Cape york in a Hilux

Submitted: Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 11:45

ThreadID: 81168 Views:10864 Replies:8 FollowUps:6

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Cape York

This is the true 4WD journey to the tip of Cape York following the Old Telegraph Track (OTT) and its many challenging river crossings.

Cape York

Section: Treks

This is the true 4WD journey to the tip of Cape York following the Old Telegraph Track (OTT) and its many challenging river crossings.

56kkv

HI
First timer and having trouble finding what I want in the forums.

I have decided this week I'd like to travel to Cape York {or there abouts} next year in July/August for a few weeks.

I have a 80 series petrol/gas and a Hilux 2000 3lt non turbo extra cab(work car). I intend to take the Hilux because it is diesel and it will be just myself and the 11yo lad.

Probably have a couple of other vehicles with me but I'm still in the very early planning stage at present.

My first question I need to find out is has anyone done the trip in the 2000 model Hilux with the 5l motor and what was your impression of the vehicles performance?

I know it lacks a bit in towing power and I have put on a set of extractors and a lager exhaust which was great improvement. But I'm still concerned about it's ability to handle the tracks up the Cape York area. I have a snorkel that I will be installing on the vehicle. Other then that it is pretty stock standard. I'm thinking taking a roof mounted Tinny with me.

I've considered a turbo but have not worried about it due to I have not really required it before and the motor has done about 270K (runs very well between 8 and 11 lt/100km). I have 235/75 R15 Michelin(new) at present but I have a good set of duellers 205 R16 that I can use.

Which leads to my second question

What Mods would you recommend to the vehicle including the suspension?

If you can help me out Thanks very much. I have a few other questions but I need to get the transport sorted first.

John

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Reply By: Patrol22 - Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 13:07

Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 13:07

John - your 'lux will eat the Cape York run in standard form except perhaps for the tyres. It would, however, benefit from a couple of inch lift and quality aftermarket shocks. If you are towing a set of poly (or other) air bags would also be an enhancement. I have an itinerary from my last trip up there that I can send you to help with your planning if you would like to post an email address.

Cheers
Pete

AnswerID: 429524

Follow Up By: StormyKnight - Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 21:14

Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 21:14

John you should have no difficulty...

I did the cape in '92 in a HJ60. Power would be similar to your hilux & to be honest you never need raw power at the cape. If anything the lower powered engine will help you a lot with fuel consumption.

You would be lucky to go any faster than 80km/h anyway due to the corrugations. We only exceeded that as we followed a grader out of Bamaga that must have left very early in the morning since we got 20km before we caught him up.

There was some sand around the ferry crossing at the Jardine & we also went onto punsand bay which for the last k or so was also sand. If you vehicle can operate in sand when loaded then that will be the biggest power requirement you will have. (other than dealing with overtaking on the bitumen... :)

Re your shocks we were warned that excessively strong shocks with the corrugations can infact break the shock mounts right off your car....(Re)Welding was a common activity once (if) you made it to Bamaga.

The key here is to not over pack. The more weight the more stress on your vehicle & the less comfortable it will be trying to drive it.

We didn't lift our car either & never thought we should have. It did have after market springs & shocks, but they just returned it to standard road height.

Cheers & enjoy - its a wonderful place

FollowupID: 700335

Follow Up By: 56kkv - Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 23:00

Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 23:00

Pete
The itinery sounds great email is mcjm@live.com.au
Thanks

FollowupID: 700349

Follow Up By: Patrol22 - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2010 at 20:45

Tuesday, Sep 07, 2010 at 20:45

John - I'm currently in Nowra for work and not back home until pm Friday - I will send the document to you then.

Cheers
Pete

FollowupID: 700402

Follow Up By: Patrol22 - Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 17:26

Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 17:26

John - I just emailed you the itinerary.

FollowupID: 700706

Reply By: Member - Geoff H (QLD) - Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 13:11

Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 13:11

Hi John,

We did the trip this year and saw 2wd cars on the road.

There was about 50k of rough corrugations and the rest was like a good gravel road.

We went up in a petrol/gas 1994 80 series wagon, so I imaging a 2000 model hilux would do it easily.

We only did a small part of the Old Telegraph Track but spoke to a few who did it and had no problems in standard vehicles apart from snorkels.

You might like to do the suspension if it's a bit sagged though.

