Cobaw - return to 4wding MEDIUM / HARD

Cobaw State Forest, VIC

See more trips

Returning to 4wding, and what better place than Cobaw..

Important Note: 
Only join and participate in this trip at your own risk
Every one will be responsible for their own safety.
Remember, as in any trip, if you or one of the trip members see that the track in front of them is too difficult, don't attempt it, we will arrange to meet you on the other side.

Approximate distance:
50kms approximately (including tracks) from the meeting point.
Full Tank from Melbourne will be sufficient for this Trip 

Trip Description:
This trip is categorised as medium/hard so it is required to have minimum 32 s M/T or aggressive A/T tyres and a working electric winch .
BYO Recovery gear is MANDATORY
We will aim to finish by 4pm
We will be stopping for lunch so BYO food and water. I will be firing up my portable cooker and doing some grilling, so the lunch will be around 30 minutes...
All Trip Participants, including passengers, must wear fully enclosed footwear (e.g. sneakers, work type boots) whilst on this Trip.

Planned tracks:
Soil Pit Tk
Stumpy Tk
Pole Tk
Natives Tk
Googies Fireline Tk
Pinnacle Tk
Muirs Tk

Recovery Equipment:
The minimum requirement is one Snatch Strap, 2 Bow Shackles rated, a Dampener and Riggers Gloves (a full recovery kit is preferable and more appropriate, but not ssential). Riggers Gloves must be worn when dealing with recovery equipment or for track clearing if encountered. Equipment must be in very good condition.. If you don't have this recovery equipment do not join!!

VEHICLE & EQUIPMENT:
Your vehicle must be Roadworthy and appropriately set up for the trip (if you know of any mechanical or maintenance issues with your vehicle, you must have these fully resolved/rectified before the Trip). You will need ground clearance for the harder Tracks, therefore a suspension lift of at least 2 inches is strongly advised to avoid vehicle damage. Appropriate or Acceptable front and rear recovery points, for snatch strapping or winching, are essential. As mentioned above, due to the terrain of Cobaw State Forest a minimum of 32 A/T or Mud Tyres with very good tread depth are required. Tyres on or very close to roadworthy are not acceptable. Onboard UHF Radio, basic vehicle spares and tools, First Aid Kit and Fire Extinguisher. If you don't have 32' inch tyres and minimum 2 inch lift do not join!!

FOOD AND GENERAL PROVISIONS:
You need to be fully self-sufficient and bring enough Food, Water and Snacks for all persons in your vehicle for Lunch. You also need to bring sufficient Water for every person in your vehicle. .

 

Emergency VIC: https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/

Weather Link: http://m.weatherzone.com.au/vic/central/lancefield

Requirement

  • Electric Winch
  • Recovery Gear
  • Jack (Jack105) I have mechanic skills Trip Leader - Level 4 (Completed over 34 trips) Premium Member

    GOING
    Driver + 1 AdultChecked-In (31-Jan-2020 14:45)
    FZJ105R (1998 Land Cruiser)
    • 35" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Aidan (Aidan4x4) I had chainsaw training Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 2 trips) Premium Member

    GOING
    Myself only
    80 series cruiser (1992 Landcruiser)
    • 35" Tyres, 3" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Baz (baz1000) Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 1 trips) Premium Member

    GOING
    Driver + 1 AdultChecked-In (31-Jan-2020 09:39)
    GU coil cab (2002 Y61)
    • 35" Tyres, 3" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Omer (FLXN)

    GOING
    Driver + 1 ChildrenChecked-In (30-Jan-2020 21:26)
    Jeep (2017 Rubicon)
    • 32" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Winch

  • Joerg Mutsch (melbourne_wj) I have mechanic skills

    GOING
    Myself onlyChecked-In (31-Jan-2020 07:28)
    Jeep Grand Cherokee LImited V8 4.7L (2002 Grand Cherokee Limited)
    • 33" Tyres, 4" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Phil (HuddsGQ) I had chainsaw training Completed Proficiency training Premium Member

    GOING
    Myself onlyChecked-In (31-Jan-2020 10:58)
    4.2 Diesel GQ (1990 GQ)
    • 35" Tyres, 3" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Brendan (BP JK) Completed Proficiency training

    GOING
    Myself onlyChecked-In (31-Jan-2020 12:04)
    (2020 Gladiator)
    • 33" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch



  • Greg (93Maverick)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    93 Maverick (1993 Maverick)
    • 33" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Winch

  • Phil (Phil)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    Getaway Car (2014 Challanger)
    • 31" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Rear Diff Lock
    • Winch

  • 4x4mate (maltalian0) I had chainsaw training I had winch training Trip Leader - Level 1 (Completed over 6 trips) Premium Member


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    4.8 petrol GU patrol (2001 Patrol)
    • 35" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Winch

  • Seb (vdj45-80)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    80 (1990 landcruiser)
    • 35" Tyres, 3" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • Jason (FauxBogan) I had chainsaw training Completed Intermediate training Trip Leader - Level 4 (Completed over 36 trips) Premium Member


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    Shadow (2020 Power Wagon 75th Anniversary)
    • 35" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Front & Rear Locker
    • Winch

  • John (landyman)


    I am Interested / In Waiting List
    Land Rover 110 V8 (Dora the explorer) (1989 County)
    • 32" Tyres, 2" Lifted
    • Winch

