For caravanners heading to FNQ

Hi all,

We've recently returned from the Far North (well the Atherton Tablelands at least), towing our 'van via the Kennedy Hwy and the Gregory Developmental Road through Ravenshoe, Mt Garnet and The Lynd Junction to Charters Towers. We haven't been on this road for about four years and I'd forgotten how much of it is still single-width bitumen.

A new complication is that this road is now heavily used by Road Trains - triple trailer ore carriers. Soon after Mt Garnet we started seeing these small black-on-white signs at many of the creek crossings, saying "CALL POINT". After passing the first few Road Trains we asked a driver about the signs. They are points where the Road Train and other heavy vehicles drivers call on UHF 40 to let drivers from the other direction know what's approaching, e.g. "Road Train, northbound at Clarke River", etc.

At the suggestion of the truckie, we started announcing our presence at each call point, "Caravan, southbound, Gray Creek" for example. On at least one occasion this helped us and an oncoming Road Train driver avoid meeting on a blind crest.

Regardless of this system, we ALWAYS get right of the bitumen to allow Road Trains to pass if there's time and space. Call them on UHF 40 as soon as you see them and say something like "Truck northbound, we'll get right off the road and let you have the tar". If space is limited (like a guide post coming up) we stop completely but usually we just trickle along in first until the truck has passed and we can climb back up the (usually very rough) shoulder onto the bitumen again.

We've never had a bad response doing this. Very occasionally we get no response but usually we get a courteous reply, thanks and even sometimes a compliment!

It's far better for your vehicle, your shiny caravan or camper trailer and your safety for you to get right off the tar rather than try to assert your "rights" and make the Road Train drop their left wheels onto the dirt. If you insist on keeping onto "your" side of the bitumen, at the very best you'll get showered in dust and stones and at worst you might get the side taken off your 'van by a swinging last trailer!

This stopping and restarting might add 15 or 20 minutes to a six hour drive but you and your rig will arrive in better condition and it will be appreciated by these guys/girls who are working hard out there while you're on holidays.

Ian