Cape York with a caravan on the PDR?

Hi Dondon,

Well 84 people have view your post and not one has replied, so hear goes.

"Achieveable" Yes.

If you had asked would I do it. The answer would certainly be NO. Several reasons:

This is a 14 day trip (approx) from Cooktown in a vehicle (no disrespect to your Santa fe) that is not really a 4WD, towing a a caravan that even if it was a Expanda Outback, is not really an off road van.

Travelling up there are people doing 3 speeds Fast, suitable and slow. I think you would have to be in the slow group. Therefore you will be having people wanting to overtake you all the time. This makes a safety issue (dust) for you and a windscreen breaking issue as well.

You have the problems of the carry capacity of the vehicle.

Problems of Santa Fe spare parts if it breaks down. Not many people will carry parts for this kind of vehicle.

Potential of damage to the van and the cost of repairs when you return. It can all add up to being an expensive trip.

I love the idea of you heading off to explore the outback and think everyone should do it. I do not really have a great love of toyota but it still is toyota country. Good luck however and I hope you do get to go.

When we were up there last year, we saw the odd van going up. We also saw the damage that the road had caused to one whilst staying at Weipa Campground and they were still on their way up!

As the road conditions vary from year to year, it's hard to say what they'll be like when you're there. We left our van in Cairns and hired a camper trailer for the three weeks. After having just spent 6 weeks in a tent on the Gibb River Road, the thought of sleeping "on the ground" again for another 3 weeks just didn't cut it.

Can't say I would advise you to take your Expanda - I guess you have ask yourself the question whether you have a plan B in case something goes wrong. Just remember you're a long way from anywhere if you need repairs. Good luck!

When I spoke to him in July last year the RACQ agent in Coen who runs the servo, Sexchange Hotel and supermarket had recovered 22 offroad camper trailers south of Coen.
He commented on the fact that most were not really offroad.
I arrived just after someone had dumped 50litres of diesel down the gutter as the person had not realised his diesel tank had split.

The Woolworths supply semi to Weipa only does about 20Kmh along this part as it is so corrugated , in a big part caused by semis and tour buses. I actually drove up the graded gutter where I could as it was smoother than the track.

While say 70% of the PDR is a good dirt road the other 30% can be horrendous and will test every component.

Whether you can get to Eliot falls with the Santa Fe will depend on how deep the one creek crossing is at the time. The crossing is easy but the depth when we were there was about 50-60 CM. Have a look at your air intake and the manufacturer specs, which in soft roaders do not usually list wading depth. There is no problem going to Fruit Bat Falls as it is only a couple of hundred metres off the PDR.

In summary I wouldn't try it with an on road van and if you do be very aware of reducing tyre pressures and take spare components for the suspension, because it is a long way between welders or mechanics. Join the RACQ /NRMA premium service as it could be a long recovery. And take it very slow.
Regards Philip A

Hi
Don't do it mate, It's not the road that is the problem, for a short drive it is OK. It's the length of time that your van will be subjected to the vibrations. Will your suspension handle the drive, also your aircon, stove etc. The cost of recovery is also high. Willl your vehicle's weight be at it's maximum, weight is a killer up there. If you do go, Go slow. It's a great destination.

Hi Don

I do the Cape trip on a very regular basis (work) and have met a few people who have come up from the south with Vans. Most leave them in Cooktown or Laura and a few will leave them at Archer river. They will then stay in the donga accommodation or take basic camping equipment in there vehicles.

I'm confident that your van would make it all the way, though I'm thinking that you could be an annoyance to other travellers and welding/recovery can be very expensive in that part of the world.

I know a couple of people in the NPA who make good $ over the tourist season welding up vehicles and 4X4 trailers.

Cheers