Hi, looking at travelling between Tenterfield to Casino towing a 25ft 5th wheeler, just wondering what the road is like? Made a big mistake a while back and went up the Moonbi Moonbi range from Tamworth and really struggled and almost overheated. Would the road from Glen Innes to Grafton be more suitable? Thanks
I would suggest there are three reasons that you had problems with your tug. If your rig is within its weight limits and being driven correctly, it should not overheat on any of the main highway gradients in Australia. I suggest there is one or two of the following reasons it tendered to overheat.
One is you are overloading it, weigh your van and the complete combination as they were when you travelled the range to check for overweight. Overloading your tug will do that.
Two, your driving technique, did you just leave the gearbox selector in drive, or did you select a lower gear to keep your motor revving at over 3000 RPM? When you are ascending a hill and the motor is running at around 2500 RPM or less, your torque converter will be working (sometimes referred to as slipping.) At lower engine speeds when the torque converter is working, both the motor and torque converter will be producing excessive heat. Select a lower gear and allow your motor to spin at 3 to 4,000 RPM. Motors are designed to run up to their maximum rated power revs for a reasonable time (i.e. the time to climb any of our hills in Oz.) Just because you are running your motor at high revs does not mean the tug is struggling, it just means you are giving it a lot of work to do. On excessively hot days this driving technique may not be enough to prevent overheating, you may have to slow down a bit more and select an even lower gear. If your vehicle is in good condition and you are not overloaded, it is poor driving techniques that cause overheating. You do not have to meet a timetable, slow down a bit and select a lower gear. I always consider the vehicle is not struggling unless you are in your lowest gear and it looks like you will not be able to breast the hill.
Three, is your tug is in poor condition. If it is, get it serviced.
I don't see any of the other roads from the coast to the New England highlands as being any easier on your rig than Moonbi Moonbi Range. I just think you are expecting too much from your rig. Not every tow vehicle is capable of breasting all the hills in high gear when working at its maximum capacity, just use the correct driving technique and do not let it struggle. Slow down when ascending or descending hills and enjoy the trip.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
Hi Circlek. I have travelled the road from Tenterfield to Casino, which is the Bruxner Highway and it's quite okay, especially the direction you are going. From Casino to Tenterfield there is one long pull up over the Richmond Ranges just before Drake but besides that it is really just a bit up and down and a bit bendy in parts. As you are travelling from Tenterfield to Casino this will not present any problem to you as it will be a steepish descent instead of a climb for a kilometre or two only.
The road has a few places where you can pull over to let traffic past and there is also plenty of overtaking opportunities for the others to pass. It's good bitumen all the way and just drive steadily and you will be fine.
The best crossing is by far the Golden Highway to Hexham. There are a few hills up in the Hunter Valley but nothing challenging. The Gwydir from Glen Innis to Grafton is good. Like the Bruxner, you are coming from a tableland and descending the Range. Coming from the eastern direction is where the climb is greater. The Oxley Highway from Wauchope to the New England Highway is closed for specific hours during week days as they work on a land slip repair. This road is narrow and windy after leaving Wauchope for about 50 kilometres and would be my last choice.
You will have no troubles with the Bruxner. There is a good coffee and sandwich stop at Drake opposite the pub right on the main road. There is nice scenery and it is not a really busy road. Hope that helps. Enjoy your trip.
