The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

G'day all,

I'm looking at heading out to the Lerderderg Forest or Wombat Forest to expore new 4wd tracks/areas for a bit of excitement as I haven't been 4wd'n in ages...

I have no plan of where we're going - If anyone has an idea of the area or a good one to head out to I'd appreciate it if you were willing to share. Otherwise I'll play the game "lets get lost in the Forest" which is always fun

At the moment I'm looking for interest in those who would be able to (and want to) make the trip for the weekend AFTER Easter - I would like to make it a two day event but if its only one day that'd still be good.

My subi is currently un-lifted, that said, I'm looking for tracks that are a bit technical.

Would probabily be looking at meeting in Baccus Marsh - the IGA carpark north of the freeway or at Macca's near the centre of town, 9am.

Cheers

Bennie

Thats out my way, if i have my car fixed by then i'll definitely be there.

sounds good, thats maybe i would come along, need to fix the clutch and install lift blocks.. See how i go from there.. I know these meeting places..
Cheers
AP

count me in, over nighter or day trip doesn't matter

Pull your finger out and get some lift blocks Bennie!
Although It is great to see Rubyscoo out there with the best of em' haha

Bennie - Is that before EJ upgrade?

IGA - where? You mean foodworks next to KFC?
Cheers
AP

Bumpty wrote:Pull your finger out and get some lift blocks Bennie!
Although It is great to see Rubyscoo out there with the best of em' haha

Hehehe... I'm going to make it myself, it is coming! Especially after seeing/working on Subaruby's lift!! All I need to do is get the steel and organise a steering extension - then find some time

The welded diff makes up for a lift at the moment - sort of (ask BRUMBI about the creek crossing ).

AlpineRaven wrote:Bennie - Is that before EJ upgrade?

IGA - where? You mean foodworks next to KFC?
Cheers
AP

IGA north of the freeway - near the big roundabout that you turn off to gisbourne from...

The EJ... now this is crunch time. I'm sorting out the teadious end of the wiring - knowing which is what etc. I still have to get some parts, splice the EJ loom into a touring wagon loom. My goal is the 400,000km mark on Ruby Scoo's odometre, that said, I'm on 392.5k and work has me rostered on in bendigo 3 days a week for the next fortnight and I work during the day near Lancefield, so there's about 180km for a round trip...

Easter will see me up the murray, so that's out for the swap, the weekend after is this 4wd trip, then the week after that I'm off to the kokoda track So I'm a little booked up at the moment which is good but not for the EJ...

So I really don't know if the EJ will be in by then, hopefully it will all be ready to put in. So near yet so far! I'm enjoying the process even though its slower than I want it to be, so long as it fires up first time without any complications!

Also, back on topic of the 4wd session, I'm keen to end up at a pub for a counter meal when lunch rolls around But am easy either way.

Cheers

Bennie

Bumpty wrote:Pull your finger out and get some lift blocks Bennie!

I was also meant to say that I saw a nicely lifted L with 27's in Riddles Creek tonight. I reckon it had a 3 inch - it was white with roof racks for two rafts... Really got me wanting my lift and tyres Anyone happen to know who this is?

Cheers

Bennie

I might be in that. It's a long way off for me yet though.

Can count me in

No worries Plucky, update us when you can

Sounds good preno!

Cheers,

Bennie

I've decided that I'm going to do a reckie on this one for some pre-trip knowledge. Dunno when I'm going to do it yet but I've got a mate to navigate for me

Anyone got some good tracks to check out? AP, Venom - I'm looking at YOU!

Cheers

Bennie

Im sitting here wishing i was there going on one of your weekend trips, been reading up on the Victoria 4wd driving etc on the site and cant wait till i get there ,WA looks great too, not long now i hope,My question is ? can you take dogs on your day or weekend trips, as my dog Bawbag Bailey loves the subi too?????

Dougie wrote:Im sitting here wishing i was there going on one of your weekend trips, been reading up on the Victoria 4wd driving etc on the site and cant wait till i get there ,WA looks great too, not long now i hope,My question is ? can you take dogs on your day or weekend trips, as my dog Bawbag Bailey loves the subi too?????

