I do have is shite loads of jobs that put me out where others fear to go up here.

In the army someone else did this stuff while we provided cover :)

Now I have to do both :(

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Originally Posted by rafa

Pretty sure it has a 2 " lift from Telstra.

Tomorrow it's getting a new 12000 winch (ironman) with rope.

Have roll out trax x 2

And a kit bag with snatch strap. Winch extention etc.

The biggest thing missing is the experience.

Main thing I do have is shite loads of jobs that put me out where others fear to go up here.

In the army someone else did this stuff while we provided cover :)

Now I have to do both :(

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I have never used a roll out track, never spoken to anyone that has either. Not sure i rate them though to be honest. Go and give them a test mate, you don't want a to test them and expect them to be awesome and they turn out to be crap.

MaxTraxs or Treds are proven. I'd be going the MaxTrax for where your going though mainly because you can turn them over and use either side if you get stuck.

Knowing that the bog your in could be Big and Long the 60m length of spare 10mm winch rope made into an extension strap could be the difference between getting through the bog in a our and spending all day there.

I understand your claiming everything on your tax as a Business expense so twin AirLockers are a No Brainer mate. On the basis that you are the "Guy that gets through" you Don't have a Choice I don't think.

You're pretty optimistic rafa! Not sure what business you are in, but from the sounds it must be worth the trip. The wet IS the prettiest time of year though.

Even the best equipped trucks have troubles in wet season. Even with lockers, huge lift, 37s, muddies. Etc. Even the ones with an ARB sticker on them. Lots of fun though, and you don't have to go far for said fun.

There are places where I wouldn't pull off the bitumen. Places where there are no mapped creeks become uncrossable. In the dry the sand can be really loose. When the same sand gets soaked it becomes mud. It isn't even fun to walk on.

Some remote communities might not sell you fuel at that time of year. They aren't going to get a resupply for a while.

Keep an eye on the termite mounds. If they change colour, the ground underneath has changed soil type. changes. Beware of clay. Black soil ain't fun either.

So if you do get stuck I reckon your vehicle will be there when you get back. Maybe missing a few parts though.

Not sure you will be getting as far as you think (depending on how good the wet is), but come up and have a look anyway. It's pretty, and you will know what to expect next time. Hopefully worth your while.

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Originally Posted by P4trol

You're pretty optimistic rafa! Not sure what business you are in, but from the sounds it must be worth the trip. The wet IS the prettiest time of year though.

Even the best equipped trucks have troubles in wet season. Even with lockers, huge lift, 37s, muddies. Etc. Even the ones with an ARB sticker on them. Lots of fun though, and you don't have to go far for said fun.

There are places where I wouldn't pull off the bitumen. Places where there are no mapped creeks become uncrossable. In the dry the sand can be really loose. When the same sand gets soaked it becomes mud. It isn't even fun to walk on.

Some remote communities might not sell you fuel at that time of year. They aren't going to get a resupply for a while.

Keep an eye on the termite mounds. If they change colour, the ground underneath has changed soil type. changes. Beware of clay. Black soil ain't fun either.

So if you do get stuck I reckon your vehicle will be there when you get back. Maybe missing a few parts though.

Not sure you will be getting as far as you think (depending on how good the wet is), but come up and have a look anyway. It's pretty, and you will know what to expect next time. Hopefully worth your while.

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Cheers for the advice.

Been In Darwin for a few years. And besides comments spent the last 7 travelling out to remote communities. I'm a combat medic by trade. Teach 1st aid out in remote communities. In the last couple of years have also been doing electrical test & tagging.

Prob playing down ability to cope on remote locations a wee bit but never assume to be the bees knees either. The info I learn in here is real and applies to my civilian life know.

Love hearing all the tips n tricks.

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Originally Posted by MudRunnerTD

Ummmmm? Holy Crap! Mate they are a Game Changer. You should have Front and Rear AirLockers from ARB mate for what you do. They are like having an LSD in each diff but at the flick of a switch they are like Welded Diffs and fully Locked. All 4 wheels equal drive.

Between twin air lockers, some Simex JT2s and you will go most places without too much trouble

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Hey mate.

Just got a quote for front and rear from ARB Darwin. $4350 all up fitted with compressor that will do tyres as well. How's that sound?

Cheers

Marty

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Originally Posted by rafa

Hey mate.

Just got a quote for front and rear from ARB Darwin. $4350 all up fitted with compressor that will do tyres as well. How's that sound?

Cheers

Marty

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G'day Marty,

by my price list here that is a little steep mate?? This price list is maybe 18months old but it should be close and includes fitting charges. Note they say some allowance for Freight to some states and territories.....

here is what i have here amte.

Front locker all models (RD136) = $1278 + $383 fitting = $1661.00
Rear locker Coil Cabs (RD24) = $1219 + $383 fitting = $1602.00
Air comp + tyre kit (CKMA12) = $334.95 + $170 fitting = $ 504.95
Sub-total = $3767.95

If you already have air on your car then you could either hook the system to your existing air or fit their small Airlocker comp only (CKSA12) $303 fitted

the smaller air comp would save you $200 and bring their price $1000 over what the book says. ????

If you have not sorted your air Comp yet and have a plan then do that or even consider their bigger Double Pumper Hi Output for an extra couple of $100 (nice bit of kit)

cheers MR

I'm gonna disagree with Darren and say that what he is suggesting is overboard. My old man drives trucks up there so I know the types of roads you will be driving. I reckon a set of BF Goodrich KM2s and a front locker only at the most will see you without a drama. Of course always have the winch as back up when things don't go as planned.

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Originally Posted by Winnie

I'm gonna disagree with Darren and say that what he is suggesting is overboard. My old man drives trucks up there so I know the types of roads you will be driving. I reckon a set of BF Goodrich KM2s and a front locker only at the most will see you without a drama. Of course always have the winch as back up when things don't go as planned.

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from September onwards for sure Chris but from April to September is a whole other Animal. P4trol is on the Money. its Rugged. Park the car and stay out if you can. If you really have to get through then even what i have described is Tame mate, The Army use Unimogs with 44" tyres (almost identical to the JT2s), Portal Diffs and lots of gears and still have trouble in this country.

I truly believe if Marty is committed to driving the Top End in the Wet season he needs to be Eyes Wide Open, have a No Compromise approach to Vehicle setup, get as much training as he can on Winch recoveries, he's going to need it. Double and Triple line pull setups off 100m of winch extensions in not out of the question. ITs a tough gig.

IMO

Part 1 complete.

Off to pick her up with new winch in a min.

:)