After having a taste of the Oodnadatta track last year we have decided to do Savannah Way this winter.
Watched a video youtube "Trip in a van" towing a Jurgens van and got through with no problems. We are towing a 3.2 ton Nextgen with LC100, my only concern is the departure angle on river crossings as the plumbing is slung fairly low. The 2 crossings in the video look pretty tame so fingers crossed.
It seems the worst road is between Hells Gate and Borroloola.
Any comments welcome.
travelyounger said
10:34 AM Feb 17, 2021
Snippy wrote:
After having a taste of the Oodnadatta track last year we have decided to do Savannah Way this winter.
Watched a video youtube "Trip in a van" towing a Jurgens van and got through with no problems. We are towing a 3.2 ton Nextgen with LC100, my only concern is the departure angle on river crossings as the plumbing is slung fairly low. The 2 crossings in the video look pretty tame so fingers crossed.
It seems the worst road is between Hells Gate and Borroloola.
Any comments welcome.
Hi
I cant comment on the Hells Gate road but I have travelled the back road through lorrella springs and roper bar which is 400 km of slow going on corrugated road but well worth going that way
Theres a great camp area at tomato island plus many fishing camps but beware of wet weather as there are many small river crossings.If you go that way you will miss Daly Waters as you come out at Mataranka and I reckon The homestead and Bitter Springs should be on the bucket list.
Reduce your tyre pressures and drive to the conditions and dont forget to go to King Ash Bay by the river or there is a free camp out towards the opening of the river.
Cheers
elliemike said
11:20 AM Feb 17, 2021
The Hells gate Road I have done a couple of times, Also a few years ago now the Nathan River Rd, (Lorella Springs Road.)Last time on the Burketown to Borrolloola Although the road was Corrugated badly in sections, we had no problems.However we came across a boat trailer with a Broken Axle and a few large caravans limping along with problems evident.I looked at the boat trailer and thought it was not built for this type of road at all anyway.The first time we did this road it was a breeze. The last Trip, In Borroloola Caravan Parke Two Caravans came in on the backs of Trucks, both with broken suspensions. (But one of those happened on the Bitumen and it was an OFF ROAD caravan. The spring hanger had broken)The other was on the dirt and Spring broken. A few people there complaining of damage inside. Like furniture and cupboards coming apart.We still use the advise we were given by seasoned travellers in the 80's. Getting as much info as we can from people and other recent travellers, and locals is recommended. Weather forecasts and Preparation of the Vehicles never goes amiss .Batten down everything that can move and rattle inside all the cupboards, microwaves, ovens, cooktops, drawers,and storage containers.Also be prepared for things going wrong, and having the gear to fix or just get them going. And yes we have had our moments on these roads, you have to take them as you find them.It's a nice area up there/
Possum3 said
12:09 PM Feb 17, 2021
elliemike wrote: Also be prepared for things going wrong, and having the gear to fix or just get them going.
Always carry 50mm and 100mm Gaffa tape and a couple of meters of annealed fencing wire - I once actually used about 5 meters of the old abandoned overland telegraph wire to bodgey a leaf spring on an off-road trailer (not mine) - and a puncture repair kit with plenty of rubber adhesive.
Wanda said
12:56 PM Feb 17, 2021
We have done it 3 times over the last few years, twice with offroad caravan, although like all dirt roads it changes from season to season and depends on rainfall. Overall just drop tyre pressures(if badly corrigated) and slow down and you should be fine if doing it in the dry/winter season, none of the river crossings ever had any steep departure angles that would hinder almost any van, but, again this can change each season.
We have found the worst section on both occassions with the van was the last 100km out from Borroloola from Hells Gate, corrigations really bad and some of the worst we have experienced ever, just slow down and check tyre pressures(maybe even as low as 22-5 warm)
Hope this helps, the Savannah Way is not like it was 20yrs ago
cheers
Ian
Inland_Sailor said
01:16 PM Feb 17, 2021
It's wonderful country from Borroloola to Hells Gate or visa versa. We returned that way after a trip on the Gibb and rushed through. It was a big mistake. After the Gibb, this journey was a delight, because of the lack of traffic and the sense of "real" remoteness. We travelled the section in one day and saw only 5 vehicles, 3 of which were camping on the Calvert River. On reflection, we should have done the same there or elsewhere and enjoyed the solitude. As for difficulty, it's only the river crossings that might give you some trouble and the Calvert has had an upgrade, [https://fb.watch/3IdskztlA2/] and that was the most arkward!
It's wonderful country from Borroloola to Hells Gate or visa versa. We returned that way after a trip on the Gibb and rushed through. It was a big mistake. After the Gibb, this journey was a delight, because of the lack of traffic and the sense of "real" remoteness. We travelled the section in one day and saw only 5 vehicles, 3 of which were camping on the Calvert River. On reflection, we should have done the same there or elsewhere and enjoyed the solitude. As for difficulty, it's only the river crossings that might give you some trouble and the Calvert has had an upgrade, [https://fb.watch/3IdskztlA2/] and that was the most arkward!
Re Calvert River Crossing. Last time there we camped at the top, and were hearing some vehicle seeming to be having a time getting up the hill toward the campsite.
Went and had a look at two of them. There is a spring (at this time) that runs down the road to the crossing just a trickle. Along with the water coming off fording vehicles the hill was a bit slick.
Bigger rigs not choosing their path up correctly were losing traction and having to back down a bit then have another go.
After having a taste of the Oodnadatta track last year we have decided to do Savannah Way this winter.
Watched a video youtube "Trip in a van" towing a Jurgens van and got through with no problems. We are towing a 3.2 ton Nextgen with LC100, my only concern is the departure angle on river crossings as the plumbing is slung fairly low. The 2 crossings in the video look pretty tame so fingers crossed.
It seems the worst road is between Hells Gate and Borroloola.
Any comments welcome.
Hi
I cant comment on the Hells Gate road but I have travelled the back road through lorrella springs and roper bar which is 400 km of slow going on corrugated road but well worth going that way
Theres a great camp area at tomato island plus many fishing camps but beware of wet weather as there are many small river crossings.If you go that way you will miss Daly Waters as you come out at Mataranka and I reckon The homestead and Bitter Springs should be on the bucket list.
Reduce your tyre pressures and drive to the conditions and dont forget to go to King Ash Bay by the river or there is a free camp out towards the opening of the river.
Cheers
Always carry 50mm and 100mm Gaffa tape and a couple of meters of annealed fencing wire - I once actually used about 5 meters of the old abandoned overland telegraph wire to bodgey a leaf spring on an off-road trailer (not mine) - and a puncture repair kit with plenty of rubber adhesive.
We have found the worst section on both occassions with the van was the last 100km out from Borroloola from Hells Gate, corrigations really bad and some of the worst we have experienced ever, just slow down and check tyre pressures(maybe even as low as 22-5 warm)
Hope this helps, the Savannah Way is not like it was 20yrs ago
cheers
Ian
Just don't get there too early after the wet.
Cheers,
Peter
Re Calvert River Crossing. Last time there we camped at the top, and were hearing some vehicle seeming to be having a time getting up the hill toward the campsite.
Went and had a look at two of them. There is a spring (at this time) that runs down the road to the crossing just a trickle. Along with the water coming off fording vehicles the hill was a bit slick.
Bigger rigs not choosing their path up correctly were losing traction and having to back down a bit then have another go.