Rocky track in vic!

[suzuki boy]

How many of you guys have driven rocky track in tollangi?

Heading out there this weekend hopefully!

Just wondering how your zooks have gone and what mods you had when doing it?

Think i sjould be all good! I'll give it a try any way!

[dank]

I've seen Christovers and Gwagensteves rigs get up there in bone dry conditions.

I''ve done up to the really steep stage but didn't feel that i had enough clearnace with my 30s to do the steep 10m-20m section in the middle so went around but got back on just after and completed the track easily with 4.9 gears and front locker on 30inch MTs.

Your rig Suzuki Boy on 30s and double locked with standard gearing will probably struggle I reckon as its STEEP. Unless you want to really screw up your new clutch then you could give it a good shot and possibly risk a roll over or some more panel damage by hitting it faster to make up for lack of gearing. There was a chicken track the whole way up that is challenging in itself and remember you've got nothing to prove to anyone. its a great track. I would suggest maybe giving the first section a go and seeing how you go, continue on or head onto the chicken track. if you get to the hard bit and decide to go around the transition onto the chicken track is on a pretty hairy side angle!!!! so take it slow!!! but have fun! I might come up for the day on saturday. I'll see if I can get my springs and cv sorted...

[suzuki boy]

Thanks for that!

From what people have said i should be good all exept for the last rock ledge?

Will give it a go but as you said i'm not going to fu$k the car up just to say i drove it!

When the gears go in i'll give it a good go but as you said with no gearing every thing is a bit of a challenge!

Any one else?

Thanks

[LOCKEE]

Ledge isn't that big.

But bigger the car the smaller the obstacle.

Have a go, if you can't get up back back down and use the bypass.

[suzuki boy]

Ledge isn't that big.

But bigger the car the smaller the obstacle.

Have a go, if you can't get up back back down and use the bypass.

You work for ateco yeah! If so i'm with MJOC and TW reckons i can do it if i pick the right line every where!

But yeah i can always back back and go around!

[PJ.zook]

Ive made it up the whole thing several times including ledge in my zook, i had 30" cooper AT on first time, and 31" extremes 2nd time, also have crawler gears, you should be fine. (I got RUF too but that shouldnt make a lot of difference i dont think. Just go for it anyway, whats the worst that could happen

[Gwagensteve]

Suzukiboy,

Don't try in the wet and without gears.

You might make it, but you will be really hammering the clutch.

I did it 10 years ago with stock gearing and open diffs in my LWB, but it is more chopped up now and to have enough torque to prevent it stalling out you will have to be moving way, way too fast.

Twin lockers will help, but some of the ledges are around 12-18" tall and that's taller than the radius of you tyres. You will really have to push the car up them and you would need a dry track to do it.

I can get up OK in piggles (my lwb 1.0l) running a rear welded diff, 34 swampers and a 6:1 (4.1:1 1.0 diffs too)

we had a few SWB's up there on labour day but they were all geared and locked and running a minimum of 32" tyres. Be prepared to get on some pretty radical angles in a SWB on the ledges.

Steve.

[cj]

we had a few SWB's up there on labour day but they were all geared and locked and running a minimum of 32" tyres.

Including Mitch in the Jimny. I agree though if it's wet I'd suggest wait and try again on a dry day.

[moose]

Suzukiboy,

Don't try in the wet and without gears.


Steve.

mmmmmmm ??
stupidly I did rocky 1 nite , pi55ing rain (water flowing down the track)
by myself !!!!

drove all the track , & was greatly surprised by the grip of the rocks in the wet !!!

[Gwagensteve]

Sure, I have done it in the wet too, but suzukiboy might not want his car to look like ours

[LOCKEE]

Ledge isn't that big.

But bigger the car the smaller the obstacle.

Have a go, if you can't get up back back down and use the bypass.

You work for ateco yeah! If so i'm with MJOC and TW reckons i can do it if i pick the right line every where!

But yeah i can always back back and go around!

Yep that's me, use to work for Ateco.

It is a hard reverse back down if you don't make it, but I have done it in a LWB GQ on 33's when the coil died with the Front wheels on the ledge. Had to key start back to the bottom.

In saying that go there and have alook. Park at the bottom and walk up , Decide for yourself.

You are experienced enough to make the judgement call on wether to tackle the main line or the bypass track or not at all.

My 2c.

[sierrajim]

Ledge isn't that big.

But bigger the car the smaller the obstacle.

Have a go, if you can't get up back back down and use the bypass.

You work for ateco yeah! If so i'm with MJOC and TW reckons i can do it if i pick the right line every where!

But yeah i can always back back and go around!

Yep that's me, use to work for Ateco.

It is a hard reverse back down if you don't make it, but I have done it in a LWB GQ on 33's when the coil died with the Front wheels on the ledge. Had to key start back to the bottom.

In saying that go there and have alook. Park at the bottom and walk up , Decide for yourself.

You are experienced enough to make the judgement call on wether to tackle the main line or the bypass track or not at all.

My 2c.

I think he said he's had his P plates for less than a month. Personally, no gears, no tyres, limited driving expirence, no roof, wouldn't recommend it. No offence intended.

