During my travels I have encountered some really difficult places to manoeuvre. Brown Mountain in the south east of New South Wales comes to mind followed by the road between Ebor and Grafton and finally parts of the Bruxner Highway between Tenterfield and Casino. However, has anyone ever experienced anything more difficult than towing a medium size van across the road/rail bridge at Grafton NSW. That bend towards the southern end with all the scrape marks on the wall lets you know what happens if you are off line. Just to add a bit more excitement, a B Double or a bus coming the other way really files the teeth down.
Is there a worse bridge than this one?
-- Edited by DMaxer on Tuesday 12th of April 2016 04:56:11 PM
ken thomas said
05:22 PM Apr 12, 2016
Have not come across one yet that bad
Ken
Dougwe said
05:34 PM Apr 12, 2016
Yep, agree 100% with you BigD. I have travelled that bridge a few times but in car only or with the Avan Camper. and that was early in the morning. I have avoided it with the bigger van though as I don't want to add an extra mark there. The ferry at the other end up near Maclean, I think it is, is a bit iffy too I reckon. Again, ok with the Avan but not sure about a bigger van. IMO.
I find The clyde mountain (Kings Hwy) between Canberra and Batemans Bay a bit iffy too. Others from the BB side disagree with though and call it a hill. Silly buggers need to go to Specsavers
DMaxer said
05:56 PM Apr 12, 2016
You're right there Doug. I found the best way if I want to go to the Summerland Way or in to Grafton from the Pacific Highway is to turn down the Gwydir Highway and go up through Copmanhurst and come back in via Clarence Way. It is a bit out of the way but the scenery is great and at least I arrive with the side still in the van and clean undies.
HunnyBunny said
07:02 PM Apr 12, 2016
Not exactly a bridge! although you do cross the swing bridge ( McKillops ) to begin the scariest drive I have ever done. You sure would not want to tow anything up there, the road is like a goat track, dirt & very narrow with no guard rail on the drop side. What a drop it is too!! Even though it's a two way road! Thank God, nothing came down when I was driving through to Buchan. This is Deddick Rd . I spoke to a Ranger at Buchan who informed me that the rd used to be worse till it broke away in 3 places & the had to do repairs. As you drove on it, it felt just like the sides were going to drop away any minute. My hands have never been so sweaty on the wheel. No doubt the scenery was stunning but I sure was not looking! To make matters worse I stalled the car on the bottom of that Deddick looking thing, sat there with the back of my car facing the drop off & my foot through the floor! Anyone else had the pleasure?
-- Edited by HunnyBunny on Tuesday 12th of April 2016 07:48:07 PM
-- Edited by HunnyBunny on Wednesday 13th of April 2016 09:47:56 AM
There is a "road" between Taralga and Marulan (NSW) that I went through towing camper trailer - Very scary no guardrails with bends a snake couldn't go though - it would have to count as two trips i.e. First and Last.
Tony Bev said
07:42 PM Apr 12, 2016
Hello DMaxer I have been on the Kings Highway, between Canberra and Batemans Bay.
I agree with both you and Dougwe, if you can avoid it, then you should do so.
I thought that the locals were trying to be kamikaze pilots, until I began to realise, that there are very few places to overtake.
petengail said
09:18 PM Apr 12, 2016
Yes I know all about the bridge at Grafton. Just sold the house in QLD and am moving down to Grafton soon. The groundwork has started though on the new bridge which will make a hell of a difference.
spice said
02:31 PM Apr 13, 2016
Lived in Grafton till hitting the road fulltime, bridge never worried me, Rod
DMaxer said
03:27 PM Apr 13, 2016
Hi Spice. I guess if you lived there full time you would be used to it. I crossed it about four times with the van on and was fortunate that there was either little traffic or was able to swing out a bit at the bend. Having said that, I have been on the bridge and seen others in action and it was not pretty.
PeterD said
07:36 PM Apr 13, 2016
Being scared of those roads shows lack of driving experience. I suggest you should tackle these roads rather than dodge them. You really should complete your driving experience by driving all the types of roads you can. If you keep dodging those roads you will be in deep 5h1t when you encounter a really difficult road unexpectedly by some fluke.
My advice is to tackle these roads to gain the necessary experience that all vanners should have. If you continue to dodge these roads you are also going to miss out on many good areas in the eastern states and Tasmania. I have had some friends travel with me in Tasmania. Some of them were very concerned abut some of the roads. After travelling them they are now happy to travel over any major sealed road in Oz. They are now much more competent drivers than they were when they arrived on the island.
