Hi, We are fairly new to caravanning, however, planning trip from WA to Qld Feb - April 2022, can anyone please advise if there are any online maps which show either roads suitable or unsuitable for towing a caravan? Any help much appreciated. Pep
I use the Bonzle.com.au website to get information on road surface, gradients etc but we all make different decisions with the same information. Whether a road is suitable for a particular style of travel or not is highly subjective and will vary with tow vehicle, van type, experience and even time of year. So unless a road is distinctly marked as not suitable for caravans then I doubt any app or website will make a judgement call. Seek out information on local road conditions, look at State-based road conditions reports, download Wikicamps and read reviews for tips on access to sites and if course ask about rhe route that interests you on forum like this.
I should add, I've had to change plans dramatically when an April late season cyclone closed roads from Qld into NT. Always think about backup options.
I agree with dabbler. - there is no universal answer.
I have Igo mapping software for Android which is very good in most regards, I also have the additional "Truck" package and am still wondering why I bought it as I have yet to discover what it does!?
There are a few roads here in Victoria over which *no way* would I tow a caravan yet all my navigation programme say that I can.
This site, and Wiki Camps comments, are good sources for such information.
-- Edited by Mike Harding on Sunday 26th of December 2021 06:30:15 PM
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
I should also mention the Android off-line mapping software Osmand, this uses Open Street Maps and provides information regarding road surface type and incline. There is a free version or for a few dollars a paid one.
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"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
I am not into using software so much, but I do sometimes check route/road surface using Google Maps Street View. Many roads have been run over by the Street View cameras. If you are from WA, you probably should know that there are some few bumps in the roads around the Great Dividing Range towards the east of Australia
Dabbler, thanks for the tip on Bonzle. Looks like it could be quite useful. I have sat nav in the Ranger, so no need for navigation, and probably would not use a phone app. But the Google Play pages for Magic Earth and Osmand are bookmarked so I can check them out later.
Road conditions are all relative to experience and expectations
Last week I spoke with a bloke who had a brand new 4x4 and van.
He mentioned in passing geez that road in is rough
I was puzzled and asked which roadhe was talking about
He said the dirt road to the camp ground.
He also said that he was from Melbourne and had never been on a dirt road before.
The road was a bit corrugated but very good. Its going to be a long 2 year road trip for him
Yesterday, my sister drove us to an attraction on Kangaroo Is. Before the trip, she contacted the NPWS who advised that it was a dirt road with some tricky sections, so she sat on 20 kmh all the way!
I drove the return trip back at 90 kmh
She lives in Sydney and had never been on a dirt road before
Its all relative