Winston (Winston_FJ) Premium Member
Just a tip, Googies F/L is impassable. A "tornado" ripped through there a few years ago and flattened a big area of trees, it has never been cleared.
11 Jan 2020
Trip Leader Jack (Jack105) Premium Member
Winston (Winston_FJ) wrote: Just a tip, Googies F/L is impassable. A "tornado" ripped through there a few years ago and flattened a big area of trees, it has never been cleared.
Thx, been there twice and was wondering where is the rest of the track. So basically half of the track is still avail for some medium fun, and the other half is now unavail...
11 Jan 2020
Winston (Winston_FJ) Premium Member
Jack (JacekPrado) wrote:
Winston (Winston_FJ) wrote: Just a tip, Googies F/L is impassable. A "tornado" ripped through there a few years ago and flattened a big area of trees, it has never been cleared.
Thx, been there twice and was wondering where is the rest of the track. So basically half of the track is still avail for some medium fun, and the other half is now unavail...
Yeah. Pinnacle and Muirs are much better choices.
12 Jan 2020
Peter (Love4x4ing)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason:
16 Jan 2020
Trip Leader Jack (Jack105) Premium Member
2 weeks to go:
- few updates, please check in to this trip minimum 24h before the trip, if anyone is not checked in, they will be removed and based on the interest others might want to join
- I have not mentioned, but on the route we are planning, I did sustain a slight sill panel damage (twice) in cobaw prior to having my rock sliders installed, so proper steel sliders will come in handy. Have a think about it and decide if you still want to go ahead with the trip and you just don't care or you want to equip your car before coming.
17 Jan 2020
John (landyman)
Bugger i keep missing these events at Cobaw because of my fly in and out work roster.
18 Jan 2020
Allan (allanmac) Premium Member
Jack, have you checked that the recent fire up that way is not going to impact the tracks you plan to drive?
21 Jan 2020
Trip Leader Jack (Jack105) Premium Member
Allan (allanmac) wrote: Jack, have you checked that the recent fire up that way is not going to impact the tracks you plan to drive?
Thanks Allan, I was checking VIC emergency maps, and it looked like it was west of cobaw state forest, but I will be making few more calls few days before trip.

We still have 9 days to go and it looks like there is a small fire there but it is contained with 2 vehicles responding.
22 Jan 2020
Richard (Papa_Bob)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Sorry fellas broke some (minor) shit at the weekend and should probably get that fixed first before wheeling again.
Next time ...
28 Jan 2020
Trip Leader Jack (Jack105) Premium Member
http://m.weatherzone.com.au/vic/central/lancefield

Very 2 or 3 hot days prior to Saturday, with 10-20mm rain on Saturday. Cobaw in wet and some tracks I was planning to do could become rating hard.

Additionally it will dry out and risk of fires would be higher if we don't end up getting any rain that day. I have fire extinguisher in my car, not sure if it would help as I never had to use one and pray I never have to. Everyone should have one on board just in case anyway as the grass might be long...

Your comments? Who is still in or who is out? I reserve the right to cancel if I deem unsafe.
29 Jan 2020
Trip Leader Jack (Jack105) Premium Member
Added some important links to the trip description..
29 Jan 2020
Omer (FLXN)
cowbaw holds rain really well bit of rain will be nice 😁 keep the dust down I’m still in.
29 Jan 2020
Trip Leader Jack (Jack105) Premium Member
Omer (FLXN) wrote: cowbaw holds rain really well bit of rain will be nice 😁 keep the dust down I’m still in.
Hopefully it rains a bit before the trip and not during or after... I additionally called couple of places about that close fire last updated a week ago. The closest I got to get some definite answers was from a contact suggested on Lancefield CFA:

"Hi Jack,
The fire is being monitered still but the EMV website and warning system is the only one source of truth.
Please use the site to judge.
Cheers Sarah"

EMV meaning Emergency VIC website. That monitored 1 week old fire if you go the website is about 1km away from pinnacle track so if it rains and no new updates it should be safe. But we have to keep an eye on the single source of truth for these next 2 days
29 Jan 2020
Colin Linke (colinlinke)
I'm still keen but will wait till Friday.
29 Jan 2020
Baz (baz1000) Premium Member
I’m also keen to go ahead, assuming fires are ok
29 Jan 2020
Phil (HuddsGQ) Premium Member
Still keen on going, always good up there if damp.
29 Jan 2020
Colin Linke (colinlinke)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Sorry guys looks hairy. Next time.
31 Jan 2020
Joerg Mutsch (melbourne_wj)
Hi all,

was a great trip yesterday (Thanks Jack). Sorry for causing so much trouble :). I've sent all attendees a private message with a link to the videos I took (did not want to post them here publicly). Please let me know if I have missed someone.

Look forward to the next trip.
Joerg
02 Feb 2020
Trip Leader Jack (Jack105) Premium Member
Thanks Joerg, no problem at all...always happy to have you on my trips. Thanks for the videos.
02 Feb 2020
Matthew (discomatt)
Why not post a link here? I haven't had a chance to get out for months due to work/life commitments and would love to at least watch some other people out and about
02 Feb 2020
Joerg Mutsch (melbourne_wj)
Matthew (discomatt) wrote: Why not post a link here? I haven't had a chance to get out for months due to work/life commitments and would love to at least watch some other people out and about
Hi Matthew, these are videos of the other participants. I have not asked for permission to post them publicly. I can send you a private message with the link if you are interested.
03 Feb 2020
Trip Leader Jack (Jack105) Premium Member
I think in Australia, we dont really need a permission to publish online from anyone if we film them where there is no expectation of privacy. There is probably more to it. I think there are special rules about minors, or for example filming in court. I think Joerg just wanted to show extra courtesy to all trip members... which I understand. I dont mind if any of my videos get published publicly even those ones where I screw up 4wding :)
03 Feb 2020
Join or Sign in to Post a Comment.

TRIP COMPLETED

7 GOING, 8 Interested
9 adults , 1 children (10 in total)
Trip Date
Sat, 01-Feb-2020

Meeting Point
Shell - Lancefield
9:30 AM (Sat, 01-Feb-2020)