Driving The Brown Mountain and Clyde Mountain, Southern NSW.
Tortoise said
04:19 PM Jan 29, 2017
For all those who have second thoughts about the routes from Bega to Cooma, and Batemans Bay to Queanbeyan/Canberra. In the last two weeks, we have driven both The Brown Mountain from Bega to Cooma (Snowy Mountains Highway) and today came back down to the coast via Queanbeyan over Clyde Mountain to Batemans Bay (Kings Highway). Thanks to all the members who have commented in the past as to the steepness and windyness of both these roads, as we researched all the comments and suggestions prior to making the decision to drive these routes with our 21 foot Jayco Sterling towed by our 2015 Isuzu MU-X. As I know that both the van and tug are well balanced, and an excellent towing combination, it was mainly the road conditions which I was concerned about.
The Brown Mountain wasn't an issue on the way up from Bega, yes it had some steep sections, but there weren't any impossible sections and the road surface was excellent, with plenty of room for vehicles travelling in both directions. If the tow vehicle is suited to the combination, this mountain will not cause you any issues going up, or coming down, if the brakes are setup correctly on the van, and if the engine braking capability of the tug is utilised as well.
We drove down Clyde Mountain today, arriving in Batemans Bay around 1:30 pm. It is the Australia Day long weekend Sunday, and there was a neverending stream of traffic heading home to Canberra and environs from the Coast. In fact there was a 5 km bank up into Braidwood, while there was very little heading down to the coast. Canberra must have been empty! There has been discussion on negotiating a few of the hairpins on this road, but I found that by maintaining engine braking via 2nd gear in the auto box, and dabbing the van brakes from time to time if the revs started to climb over 2200, we cruised down the steep parts of the mountain at a steady 40kmh, and braked easily for the hairpins, which have been well designed for a 13 metre caravan combination to utilise without having to exaggerate any cornering manoeuvres. On one corner, we even managed to continue round without any issues, as cars had to swing wide around a four wheel drive which had stalled right on the uphill entrance to one of the 25 kmh hairpin corners. On both routes there are plenty of overtaking lanes and slow vehicle turn-ins so that impatient drivers can go on their merry ways without killing anyone, although a few did try today. Some roadworks, but well signposted. Happy Trails and Stay Safe.
msg said
04:42 PM Jan 29, 2017
Agree Tortoise. The road is not too bad. Its the Canberran drivers trying to kill you that worries me. Especially the weekends. Very slow getting back into Canberra on a Sunday night. I wonder that there are not more accidents.
Radar said
08:47 PM Jan 29, 2017
Hi Tortoise
Very good comments, easy to follow.
Thank you.
Craig1 said
09:56 AM Jan 30, 2017
Excellent description, you should get a job at one of the newspapers
For all those who have second thoughts about the routes from Bega to Cooma, and Batemans Bay to Queanbeyan/Canberra. In the last two weeks, we have driven both The Brown Mountain from Bega to Cooma (Snowy Mountains Highway) and today came back down to the coast via Queanbeyan over Clyde Mountain to Batemans Bay (Kings Highway). Thanks to all the members who have commented in the past as to the steepness and windyness of both these roads, as we researched all the comments and suggestions prior to making the decision to drive these routes with our 21 foot Jayco Sterling towed by our 2015 Isuzu MU-X. As I know that both the van and tug are well balanced, and an excellent towing combination, it was mainly the road conditions which I was concerned about.
The Brown Mountain wasn't an issue on the way up from Bega, yes it had some steep sections, but there weren't any impossible sections and the road surface was excellent, with plenty of room for vehicles travelling in both directions. If the tow vehicle is suited to the combination, this mountain will not cause you any issues going up, or coming down, if the brakes are setup correctly on the van, and if the engine braking capability of the tug is utilised as well.
We drove down Clyde Mountain today, arriving in Batemans Bay around 1:30 pm. It is the Australia Day long weekend Sunday, and there was a neverending stream of traffic heading home to Canberra and environs from the Coast. In fact there was a 5 km bank up into Braidwood, while there was very little heading down to the coast. Canberra must have been empty! There has been discussion on negotiating a few of the hairpins on this road, but I found that by maintaining engine braking via 2nd gear in the auto box, and dabbing the van brakes from time to time if the revs started to climb over 2200, we cruised down the steep parts of the mountain at a steady 40kmh, and braked easily for the hairpins, which have been well designed for a 13 metre caravan combination to utilise without having to exaggerate any cornering manoeuvres. On one corner, we even managed to continue round without any issues, as cars had to swing wide around a four wheel drive which had stalled right on the uphill entrance to one of the 25 kmh hairpin corners. On both routes there are plenty of overtaking lanes and slow vehicle turn-ins so that impatient drivers can go on their merry ways without killing anyone, although a few did try today. Some roadworks, but well signposted. Happy Trails and Stay Safe.
Hi Tortoise
Very good comments, easy to follow.
Thank you.