Lived in southern Sydney for over 10 years so have driven that road many times & love it. We've done it with the van in tow & it was fine. We only have a 17ft van but we let the low gear do much of the work. Taking it slow I don't ride the breaks but instead just tap them firmly occasionally. We found & went on a few worse than that one on our travels around Aus.
Cheers
Jon
-- Edited by Hylda&Jon on Friday 30th of March 2012 02:06:53 PM
victon2 said
06:28 PM Mar 30, 2012
As a visitor to NSW from WA, I trusted my GPS to take me from Canberra to Shellharbour. It decided to take me on the Illawara Hwy, which includes Maquarie Pass. Since I am towing a 25ft Jayco van, I have to say this was one of the most frightening experiences I have ever had towing. I even managed to get the back brakes on the car smoking. Never again will I go anywhere near that road.
golivers travels said
06:34 PM Mar 30, 2012
Know what you mean Victon2, only we went the opposite way in torrential rain and hail. Very frightening.
Glenda
tezza said
07:10 PM Mar 30, 2012
Sorry you found it so daunting. We have been on it several times albiet our van is not 25'. I think it is a beautiful drive and with uhf on correct channell one can let trucks know where you are and hear where they are. it all works quite well and adds to the experience.
victon2 said
08:34 PM Mar 30, 2012
Tezza, I have no doubt it is beautiful, and I did not get much chance to see it, but with 3 tonne on the back, it is an experience I can well do without
ozjohn said
08:54 PM Mar 30, 2012
A really lovely drive without a van.
OJ
victon2 said
09:19 PM Mar 30, 2012
The original observation was that the road is both treacherous and extremely scary. especially going downhill I was not asking for a lesson in how to tow the van. It was already in low gear, but with 3 tonne pushing you, an occaisional tap on the brakes does nothing. take it from me. I can imagine going down the hill with a 17 footer would be significantly easier. I have no desire to take our lives in our hands just to say we travelled down it. Needless to say we will be finding a better route out when we leave Shellharbour
milo said
11:20 PM Mar 30, 2012
thats one thing i hate with gps units , sometimes they take you where you really dont want to go..
wendyv said
12:01 AM Mar 31, 2012
Can relate to your experience, Victon. Our van is much smaller and lighter than yours, but we are always wary of steep downhill sections, after a couple of hairy experiences in our early days of towing. The Great Dividing Range runs the length of the east coast of Australia, and routes up and down it are not always caravan friendly, as you found. Rather than rely on the GPS in those parts, might be better to post on this and van forum, asking advice re possible routes. There are some that are easier. Another way in which the GPS can bring vanners undone is taking them on dirt roads when they don't have dirt road vans. Hope the trip back is less stressful!
Gerty Dancer said
12:32 AM Mar 31, 2012
OMG! That is a tricky road, we'd never take a van on it. Its beautiful for the passenger, but the driver has to deal with steep narrow and winding road with log-trucks on it! I havent got the map in front of me but from Canberra to Nowra via Sassafrass and Braidwood is ok, nearly all sealed nowadays and not as steep.
We found a beautiful road from Tenterfield which went through Legume then through Tooloom NP over the mountain to Urbenville on a very narrow and rough road, with steep grades. As the passenger I loved it but poor Mr D was concentrating on the road so missed the beauitiful views. He took it slowly, low gear got some use, and all well at the bottom of the hill.
jimricho said
01:39 AM Mar 31, 2012
I guess there's a lesson here for us all... Do our homework and don't rely on GPS solely.
Hylda&Jon said
02:13 AM Mar 31, 2012
victon2 wrote:
The original observation was that the road is both treacherous and extremely scary. especially going downhill I was not asking for a lesson in how to tow the van. It was already in low gear, but with 3 tonne pushing you, an occaisional tap on the brakes does nothing. take it from me. I can imagine going down the hill with a 17 footer would be significantly easier. I have no desire to take our lives in our hands just to say we travelled down it. Needless to say we will be finding a better route out when we leave Shellharbour
Sorry mate I didn't write it as a comment on your method, I was just saying how I myself take roads like that. I do realise it's more difficult with a heavier rig & I may have thought twice about it in your situation also.
