Inskip Point...what is it really like?

It's only soft and tough for 500 metres and I reckon a lot of people gamble they can get away with higher pressure. The beaches on Fraser aren't that soft like they are in SA, unless its high tide and you're up in the fluffy stuff. It's either inexperience or laziness you're watching.

No problem if treated as soft sand which is what it is...


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Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

And for those that are not quite sure what I have asked, have a look at this video, and show just what some driver are like....

Bogged at Inskip Point

Hi Stephen,
I am a sort of local, living in Hervey Bay now and have been going to Fraser Island since the 70's.
Inskip Point is hot soft dry sand. Usually deep due to being churned up by knobs. Tyre pressures are critical, 16 usually works well, 40 does not. I saw one comment on the Facebook page 'another gathering of the 50psi club'.
There is another clip of a guy idling through on no revs, he gets out and walks alongside. Momentum helps but no need to charge.
I have crossed the Simpson and it is not much different, I used 18 psi for most of that. Once onto Fraser you can drive the beach at 80kph (speed limit) and that will heat soft tyres hence the reluctance of some to deflate for such a short distance.
Mike.

Having driven it, you are correct. Common sense and low pressure. The ability to self recover should be a priority for anyone with a license. We had a heavy (dont ask) patrol no trailer and had no hassle. As stated slow and steady and don't flog your pride and joy/home/transport/investment in fun. The vids are a good reminder that some lack essential knowledge.

Just spent 10 days on Fraser a few weeks ago, Inskip Point like any sand driving is purely about tyre pressures....i have towed several different of our caravans and camper trailers through there over many years of visiting Fraser Island, and the only time I have gotten bogged at Inskip was several years ago because I had reinflated my tyres some on the island for the 2 weeks we were there, and then forgot to lower them again for getting off the barge to cross Inskip...i stopped before burying the vehicle, a quick deflation of tyres some more and a pair of Maxtrax under the rear wheels of the 4wd and out I drove.
Towing our current 17ft Jayce Expanda van through there I run 14psi rear and 12psi front tyre pressures on the Cruiser, van goes down to 12psi alround also....we time our run for 2 hours before lowtide usually, could probably do it at 16psi alround but i'd would rather reinflated the tyres a touch once on the hard sand around Hook Point, then spend an hour trying to get unbogged. Inskip itself was easy this year as the barge operators had watered the track for the school holiday crowds, but the immediate section you drove off of the barge onto Fraser was chewed up some and still very soft, made me glad I went that bit lower in pressure.

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Hi Stephen,

Fraser sand is much the same order as the Simpson. We take the Troopy at 18psi on both. However on Fraser we are a bit lighter.... with less food and water and no need for 270 litres of diesel.

Probably the worst part is at Inskip between the bitumen and the barge. Although we once traversed that in two-wheel drive as I forgot to lock the hubs, doh! But it was heavy going. Certainly, if you can get across that section, the rest of Fraser is no problem although Indian Head can be heavy-going sometimes.

Yes, I have seen that video (and others) and that can be a frequent scene at Inskip. I have helped a few across there and most were very reluctant to drop tyre pressure. I believe that they had not before heard of the concept.

I cut my teeth on Fraser in 1984 in a little Subaru pulling a camper trailer without getting bogged. But we did not tackle Indian Head then.

What can be more difficult these days on Fraser is the inland tracks. These tracks have been eroded allegedly by 4WD busses. Vehicles with lower clearance can get hung-up. Not an impassable problem with the Troopy but not very comfortable either. The problem has been exacerbated by several drought years where there has been little sustained heavy rain to wash the sand back into the eroded wheel ruts.

One zone that can present a problem is from where the barge arrives at Hook Point for about 10k up the beach. The beach is fairly narrow here and if the tide is up a bit you are forced to the soft part which is littered with flotsam. A few years back we were hastening off the island escaping an approaching cyclone and racing a rising tide. Roz was driving and as we came around the corner we were facing sand only about 5 metres wide and waves breaking against it. I yelled at Roz "don't stop, keep it moving" and like the trouper she is, she got us through OK, but my heart was in my mouth. So it may be wise to avoid cyclones and unusually high tides!

So, are you planning a Fraser trip? If so, we need to talk, right?

Hi Stephen,

I am one who has got bogged at Inskip Point. Coming from the Bitumen on to the sand, 76 Series Landcruiser towing a Kimberley Kamper, following another vehicle in deep ruts, he got stuck, and I could not climb out of the ruts to pass him, the draw bar dug in and acted like a plot bogging me down. My tyre pressures were too high at 22 psi, I deflated to 18, but still could not climb out of the ruts. A guy in a Hilux offered to help, he tried to pull me out but was bogging himself in. I ended up connecting my winch to his rear tow point & winched myself out of the ruts, once up on “virgin” sand, & at 18 psi, I had no further trouble.

Macca.

Watching the videos and reading the mostly sensible comments it appears no one carries a shovel.
Ross

we were there a few years ago But did not drive on that section of the beach .
just walking on it was thirsty work ...lol ))) I too have had many hours watching funny youtube moments from inskip . As mentioned the ruts are large & would be dragging on your everyday 4wd , aswel this is a very high traffic area inc towing & trucks recovering brake downs & a wide variety driving skill or lack of lol )) . we did drive on the beach just back up the road with no problems , no different to say Goolwa beach But inskip is a headland type beach as i remember & that might make it more difficult ?? great location .