As for the Grafton bridge, for me it's acrophobia that's the problem rather than the narrow roadway or the bend. The way to tackle the bend is to hold back when a large vehicle is approaching or negotiating it. head for the bend when the large vehicles are clear.
in transit said
09:07 PM Apr 13, 2016
Yes done all the first mentioned roads, Brown Mtn heaps of times often about midnight after a party and lucky to be here to talk about it.
Mckillops bridge road we have not driven but met a couple at Suggen Buggen last year towing a mid sized van who intended to try it. After driving the full length of the Barry Way (now called Snowy R Rd) I think we have a fair idea what they encountered.
HunnyBunny said
10:15 AM Apr 14, 2016
Hate to even think of why anyone would want to drive McKillops/ Deddick Rd with a van in tow!! Scared me enough in my car. There are warning signs at McKillops bridge for those towing vans. Strangely enough though there are logging trucks that use the rd.
During my travels I have encountered some really difficult places to manoeuvre. Brown Mountain in the south east of New South Wales comes to mind followed by the road between Ebor and Grafton and finally parts of the Bruxner Highway between Tenterfield and Casino. However, has anyone ever experienced anything more difficult than towing a medium size van across the road/rail bridge at Grafton NSW. That bend towards the southern end with all the scrape marks on the wall lets you know what happens if you are off line. Just to add a bit more excitement, a B Double or a bus coming the other way really files the teeth down.
Is there a worse bridge than this one?
-- Edited by DMaxer on Tuesday 12th of April 2016 04:56:11 PM
Ken
Yep, agree 100% with you BigD. I have travelled that bridge a few times but in car only or with the Avan Camper. and that was early in the morning. I have avoided it with the bigger van though as I don't want to add an extra mark there. The ferry at the other end up near Maclean, I think it is, is a bit iffy too I reckon. Again, ok with the Avan but not sure about a bigger van. IMO.
I find The clyde mountain (Kings Hwy) between Canberra and Batemans Bay a bit iffy too. Others from the BB side disagree with though and call it a hill. Silly buggers need to go to Specsavers
You're right there Doug. I found the best way if I want to go to the Summerland Way or in to Grafton from the Pacific Highway is to turn down the Gwydir Highway and go up through Copmanhurst and come back in via Clarence Way. It is a bit out of the way but the scenery is great and at least I arrive with the side still in the van and clean undies.
Not exactly a bridge! although you do cross the swing bridge ( McKillops ) to begin the scariest drive I have ever done. You sure would not want to tow anything up there, the road is like a goat track, dirt & very narrow with no guard rail on the drop side. What a drop it is too!! Even though it's a two way road! Thank God, nothing came down when I was driving through to Buchan. This is Deddick Rd . I spoke to a Ranger at Buchan who informed me that the rd used to be worse till it broke away in 3 places & the had to do repairs. As you drove on it, it felt just like the sides were going to drop away any minute. My hands have never been so sweaty on the wheel. No doubt the scenery was stunning but I sure was not looking! To make matters worse I stalled the car on the bottom of that Deddick looking thing, sat there with the back of my car facing the drop off & my foot through the floor! Anyone else had the pleasure?
-- Edited by HunnyBunny on Tuesday 12th of April 2016 07:48:07 PM
-- Edited by HunnyBunny on Wednesday 13th of April 2016 09:47:56 AM
Hello DMaxer
I have been on the Kings Highway, between Canberra and Batemans Bay.
I agree with both you and Dougwe, if you can avoid it, then you should do so.
I thought that the locals were trying to be kamikaze pilots, until I began to realise, that there are very few places to overtake.
Hi Spice. I guess if you lived there full time you would be used to it. I crossed it about four times with the van on and was fortunate that there was either little traffic or was able to swing out a bit at the bend. Having said that, I have been on the bridge and seen others in action and it was not pretty.
My advice is to tackle these roads to gain the necessary experience that all vanners should have. If you continue to dodge these roads you are also going to miss out on many good areas in the eastern states and Tasmania. I have had some friends travel with me in Tasmania. Some of them were very concerned abut some of the roads. After travelling them they are now happy to travel over any major sealed road in Oz. They are now much more competent drivers than they were when they arrived on the island.
As for the Grafton bridge, for me it's acrophobia that's the problem rather than the narrow roadway or the bend. The way to tackle the bend is to hold back when a large vehicle is approaching or negotiating it. head for the bend when the large vehicles are clear.
Mckillops bridge road we have not driven but met a couple at Suggen Buggen last year towing a mid sized van who intended to try it. After driving the full length of the Barry Way (now called Snowy R Rd) I think we have a fair idea what they encountered.