AUSTRALIAN X-TRAIL FORUM :: Trip Reports :: MrBump & Revhead's "spur-of-the-moment" Hunter Range trip ~ Runboard



Check-out the latest range of accessories for the T30 and T31 Nissan X-Trail models. Both Genuine Nissan and Aftermarket accessories are available. (click here for details)

Australian X-Trail Forum Trip Reports
MrBump & Revhead's "spur-of-the-moment" Hunter Range trip

Page: 1 2 3

Revhead Kev
X-TRAIL HOLIC

Premium

Date Registered: 10-2006
Location: Mona Vale, Sydney, AUSTRALIA
TOTAL POSTS: 2947
Avatar

MrBump & Revhead's "spur-of-the-moment" Hunter Range trip

Well it was Revhead's and Bump's birthdays about a week or two ago and we thought on the spur of the moment to go out and do the Hunter Range trip from the 4WD Treks book (Pg 19 - 4th edition), especially since I missed the Yengo trip in the same area. The trek included the Commission road along the powerlines and the Sheepskin Hut.

Included in the group were GizmoXtrail who always hangs around, Shoni who always loves gettin' dirty and a friend of MrBump who hadn't taken his Cruiser out for a while. We started at the service station at Wilberforce around 8:30am, driving upto the half-way house for morning tea.

The whole trip was easy, grade 0 mostly (actually passed a standard mazda sedan partway along the tracks) with the occasional grade 1 (dry) where there was a bit of an uphill or downhill section. No serious ruts or rocky parts to scare any new members who wish to try this out and nothing which required LOCK mode or had any wheelspin.

We had a creek crossing ...

and found an easy way up to the top of one of the hills where the scenery was magnificent ...

This is where we had our group shot of the cars.

Further along the track we found a little drop-off for the bigboy to play with and show-off a little...

and of course MrBump couldn't resist.

(no Xtrails were harmed during the filming of this stunt)
I have a video of this which I will post up in a day or so.

Further along the track we drove through a forest fern glen and found a cave.

There was one small branch to move out of the way so we got the strongest memer of the group to do the work.

Just as we got to the sheepskin hut for lunch there was a side track which begged to be taken just for the fun of it.

Lunch at the hut was a relaxing break.

We caught up with Red again with a basket of freshly baked cookies (YUM) emoticon

After lunch we continued along the Hunter Main trail where a brief stop to look at a weather trig station had the Xtrails try to "face-off" and box in the Cruiser but somehow the bluff was not going to work.

Then a bit further along we came across a serious tree over the track.
It looked like others had already cleared the big pieces and just driven over the remainders in their obviously bigger trucks ...

but we all made it through in a slalom fashion.

Lastly we found a little hump in a sidetrack which MrBump could not resist ...

getting up and over with ease.
But then his friend showed him what going over a real hump was like.

(check out those suspension mods emoticon

)

We finished the trek around 4pm with plenty of daylight left for most of the run home.

Thanks to all for a great day in the bush, dust and sunshine. The small group seemed to make the trip flow easily with any stops for track information or sightseeing not taking too long for the people in front nor too quick for the people in the back of the group.

---

Kev X450(c)
2003 Titanium Ti Luxury Series 1

6/May/2009, 2:38 am

Gizmoxtrail
X-TRAIL NEWBIE

Date Registered: 05-2008
TOTAL POSTS: 48

Re: MrBump & Revhead's "spur-of-the-moment" Hunter Range trip

As always, a very nice post Kev. Keep up the good work emoticon

---
Les X-870 (C)

2007 Black Extreme, Tow Bar, Tinted Windows, Sunroof, K&N filter, Nudge Bar

6/May/2009, 8:59 am

loafer
X-TRAIL LEGEND

Premium

Date Registered: 02-2008
Location: Brisbane, Qld
TOTAL POSTS: 645

Re: MrBump & Revhead's "spur-of-the-moment" Hunter Range trip

Great report and pics, Kev emoticon

(love that camera, buddy emoticon

)

Were the trees down from a storm or were they cut and left?

emoticon

---
Stephen
X756 (c)

Electric Blue 2008 Ti CVT

6/May/2009, 1:59 pm

mrbump
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST

Date Registered: 11-2008
Location: ropes crossing nsw
TOTAL POSTS: 179

Re: MrBump & Revhead's "spur-of-the-moment" Hunter Range trip

another great day guys and girls getting to like these little adventures of ours mal wishes to thank you all for letting him come along and cant wait till next time but us if wendy is going to drive any hills again? and not take the long way round (hahahaha emoticon

) but serious note thanks for coming along to you all .loved grammas cookies too thanks red emoticon

---

x-1040(c)
2006 sts extreme, geolander ats11 with 40mm lift to come.