Take care
Jon
neilnruth said
06:42 AM Mar 31, 2012
If you are heading north, Mt Ousley would be the best way out of Shellharbour - not Bulli. If you are heading south, you can cross the Great Divide at Clyde Mountain (long and a good climb with some 25km bends) or go further south and cross at Brown Mtn north of Bega. It's steep but a lot shorter. We will be heading over 'the Clyde' to Canberra tomorrow - unfortunately they say there are 10 lots of roadworks on that trip at the moment.
victon2 said
12:24 AM Apr 1, 2012
Thats OK Jon, I have been told Mt Ousley is the best route out. Do you think that is correct.
victon2 said
12:27 AM Apr 1, 2012
Thanks guys, the general concensus seems to be Mt Ousley is the best way out. Fingers and toes crossed.
Cheers
Tony
victon2 said
12:32 AM Apr 1, 2012
Isn't that the truth. I asked mine to take me from Geelong to Frankston in Victoria, but avoiding toll roads. It did that OK, and proceeded to take me through the centre of Melbourne, past Flinders St Station, past Crown Casino, and through Toorak, again with the 25 ft van in tow.I have to say after this second mistake it made, I am close to throwing it out of the window.
Cheers
Tony
wendyv said
01:24 AM Apr 1, 2012
Tony, if you ever are doing Geelong to Frankston again, consider taking the Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry. It costs (may be cheaper first trip early in the morning), but so worth it to avoid the city traffic.
jimricho said
01:44 AM Apr 1, 2012
victon2 wrote:
Isn't that the truth. I asked mine to take me from Geelong to Frankston in Victoria, but avoiding toll roads. It did that OK, and proceeded to take me through the centre of Melbourne, past Flinders St Station, past Crown Casino, and through Toorak, again with the 25 ft van in tow.I have to say after this second mistake it made, I am close to throwing it out of the window.
Cheers
Tony
All that to save a few dollars in tolls! was it really worth it?
neilnruth said
02:04 AM Apr 1, 2012
I need to update the Brown Mountain route. Due to rains and landslides, Brown Mountain has been closed for 3 weeks and not ready to be opened yet.
Ron and Shirley said
03:22 AM Apr 1, 2012
Victon2 Your tales of experience with a GPS Navigator say more about you than the device. Blindly following these devices can lead to grief particularly if you are towing.
Always check the route they predict against a map and learn how to alter the route the GPS Navigator suggests. Thankfully the device did not take you down Montague Street in Melbourne or else you possibly would have got the top of your van wiped off by the bridge.
I am puzzled as to why it took you through the centre of Melbourne CBD as there are ways that bypass the CBD, which BTW are well sign posted and the GPS would have "recalulated" if you had followed the signs.
Agree with Jim, the Melbourne Tollway cost about $10 for a day (signs say how to get a day pass), less grief unless the Tunnel causes you stress, quiker as more direct, and you would have used much less fuel.
victon2 said
04:02 AM Apr 1, 2012
The reason you buy the GPS units in the first place is to guide you through towns and cities you are not a native of, or unfamiliar with. I am sure there are many many different routes through Melbourne if you know the city and are even born and bred there. If you have to check on a map every route the thing gives you, then why have it in the first place. I take the point, that a daily toll would work better, but coming from WA where there are no tolls, I am not used to allowing for that.
Gerty Dancer said
03:40 PM Apr 1, 2012
We have been caught with a GPS taking us through a city off toll-ways and through heavy traffic. We called ourselves all sorts of names like "stupid", but we really were just GPS Newbies... we check on new maps nowadays unless its just looking for a place in a country town.
golivers travels said
05:16 PM Apr 1, 2012
Our GPS has an option to use toll roads or not. Tend not use the unit very much, usually prepare route with ipad maps prior to going, suppose it is just a bigger verson of a GPS
Glenda
Geoff n Jen said
05:18 PM Apr 1, 2012
milo wrote:
thats one thing i hate with gps units , sometimes they take you where you really dont want to go..
yep like Bulli pass in the rain - Very pretty - not too dangerous but unexpected
Patto44 said
11:48 PM Apr 1, 2012
Do large trucks/semi's still use Macquarie Pass. I have seen them turn off the Hume onto the Illawarra Hwy but not sure if they go all the way down.
