monaro highway

Submitted: Thursday, Feb 24, 2005 at 22:26

ThreadID: 20751 Views:6447 Replies:4 FollowUps:10

This Thread has been Archived

sang

Hi all,
Has anyone travelled the full length of Monaro Highway between Cann River (Vic) annd Queanbeyan (NSW). I am towing a heavy caravan with a not so powerful car, is there any steep gradient I should be worry about.
Many thanks for any advice.
Sanga

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Member - Ivan (ACT) - Thursday, Feb 24, 2005 at 22:44

Thursday, Feb 24, 2005 at 22:44

Have done it, and the road has a couple of reasonable hills in it... Generally flat, but certainly not without a couple of decent climbs (though short)

AnswerID: 100011

Reply By: Patrol22 (Queanbeyan - Thursday, Feb 24, 2005 at 22:52

Thursday, Feb 24, 2005 at 22:52

Drove it just last Friday - road is generally good and the climbs are by and large long and steady with a few shorter and sharper hills. I don't know that I would be towing a heavy van with a light underpowered car anywhere but the stretch between Michaelago and Cooma is subject to some quite strong crosswinds - so if you do this be very very very careful.

AnswerID: 100015

Follow Up By: sang - Thursday, Feb 24, 2005 at 23:01

Thursday, Feb 24, 2005 at 23:01

Hi patrol22,
Thanks for the advice. I am towing a 22 ft van (2.5 tonnes) wuth a non-turbo 4.2 diesel troopy. Think I should be OK ??
I had tow this setup up Cunningham Gap near Brisbane 10 kilometers in 2nd gear, 40 kph.
Regards
Sanga

FollowupID: 358233

Follow Up By: Patrol22 (Queanbeyan - Thursday, Feb 24, 2005 at 23:05

Thursday, Feb 24, 2005 at 23:05

Sanga
You will have absolutely no problem with the troopy as the tow vehicle - it will just take a little longer. Besides the run from Cooma to Cann River is mostly downhill.
Enjoy the trip and it is quite scenic - from the undulating plains of the Monaro high plain to the semi rain forest of the Cann River.
Cheers
Pete

FollowupID: 358236

Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Thursday, Feb 24, 2005 at 23:33

Thursday, Feb 24, 2005 at 23:33

Have to laugh Patrol 22, " take a little longer" ,,,, the poor bloke could be retired, kids grown up left home by the time he gets there in a Non turbo Troopy. Maybe a whole new world awaits him when he gets home. Hope he lets us know the retirement villiage he settles on. LOL

Only kiddin'.. Michael

Patrol 4.2TDi 2003

Retired 2016 and now Out and About!

Somewhere you want to explore ? There is no time like the present.

Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 358244

Follow Up By: Member - Ivan (ACT) - Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 00:10

Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 00:10

Sanga,

If Cunninghams Gap was a 10 out of 10 for steepness, the Monaro would only be a 5.. Not even on the same scale

FollowupID: 358254

Follow Up By: sang - Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 00:13

Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 00:13

Hi Michael,
I have already grown old, all my kids left home and been on the road for the last 2 years. With this setup (Non turbo troopy towing a 22 ft van), I had done over 20,000 kms, north to Cooktown and south to Adelaide and probably everywhere in between. This year, I am planning north to Townsville, across to the center and Darwin. It's slow going sometime, but it always get me there. Also most of Oz is flat apart from the Dividing Range in the east.
Regards
Sanga

FollowupID: 358256

Follow Up By: Utemad - Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 00:28

Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 00:28

Cunningham's Gap is a killer. In my 2.6L Rodeo loaded to the gills with camping gear I have to do the very last uphill section in 3rd gear going West. I have heard of people doing the last section in low range when towing vans.

FollowupID: 358259

Follow Up By: sang - Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 00:41

Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 00:41

Hi Ivan,
Thanks for the info.
I'll be travelling from Cann River to Queanbeyan, so should be OK
Regards
Sanga

FollowupID: 358262

Reply By: fatz - Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 08:27

Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 08:27

Sang,
I have travelled this road on numerous occasions over the last 15 years in numerous different types of vehicles towing different loads. At one time I travelled it twice a week when there was still a dirt section. The only real steep section is near the genoa turnoff between Bombala and Cann river but you wont have a problem. it's just a long slow climb. Enjoy, the scenery is awesome down there.
Mick

AnswerID: 100057

Follow Up By: Member - Paul J (ACT) - Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 08:48

Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 08:48

Morning Mick, have you got your eye on a camper yet, since your mishap on the F3? Will be great to catch up with you guy's again, at Murray Sunset if you are going.

Cheers Paul..

FollowupID: 358274

Follow Up By: fatz - Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 08:59

Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 08:59

Hey Paul, got my eye on a couple of campers. Spoke to Tambo but I would have to wait untill August. Sounds like it might be worth it!! I'm going to look at another one this arvo. At this stage we are 95% for murray sunset so we'll see what happens.

Mick

FollowupID: 358275

Follow Up By: Member - Paul J (ACT) - Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 09:05

Friday, Feb 25, 2005 at 09:05

I just picked my Tambo Cooper up from Melb last Sunday, more than happy with it so far, Keith and Amanda are great to deal with, and like me and others have said, they are value for money. Anyway, 95% sounds like you will be there, catch up with you soon.

Cheers Paul..

FollowupID: 358276