6/May/2009, 4:57 pm

Revhead Kev
X-TRAIL HOLIC

Premium

Date Registered: 10-2006
Location: Mona Vale, Sydney, AUSTRALIA
TOTAL POSTS: 2947
Avatar

Re: MrBump & Revhead's "spur-of-the-moment" Hunter Range trip

Thanks Stephen.

quote:
loafer wrote:
Were the trees down from a storm or were they cut and left?

The track is a logging truck track through the week with sign posts stating such at some points but the tree did not look like it was chopped down to be logged and I doubt they would have left it across the track if it was. My guess is it blew down with some previous weather as it was still very green but quite well mangled by previous travellers to make a path through.

---

Kev X450(c)
2003 Titanium Ti Luxury Series 1

6/May/2009, 10:38 pm

Revhead Kev
X-TRAIL HOLIC

Premium

Date Registered: 10-2006
Location: Mona Vale, Sydney, AUSTRALIA
TOTAL POSTS: 2947
Avatar

Re: MrBump & Revhead's "spur-of-the-moment" Hunter Range trip

As promised here is the video of MrBump tackling the dropoff.
I posted this to help visually demonstrate how the Xtrail can safely negotiate these types of obstacles with experience.

As you watch, take note of how the lifted rear wheel starts to spin and the Xtrail moves relatively slowly compared to the spin of the rear wheel. Then notice how as the Xtrail starts moving the brakes are applied gently (rear wheel stops spinning) to slow the decent so that no suspension compression occurs which might reduce rear panel clearance on the dirt slope.

Last edited by Revhead Kev, 6/May/2009, 11:16 pm

---

Kev X450(c)
2003 Titanium Ti Luxury Series 1

6/May/2009, 11:15 pm

cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC

Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 1434
Avatar

Re: MrBump & Revhead's "spur-of-the-moment" Hunter Range trip

quote:
Just as we got to the sheepskin hut for lunch there was a side track which begged to be taken just for the fun of it.

Did you guys go down this track at the hut, I think not, just a photo opp I think.
We looked at coming up that hill from the bottom on the Yengo trip but nobody was game. Not even a tricked up Patrol was keen. emoticon

---
Tony X-891c
2008 T31 St
HERE is my X Trail

7/May/2009, 6:56 am

plawton
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST

Date Registered: 09-2008
Location: Warriewood, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 135
Avatar

Re: MrBump & Revhead's "spur-of-the-moment" Hunter Range trip

I was there a few weeks ago and half considered giving it a go. I saw 2 Disco II's romp up it with ease but in the end I thought better of it. If I'd had AT's I may have considered it more seriously but didn't think road tyres had a chance. The soil was too soft and there was a tree trunk lying part way across the bottom of the hill. I didn't fancy hitting it as I slid back down, out of control, with tyres full of mud! Bring on the AT's and a lift kit, then I'll give it a go. emoticon

---
Paul
X-1025 (c)
Diamond Black '08 T31 ST-L CVT
Tinted Windows, Rust Proofing/Paint Protection, Mats, Bash Plate, Bonnet Protector, Tow Bar

7/May/2009, 8:44 am

Revhead Kev
X-TRAIL HOLIC

Premium

Date Registered: 10-2006
Location: Mona Vale, Sydney, AUSTRALIA
TOTAL POSTS: 2947
Avatar

Re: MrBump & Revhead's "spur-of-the-moment" Hunter Range trip

Yes Tony we did, except for shoni as she had a manual.
We both went down the track AND back up again.

No lift kits needed Paul but standard H/T tyres would not be adequate I think. The hill was not muddy and the only wheel spin was at the top because of the obvious wheel lift cresting the sharp change from incline to flat main track.

No-one slid out of control nor had to try more than once. You will be surprised where the Xtrail can go with some slightly better tyres and the correct placement. Just selected 1st in the automatic with Lock mode and up it went. emoticon

---

Kev X450(c)
2003 Titanium Ti Luxury Series 1

7/May/2009, 11:08 am

mrbump
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST

Date Registered: 11-2008
Location: ropes crossing nsw
TOTAL POSTS: 179

Re: MrBump & Revhead's "spur-of-the-moment" Hunter Range trip

thamks for the kind words kev.
yes most people believe i live to upset, offend or over power peoples choices and beliefs but this was tackled by all on the way down with just gear 1 selected in auto, lock and a little controlled brake on the way down, as for up well i did it twince and still nik didnt get photos, anyway that not why i post (just to see my name in lights or pictures of my car) its about getting out trying some controlled things and using all our knowledge to see just how capable our choice of cars can go , i think ive said it before controlled accelration and braking with the right wheel placement and some thinking about the terrain and our xtrails will get most places more then most people believe that could be possible.

---

x-1040(c)
2006 sts extreme, geolander ats11 with 40mm lift to come.

7/May/2009, 4:48 pm

Page: 1 2 3

Link to us - Blogs - Hall of Honour - Chat

You are not logged in (login)


	Free Hit Counter