Cheers
Patto
jimricho said
01:19 AM Apr 2, 2012
victon2 wrote:
Isn't that the truth. I asked mine to take me from Geelong to Frankston in Victoria, but avoiding toll roads. It did that OK, and proceeded to take me through the centre of Melbourne, past Flinders St Station, past Crown Casino, and through Toorak, again with the 25 ft van in tow.I have to say after this second mistake it made, I am close to throwing it out of the window.
Cheers
Tony
I think in your case throwing it away would be a good idea. You obviously have unrealistic expectations of it. You said you wanted to avoid toll roads through Melbourne and that's what it did.
As for Macquarie Pass, (and Melbourne) it's not a bloody mind reader, it doesn't know you're towing a 25 foot van!
Hylda&Jon said
02:00 AM Apr 2, 2012
victon2 wrote:
Thats OK Jon, I have been told Mt Ousley is the best route out. Do you think that is correct.
Much safer route, pity it's not as pituresque.
My memory of the whole area is slowely fading with age. I moved away from the south side of Sydney over 30 yeaars ago so have only travelled that way a couple of times since. Love that new coast road in the pic down that way though
I will go on record today as this being my last response on this forum. I am totally sick and tired of raising a subject for general but hopefully helpful discussion, only to have a tirade of smart arse comments directed back. You people should get a bloody life.
Happywanderer said
02:27 AM Apr 2, 2012
Could see that coming a mile off. Some people just don't know when to shut up.
Hylda&Jon said
02:40 AM Apr 2, 2012
victon2 wrote:
I will go on record today as this being my last response on this forum. I am totally sick and tired of raising a subject for general but hopefully helpful discussion, only to have a tirade of smart arse comments directed back. You people should get a bloody life.
On most forums there is often one or 2 that tend to say things in a way that tends to grate on some peoples nerves just as it is so in real life but, as in real life, maybe we have to learn to tolerate or overlook the comments I guess, otherwise we could all become hermits.
Lived in southern Sydney for over 10 years so have driven that road many times & love it. We've done it with the van in tow & it was fine. We only have a 17ft van but we let the low gear do much of the work. Taking it slow I don't ride the breaks but instead just tap them firmly occasionally. We found & went on a few worse than that one on our travels around Aus.
Cheers
Jon
-- Edited by Hylda&Jon on Friday 30th of March 2012 02:06:53 PM
As a visitor to NSW from WA, I trusted my GPS to take me from Canberra to Shellharbour. It decided to take me on the Illawara Hwy, which includes Maquarie Pass. Since I am towing a 25ft Jayco van, I have to say this was one of the most frightening experiences I have ever had towing. I even managed to get the back brakes on the car smoking. Never again will I go anywhere near that road.
Tezza, I have no doubt it is beautiful, and I did not get much chance to see it, but with 3 tonne on the back, it is an experience I can well do without
A really lovely drive without a van.
OJ
The original observation was that the road is both treacherous and extremely scary. especially going downhill I was not asking for a lesson in how to tow the van. It was already in low gear, but with 3 tonne pushing you, an occaisional tap on the brakes does nothing. take it from me. I can imagine going down the hill with a 17 footer would be significantly easier. I have no desire to take our lives in our hands just to say we travelled down it. Needless to say we will be finding a better route out when we leave Shellharbour
The Great Dividing Range runs the length of the east coast of Australia, and routes up and down it are not always caravan friendly, as you found. Rather than rely on the GPS in those parts, might be better to post on this and van forum, asking advice re possible routes. There are some that are easier.