WA is good - but a few days of solid driving to get there then the same to get back! Good drive though, have done it once so far and hope to be doing it again soon.

Dogs can come depending on the area you're in - National Parks is a NO without questions. Other areas will have restrictions according to Parks Vic, DSE (Dept of Sustainability and Environment, aka Dept of Sparks and Embers) and the local council... In most state forests you should be right though.

And there will be another weekend adventure at some stage, we're a little bit harder to organise a trip unlike some other states that seem to have one sorted in an hour or so

When are you arriving in oz?

Cheers

Bennie

When are you arriving in oz?

Cheers

Bennie[/QUOTE]

Over for a holiday in November, but if we have our house ready for going on the market soon and it sells before then , it will be to move over permanently

Well I'm hoping that Good Friday sees me out on a reckie for good tracks to have a go at. I'm looking at google maps atm and there's some good main tracks to get in there, one starting at Baccus Marsh - I'll start from here.

I know a few points of interest but will have fun locating them. The river tunnel shouldn't be too hard to get too - there's a road that should lead straight to it in a bendy kinda way

I'll try and let you know what I found before I head off for the weekend.

Cheers

Bennie

If anyone wants to join me for the reckie, I'll be at the IGA carpark at 9am leaving at 9:15am... It would be great to have another car but not needed enough that I won't go if its just me. My contact is zero four two one one eight four zero three one

Cheers

Bennie

G'day all!
Well the reckie was pretty interesting from the start – a few k’s from home and there was about 20 head of cattle on the road. Stopped to help another driver that approached at the same time as I did, after a few minutes there were about 5 vehicles stopped to help out as well as one angry neighbour... I got sick of not doing anything and would have felt guilty if I left, so I rang the boys in blue who were apparently flat out. They called the ranger, I left.

Got to IGA at about 9:18 Hope no one was there waiting, I was the only car in the carpark being Good Friday and all.

I checked out a few roads, got them stored in the grey matter, I did a loop that confused the shite outta me. Got that sorted and headed further back towards my joint. Went to O’brien’s crossing – loads of people camping there for the long weekend, no water though.
I then went across to Barry’s Reef, found an old water hole that I’ve always wanted to camp at. Continuing on I did a dry river crossing, not a lot of fun without water but it was a challenging crossing without lift and I knew I was crossing what is 'normally' a river

I got out of that area, following a powerline track – near the bottom my engine did something strange then the oil light came on. I killed the ignition straight away, rolled the last 10 metres to cleared level ground. Checked oil, tried to start – it was then that I knew I had a busted cam belt on the passenger’s side.

RACV towed me home, can’t go wrong with total care! This is becoming an all too familiar sight at my place:



I would strongly recommend everyone have a cooling system that is in good order - there are some big hill climbs that we'll be doing and you'll need to ensure the cooling system is up to the task. If you've put off adding that second thermo or need to replace a hose this week is the one to do it in...

Here's a few images of the trip:

We’re aiming not to end up like this fella:



Small play area:



An old quarry that might be good for a play and a group photo:



The waterhole for camping at, this is in the wombat forest part of the area:



And where I stopped:



This track apparently has some good 4wd'n on the otherside of that hill, I didn't go in that area so might have to check it out next weekend on the trip with everyone. This was the only paint scratching area I came across with the way I drive.

I'm looking forward to next weekend, hope this is motivating all of you sitting on the fence into making the effort!

Cheers

Bennie

Bugger when you broke down!!! But lucky you could limp out but its not nice. (it would be ideal to have spare cam belt in your car in case, like what i do!).. Yeah its worth having Total Care (one year i called towie 4 times a year and was worth having!! - wasn't subaru) - I don't have it as its not worth it for me, but I have basic care anyway...

I am looking forward to next weekend if if work doesn't come up(!) btw new clutch & gearbox is in with 1.59:1 low range ratio... but havent driven yet...
Cheers
AP

AlpineRaven wrote:I am looking forward to next weekend if if work doesn't come up(!)

Work had better not come up!

Found the culprit of the belt, will post it up in my thread about ruby scoo.

Cheers

Bennie