5th Wheeler & Cape York

caseyv · Member

5th Wheeler & Cape York

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

All sorts of vehicles make the trip to Cape York. Most can make the journey if driven appropriately for the conditions.
It is a long gravel road of varying condition that varies from week to week.
No one knows yours like you know it and no one knows how you drive.
What gravel roads have you driven in the past and what did you think about them?

Cheers,
Peter

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi caseyv,
As it is bitumen to Coen (if you are suggesting going to the tip) you would have no troubles to there. After that it depends on when the graders were last on the road, the amount of traffic, the weather & how others drive. You can meet some of the best & worst drivers in Australia on that trip.

Personally, I wouldn't take anything more than a heavy built trailer with a spare spring set & at least another spare tyre. That's using the Development Road with some stages of the Old Telegraph Track. A 5th wheeler is expensive & if you take one up, it will could be damaged in some way. One of the greatest hazards you'll encounter is the number of "Dips". Some you can take at 80kph, others at 8kph!

I know most people want to "Do the Tip" but you have to weigh up the differences in the cost of damaging (& recovery of) your vehicle & van versus going on an organised trip.

Desert Dweller · Guru

Best to leave your 5th wheeler at a secure caravan facility & take a quick to erect tent. You'll enjoy ''roughing it'' for a change & the comfort when you get back.

woofta and precious · Senior Member

The "Quick Erect" isn't that bad...

fwdoz · Guru

woofta and precious wrote:
The "Quick Erect" isn't that bad...

I see what you did there biggrin

Desert Dweller · Guru

woofta and precious wrote:
The "Quick Erect" isn't that bad...

The tent not your weapon.

Bello · Veteran Member

Left our van in Cooktown and tented it for a month. Went places you could not take a van, and covered about 2000 klm of dirt "roads" and tracks. We will do it again in a couple of years as we didn't see all we wanted to.

Go for it.

sueclog · Newbie

Hi there, We have an Australian built 'off rd' 5th wheeler and would NEVER take it to Cape York! Last year when we went the corrugations were horrendous. We chose to leave our rig in Mareeba (Birds on Baron - loved it here) and took a tent up to the top, tenting was a whole new experience for us but would do it again. We would definitely say no don't take.