Another way in which the GPS can bring vanners undone is taking them on dirt roads when they don't have dirt road vans.
Hope the trip back is less stressful!
OMG! That is a tricky road, we'd never take a van on it. Its beautiful for the passenger, but the driver has to deal with steep narrow and winding road with log-trucks on it!
I havent got the map in front of me but from Canberra to Nowra via Sassafrass and Braidwood is ok, nearly all sealed nowadays and not as steep.
We found a beautiful road from Tenterfield which went through Legume then through Tooloom NP over the mountain to Urbenville on a very narrow and rough road, with steep grades. As the passenger I loved it but poor Mr D was concentrating on the road so missed the beauitiful views. He took it slowly, low gear got some use, and all well at the bottom of the hill.
Sorry mate I didn't write it as a comment on your method, I was just saying how I myself take roads like that. I do realise it's more difficult with a heavier rig & I may have thought twice about it in your situation also.
Take care
Jon
Thats OK Jon, I have been told Mt Ousley is the best route out. Do you think that is correct.
Thanks guys, the general concensus seems to be Mt Ousley is the best way out. Fingers and toes crossed.
Cheers
Tony
Isn't that the truth. I asked mine to take me from Geelong to Frankston in Victoria, but avoiding toll roads. It did that OK, and proceeded to take me through the centre of Melbourne, past Flinders St Station, past Crown Casino, and through Toorak, again with the 25 ft van in tow.I have to say after this second mistake it made, I am close to throwing it out of the window.
Cheers
Tony
if you ever are doing Geelong to Frankston again, consider taking the Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry. It costs (may be cheaper first trip early in the morning), but so worth it to avoid the city traffic.
All that to save a few dollars in tolls! was it really worth it?
Victon2
Your tales of experience with a GPS Navigator say more about you than the device.
Blindly following these devices can lead to grief particularly if you are towing.
Always check the route they predict against a map and learn how to alter the route the GPS Navigator suggests.
Thankfully the device did not take you down Montague Street in Melbourne or else you possibly would have got the top of your van wiped off by the bridge.
I am puzzled as to why it took you through the centre of Melbourne CBD as there are ways that bypass the CBD, which BTW are well sign posted and the GPS would have "recalulated" if you had followed the signs.
Agree with Jim, the Melbourne Tollway cost about $10 for a day (signs say how to get a day pass), less grief unless the Tunnel causes you stress, quiker as more direct, and you would have used much less fuel.
The reason you buy the GPS units in the first place is to guide you through towns and cities you are not a native of, or unfamiliar with. I am sure there are many many different routes through Melbourne if you know the city and are even born and bred there. If you have to check on a map every route the thing gives you, then why have it in the first place. I take the point, that a daily toll would work better, but coming from WA where there are no tolls, I am not used to allowing for that.
yep like Bulli pass in the rain - Very pretty - not too dangerous but unexpected
Do large trucks/semi's still use Macquarie Pass. I have seen them turn off the Hume onto the Illawarra Hwy but not sure if they go all the way down.
Cheers
Patto
I think in your case throwing it away would be a good idea. You obviously have unrealistic expectations of it. You said you wanted to avoid toll roads through Melbourne and that's what it did.
As for Macquarie Pass, (and Melbourne) it's not a bloody mind reader, it doesn't know you're towing a 25 foot van!
Much safer route, pity it's not as pituresque.
My memory of the whole area is slowely fading with age. I moved away from the south side of Sydney over 30 yeaars ago so have only travelled that way a couple of times since. Love that new coast road in the pic down that way though
Cheers
Jon
I will go on record today as this being my last response on this forum. I am totally sick and tired of raising a subject for general but hopefully helpful discussion, only to have a tirade of smart arse comments directed back. You people should get a bloody life.
On most forums there is often one or 2 that tend to say things in a way that tends to grate on some peoples nerves just as it is so in real life but, as in real life, maybe we have to learn to tolerate or overlook the comments I guess, otherwise we could all become hermits.
Cheers
Jon