There are much wiser things that you could do than drive Rocky Track in its current state in winter with a car that's almost stock. You'll probably make it (its not really that hard), your car however might end up a little hammered, your new clutch will feel like your old one etc etc

[vicelore]

iv been there ounce with Christovers and a few others. looked a little hairy in a few bits. and i woudnt wanna be backing down it AT ALL . if your confident go it but i woudnt go alone.

and is there another way back out when your at the bottom ?

ps i found it scarier goin down than up..

[Guy]

iv been there ounce with Christovers and a few others. looked a little hairy in a few bits. and i woudnt wanna be backing down it AT ALL . if your confident go it but i woudnt go alone.

and is there another way back out when your at the bottom ?

ps i found it scarier goin down than up..

going down is worse as gravity is pushing you, going up is way easier to stop.

[grimbo]

much damage for you I see…yes…hmmmmm in my best Yoda impression

[christover1]

I'd happily meet you there one day in the future, as its not far for me.
But we have a club trip to warby area this weekend, so it will have to be another day.

I drove it on 30's and welded rear, in the dry, long ago, and without gears it was too fast to be kind on vehicle. Have never made it in the wet, yet, tho have not tried with present mods.

Now I have 32's with 4:9 diffs and 1 litre t case. In dry this makes it much easier.
And a lock rite up front, with welded rear.

christover

[suzuki boy]

Thanks heaps guys!

I have only had my p's for 2 or 3 months but have wheeled the zook sence before i got my l's! HAve done a 4x4 course and all that so i can drive it alright!

I will walk it first if it's dry even wet i want to see what all the fuss is about!

Pannel damage doesn't worrie me any more as it's not my daily driver any more!

Will wait till sunday and see what happens!

Any others done it?

GEARING IS NEXT!

[christover1]

I will walk it first if it's dry even wet i want to see what all the fuss is about!

You may be disappointed, it was a very extreme track in the yester years, but time has softened it. Still easy to get damaged, broken or rolled on, tho.

christover

[suzuki boy]

Fair enough!

Do you have video of it in the early days?

The roll is the only thing i'm worried about!

[christover1]

Do you have video of it in the early days?

No, sorry, video was a very rare occurrence in those days.
Some of the Adventure Tour videos show some Rocky Track, Muppets video that appeared on 4wd tv showed a bit of rocky tk.

[suzuki boy]

Fair enough!

Thanks i'll ley you all know how i go!

[grimbo]

here are some old pics of Rocky Track in the very wet and very cold. recognise the Zuk anyone

[moose]

yeah !!
Ross,s critter !!!!!

[vicelore]

those pics dont seem to be working

[suzuki boy]

Same here all i get is the white box with the cross in it!

[vicelore]

those pics dont seem to be working

[vicelore]

this was it when we went Cheers for that chris awesome day

[Gwagensteve]

I will walk it first if it's dry even wet i want to see what all the fuss is about!

You may be disappointed, it was a very extreme track in the yester years, but time has softened it. Still easy to get damaged, broken or rolled on, tho.

christover

I disagree Chris, I think it is harder now than it used to be. I don't think it is currently drivable with open diffs at all, but I drove it open in 1997.

I do think it is and easy track to roll on in a SWB though, most especially without gearing and with lockers.

The traction the car has with lockers will get it up on the ledges, but the speed you will have to carry will mean you will bouncing hard.

Too scary for me. Wait until you have gearing.

PS suzukiboy - I don't want to turn this into a pi$$ing contest, but have you been in a car that has gone over? I don't think you would be so casual if you'd rolled the car you have do drive home in. Mate, when I was your age I too had done "training" and had learnt to drive off road on my L's. I too drove heaps of trips when I first got my license, and made some mistakes. Take it easy, listen to what people have to say, and most importantly, go driving with people who are way way way more experienced than you. (best if they drive the same cars) They will make it look easy and you will be truly humbled.

Whilst I don't agree with Grimbo's stance on body damage, Body damage is just a PITA when you have to rebody your car or get a canary, it's certainly not a mark of how good a driver you are. Its one thing to knock the car around a bit, but entirely another to actually go over on a hill as long and as hard to recover out of as Rocky.

No, Rocky isn't the hardest track around, but the length and inability to take alternative lines make it worthy of respect.

Steve.

[christover1]

I disagree Chris, I think it is harder now than it used to be. I don't think it is currently drivable with open diffs at all, but I drove it open in 1997.
Steve.

Maybe it's not getting softer, maybe I was softer back then, and maybe I just getting harder

[suzuki boy]

Thanks for that Gwagen steve!

I havn't been in a car that has gone fully on it's side but have floped on banks and stuff and just draged along with just a few scratches but i think going over wouldn't be much fun at all!

Thats my problem i think i go out with all the big boys from the jeep club on a-b grade trips and go really well but it's noing where my zook will go over! Have it on some big angles! Thats why i want to make it to the next zook club meeting!

By the look of the photos (i know they never do it justuce!) But it looks like theres easyer lines to take?

You never stop learing and in a few weeks the gears should be ordered!