Matthew (discomatt)
The days for the other trip I had joined for cup weekend where not going to work so a day trip it is, cant wait haven't done any serious wheeling for ages and am looking forward to seeing how the front diff upgrade performs

Allan (allanmac)
Yes Matt, looking forward to see how your latest mods perform.

Clint Witton (clints GU)
Hi Allan, where were you planing on entering Toolangi from?
I live at Toolangi so no point me meeting at Yarra Glen, and were you thinking of doing Cockpit and blowhard tracks.

Allan (allanmac)
Clint, no probs we can meet you near Toolangi. At this stage, not 100% sure which track we will do 1st, but more than likely we will do the trip in the opposite direction to what we normally do. If so, we will air down near Pauls Tk, make our way up to Toolangi, then onto Sylvia Creek Rd heading towards Cockpit. We can meet you at the junction of Sylvia and Healesville Kinglake Rd. If we commence at Rocky, we can meet you there. Will let you know 100% which way later in the week. It will all come down to the weather, if wet and miserable will probably give Cockpit, Blowhard & Aeroplane a miss, but at this stage weather is looking ok.

Allan (allanmac)
Tyre size, I made a 'typo' area as it was meant to be a 'minimum' of 32" tyres, not 31's. Don't mean to disappoint, but anyone with less than 32" tyres, preferably muddies, will NOT get through on some of the tracks without assistance, so unfortunately I ask those who do not have the minimum tyre size (32's) please withdraw their interest from this trip.

Clint Witton (clints GU)
Sounds good, I'm near the top of Pauls track,

Allan (allanmac)
No probs Clint, if it is wet we wont be going up Aeroplane, (maybe down), as dont want to spend half the day winching. I have added a small video of Cockpit and Blowhard from a night drive we did last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM_wLz5DZrM&list=PLjSp18mpvDmOgg8nZsUuoZ3zygMbmYmjl&index=3

Matthew (discomatt)
I think I found out what a clunk in my front end is today, collapsed swivel hub bearings on both sides hope I can get it sorted before the trip or I might have to pull out or tempt fate and go out anyway. Any idea off what the consequence could be??

Allan (allanmac)
Hope you get it sorted Matt, but if not and you decided to pull out I am sure someone else will take your place.

Weather forecast is saying about 28 on the Saturday, but they are predicting some heavy rain/storms for Tuesday & Wednesday next week and if it does happen, will means the likes of Cockpit, Blowhard and Aeroplane will be as 'slippery as a butchers block' as none of these tracks get any real sunshine to help dry them out, so guess we will just wait and see.

Matthew (discomatt)
Car is booked in next Wednesday to get fixed so all good assuming there is no major hold up with anything

Allan (allanmac)
Fingers crossed Matt.

Allan (allanmac)
I have updated trip summary notifying everyone that due to forecast of rain and the odd storm next week, MUD TYRES are now mandatory for this trip.
If anyone who has joined this trip that only have A/T's, unfortunately I will have to ask you to withdraw from this trip as these tyres will not be suitable for at least 3 of the tracks we plan to drive on the day.
I apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Andrew Wale (awale)
Allan

I have 33" Mud tyres & front/rear lockers. But no winch yet (have to get a paid job first for that).
Does that count me out of the trip?

Simon (1TUFFGU)
The problem with some of the tracks in Toolangi, and I don't know which tracks you will be taking, is that they can be very slippery and offer no safe place for a vehicle to assist in your recovery.

Matthew (discomatt)
the trip is full anyway but yes I would imagine that given the weather forecast, the tracks that we will be driving and the fact that muddies are now also a requirement a working winch will also be required as stated in the trip requirements section.
As Simon said there are a few spots where trying to recover a stuck or broken vehicle without its own winch could be very difficult

Allan (allanmac)
Andrew, whilst Kelvin has set up the trip format that any trip with a rating of 'medium/hard' or 'hard' trip that a winch is mandatory, I have run a couple of 'medium/hard' trips where one or two participants have not had a winch. In both cases the person without a winch has been on a couple of my earlier trips, so I had prior knowledge of the capabilities of both the driver and his vehicle. So I have used my discretion and allowed this person to take part. Two things, if a person wanted to go on a medium/hard trip without a winch and I had not been on a trip with him or her, I would not allow them to take part. If a trip was rated 'hard', winch is mandatory, no matter who it is.
Simon has made a perfectly valid point, (am sure he knows which tracks) and if conditions are not favourable snatch recoveries are not possible, so without a winch the choice would be try to somehow turn around, or not even attempt the track and meet at a designated point; problem with this is it can all get a bit messy. In the case of our upcoming trip, if the weather forecast is correct and we do get a fair bit of rain, I will ask the person without a winch to withdraw from the trip. Would prefer to not have to do this, but will if need be and I am sure he would understand, as I dont want the trip to be compromised as a result of one vehicle not having the appropriate recovery equipment that is more than likely going to be required. Hope that makes sense.

So again Andrew, I believe it can often depend on the terrain/tracks as to whether I would make a winch mandatory on a medium/hard trip and am sure some tripleaders here use their discretion in deciding who and who cant attend. For example, most of the High Country trips are correctly rated as 'medium/hard'. All things being equal, if I ran a trip up there and someone wanted to take part, had a appropriate vehicle and experience etc but didnt have a winch, I would not necessarily exclude them from joining or expressing interest in a trip.

