Mentioned in a previous post that the road between Gladstone & Monto had a sign about a very steep climb and saying that it was inadvisable for trucks buses caravans and trailers to take that road.
I am here in Monto settling myself down after a most scary drive, hitting the hill in 3rd gear I had to drop to 2nd and then to 1st. After a couple of hundred metres the van stalled, I built up the revs and let out the clutch and set off again only to have the alternator light come on and the petrol & temperature guages dropped. The van stalled again and I replaced the blown fuse only to stall again. This stalling the happened many times as I climbed the hill eventually I saw the welcome sign at the top and crept over the top.
So what would have happened if I hadn't made it over with a narrow road and nowhere to do a 3 point turn, reversing down would have been disastrous. Any following traffic could have caused dangerous overtaking. All ijn all a scary and dangerous drive.
I had started the day excited about the prospect of driving through those many small towns on the Monto Road and tackling the dreaded hill then eventually getting to Waruma Dam my next camp site but was not expecting the hassle that occurred.
OK have got it out of my system now so I will continue my way to Waruma Dam.
jetj said
06:14 PM Sep 18, 2012
Thanks for the warning John. I hope your adrenalin settles quickly. Sounds awful.
Happywanderer said
06:32 PM Sep 18, 2012
What a scary ride, have marked it on my map to never go that road.
rockylizard said
06:45 PM Sep 18, 2012
Gday...
Thanks for the tip on that road ... although with my big van I would have had to heed the warnings.
However, you will LOVE Wuruna Dam ..... absolutely beautiful spot. You can get down to the water in a number of places, or camp back from the water near some fireplaces if you wish. toilets are up on the hill ... and if ya lazy (like I woz for my two night stay ) you are allowed to park your van/motorhome on the flat area near the loos.
Cheers - John
spida said
07:17 PM Sep 18, 2012
You are talking the Gladstone - Monto Rd as opposed to the A3 I presume? Maybe you should post this on the general forum as well. glad the van survived as well.
Rip and Rosie said
01:45 AM Sep 19, 2012
Hi didn't the " inadvisable for trucks, buses, caravans and trailers " ring bells for you?
Dougwe said
01:53 AM Sep 19, 2012
Very scary mate, glad you got through and all is a o k.
jules47 said
02:35 AM Sep 19, 2012
Glad you got through OK John - Have a good rest up, and you will feel better.
Gerty Dancer said
03:16 AM Sep 19, 2012
Note to self... "take notice of signs warning of conditions" ... very useful lesson to learn from others. Thank you John!
yeoeleven said
05:44 PM Sep 19, 2012
Thank you for your concerns, on reflection it seems like the van was starving for fuel whilst pointing up the hill so I will include a trip to see the mechanics who service the van on the Gold Coast either after or before the Camp Oven Festival at Millmerran. Could be that the fuel pump is not delivering enough petrol.
John
The dog lady said
12:37 AM Jan 15, 2013
yeoeleven wrote:
Mentioned in a previous post that the road between Gladstone & Monto had a sign about a very steep climb and saying that it was inadvisable for trucks buses caravans and trailers to take that road.
I am here in Monto settling myself down after a most scary drive, hitting the hill in 3rd gear I had to drop to 2nd and then to 1st. After a couple of hundred metres the van stalled, I built up the revs and let out the clutch and set off again only to have the alternator light come on and the petrol & temperature guages dropped. The van stalled again and I replaced the blown fuse only to stall again. This stalling the happened many times as I climbed the hill eventually I saw the welcome sign at the top and crept over the top.
So what would have happened if I hadn't made it over with a narrow road and nowhere to do a 3 point turn, reversing down would have been disastrous. Any following traffic could have caused dangerous overtaking. All ijn all a scary and dangerous drive.
I had started the day excited about the prospect of driving through those many small towns on the Monto Road and tackling the dreaded hill then eventually getting to Waruma Dam my next camp site but was not expecting the hassle that occurred.
OK have got it out of my system now so I will continue my way to Waruma Dam.
Sorry to hear you had such a bad time of it. Personally I've been up and down a few times in my HiAce (homebase is not far away) and I never found it at all scary, though I wouldn't tow a caravan up there (or anywhere for that matter). Guess it depends what you're used to. First time I took my mum on a trip (80yo) she didn't want me to go on dirt roads (ummm, the road to home is dirt!). Still I think it's worth the drive, and also the dirt road from Kalpower to the Bruce Hwy, where incidentally there is another good bush camp in state forest.
