caravaning the cape?

where do you live?

I havn't actually done the trip to Cape York, but have seen a video a a small Off Road Van that did. It came back in pieces. I have spoken to many travelers that have done that trek in 4X4's and they have all said the same, not good for Vans.
I've been Vanning around Australia for 6 years & run an outdoor website, my advice, "TENT IT", if your not 100% sure, make enquiries at the Cooktown Van Park or Tourist centre.
Regards,
George

Try to get a hold of a video made by Kedron caravans, where they took a largish van to the cape. They got there, van damaged a bit but they had a large support crew. I think you will find video is decisive as to whether or not you would try to take a van there. Actually it's a really entertaining video (my favourite off-road travel video) - any 4 wheeler would enjoy it regardless of whether or not they're into vanning. JD

if you want to do the OTL then leave it in Cairns not cooktown. You'll apreciate the extra freedom with not taking it.

Hi joshleahin,
Some interesting reading in posts 42637 and 42602 although i don't believe anybody has taken one of these vans right to the top.
Cheers Mark

Take your tent. As stated by others you will have more freedom that way and beyond doubt you will damage your van if you do take it up there. Camper trailers and boat trailers literally fall to bits on the roads up there. I took an Aussie Swag camper up yhere twice and on the second trip tore the Treg Hitch away from the "A" frame at Cockatoo Creek and had to jury rig it to get to Bamaga and have it repaired sufficiently to get it home. We are going back up in June for a couple of months and will be tenting it. That trip will be my sixth time up there. With the van you will only be able to travel up the development road and not get to see places such as Capt Billies Landing or Vyrlia point or do the Telegraph track and even have difficulty getting into places such as Elliot falls. The van Park at Mt carbine will store your van for you or you can leave it at the van park at Lakeland downs. The trip should be an enjoyable experience and not overshadowed by worrying about the van breaking.
travel safely and enjoy.

mate i have done the cape 2006 with a gu patrol and a kk kamper mariner with a boat on it
the geteway will get there and back ok unless your unlucky but forget the OTL old track with any sort of a van - leave the van and do the otl with the 4wd only i did most of it towing my kk but just bloody hard work - except maybe for the kimberley karavan which probably can do it
the deelopment road is a rough corrugated piece of crap road most of the time but you can travel n it at 80 kms or better in parts
dont take nay notice of anyone who has not been there- you will get there and you will get back but its a rough trip
see you greg

Hi joshleahin

If your mad keen on taking a van then do so but;

Not familiar with the van you refer to but if it's an off roading van in good condition, you stick to the bypass roads (ie miss out on the OTL), don't do any side trips except to Weipa, don't get any unseasonable weather, take it "very" easy (ie none of this "I'll go fast to get a smooth ride across the corragations" nonsense) you'll PROPBABLY make it in one piece. Last year we even saw an intact "normal" caravan make it up there. Don't know if it made the return trip intact though.

All that being said we reakon the people with the " normal" caravan, while nice people, were both insane and lucky. We've seen heaps of damaged trailers, camper trailers, and caravans up there. Personally we wouldn't take one. If nothing else they are too restrictive on where you can go. You'll miss out on the good bits and the real adventure.

Have fun whatever you decide.

Dodgin

we took off road camper up there last year. we went up the otl and back with no trouble.

Gaday Josh. Although Supreme talk of having "one of the toughest offroad vans produced in this country" I doubt if any of the models shown on their web page are suitable for towing to the top of the Cape. With it's independant coil suspension you could get it up the main development road to Bamaga but without a treg style tow hitch, it's long overall length, poor ramp over & departure angles it would restrict you on all other roads & tracks. You could get the van comfortably up to Weipa if you took it steady but personally to avoid damage & inconvenience I would leave it at Mareeba or Cooktown. You wouldn't be able to tow the van into some of the best spots on the Cape so better to tent it.
Cheers Craig............

Been to Cape last 2 years and I personally wouldnt take a van. Cant do O.T.L and some other places with a van. Development road to Wiepa and Bamamga should ( Note - SHOULD ) be alright, but you never know. Tough, harsh road. I bent my chassis first time and broke my hayman reece hitch off on the 2nd trip. Mid you I cant wait to see what happens this year!!!