I guess this could open up another interesting discussion.

Clint Witton (clints GU)
Hope it's fixed in time Matt, be good to catch up again, have to be 5 or so years since we went on the same trip.

Andrew Wale (awale)
Allan

I do not want to hold people up as I do not have a winch so I will withdraw from this.
Most of the tracks in Toolangi when I have driven them I had not required a winch. But Murphy's Law anything is possible.

Allan (allanmac)
Andrew, am sure you would not hold us up, as your 4wd looks more than capable of taking part in the trip. As Simon and I both mentioned, there are places on Cockpit, Blowhard and especially Aeroplane, (if going up), where a snatch recovery would be near impossible if it is wet.
To be perfectly frank, if we get the rain as forecast I am pretty sure none of the vehicles would be able to get up unassisted on Aeroplane, so that track would be a 'go down' rather than up., if we did it at all. Same could apply to both Cockpit and Blowhard but again, we will wait and see how the weather is looking closer to the date.
I spoke to DPIE,(or whatever they call themselves now) Toolangi yesterday and they informed me no work has been carried out on the seasonally closed tracks. Lets hope the two fugitives (father & son) are either caught or well away from the area when we go up there as I am not too keen on coming face to face with a gun barrel pointed at us.

Simon (1TUFFGU)
I don't think you will have a problem with the father son nutcases. They are more interested in giving the boys in blue a bit of grief. If you do come across them, I suggest you just give a standard wave and keep driving. Then make the appropriate call when well clear of them. They are hiding not 4 wheeling so contact is unlikely. It's a week away and I hope to be up in the area on the same day.

Clint Witton (clints GU)
I was talking to the police at Sylvia creek rd before, they are well prepared up here, with the army, swat teams, I'm sure it will be all over by next Saturday, anyway they only have a stock Yota so they won't be on the tracks we will be on 👍

Simon (1TUFFGU)
Probably hiding up in the hidden tracks on top of the old Castella Quarry

Allan (allanmac)
We wont have to worry about the fugitives, as according to the latest news they were seen in Bairnsdale. Not 100% confirmed though.

Matthew (discomatt)
surprise surprise the weather forecast has changed again, no rain this week now, excellent should be able to go up airoplane

Robert (JK_Shorty)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Need to work now.

Allan (allanmac)
Hope you are right Matt, as weatherzone is still saying 'possible showers' this week.

Have worked out the probable route for the day, so Clint we will meet you at the junction of Meyers Rd and Sylvia Ck Rd between 9.15 and 9,30am. Am hoping all will be at McKenzie Reserve by 8.45am at latest so we can leave around this time. Will have drivers briefing at Sylvia Ck Rd when we air down. Hopefully we will have a good day.

Matthew (discomatt)
the latest forecast I saw has changed again, now possible showers Friday night and Saturday, love Melbourne weather you never really know until its happening...

Allan (allanmac)
Yes Matt, not looking too flash. Trouble is it only takes a tiny bit of rain to make a couple of the tracks almost impossible to drive. Guess I better look at a optional plan, just in case.

Matthew (discomatt)
The only one that can get undrivable if thats a word, would be going up airplane but we did it last time I was there and it was a little wet and no one had to winch although it did take some driving, suck it and see what the weather does I guess.
Car went to the mechanic today to find the front end clunk so should be good to go. Cant wait haven't done any hard wheeling for ages

Matthew (discomatt)
Excellent, car is fixed and ready to go, see you at the park with coffee and egg n beacon pie

Clint Witton (clints GU)
Good stuff, now we need a bit of rain to settle the dust 👌

Matthew (discomatt)
Don't wish for to much rain or those without front and rear lockers might spend half the day winching
The clunk in my front end was only a shagged tie rode end, not bad considering the recent hammering the poor old girl copped and it was an original part, 18 years old and 280,000km, gotta be happy with that
see you all Saturday

Neil (love24wd)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: I have been asked to work
Have a great day out Guys
I am looking forward to reading the trip report on this trip
cheers neil

Allan (allanmac)
Good to hear car is all fixed Matt. Shame you cant make it Neil, but work does come 1st.

Could all those who are coming, please 'check in' to confirm that you will be there. Must admit, I did think the other place would be filled from those who expressed interest, but no worries, am sure we will have a good day and hopefully we only get a sprinkle of rain to help reduce the dust on some tracks.

Stewart James Bruerton (Chuggin61)
Hey guys, I have a 60 series with 3 inch lift and 32 inch mud tires as well as a few other bits. I have no lockers or winch as of yet. Ive have quite a bit of 4wd experience back home in Nz but am new to Melbourne, would this track be suitable for my set up? Thanks

Allan (allanmac)
Stewart, a few of the tracks we plan to drive do require a winch for recovery, especially if it is wet, so I will have to say no to you attending this trip.

Welcome to the forum and get yourself on a few of the many trips advertised here, as you will love the great variety of 4wding we have in this state.

David (Paul Patrol)
Sorry mate. I made other plans. Would have loved to have joined yuz. Have a great day and stay safe.

Jason (Allterrain2000)
WITHDRAWN from Trip - Reason: Work commitments