Cruising Granny said
12:24 AM Jan 18, 2013
It sounds like your little campervan motor was just struggling to haul it's loaded self up the hill. Obviously it's a very steep climb, and under "normal" circumstances it would have slowly done it, but your van is fitted out and loaded with more than normal, so it struggled. It pays to keep this in mind when we negotiate this country. Not everywhere is nice and flat and straight. My Cruiser struggles through various parts of the country, such as the SE Freeway out of Adelaide, some of the Central Highlands in Qld, and even Mount Panorama/Bathurst. Starting a long climb at 60 KPH puts a bit of strain on the car when it's loaded down. When I did Bathurst, starting at 60KPH, by the time I got to the spectacular top of the mountain I was in 2nd gear. Last week I escorted a big load down the SE Freeway. The truck is require to be in low gear, so I coasted down in 3rd gear, saving the brakes for when they were really required. I drive the same when I tow the van. It's all part of the adventure. Safe and happy travels.
yeoeleven said
01:05 AM Jan 18, 2013
Yes the van struggled but it is a 1979 model and at the time was not timed properly after specifically requesting it to be done.
Am now in Tassie and had a similar problem in Launceston, another 6 weeks and I wil be selling so that I can roadworthy and register the coaster.
Mentioned in a previous post that the road between Gladstone & Monto had a sign about a very steep climb and saying that it was inadvisable for trucks buses caravans and trailers to take that road.
I am here in Monto settling myself down after a most scary drive, hitting the hill in 3rd gear I had to drop to 2nd and then to 1st. After a couple of hundred metres the van stalled, I built up the revs and let out the clutch and set off again only to have the alternator light come on and the petrol & temperature guages dropped. The van stalled again and I replaced the blown fuse only to stall again. This stalling the happened many times as I climbed the hill eventually I saw the welcome sign at the top and crept over the top.
So what would have happened if I hadn't made it over with a narrow road and nowhere to do a 3 point turn, reversing down would have been disastrous. Any following traffic could have caused dangerous overtaking. All ijn all a scary and dangerous drive.
I had started the day excited about the prospect of driving through those many small towns on the Monto Road and tackling the dreaded hill then eventually getting to Waruma Dam my next camp site but was not expecting the hassle that occurred.
OK have got it out of my system now so I will continue my way to Waruma Dam.
Thanks for the warning John. I hope your adrenalin settles quickly. Sounds awful.
Gday...
Thanks for the tip on that road ... although with my big van I would have had to heed the warnings.
However, you will LOVE Wuruna Dam ..... absolutely beautiful spot. You can get down to the water in a number of places, or camp back from the water near some fireplaces if you wish. toilets are up on the hill ... and if ya lazy (like I woz for my two night stay
) you are allowed to park your van/motorhome on the flat area near the loos.
Cheers - John
didn't the " inadvisable for trucks, buses, caravans and trailers " ring bells for you?
Glad you got through OK John - Have a good rest up, and you will feel better.
Note to self... "take notice of signs warning of conditions" ... very useful lesson to learn from others. Thank you John!
Thank you for your concerns, on reflection it seems like the van was starving for fuel whilst pointing up the hill so I will include a trip to see the mechanics who service the van on the Gold Coast either after or before the Camp Oven Festival at Millmerran. Could be that the fuel pump is not delivering enough petrol.
John
Sorry to hear you had such a bad time of it. Personally I've been up and down a few times in my HiAce (homebase is not far away) and I never found it at all scary, though I wouldn't tow a caravan up there
(or anywhere for that matter
). Guess it depends what you're used to. First time I took my mum on a trip (80yo) she didn't want me to go on dirt roads (ummm, the road to home is dirt!). Still I think it's worth the drive, and also the dirt road from Kalpower to the Bruce Hwy, where incidentally there is another good bush camp in state forest.
It pays to keep this in mind when we negotiate this country. Not everywhere is nice and flat and straight.
My Cruiser struggles through various parts of the country, such as the SE Freeway out of Adelaide, some of the Central Highlands in Qld, and even Mount Panorama/Bathurst.
Starting a long climb at 60 KPH puts a bit of strain on the car when it's loaded down. When I did Bathurst, starting at 60KPH, by the time I got to the spectacular top of the mountain I was in 2nd gear.
Last week I escorted a big load down the SE Freeway. The truck is require to be in low gear, so I coasted down in 3rd gear, saving the brakes for when they were really required. I drive the same when I tow the van.
It's all part of the adventure. Safe and happy travels.
Yes the van struggled but it is a 1979 model and at the time was not timed properly after specifically requesting it to be done.
Am now in Tassie and had a similar problem in Launceston, another 6 weeks and I wil be selling so that I can roadworthy and register the coaster.
John