Plenty/ Donahue Highway
Submitted: Sunday, Jul 09, 2006 at 11:12
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bassj
Planning a trip to Alice via the Plenty & Donahue Hwy's late September 06. My main concern is the stertch from Bouliea to Tobermorey as we are towing an on road 2004 Jayco Eagle camper. I have no concerns with our tow vehicle 05 Turbo Diesel Prado.
Do people regularly tow standard caravans and campers along this stretch?
I keep getting conflicting stories that it is fine just take it slow and other say make sure you take an extra few spare tyres.
Would appreciate any feedback from any one who has done this trip.
Reply By: Crackles - Sunday, Jul 09, 2006 at 13:02
Sunday, Jul 09, 2006 at 13:02
The section you are concerned about is a little rough in
places with some short bull dust holes. It's not particually rocky or corrugated. Road crews seem to be keeping up with the worst bits making the trip for a standard van possible. The advice you have been given is both correct, take it slow & take a 2nd spare tyre due to the distance between garages where you can get a flat fixed. On our trip last month we saw a couple of plain vans & several offroad vans on the plenty.
Cheers Craig........
HZJ105 Vic.
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Reply By: Member - Andy Q (VIC) - Sunday, Jul 09, 2006 at 13:43
Sunday, Jul 09, 2006 at 13:43
G'day bassj, we crossed the Plenty Hwy a few years back(04) in a '91 GQ towing a Jayco Dove. Yes there were a few spots that were soft sand and bull dust but nothing that was'nt negoitable with care. We saw a few others along the way, as has been said there is work being done to upgrade the road conditions.
I'm sure you'll find it no trouble, do take, as suggested an extra spare.
If you are self sufficient with your camper like us get off the road and
camp along the way.
Have fun
andy
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182546
Follow Up By: Rossh - Sunday, Jul 09, 2006 at 13:52
Sunday, Jul 09, 2006 at 13:52
I was there last month also and would agree that the road would not present any problems for the van. The section you are concerned about (Queensland side) has just been graded and was heaps better than the Plenty Hwy.
There is a great
camping spot on Kellys
Creek, you cross this approx 30k's from the border on the Donahue.
As far as the spare tyre issue--
well it's luck. We towed a 7x4 trailer heavily loaded with
camping gear through that area. We came via Alice, out through Arltunga and Claraville and hit the Plenty Hwy east of Gem Tree. We had aready covered the
Flinders Ranges ,
Oodnadatta Trk and went up to
Lawn Hill,
Bourke Town then back via dirt inland roads to Melb. Trip totalled appox 11000kls with about 3000 kls of the sort of out back dirt roads you are talking about. We had no tyre problems at all.
You can make your own luck when travelling to some extent by keeping the speed down. It gives you more time to see that bull dust hole or the wash-away and the whole trip is more relaxed.
If you want more info on the road let me know
Regards
Ross
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