Tanami in a Jayco 'Offroad' Camper trailer?

Conditions along the Tanami vary from as smooth as a baby's bottom through to impassible and as rough as...
People will tell you it's a piece of cake...if the grader has been on it then it is. But if it's had water or heavy traffic on it (and you can almost bet on that one), than toss a coin ...or take a longet but smoother route.

It is 2000 kms of mostly corrugations and the damage is cumulative. I would not recommend taking the risk with your rig and a young family. If something goes wrong, it could cost you many thousands of dollars to have your rig recovered.

Check out thread 65571. Lots of information there (even if it did get a bit contentious in places).

Friends went through last month for the third time with their heavy duty off road van, and said

"Yesterday I read back over my diary from the last trip along the Tanami Track and I said in it that we could not imagine doing this track again yet here we are just two years down the track and on it yet again. I know why we said we did not think we would be doing it again, it has not changed from the last time, and it is still soooo bloody rough. It is a shocker. (Husband) got under the car and the (caravan) this morning to check nothing had shaken loose and all is well. So that is a real bonus. It is a wonder anything is still joined together."

(Names removed to respect their privacy)


Motherhen

As said by the experienced people above - the Tanami is variable, all depends on graders v's traffic and rain. The Tanami use to be one of those iconic tracks which it was nice to have "done". Don't think that applies any more; much of the time it's simply a couple of thousand km of corrugations (worse on the WA end), and seemingly endless low scrub. An experience, yes, but not one to recommend. Suggest ask this question closer to departure time, and expect to use the bitumen alternative.

Cheers

John

I really had no idea what it might be like.

Thankyou very much for the helpful info!

Gidday

I’d be having a real think about taking that sort of camper trailer along the Tanami during the period you’re talking about.

Grading is usually done when there’s a bit of moisture in the ground, so I reckon you’ll cop a rough trip in March/April.

On the positive side, the fly's will be down right friendly.

Regards

Kim

Well although everyone says it can't be done, we have done it several times in the mid and late 90's with an off road eagle. We were living on the Tanami road at the time and towed the Jayco out there, down to Alice, back to Billiluna via Mulan and around Lake Gregory and all over the area. The only damage was a couple of broken cupboard hinges and I left the table set up once and the leg wore a hole in the vinyl floor covering. The tow vehicle, Rodeo dual cab. had its canopy rear glass smashed by rebounding rocks and that was it.
The rules are, It is not what you tow that matters, it is how you tow that matters. Also what is rough for some is nothing for others. Driving the tanami is a doodle most of the time. Drive it in the Wet season rains at night then it is fun and it is about 1000 kms with about 130ish single bitumen. The road is generally better on the NT side, better maintained for mines etc, and the majority of the road is NT.
If I was you, would I do it? Yes but with the ability to get myself out of trouble if it happens and we should all do that wherever we go.

Its all to do with speed.If its rough and corrigated, go slow to reduce any possible damage.
We will be coming back along the Tanami in August(3rd trip along it) as I really thing the highway is so boring and take rough off road tracks every time.First trip took three days, it was very bad and corrigated so we went slow- no damage.Next time we did it in a day and a half, very good with only a couple of rough spots, again no damage.
I carnt say if your van would make it but driven to the right conditions it should.

We travelled the Tanami in early April in 07 towing a C/t & had no trouble at all.
Sure it can be corrugated in parts & the last 50k on the WA side was 30kph
stuff. Getting up to date info can be difficult & it may well be closed that early
in the season. No one in Alice was very helpful so ring the TilmouthWell Road
House before you leave. There seems to be a trend on the forum to advise
against the Tanami but I still believe it is an iconic journey, an excellent short cut, & ,if done slowly you will not find it difficult. In 07 it could have been done
in any 2wd sedan. Ensure you have adequate fuel & take your time & you will
find it a rewarding experience. We first travelled it in 1990 & it wasnt much
different in 07. By the way, it is not 2000k, more like 1100, & can be easily
done with one overnight camp......oldbaz.

We went up the Tanami towing an offroad trailer at the beginning of last month (April). The NT side is better than the WA side and the WA side prob was rougher towards the end. Some sections were being worked on ie graded and a new bridge constructed but in all you could tow your camper if you drive to the conditions. I don't know that I would risk the damage on that sort of camper personally but generally I thought the road was a lot better than I was expecting.

Leroy

I don't know how relevant the following info is as it was in 2000 that I worked in Kununnurra as a mechanic. Maybe the road has been sealed since then.

A customer had bought an " OFF Road" CT especially made in Adelaide for off road conditions. When he finally arrived in Kununurra both shock absorbers had been destroyed and the mount on the left side was broken.
The road at that time was atrocious and he was lucky to get there without breaking a spring.

As for thoughts/ suggestions, as one reply states sometimes the slower pace means a quicker result with less expense and trouble.