Cape York in September
Submitted: Monday, Jul 22, 2002 at 00:00
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wendy
We are heading up
Cape York in Sept and then on a 14 week trip across the gulf, NT and Alice. We have done some extended travelling but would like to know what recovery gear is essential and what is not. There seems to be more opinions and personal preferences than actual facts for this trip. We are 2 adults and 2 children in a diesel patrol. We will be spending approx. 3 weeks on the Cape. Thanks.
Reply By: Gordon - Wednesday, Jul 24, 2002 at 00:00
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2002 at 00:00
Wendy
Your decison on
what to take will depend on (i) how much spare time you have, (ii) the difficulty of the terrain, (iii) whether you are travelling alone or with another vehicle, (iv) how much money you can afford to spend, and (v) how much space you have to carry the gear.
It is very bad form to rely on others (outside the group you are travelling with). You can probably get away with it in the short term. However, if enough people take this attitude then the generosity of others will be sorely tested. I have met a number of regular outback travellers have helped so many underprepared travellers that they now think twice before even stopping. I agree that one of the nice things about the outback is that the aussie spirit prevails. To keep it that way:
"Carry enough gearto demonstrate to others that you were not expecting any help. Then when you need help you will be likely to get it."
My wife and I enjoy travelling with others but are set up to travel alone.
Tyres are number one priority. You must carry enough tyre cases for the trip you are doing. In bad conditions or if you have a trailer then you need an extra case. (I carry 1 on the rim and 2 off). In addition you need tubes and patches and all the gear for changing / inflating. Also learn how to conserve your tyres in different types of terrain. Use tyres that are easily obtained during your trip if needed.
A snatchem strap is a must always.
If travelling alone you must carry a winch of some sort and enough cable / extension straps / tree protectors to reach
well beyond the impassable ground you might be bogged in. This gear should include load rated shackles, a decent size shovel, an axe and possibly snatch blocks (depending on your winch's rating relative to your vehicle mass). If in a group then one set of this gear is enough. I also carry 3 m of load rated chain.
Communications and spare food / water are also important if you can't recover yourself and are
well off the beaten track.
Also take common spare parts for your vehicle (think about the essential rubber and electrical items) , a tool kit and repair manual.
Most of our recovery gear and spares is secretted in nooks and crannies (behind the lining around the wheel arches. Its amazing how little space it takes up. If money is the problem then try the second hand market and use manual rather than electric winch / compressor. Good luck.
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Follow Up By: Beddo - Wednesday, Jul 24, 2002 at 00:00
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2002 at 00:00
Hi
Gordon,
Sorry to imply or encourage people to rely on the generosity of others, I meant to show that if push came to shove, someone would come along within a few hours. When travelling alone we prepare the vehicle with sufficient recovery gear, but when unsure of a crossing or section common sense says wait at least for some form of backup. It's not as if you would be stranded for a week before seeing someone else at the cape, as can happen in
places like
Tibooburra far west NSW( where I lived for 3years and not to stop for someone, if they needed help or not, was a sin) Not knowing the area I too appreciate the advice on what is necessary to take. And with some upto date knowledge on present conditions we can pack the car accordingly, avoiding unecessary equipment for this time of year. For example the things to take for Far west NSW and
corner country are drastically different from summer conditions versus winter conditions.
Beddo
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Reply By: Hilly - Wednesday, Jul 24, 2002 at 00:00
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2002 at 00:00
Wendy,
My family of 5 did the Cape last September using the telegraph road up and back to avoid the cursed corrugations that plague the bypass roads. We encountered 2 hire vehicles with
young german tourists, (travelling separate of each other) who didn't even have a shovel for digging an ablution hole off the track! They were counting on the generousity of others and used it as did I when we couldn't climb up out of Palm creek on the return trip. We were winched up by a good Samaritan. I had to spend a few hours digging out of an embarassing bog just north of Gunshot as
well. (Don't know why I left the tow bar on when we left the van at
Mossman. DOH!!) There was only one deep water crossing of any real concern and that was at Cyprus Creek where the water was over the bonnet during the crossing. I didn't like the look of the log
bridge at this site. The crossing before it,
Cannibal Creek, was quite rocky but no real drama as long as you walk it first. If you have a bit of 4WD experience under your belt then I don't think that the main Cape route will give you any trouble at all. Unfortunately time didn't allow us 3 weeks up there and we met plenty of travellers who had destroyed tyres because they had the time to visit the more remote areas of Captain Billy's landing and the Iron Range area so if they are on your intended route then be warned, we met one convoy of 4 vehicles that were down to one decent spare casing between them by the time they got back out to
Laura. You will have a ball I know that much and allow a couple of days just to enjoy
Twin falls and
Fruit Bat falls.
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