Towing a caravan across the Tanami Road

If it's not an off road designed ....DON'T. There won't be much of it left time you get half way....unless you travel at around 20Kph Max.

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Carl


The Tanami road is an unsealed road with corregations.

If you took it slow you would make it without any problems. If you rushed the trip you would run a high risk of damaging you van.

Your fuel range whilst towing the van is another thing to consider.





Tjilpi

Hi Carl

We took our Bushtracker through the Tanami last year. The only other caravans we saw in the four days were one single axled Windsor (surprised to see that one bouncing along) and one Kedron Top Ender (fair enough).

We debated changing our plans when we heard a number of off road vans had come to grief in the weeks leading up to our trip. One couple rolled their BT while travelling slowly when they hit a patch of bull dust; their Kimberley holiday terminated before they got to there. (I've heard of a similar incident happening almost every year.) Broken springs seem a common occurrence. Cost of recovery is extreme if you need to get towed or trucked out.

Would i do it again? Yes, but only with a top of the off road market van. Will i do it again - no, because we have too many roads we haven't been on still to be travelled.

Motherhen

Hi Carl,

I wouldn't unless you know your van can take a pounding. The road can get pretty corrigated and destroy you van.Check out a picture of the time my mate and I went down the track with his camper. His was pretty heavy duty as well as he made it himself.

CheersImage Could Not Be Found

Carl
This is what corrugations did to my 2000 model "Outback" Jayco. I also had added a stronger suspension. It lasted 4 years. What you see in the 1st pic is the rear nearside of the camper looking from behind. I have other pics showing how the undercarriage was completely destroyed. Image Could Not Be Found I would be reluctant to take a Jayco anywhere near the Tanami.Image Could Not Be Found

teege

Carl, sorry to tell you this, but up that way there is a nick name for your brand and it is ..........
"JUNKO, open the door and sweep up the staples".

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

I think from the replies you get the idea !!!!!

You can do any road / track with any type of van / CT if you drive to the conditions.....but as some roads / tracks are very ordinary.....your speed may need to be very slow !!

You stated 90K's ???

Some of these tracks may need 40K's !!!!!....or less ??

The middle of Australia is an adventure.....not a test of man and machine ?? That was 80 yrs ago....

Carl,

A while ago Bushtracker ran an R&D trip across the Tanami. Now Bustrackers are pretty tough vans but they posted advice that it appearred that any maintenance had stopped and the corrugations were EXTREME - advised owners to give it a miss.

Draw your own conclusion and after the advise above I guess you should be prepared for a costly recovery. It will certainly be an adventure

B-T

Ok....ok I get the message.... thanks to everyone that has replied...looks like I'll give it a miss!!

Firstly Carl, welcome to the members lounge, I see it is your first day as a member (correct me if I am wrong).

It has been a looooong time since I did the Tanami so my info is way outdated and I would trust other responses so far.

Maybe try a few other not so isolated treks and sink your teeth into these to get a feel for your setup and start working out what you and your rig's capabilities are. Make sure you can do plenty of roadside repairs with necessary tools and spares before you start taking a van into remote areas. Once you have a thorough understanding of your van and what you need to do to "baby" it through particular conditions I would suggest pretty much all major dirt roads would be doable, Tanami included. Just don't do it before you are ready to fix the unexpected and you are confident in your van making it (experienced view here is critical).

Safe travels,
Trevor.

NOT suggesting that your Jayco is suitable, but the Gary Junction Road going west from Alice is probably (usually) a better road.
It certainly caries a lot less traffic, and that is what makes roads crook.
Pics on the link below for 2005 and 2008.

Cheers
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

Carl,
did the Tanami last September and my advise is dont tow a van along the Tanami it is far too rough, and once again a person asks a simple question and it degenerates into chest beating segment, have to wonder at the mindset of some people on this forum.

Carl,

As others have said. Did it in 07 with just the vehicle and it was rough. Decided on the long way round last year as we had a couple of campers and our shocks were already shot from the Mitchell Falls Road. Buchananan/Duncan through Top Springs wasn't a bad run but also might give the Jayco a bit of workout.
Suprised Willie hasn't commented on this one as I believe he also did it last year.

