Drive your 4WD safely and responsibly ... where it belongs

Australians have an abiding obsession with SUVs and 4WDs — and Isuzu gets them to muddy those tyres safely and responsibly. We join a four-day sand and bush drive on Fraser Island.

Rolling along a sparkling white sand track, crystal clear lakes and rainforest trees fringing my path, I wonder why all off-roaders aren’t doing this. Other drivers are quick to criticise SUV and 4WD ute owners for clogging urban roads but such rugged, advanced and highly capable off-roaders shine in an environment like Fraser Island, the world’s biggest sand island.

According to Isuzu Ute, the majority of its Australian customers don’t take their vehicles off the blacktop, so the brand’s MU-X seven-seat SUV and D-Max ute get few chances to display their off-road talents.

Fraser Island rainforest: Isuzus old and new take part in the I-Venture expeditions.

Isuzu aims to change that with its I-Venture Club program, introduced in 2015 to help owners use their Isuzus in a safe, structured environment under expert instruction.

It’s not a club as such — there are no dull monthly meetings or annual fees — and the only stipulation is that you own an Isuzu. Like-minded 4WD-ers apply for an event, pay the fee and join others for a day or longer trips.

The 70 events held so far have tallied more than 1000 participants. Most are one-dayers to the likes of River Island in NSW, Moreton Island in Queensland or the Melbourne 4WD training ground, each costing $300.

I was on a big one — four days on Fraser Island with ferry crossings, accommodation, three meals a day, park passes, guides and tuition included for $2000. No small sum but it is solid value for a car plus two people.

Hervey Bay ferry: Four days of tuition and driving ahead.

Isuzu subsidises that as part of its customer engagement and brand building work. It must be working — even with just two models, Isuzu Ute is outselling Suzuki and could finish ahead of Audi and even BMW in the sales race by year’s end.

Our Fraser Island adventure starts with a ferry crossing from Hervey Bay with Isuzus old and new, the company vehicles bristling with off-road accessories. Soon we are at Kingfisher Bay Resort with its dedicated sand-driving area, an undulating off-road classroom.

I-Venture aims to give customers basic to intermediate off-road skills and, from that, the confidence to plan their own adventures. Instructors guide us through correct tyre pressures, how and when to smoothly select low range, sand driving techniques and avoiding getting bogged or damaging the car.

Even the seasoned types appreciate the advice and we’re soon ready for the rigours, setting off in convoy on day two.

Convoy: Driving on compacted tracks — with correct tyre pressures — is a breeze.

Two-way radios keep us informed, we stop at key beauty sites and the instructors serve as expert local guides.

There’s time to appreciate this stunning World Heritage site, spotting wildlife from the rainforest boardwalks and swimming in clear, warm Lake McKenzie.

On sand tracks compacted by recent rains, the driving is a breeze. The Isuzus don’t have the locking rear differentials of key rivals but the going is easy with the bulletproof, torquier (if a bit noisy at times) 3.0-litre turbo diesel.

The ute with its rear leaf springs jars over bigger bumps and tree roots but the MU-X’s coil springs are a more comfortable proposition.

At day’s end there is expert fishing tuition (not that it helped me) and shared yarns over a group meal.

The final day has incredible beach driving along golden 75 Mile Beach, a dingo encounter and a stop at the ghostly SS Maheno shipwreck from 1935.

Dingo encounter: On the world’s biggest sand island.

Given Australians’ abiding obsession with SUVs and 4WDs, Isuzu is giving more of them the means to muddy those tyres safely and responsibly.

Participant Andrew Joyce, a D-Max driver, came with I-Venture because he had long wanted to do Fraser’s combined track and beach drive. “It’s good training and you meet a lot of people with a similar mindset.”

Trevor and Alicia Deegan appreciated the instructors for honing their MU-X driving skills and bolstering confidence in themselves and their vehicle. “Fraser Island is beautiful and we’ll now be comfortable coming back ourselves,” Alicia says.

View www.iventureclub.com.au.