Tanami travel in August 07
Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 16:16
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Iansy
Iansy is wondering whether anyone has towed a 18 foot tandem caravan or similar across the Tanami. This will be our first trip and will be coming from
Halls Creek to
Alice Springs in August this year. We will be travelling with 2 other caravans that are tandem pop tops. We are usually conservative, will this be a foolhardy trek? I have read all items posted about the Tanami and realise it's corrugated etc. This will be a 2 to 3 day venture.
Reply By: Member - Willie , Epping .Syd. - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 16:23
Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 16:23
I went up there last year and the road was easilly good enough for caravans .
Willie .
AnswerID:
235550
Reply By: Willem - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 16:48
Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 16:48
Iansy
Yes.. Foolhardy inmy opinion.
Having towed of caravans all over this country I don't think it is a good idea to tow a standard caravan along the Tanami Road(Track).
The road conditions are variable and you may encounter corrugations for 800km of the 1000km of gravel road. Later in the tourist season the road will be severely chopped out by numerous tourimng vehicles and Mining Trucks.
I think that you will shake your van to pieces.
It s a different story if you are towing an Offroad Trailer or a robust camper trailer or Offroad Caravan such as a Bustracker or alike. They are built for roads such as the Tanami.
Be advised.
Cheers
AnswerID:
235554
Follow Up By: Hairy - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 17:55
Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 17:55
Im with Willem,
It is possible but chances of a breakdown a pretty good.
A breakdown out there can be very costly.
I wouldnt do it unless I was following the grader.
Good luck
Cheers
FollowupID:
496722
Reply By: ian - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 18:21
Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 18:21
Iansy,
Take the advice of the others and stick to the bitumen. Tanami canget very rough. Tyres,
suspension and the body of the van not made for what will happen. I expect it will ruin your trip.
Ian
AnswerID:
235576
Follow Up By: time waster - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 18:40
Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 18:40
We did it late in the season last year towing an off road jayco eagle camper and did it ok apart from breaking the shocker off the chassis and doing a tyre, we would not do it again as the corrugations at that time were never ending.
But on the way up we went on the Buchannan Hwy which was a great drive from Dunmara to
Timber creek.
FollowupID:
496734
Reply By: AdlelaideGeorge - Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 11:44
Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 at 11:44
I 'did' the Tanami in my Triton (not towing) about the same time of year from Alice to
Halls Creek and return. As I've written (many times) before here, on my return it rained fairly continuously for 2 days and the road became very close to impassable. I did have 139 Flying Doctor bush bashers and 1 road train to contend with but even without that damage, a car towing a caravan of any description would have been in very very serious trouble.
Just be prepared for the rain - and subsequent mud!
Happy days
George
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235880