The roads to Lakeland or Cooktown are excellent I have just towed our van over them but there is no way I would attempt to tow any Caravan up to the top and I have been towing vans for over 30 years both on bitumen and some fairly rough dirt/mud roads.
Suggest considering leaving the van at Lakeland and either tent or accommodation which is available on the way.
-- Edited by aussietraveller on Thursday 12th of July 2012 05:10:39 PM
gt1234 said
10:30 PM Jul 12, 2012
gday all this is my first time on this siteand i am in need of some guidance i am at the stage of planing our first trip as caravanners we havent travelled much but are hanging out to start i will try to outline our thoughts and would be grateful of any comments 1. our tow vechile is 09 hilux diesel so tow cap 2250 2.are starting out down south [gippsland] and would seek to go to the cape and continue on if alls well taking 3 to 4 months so stops might be4/5 days 3. with some limited research and being my first stop i looked at kimberley karavans eco suite 100k +does one need to spend that figure we dont plan on full offroad but dont want to be limited to the bitcumen is there other products we shoud resource 3. is there any reading material etc for advise on times to go /routes etc many thanks and regards
Roving-Dutchy said
11:25 PM Jul 12, 2012
Hi Welcome to Grey Nomads You say you want to go to the cape but don't want to go full off road, to me that doesn't compute, have I misunderstood you, as what you propose would seem to be a very serious undertaking for someone who is just starting out caravanning. Cheers David
thanks for the replys aithough we havent towed vans i have some knowledge of the bush etc and done a fair amount of towing large items this is the type of info i am after as i may have underestimated the condition of the roads etc nth of cairnes thanks and regards
Cruising Granny said
06:19 AM Jul 13, 2012
Ditto! What Aussie traveller said. Having said that, I did meet a bloke from Vic in the Cairns van park who was washing down his standard Jayco van after completing the whole Cape trip with it. He started out inexperienced, but was much wiser as he washed that van. He got away with minimal damage, but admits he wouldn't do it again. Even camper trailers can sustain damage on those roads and river crossings. Not for the inexperienced. Apart from that, welcome to the Grey Nomads. I hope you enjoy your stay.
glassies said
12:52 AM Jul 17, 2012
did the cape many years ago took a jayco camper with us ,boy the road was rough ,we used to do weipa every single year but one of the years we decided to take the jayco all the way to the top,it had rained and the road was soft in places a lot of people were bogged on the way up and back,we took our time and made it no hassles but it was stressful.
the road to weipa is now pretty good i am told but thats only what ive been told,it did get better every year and i havent been for 11 years now, so i am imagining surely its got better as the years go on ,i too agree leave the van at lakeland the road to there is sealed .
enjoy your trip and welcome to a fabulous forum full of fabulous people and lots of knowledge and some crazies too yes you heard WOMBAT lol.
Jack Mac said
01:19 AM Jul 17, 2012
gt1234 wrote:
gday all this is my first time on this siteand i am in need of some guidance i am at the stage of planing our first trip as caravanners we havent travelled much but are hanging out to start i will try to outline our thoughts and would be grateful of any comments 1. our tow vechile is 09 hilux diesel so tow cap 2250 2.are starting out down south [gippsland] and would seek to go to the cape and continue on if alls well taking 3 to 4 months so stops might be4/5 days 3. with some limited research and being my first stop i looked at kimberley karavans eco suite 100k +does one need to spend that figure we dont plan on full offroad but dont want to be limited to the bitcumen is there other products we shoud resource 3. is there any reading material etc for advise on times to go /routes etc many thanks and regards
Hi and welcome,
Not sure what your requirements are in a van but have just looked a a reasonably recent Caravan World magazine review of the Desert Sky, Desert Tracker offroad caravan.
It is not a large van i.e. no ensuite etc. but apparently is built for offroading. Tare - 1300kg, ATM - 1800kg
Welcome from us too gt1234. I'm sure you'll get lots of friendly advice.
gt1234 said
10:50 PM Jul 17, 2012
thanks for the replys i seem to have underestimated the size of task towing to the cape again thats the info i am chasing also any feedback on towing with a hilux would be appreciated again thanks and regards gt
Hi GT welcome to our forum
The roads to Lakeland or Cooktown are excellent I have just towed our van over them but there is no way I would attempt to tow any Caravan up to the top and I have been towing vans for over 30 years both on bitumen and some fairly rough dirt/mud roads.
Suggest considering leaving the van at Lakeland and either tent or accommodation which is available on the way.
-- Edited by aussietraveller on Thursday 12th of July 2012 05:10:39 PM
gday all this is my first time on this siteand i am in need of some guidance i am at the stage of planing our first trip as caravanners we havent travelled much but are hanging out to start i will try to outline our thoughts and would be grateful of any comments 1. our tow vechile is 09 hilux diesel so tow cap 2250 2.are starting out down south [gippsland] and would seek to go to the cape and continue on if alls well taking 3 to 4 months so stops might be4/5 days 3. with some limited research and being my first stop i looked at kimberley karavans eco suite 100k +does one need to spend that figure we dont plan on full offroad but dont want to be limited to the bitcumen is there other products we shoud resource 3. is there any reading material etc for advise on times to go /routes etc many thanks and regards
Welcome to Grey Nomads
You say you want to go to the cape but don't want to go full off road, to me that doesn't compute, have I misunderstood you, as what you propose would seem to be a very serious undertaking for someone who is just starting out caravanning.
Cheers
David
Re Cape York
Check out Cape York Forum for good information. http://www.capeyorkforums.com/forums/index.php?s=e76964a99aed74bfd75697d4fd35ef06
Also Ron and Viv Moon published a very good guide to Cape York.
http://www.guidebooks.com.au/cape.htm
thanks for the replys aithough we havent towed vans i have some knowledge of the bush etc and done a fair amount of towing large items this is the type of info i am after as i may have underestimated the condition of the roads etc nth of cairnes thanks and regards
Having said that, I did meet a bloke from Vic in the Cairns van park who was washing down his standard Jayco van after completing the whole Cape trip with it. He started out inexperienced, but was much wiser as he washed that van.
He got away with minimal damage, but admits he wouldn't do it again.
Even camper trailers can sustain damage on those roads and river crossings.
Not for the inexperienced.
Apart from that, welcome to the Grey Nomads. I hope you enjoy your stay.
but one of the years we decided to take the jayco all the way to the top,it had rained and the road was soft in places
a lot of people were bogged on the way up and back,we took our time and made it no hassles but it was stressful.
the road to weipa is now pretty good i am told but thats only what ive been told,it did get better every year and i havent
been for 11 years now, so i am imagining surely its got better as the years go on ,i too agree leave the van at lakeland
the road to there is sealed .
enjoy your trip and welcome to a fabulous forum full of fabulous people and lots of knowledge and some crazies too
yes you heard WOMBAT lol.
Hi and welcome,
Not sure what your requirements are in a van but have just looked a a reasonably recent Caravan World magazine review of the Desert Sky, Desert Tracker offroad caravan.
It is not a large van i.e. no ensuite etc. but apparently is built for offroading. Tare - 1300kg, ATM - 1800kg
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jack
Their web site is: www.desertsky.com.au
thanks for the replys i seem to have underestimated the size of task towing to the cape again thats the info i am chasing also any feedback on towing with a hilux would be appreciated again thanks and regards gt