Regards
Geoff

AnswerID: 429525

Follow Up By: Member - Geoff H (QLD) - Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 18:32

Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 18:32

All the vehicles in our crew had new or near new A/t tyres, ours were light truck, and none of us had a puncture, however we did take puncture repair kits just in case.

If you don't have new tyres think about taking an extra spare.

Regards
Geoff

FollowupID: 700312

Reply By: Member - Gavin W (QLD) - Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 14:43

Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 14:43

Hi John,

The roads should have been repaired enough after the wet to make it a reasonable trip.

Make sure you take a couple of spare tryes, tool kit and a trye plug kit.

As for suspension, you could probably put in new springs (leaf ot coil) and shocks. From past experiencewith friends, carrying a spare leaf spring is a great idea.

Gavin

AnswerID: 429528

Reply By: Member - peter f (VIC) - Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 15:28

Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 15:28

its unforntunate that due to the traffic increase over the years
it is no longer the big adventure it was in the 70.s and 80.s
still good though
mechpete

AnswerID: 429532

Follow Up By: Tonyfish#58 - Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 15:41

Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 15:41

All the side track (ie Iron Range) are also highways now - Not a lot of 4x4 work left on the Cape now.

Cheers Tony

FollowupID: 700295

Reply By: vk1dx - Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 17:36

Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 17:36

Still a couple of tracks left. Neither of which need anything more than lower air in the tyres and good shock absorbers. But if you are going to do the swamp loop through Running Creek it would be handy if at least one vehicle had a winch. Nothing challenging though. But a snorkel is a must for the creeks. And a diesel is the preferred one for the crossings as well. Petrol cars will get through but the diesel is more reliable through deep creeks.

Take an alarm clock for the major development roads. You will need it to keep awake. Even the Wakooka Track and the southern 30K of the Starcke Track are a dead loss now. Shame.

But I heard it may be worthwhile having a go at the track from Normanton through the Mitchell River crossing at Dunbar, Koolatah and Oriners and then up to Musgrave. A bunch we met at Palmer Roadhouse came through from there and had some interesting run through the wetter areas.

We were considering it but not enough time left. Next time.

We had a ball.

Each of our cars were pretty well self sufficient. Bit of an overkill but you should be fine.

Phil

AnswerID: 429538

Reply By: Kimba10 - Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 21:04

Monday, Sep 06, 2010 at 21:04

You will have no problems doing it in a hilux, my old 89 2.8D did it, only mods were snorkel and OME lift (leaf springs front and rear) yours is torshion front, leaf rear ?? Yes they are fairly gutless for towing and have your foot buried to the floor most of the time if towing but will get you there and back just a bit slower. I wouldnt waste your money putting a turbo on it, not worth the $$$ I went through it all and in the end decided against it, it wont add any value to the vehicle and in sonme cases can make it harder to sell because people think you flog it. I had canopy on mine as well, sunraysia (spelling) rims 15x7 with BF's A/T's. Petrol 80 will cost you double I reckon in fuel and I believe the gas is as much as petrol in some cases and as you would know suck more gas then petrol especially under load. Go for it, wack some A/T's on snorkel, possibly a lift if the suspension has never been done and hit the road............

AnswerID: 429570

Reply By: 56kkv - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2010 at 00:42

Tuesday, Sep 07, 2010 at 00:42

Thanks for your replies. I'll get out and do some local track to gain some confidents in the lux, I've been a bit spoiled with the 80 series.

AnswerID: 429583

Reply By: Road to Discovery - Wednesday, Sep 08, 2010 at 17:54

Wednesday, Sep 08, 2010 at 17:54

Hi John

We've just returned 3 weeks ago from trip to Cape York with a Tag-Along-Tour. One of the guys had a Hilux which preformed extremely well on all the corrugations and the Old Telgraph Track - we did about 8 creek crossings. Palm Creek was the worst and the Lux made it through without a hitch. We avoided Gunshot - our trusty leader showed it to us, but would not let us go thru (safety first).

He carried 80l of diesel in jerry cans, and only used 20l when the top end petrol stations got pricey.

Definately go the snorkel. If you can have turbo diesel as your option, then go for it too - our fuel comparison on on 2 x 100 series Land Cruisers $670-$700 vs $420 in 100 series LC Turbo Diesel over the 2900kms travelled.

If you dont end up with a crew to go with, then join a Tag Along tour. I thoroughly recommend it for the companionship, friendships, great commentary and lots of fun.

Cheers
R2D

AnswerID: 429684