I have towed a Jayco up and down the tanami a few times and never had a problem except for smashing the back window on the canopy of the ute. Well actually two, but thats another humourous story. People will bag Jayco's like they do Nissans etc and people do stupid things on dirt roads or any roads for that matter. Anyway the simple rule is, It is not what you tow that matters, it is how you tow that matters.
We used to live out there so travelled the road umpteen times and apart from a few punctures never had an issue. Sure there are corrugations, and plenty of them, there severity varies due to traffic, grading, weather etc. Travelling speed also has an effect on the ride and it is a fine line between too slow and too fast. That point is even harder to find when towing. I remember traveeling from Billiluna to Halls Creek and we were towing another larger Van back in and the first 40kms, to the Carranya roadhouse, took us over 2 hours! After that we picked up the new graded line and picked up the pace.
It can be done but road conditions need to sourced from a reliable source a few days before embarking on the trip. The reliable source is the hard thing to find and what I think is OK may be horrendous to you and superb to someone else.
Anyway I have towed the Jaycos on worse tracks and roads than the Tanami and haven't swept any staples out yet. I have repaired a broken hinge and draw runner. Everytime I stop I check out the trailer and vehicle for any signs but so far all has been well. So I tow with a GU and tow a Jayco so I am doomed but will I perish in the outback? No because I have a bit of common sense and sometimes I even use it.

Anything is possible. I towed my offroad trailer across with my two teenage kids and wife. I had a canoe and four bikes and lots of gear... all this pulled by an 1800 Subaru '84 model.

The road was very rough. 1996.... The battery shook out of its bracket and caught on fire. A pin broke in a rear wishbone. I punctured three tyres, got bogged in a creek bed...

One of the best trips of my life.

Go slow, pick your path, take heaps of recovery gear and spares.... could work out okay!

Last July we did a Tanami crossing with a Jackeroo towing 80's Jayco camper and Defender trailing a 87 Hilite pop top.
Took 5 days with an r&r day at Rabbit flat and also a trip into Woolfe creek crater.
Don't know if the older equip was built stronger but we sustained little damage-
Frig door fell off in jayco-easily repaired
Wall mounted fire extinguisher fell off inthe van-just one of those cheapo ones attached by a couple of self tapper screws
The road is indeed a shocker and one must travel accordingly.
Over the whole trip we averaged 32kph so it was of necessity at times painfully slow.
Would I do it again?Probably not but it was a great adventureand one of life's memorable experiences!
Cheers,
Mary

We towed a tandem Jayco Outback Destiny the Tanimi from WA to Alice in July last year. It was rough and took us 4 days of solid driving. The worst of it was in Wa where there was not only corrugations but very large holes caused by trucks driving on it while it was wet. We hit one of these right on dusk about 12km short of the border as we couldn't see it in the shadows across the road. We couldn't get off the road as it was to steep for the van. Broke one of the leaves on the Patrol ute suspension but still managed to get it into Alice no worries. No damage to the Jayco at all. Wouldn't do it again as it was very rough and there are much better drives to do. We also did the Strezleckie, Oodnadatta and the Great Central. Already making plans to do the GCR again as it was superb. They're tougher than people think.
Geoff

Bloody long thread. Forget the roads buddy it's the kids that are tough on caravans and camper trailers. I notice Nobody mentioned tyre pressures ? We would often go a low as 22psi ( cold ) regardless of weight both for the car and the van our eagle out back has survived two complete laps and three kids not bad for 15k buy price. And we are off the the Cape in July just drive to the conditions sounds simple but it is easy to stuff up I know i have

Took a single axle Roadstar across about 8-9 years ago. No problems, though a Roadstar is much heavier than its equivalent Jayco.

I found the road O.K. to the Granites, from there to the border is was rough, and from the border to Hall's Creek it was bloody terrible.

I took it easy and did the trip in three days. No blowouts and I made sure that I dustproofed the van as well as I could.

Only problem my wife, by accident, let the fire extinguisher off. How she managed to do it is still beyond my comprehension.

Had no problem with fuel. Rabbit Flat was closed, but we filled up at Yuendamu, and chucked two jerries (40 litres) in at the WA Border.

If you want somewhere to camp at Halls Creek you might try Caroline Pool. It's on the way out to Old Halls Creek. Check with the coppers. We never stay in Halls Creek period.

There is some nice country out that way. Plenty of good campsites.

Oh, yes. I now own a Jayco too.