Cape York trip in a Lexus ???

dont they also have a soft roader....not having been to those places I have no idea if a soft roader would get there....but imagine the Lexus (100 series?) will

When I was up there in '06, we saw an older couple at Bramwell Roadhouse, towing a "lightweight van" behind a Mercedes ML320.
We had a bit of a chuckle at the thought of doing it in "that" vehicle.
They were on their way back down the Cape.
Mind you that was June '06, after the two cyclones earlier in the year. In June the roads had just been graded and in parts was better than driving around Sydney.
So the answer is yes it can be done, if you stick to the PDR. and the road to Weipa was like a highway. All depends om the road conditions at the time.

The Lexus may be a RX300 (soft roader) may struggle a bit more than a 100 series equivelant, but could do it in the right conditions.
There is someone else on here planning to do it this year in an X-Trail. Wouldn't be my first choice, but with care and preparation should be OK

Donks1

What Lexus is it.
I think the LX470 or LX570 is just a luxury version of the Landcruiser Sahara and would have similar capabilities.

Friends travelled the Bloomfield track about a month ago when there was a fair bit of water around.

They have one of those Lexus Hybrid cross over electric thingies, went through creeks with 600 or so mm, no problem.
He did comment that he wondered if he would get electrocuted lol.

The wider issue is that a lot of people think you need a rough as guts military/agricutural 4WD to go bush. It's simply not the case.

Many luxury 4WD are extraordinarily capable off road vehicles.
Range Rover, Porsche, Lexus, Discovery. Even so called soft roaders will surprise as to where they will go.
Mercedes Benz (they build the Unimog abd also own Styer-Puch)

Plenty of poeple did (me amonst them) go bush in 2WD Holdens etc and still do.

Message here is don't let perceptions spoil a good trip.

Hi Pedro, If they stay on the main road and there is little or no water in the fords they will have no problem at all. On the main road there a few concrete bottom forwards that may well be bone dry and there is a vehicle ferry on the Wenlock River. I think their biggest problem will be hoons in 4x4's with a tinnie on top (and probably towing a camper trailer) trying to break the sound barrier. These vehicles will be showering a heap of stones over other road users as they pass.

.

In times gone by, I drove a Range Rover and went many places that were "difficult" to say the least. Just take it easy and if in doubt walk the suspect stretch before takling it. If you feel you cannot make it go a different way.
Many the time people have asked me "How did you get here in that?"
ThiMk before you act.

As already mentioned....if it is a LX470 or LX570, it will go anywhere a stock LC100 or LC200 will go. I don't think I would do it in a Lexus RX330 though.

And incidentally, Range Rovers and Landrover Discos are every bit as capable off road..(without getting into the reliability debate), as any Landcruiser or Patrol.

Both Mike Smith and Roger Smith had a little bit of racing success in their respective Range Rovers, although they did take the carpets and stereo out.

I suspect their cars would get to tip and back OK. As you say it's a perception thing.

we were up there last year and we saw a ML320 and a Lexus both towing 20ft caravans, the roads were dry BUT shook the crap out of the our cars. The main road was very slow (40km/h) from Bramwell Station down was all good (80km/h), but that was last year. Would no doubt have to be the worst road I've ever driven on. I wouldn't even think about taking it on the Telegraph track unless you want some good scratches on it some of the river crossing are pretty chewed up now the easiest crossing we came across was the Gunshot the worst one was the first river crossing from Bramwell Station.

Misconception after misconception ,, you get it here and on other forums on a regular basis , ,,, "can a [ insert vehicle] go to the cape ect" ,,, YES of bl--dy course they can , No its not a four lane freeway but any mechanicaly sound vehicle be it a hard core 4x4 or a T-model ford can get to the " Tip" and to Weipa ,, 50% of local cars in Weipa and in Bamaga are what ?? Normal everyday vehicles !!! How did they get there ?? They were driven there !! Fair enough you would not want to take a non 4wheel drive on the OTL but for crying out loud there is no way that a Nissotoyo with a 6in lift and 37 in tires ect ect is a requirement to go to the Cape in the dry season.

Gidday

Thank you Axel for your wisdom.

Slightly OT but i was walking through the shopping centre car park the other day when a GYM was loading shopping and toddlers into her Lexus RX330. Just as i got there she pressed the button on the remote hatch closer and walked off to check her kids. Not having seen one working before I couldn't supress a laugh. She flashed me a Miss Universe smile and said "I just love it."


Cheers

Really the first question to answer is which Lexus. If it is the RX330 then its a possible but it will be a different vehicle by the time it gets back. As well it is not hard core but if you want to dirve the main roads then with decent tyres it will actually do it.

If it is the Lexus version of the LC200 then not a problem at all. Again with decent tyres that's really the only general requirement BUT and a big but is that as long as they stay on the main roads. If they want to go CREB track, gunshot etc then definitely a snorkel and diff breathers and a proper 4WD training course is a must.

We've got subaru's across the Simpson so with the right skills, preparation and leadership then it is not really an issue.

As you have stated there is a lot of fine tuning required and the devil is always in the detail

Regards

RobA

Many thanks to all for the responses ....lots of good info, generally ......

Have now discovered that said vehicle is a LEXUS Model 350 Sports 4WD !

Which still means nowt to me .... please advise ??

What can they do ....... or not do ??