4WD Caravan to Cape York

Hi Sue,

I've seen plenty of vans at the top of Cape York and not all of them off-road types.

Not sure that I would want to haul one through the creeks on the Old Telegraph Track but no need to anyway. The Development Road although unsealed is maintained in good condition. It can get some corrugations but generally is better than some sealed roads I know.

Go for it....... a great trip.

Hi SueB, Are you talking about off-road caravan or a 4WD towing a caravan?? Simple answer is Yes to off-road vans. If you like to subject your van to over 800klm of corrugated roads. Would not recommend taking it over the OTT unless you have plenty of support.
Andy

G`day Sue,

No problem taking your van all the way to the car park at the tip providing you can stay on the road proper.
By "staying on the road" I mean if you are there during the QLD school holidays you will probably encounter the idiots driving too fast in the opposite direction and forcing you off the road on the corrugated corners.( and other places )

Going to some places off the main road where it is only single lane, such as Somerset and into the car-park at the tip, the tour buses/trucks will force you into the scrub. They seem to have the attitude that they own the place and you are only a visitor and that they have the right of way.

I did a 13 week trip to the cape last winter, returned home late September, put the C/van in Hospital for repairs mid October, insurance quote last week $6500.
Plus $ ? for some repairs that are not covered by insurance.

Would I do it again ?? Yep sure would, but not with a C/van for the above reasons.

Regards,

Scrubby.

For what it's worth I left my camper trailer at Cooktown and took a 30 second tent up the Cape. Good decision!

I thought that some of the 'dips' were a bit too steep for a van, both on the approach and departure.

Your best bringing a boat - the Archer is over 2.5m today

Have fun

My old man took his bushtracker and Effie to the cape.
Not sure of which roads he took. He went with another being towed by a hungie.
He did have an issue. Rear drivers side tyre blew on the bushtracker. He thought the ground was softer than it looked. Put the boot into it to keep the speed up.....nut. Then he saw something flick out the side. Result, axle bent and shredded tyre did damage to the side. New axle and parts flown to Coen, fitted, and then on his way again....the only good service he received from bushtracker. Now swears by tyre monitors.

One option would be to park up in Cairns and take this:

Sea Swift

Is this 4WD caravan a V8 or 6 cylinder?
Does it have diff locks?

Bob