Has anybody done the trip from Port Stephens to Armidale over Thunderbolts Way recently? We have a BT50 towing 19.6' Van I know it is sealed but how are the gradients for towing?
Cheers YYD
WobblyNut said
11:37 AM Sep 28, 2015
I went down last FRI 18TH . One Major Pull . You should Not have any problem .
I went up Cunninghams Gap , close to 2ton - car trailer , tractor backhoe , chipper & slasher.
In 3rd gear at 80k . I do Gibraltar Range with my van @ 1200k , comfortable in 3rd gear .
I have an Auto , 2.5turbo in a Kia Sorento . I reckon I could come up "Bretti" comfortably
in 2nd gear .
Assuming you BT50 is modern & around 3.0turbo & your van is 1,500 to 1600k , you could do same.
Interested to see what others say.
A couple of places between Nowendoc & Walcha were 'iffy' but comfortable at 90k.
KFT said
11:39 AM Sep 28, 2015
Wobbly I don't reckon you could do 1200K in 3rd gear
not even in top gear going downhill
hehehe
Woody n Sue said
01:06 PM Sep 28, 2015
No wonder wobblynut has no problem going over them hills 1200k in 3rd gear what's it do in overdrive ?
WobblyNut said
02:24 PM Sep 28, 2015
ok ya done me
geez , even if I said 1200kilo , I'm still done
best I shut me gob & walk away
Dougwe said
02:29 PM Sep 28, 2015
Mmmmm, I read that 3 times and I reckon WN said his van weighs 1200k not did 1200 Km. Silly billies. Maybe I'm the silly billy though and read wrong. Wouldn't be the first time I have been wrong
Edit........ooops, I got a phone call just before posting that, came back and posted it, bugga.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Monday 28th of September 2015 02:30:42 PM
Casualkev said
03:02 PM Sep 28, 2015
You young fella's should know the jargon by now kg=kilogram, km=kilometre & k slang for 1000 as in kilo clear? Clear as mud!
Kev
PeterD said
03:35 PM Sep 28, 2015
Back on track, the ascent looks worse than it is. I have no problems towing 2 t up it with an aged Navara D40. The thing about it is you get the climb over in one go, not several like if you go via Tamworth. When you get tho the top of the big hill there is a nice morning tea spot with a good view (if it's not too crowded.) Some of the road is slow due to the bends but I find it a pleasant drive.
I use it going through to Warwick. As a halfway stop I use the Walcha CP, the showers have heated floors.
WobblyNut said
05:29 PM Sep 28, 2015
I Much prefer th Aussie expression - Like
Make a mile , tons.
not kill metres
or . kill grams
or . kill litres
oh , I forgot th O
NeilandRaine said
06:14 PM Sep 28, 2015
If Thunderbolts worries you an alternative is the Oxley from Port Macquarie. You can stop at a great free camp at Ellenbourgh (spell Check)
It is a long steady climb but not steep, did it easy with a Pajero towing almost 2500 kg
YatteyattahDave said
07:56 PM Sep 28, 2015
Thanks to all for your informative and entertaining responses - loving the forum already
Cheers YYD
gollymolly said
08:45 PM Sep 28, 2015
Loved riding my motor bike up and down thunderbolt way.Brings back memories. Miss the motor bike but can't be a silver gypsy and have my bike. enjoy the drive
Has anybody done the trip from Port Stephens to Armidale over Thunderbolts Way recently? We have a BT50 towing 19.6' Van I know it is sealed but how are the gradients for towing?
Cheers YYD
I went down last FRI 18TH . One Major Pull . You should Not have any problem .
I went up Cunninghams Gap , close to 2ton - car trailer , tractor backhoe , chipper & slasher.
In 3rd gear at 80k . I do Gibraltar Range with my van @ 1200k , comfortable in 3rd gear .
I have an Auto , 2.5turbo in a Kia Sorento . I reckon I could come up "Bretti" comfortably
in 2nd gear .
Assuming you BT50 is modern & around 3.0turbo & your van is 1,500 to 1600k , you could do same.
Interested to see what others say.
A couple of places between Nowendoc & Walcha were 'iffy' but comfortable at 90k.
not even in top gear going downhill
hehehe
ok ya done me
geez , even if I said 1200kilo , I'm still done
best I shut me gob & walk away
Mmmmm, I read that 3 times and I reckon WN said his van weighs 1200k not did 1200 Km. Silly billies. Maybe I'm the silly billy though and read wrong. Wouldn't be the first time I have been wrong
Edit........ooops, I got a phone call just before posting that, came back and posted it, bugga.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Monday 28th of September 2015 02:30:42 PM
Kev
Back on track, the ascent looks worse than it is. I have no problems towing 2 t up it with an aged Navara D40. The thing about it is you get the climb over in one go, not several like if you go via Tamworth. When you get tho the top of the big hill there is a nice morning tea spot with a good view (if it's not too crowded.) Some of the road is slow due to the bends but I find it a pleasant drive.
I use it going through to Warwick. As a halfway stop I use the Walcha CP, the showers have heated floors.
Make a mile , tons.
not kill metres
or . kill grams
or . kill litres
oh , I forgot th O
It is a long steady climb but not steep, did it easy with a Pajero towing almost 2500 kg
Cheers YYD