Sunday Four Wheel Driving

Dan – Triton. Brody / Tennelle – Rodeo. Mckay – Patrol. Aim – Navara.

Our four-wheel driving Sunday started at 1 am in the morning when alcohol talked the boys into finding some mud out by the Loddon River. Found some mud. Bored through it and continued around the corner for some more. Underneath the headlights, they found what they thought to be the jackpot. Only to discover halfway through they bit off more than they could chew.

Halfway through a flooded section the Triton came to a halt. Unable to roll backwards, they continued forwards until they could no more.

“Aim, can you do us a favour?” Why do I get these phone calls at night? A few minutes later after nabbing Brody’s brand new recovery kit and a second jumper I head out as the Triton rescue vehicle.

Just around the corner, they tell me. Many corners later, I see the Triton’s rear lights and the four of them standing on the back, waving like mad for me to stop before I became trapped in the same bog hole.

Under headlights, it looked as if they had driven into the Loddon River its self.

Slipped over in the mud. Got my feet wet, Mckay pretty much went swimming, and the rest of them with wet legs helped to join two snatch straps and a winch extender between both vehicles.

After a bit of tugging and lots of sliding and spinning, the Navara finally pulled the Triton out. Was that the end of the night? Nope. Returned home, lit a fire in the middle of the driveway, and stayed up until 3am.

9 am, we were back at it. After recovering the snatch straps from the Navara, we headed out to the Myall forest down by the Murray in search of some more mud! We were not disappointed.

Mckay let the way through the mazes of roads within the forest. Pick a track, any track. Found a few easy mud holes and a few that weren’t so easy. All three utes became bogged at some time. Mckay said he was going to be disappointed if he didn't get his new Patrol stuck. A few times, he succeeded very well.

First one to become trapped, was Dan in the Triton, Trooton as he calls it when it fails. Pulled out by the Rodey. Mckay flew in next only to become stuck in the same spot. Also pulled out by the Rodey. The poor Rodey didn't even get a turn as we moved on to the next.

Not to be disappointed, the Rodey bogged down in a large hole. Second time Brody ploughed threw it with no problems at a higher speed. Mud was going everywhere! The three white utes were now a light and dark brown. Even Mckay, who decided to check the holes depth, was caked with the same brown mud over his legs.

Dan, unwilling to become bogged, held the Triton flat. Warp speed Spock! Smoke poured from the exhaust as water escaped from under the mud tyres as far as it could and straight over the roof.

Making our way through the forest, sometimes blind due to the mud splashing over windscreens, we came across a caravan and two clean utes! Either they dodged all the mud or found another way in. We couldn’t believe how clean the blue Nav was! There wasn't even a trace of dust.

A man walked up as we waited to get around the stationary caravan. When we expressed our desire to pass them through a ditch, he replied with. "This is going to be interesting."

Very interesting that he thought it would be interesting. Went down and along the side with no trouble at all, and popped out in front of the caravan and continued on our way.

Following the track along, the cumbungi and other long grasses crept closer until the track narrowed to much. Unable to continue any further without scratching the utes, we turned around. Luckily the caravan moved. Our path was clear.

Driving further in, we found the Myall sand pit. Two large water holes before you climb a steep hill. First hole wall we managed to do was create tidal waves and grade the top off the exit. The Rodey nosed into the un-grated exit and stopped. Almost loosing a number plate. The Triton climbed the furthest because of a better bullbar clearance, then began to spin. The Patrol semi climbed out but also caught on the bullbar.

 

 

The next hole, each one climbed out and up the steep bank. Success, now on to the next challenge.

Dan spotted a wet spot, much like a dried dam, and much like a semi dried dam, the mud hole had no bottom. He dove in first, bogged down before he made it through to the other side.

Mckay, being a smart, deciding his vehicle would make it through with more speed. Nope. Bogged down in line with the Triton. Both or them rocking back and forwards trying to get out of the suction. Rodey to the rescue again.

After escaping the hole, Mckay took at the mud even faster and skipped across the top. He even went length ways.

Dan's turn. He made it sideways, but slipped up lengthways and bogged down so deep that the Patrol struggled to tear him free. A move of position and the Triton tugged out with a brand new accessory. The Trooton now has a moon cap.

After a few more plays in mud holes, we found the Guttrum sand pit. Black water and a bit of hill climbing. The day warmed up too. The mud baked onto the utes and after a while, our brand new brown paintwork begun to flake to reveal the white vehicle beneath.

Dan, in the Triton with the snatch strap permanently hooked up to his hayman reese bow shackle, tackled a mud hole and a steep climb. He bogged down first go. The Rodey came to the rescue and attached the strap to the rear. As he pulled, the snatch strap flung from beneath the Triton and disappeared underneath the Rodey. Running to hook the vehicles back together, we discovered the bow shackle had come undone. We had the shackle, but no bolt. Useless without the other. Not wanting to loose the bolt, Dan got ready to jump in the mud to recover it. On the puddle’s edge, I spotted something yellow. The bolt flug out of the mud.

A second go at bog hole was a success. Straight through it at warp speed and up the other side.

Mckay attempted another bog hole in the Patrol. Going in without 4WD engaged, he bogged down, the water above the bottom door sill. He begun screaming at us to stop moving like old people and pull him out as water ran in.

Dan hooked the Triton up, gave it a yank. The snatch strap broke with a huge crack. Meanwhile Mckay still screamed. We replaced the strap with Brody’s one and rescued him from the black water.

After checking out what damage the broken strap did to the rear of Dan's Triton, he discovered his two new green TRED’s gone. In an panicked attempt to find them, we searched Guttrum. No sign of the ramps. Brody, Tennelle and Mckay hunted in Barahm for some tucker while Dan and Aim continued to search. We went back along the rough track, certain they would have rattled out there. Then we made our way along the bog holes. There covered in mud, floated the two TRED’s, still together. What a relief.

Starting to get late and both groups at either side of the forest, we decided to call it a day and went home.

Brody and Mckay accepted the mornings challenge and disappeared back out the Loddon to own the elusive puddle/lake. Whipped its butt on the second go.

All bullbars required adjusting and the utes demanded decent pressure wash and that was the end of the day.