G'day all,we currently own a 21 Nova Pride on road caravan and tow it with a 2005 Hyundai Terracan CRDI.We are planning to head off through the "Snowies" in March or April 2018 and trace the Murray from the start to the finish and was wondering if any of you readers have taken a van of our size down through Jindabyne, Khancoban and Corryong, we have travelled down many mountains before on our travels and are prepared for many hills and slow going, any tips and advice from travellers that have done it before would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Patrick
PeterD said
02:13 PM Nov 13, 2017
If you mean over Dead Horse Gap to Tom Gropggin, It's doable for competent drivers. Three of us took vans ranging from 18' to 22' down there a few years ago and found no difficulties. You will no doubt get a few come on the thread warning you of the no caravans or trailers signs left there from the days the roads were narrower and gravel surfaced.
There are entry fees to the park but if you are traveling through there is no cost. You tell the rangers at the entry gates that you are passing through. They give you a 2 hour pass to travel through.
marineman said
12:45 PM Nov 15, 2017
yeah,that's what I thought,
we were going to come home that way last year through Corryong on our last trip down that way,
but my mrs saw the signs and was worried that the road is not good enough for a large van like ours.Thanks for your input and I will certainly have no hesitation going down that way when we head off in April or May next year.Cheers Patrick
Kebbin said
03:23 PM Nov 15, 2017
A friend had a Nova Pride it was a heavy van towed with a Landcruiser, I don't see how you could tow it legally with a Terracan.
Thanks Possum for coming to my aid,I have been on this site for a few years and never bothered being involved with what is said on here,but I make an exception in this case. Perhaps Kebbin you should not only read what is written, but take a moment to digest what you have just read,the van that you have referred to is an off-road van and as I said in my original letter my van is an on-road van (and has an ATM of 2511 kgs ) I have owned my vehicle for about 8 years and we are on our 5th van, we have travelled to all states ( with the exception of W.A. & the N.T. ) I am sorry that I do not posses the computer skills to post a picture of the manufacturers plate with the van weights and specs to show you. ( I think that I may have just discovered how to do this ) thanks all for your help and I wish that your travels are all downhill with a gentle zephyr at your backs and your liquid refreshments are always cold,happy trails.Cheers Patrick
Patrick, I used to own a 2006 Hyundai Terracan 2.9ltr Diesel Auto and started out towing my van with ATM 2450Kg back in 2009 - full-time traveller.
The Terracan has a maximum towing capacity of 2,500Kg ... and while it towed that van excellently and never caused me a problem, after six months on the road, the stated maximum ball load of 200Kg caused me to think and worry so I decided to put the rig over the scales. The van came in at 2,600Kg and put 265Kg onto the ball. Thankfully, the manufacturer agreed to provide an updated compliance plate with an ATM of 2,700Kg - making the van legal.
Consequently, I traded up to my current vehicle to cope both legally and safety-wise with the weight.
These are the specifications for the Terracan -
I understand you have enjoyed the Terracan for eight happy years but the plated ATM of 2,511Kg of the van you are now going to pull exceeds the towing capacity of the Terracan.
The Terracan is a very good vehicle, I bought mine new and did 72,000Km of absolutely trouble-free motoring. I hated trading it. However, I suggest you put your van over the scales and confirm what it actually weighs. Unfortunately, most vans, when loaded for travelling, all full of gas, water, your stuff etc etc, very often exceed the plated ATM. This is usually because the beginning TARE weight is understated by the manufacturer, they then add the usual 400Kg payload and OOPS - over it all goes.
You may simply ignore my comments and information. However, should you meet the authorities with scales, you will be illegal and will not be able to proceed without shedding some weight ... and attracting a contribution to the government of the day.
Apart from the legality, it is not completely safe towing a van with the same or similar weight as the tow vehicle.
