The 25th Toyota Fraser Island Fishing Expo is sold out, months in advance. 1500 keen fishermen and women are preparing for what is sure to be a very big week of fishing and 4wding.

On this page you'll find a few handy tips and a bit of advice that even the most seasoned 4wder should find informative.

Beach driving can, and should be a fantastic and unique experience, some basic preparation will help you to enjoy your time on the sand.

Before you leave home.

Give your Toyota a thorough once over (some competitors only engage 4wd for 1 week a year). Make sure that all your regular mainteance is up to date.

Get your recovery gear out and have a good look at it. An old, worn strap, or shackles that have been abused are a disaster waiting to happen. Snatch straps are cheap, if in doubt (remember that a snatch strap is only good for 10 recoveries before losing its efficiency, that means that you need to work the strap harder, which is what leads to strap failure). replace it with a new one and get rid of the old one, seriously cut the ends off or throw it away.

If your kit does not include MAXTRAX, it should. MAXTRAX allow you to recover yourself, with no chance of broken recovery gear, no having to wait for help, and you don't have to leave your Fishing Expo Experience at the whim of 'the first bloke to come along'.

Check out your recovery points. Some vehicles do not have adequate recovery points, and many aftermarket fitters remove them (for some reason). Your rated recovery point will be stamped, and it will be secured directly to the chassis with rated, high tensile bolts. If there is any indication of wear, or corrosion, the $30 and half hour of your time to replace them should be considered an investment.

NEVER put a strap or chain over your towball, they are not made for recovery loads, they can and have come adrift with devasting results. Use a billet hitch, these care for your straps, are easy to use and are an altogether better option.

When you get to the barge.

Adjust your tyre pressures, there is no right or wrong pressure, every car, load, trailer and tyre construction is different. However two things are known.

1. Lowering your tyre pressure WILL increase the length (not the width) of your footprint or 'contact patch', this WILL make it easier for you to traverse sand.

2. Lowering your tyre pressure WILL adversely affect your 4wd's handling, sharp cornering and braking can see your tyre's bead 'break' and your tyre and rim part company.

Your 4wd WILL travel better, without wheelspin, with the appropriate tyre pressure. Your tyre manufacturer might be able to offer you some specific guidelines. Of course, you need a compressor if you are going to play with tyre pressure.

On the Island.

Know the tides, only travel within 2 hours of low tide, and try to travel near the water's edge. Leave the top of the beach for parked cars, families and resting shorebirds.

Take your time: Not everyone is on a mission like you. You've come to one of the world's most spectacular locations, slow down and enjoy it.

If you are towing:

Contrary to popular belief, speed is not your friend in soft sand. Correct gear choice is more important than speed. Be in an appropriate rev-range to maximise your torque, this will allow you to drive 'through' soft patches without travelling so fast as to make your vehicle unstable.

When you get to Indian Head:

Get out of the car and have a look. Watch a few others go through and see where it is soft. As dramatic as the famous three car hookups and big runups look and sound, they are not neccesarily any more successful than a well prepared and planned crossing with one, appropriate car.

Don't launch your vehicle at the crossing, if there is a lip of sand (like the usually is) launching at this will only see you get airborne, this will induce wheelspin and see you bogging yourself when you come back to ground. Again, approach with torque available, not speed.

Have a great week. We look forward to seeing you there. (and I'll be there, with a comfy chair, at Indian Head).