Which One First?

[fatty boy Member Find all posts View Profile Close fatty boy]

I am going to the beach for the first time ever in my first 4x4 . With my tight budget, which would be the first/best accessory should I get? Compressor (~310) or MaxTrax (260/300)?
IMO, with maxtrax, I think I'm gonna need roof bar/rack ($$), which I will have to get them at a later date*, in addition to maxtrax. Whereas, with compressor, I can just put it at the back, or get it installed properly in the engine bay (again $$ ).

ATM, my list is -
Road Runner Recovery point
ARB Compressor CMK12
BlackVue 500G (Not really a 4x4 related, but when I go off road, I'd like to have memories )

[Guest Close Guest]

Depends where the beach is. If a petrol station is nearby, you can pump up there. The maxtrax will at least get you off the beach. Also, the Maxtrax fits crossways behind the 3rd row seats. Not necessary to carry it on the roof until you save up the $$$. Tyre deflators are also very useful.

[Guest Close Guest]

Buy once, buy right = save money

[fatty boy Member Find all posts View Profile Close fatty boy]

Depends where the beach is. If a petrol station is nearby, you can pump up there. The maxtrax will at least get you off the beach. Also, the Maxtrax fits crossways behind the 3rd row seats. Not necessary to carry it on the roof until you save up the $$$. Tyre deflators are also very useful.

Thanks AMTS. It would be stockton beach, NSW. Being a shorty, space is premium than others unfortunately . So, most of the stuff needs to be on top rather than inside the car . I will check it out nearby service stations the pumps.

..
Defiantly tyre deflator but same again you can get a cheapo that does the job and upgrade later.

Thanks for the advice for deflater. Definitely getting it.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Buy once, buy right = save money

Yep, totally agree. We're talking about a leisure pastime, if you can't afford the gear you need then wait a while, put the money you save from not going driving towards the equipment and you will be in front in the long run.

Cheers Andrew

[mackayvx Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close mackayvx]

Sunscreen is always at the top of my list when I hit the beach!!
Nah seriously those maxtrax are the way to go.
You can even use them as a shovel or a bat or a big orange thing that will get peoples attention!!
My favorite thing do do with my Maxtrax is lying on them to sunbake cos you get a deep tissue massage at the same time!!

.... Whilst wearing my mankini....

Actually whilst sunbaking on my maxtrax in my mankini this afternoon I had a great idea.
I would like invent a Smarttrax or Maxbar... Its a smartbar & maxtrax combo...
You can have your plastic bullbar with the added feature of snap off / snap on recovery devices!!!
Bloody win win. Im off to the patent office!!!

[Guest Close Guest]

Have they opened Stockton Beach? Thought it was closed due to the recent storms.

I know there is a petrol station near the entry at the northern end. It gets popular with those without air compressors.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Fatty boy there is a servo at Anna bay end of Stockton and then there is one also very close Lavis Lane end. So air either end won't be a problem. If you have to drop down pressures lower then normal then you will just have to take it easy to the servo. I run 18 psi sometimes 15 on Stockton and have then just driven to the servo either end and never had any issues I just keep the speed down to about 50/60 k that's all for the short distance. Think that's the speed limit now anyway at Anna bay end. I'd be buying a decent gauge first for when you let them down (don't try an guess the pressure) and if space is premium buy one of those shovels that fold in half, not as good as a long handled shovel but will get out of trouble. Cheers Steve

[JerraD4D Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close JerraD4D]

Having lived through buying inferior stuff and then simply spending more as the budget allows, I'd save your $$$ mate until you can spend with confidence. A long handled shovel, a good tyre deflator and an idea where the nearest servo is would probably suffice! You can get fold-type shovel similiar to an Army entrenching tool, and they are OK if you're short on space. Don't buy inferior - I had a cheap compressor and it was not much other than a money waster. Cheers Nick

[karlmagoo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close karlmagoo]

Agree with some of the other posters here, usually a servo close enough to get away without a compressor, and matrax really are just a dressed up version of a shovel and a bunch of spinifex/dried grass/sticks, people have been un-bogging vehicles for as long as they have been making them without job-specific tools and tricks, save ya coin and buy quality the 1st time, rather than cheap a few times, and just make do in the meantime, Ive only had my prado 2 mths and am on a strict budget as well, 1st thing I,ll purchase in the luxury dept though, will be the Air compressor.



cheers

[stevep84 Find all posts View Profile Close stevep84]

I agree with the save and buy quality.
If you're only going out on Stockton you can get away with out both. Worst case scenario you get stuck and have to ask for help.
You're only allowed on the beach front now and from what I have found it's pretty hard to get stuck there.
The other guys are right with the servo at Anna Bay and there is 2 at Lavis Lane and I think the new McDonalds has air as well.

[Octane94 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Octane94]

Have they opened Stockton Beach? Thought it was closed due to the recent storms.

I know there is a petrol station near the entry at the northern end. It gets popular with those without air compressors.

stockton just has some dunes closed and no camping at the moment,

those servo compressors are about 10 psi out, they get thrown all around the place and are very inaccurate.

which is why i got a compressor

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I bought a compressor the same as this one except for the gold colored caps off the same seller :-

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Monst...item3a7f899b48

Works OK but as expected is a bit slow and does get quite hot, for the price though (~$80 PP at the time) I'm not complaining. I haven't quite figured out how the twist gauge/pressure control valve thingy out the side of the hose is meant to work, it wasn't covered in the destructions, I just adjust it till I get a good flow rate. The blow mold case for mine had a crack in it and the seller sent me another so I have spare, will just use the cracked one till it falls apart. I wouldn't put too much faith in the on hose gauge, I'm pretty sure it's out so make sure you have an accurate one on hand.

[Guest Close Guest]

Agree with some of the other posters here, usually a servo close enough to get away without a compressor, and matrax really are just a dressed up version of a shovel and a bunch of spinifex/dried grass/sticks, people have been un-bogging vehicles for as long as they have been making them without job-specific tools and tricks, save ya coin and buy quality the 1st time, rather than cheap a few times, and just make do in the meantime, Ive only had my prado 2 mths and am on a strict budget as well, 1st thing I,ll purchase in the luxury dept though, will be the Air compressor.



cheers

You can make do with a shovel and sticks but shovelling is hard work and so is tramping around in the hot fluffy sand looking for sticks and leaves.

When I got stuck in the dunes in Stockton, the vegetation was a fair way away. A local tour operator drove up, saw I had Maxtrax and gave a quick tip. Then proceeded to give me his brochure and asked me to call him if I get stuck again and he'll get me out for $300.

So Maxtrax first for me and use the servo's air. Even if it is 10psi out, it is still better than driving around at 15psi. A $5 air pressure gauge would solve that issue.

20% sale coming up. Also those $99 ebay compressors are pretty good. Not as fast as ARB's but it's not a race. I find them to be quick enough. And they all get hot just like the ARB. Wear gloves when uncoupling the hose.

[gympiebrowns Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gympiebrowns]

Thanks for the advice for deflater. Definitely getting it.[/QUOTE]

if you have a mate you can go halves in the deflators 2 each is enough.....