Sorry to interrupt your post about the Murray River journey ... but it is information you need to be aware of and to do something about.
cheers - and happy and safe travelling - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 16th of November 2017 12:11:13 PM
G'day all,we currently own a 21 Nova Pride on road caravan and tow it with a 2005 Hyundai Terracan CRDI.We are planning to head off through the "Snowies" in March or April 2018 and trace the Murray from the start to the finish and was wondering if any of you readers have taken a van of our size down through Jindabyne, Khancoban and Corryong, we have travelled down many mountains before on our travels and are prepared for many hills and slow going, any tips and advice from travellers that have done it before would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Patrick
There are entry fees to the park but if you are traveling through there is no cost. You tell the rangers at the entry gates that you are passing through. They give you a 2 hour pass to travel through.
we were going to come home that way last year through Corryong on our last trip down that way,
but my mrs saw the signs and was worried that the road is not good enough for a large van like ours.Thanks for your input and I will certainly have no hesitation going down that way when we head off in April or May next year.Cheers Patrick
www.caravancampingsales.com.au/buy/private/SSE-AD-4397992/2011-nova-pride/?
cr=0&category=caravans&psq=%28%28%28%28SaleStatus%3D%5BFor%20Sale%5D%26%28%28%28%28SiloType%3D%5BDealer%20Used%5D%7CSiloType%3D%5BDealer%20New%5D%29%7CSiloType%3D%5BPrivate%20Used%5D%29%7CSiloType%3D%5BDealer%20Near%20New%5D%29%7CSiloType%3D%5BFor%20Auction%5D%29%29%26Service%3D%5BCaravancampingsales%5D%29%26Service%21%3D%5BShowroom%5D%29%26%28Make%3D%5BNova%5D%26Model%3D%5BPride%5D%29%29&pso=0&pss=Premium
Thanks Possum for coming to my aid,I have been on this site for a few years and never bothered being involved with what is said on here,but I make an exception in this case. Perhaps Kebbin you should not only read what is written, but take a moment to digest what you have just read,the van that you have referred to is an off-road van and as I said in my original letter my van is an on-road van (and has an ATM of 2511 kgs ) I have owned my vehicle for about 8 years and we are on our 5th van, we have travelled to all states ( with the exception of W.A. & the N.T. ) I am sorry that I do not posses the computer skills to post a picture of the manufacturers plate with the van weights and specs to show you. ( I think that I may have just discovered how to do this ) thanks all for your help and I wish that your travels are all downhill with a gentle zephyr at your backs and your liquid refreshments are always cold,happy trails.Cheers Patrick
Gday...
Patrick, I used to own a 2006 Hyundai Terracan 2.9ltr Diesel Auto and started out towing my van with ATM 2450Kg back in 2009 - full-time traveller.
The Terracan has a maximum towing capacity of 2,500Kg ... and while it towed that van excellently and never caused me a problem, after six months on the road, the stated maximum ball load of 200Kg caused me to think and worry so I decided to put the rig over the scales. The van came in at 2,600Kg and put 265Kg onto the ball. Thankfully, the manufacturer agreed to provide an updated compliance plate with an ATM of 2,700Kg - making the van legal.
Consequently, I traded up to my current vehicle to cope both legally and safety-wise with the weight.
These are the specifications for the Terracan -
I understand you have enjoyed the Terracan for eight happy years but the plated ATM of 2,511Kg of the van you are now going to pull exceeds the towing capacity of the Terracan.
The Terracan is a very good vehicle, I bought mine new and did 72,000Km of absolutely trouble-free motoring. I hated trading it. However, I suggest you put your van over the scales and confirm what it actually weighs. Unfortunately, most vans, when loaded for travelling, all full of gas, water, your stuff etc etc, very often exceed the plated ATM. This is usually because the beginning TARE weight is understated by the manufacturer, they then add the usual 400Kg payload and OOPS - over it all goes.
You may simply ignore my comments and information. However, should you meet the authorities with scales, you will be illegal and will not be able to proceed without shedding some weight ... and attracting a contribution to the government of the day.
Apart from the legality, it is not completely safe towing a van with the same or similar weight as the tow vehicle.
Sorry to interrupt your post about the Murray River journey ... but it is information you need to be aware of and to do something about.
cheers - and happy and safe travelling - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 16th of November 2017 12:11:13 PM