Car and Caravan burn near Coober Pedy.

Santa · Guru

Car and Caravan burn near Coober Pedy.

Happywanderer · The Master

What a terrible situation and so sad for them just starting out.

Santa · Guru

I agree, most unfortunate, though no one injured, vehicles and vans can be replaced.

It seems to happen frequently, and often early in the trip.

In this it is claimed the vehicle/van jack knifed, why? did the driver drop his wheels onto the gravel verge and try to reef ot back onto the road, inattention, tiredness, poorly loaded van.

Whatever, it happens far to often, no wonder insurance premiums are through the roof. disbelief

Duh · Guru

Thanks for the article Santa, scary stuff!

Rotten way to end a lifetime dream of travelling Oz.. cry

dazren · Guru

santa wrote [ in part ]

In this it is claimed the vehicle/van jack knifed, why? did the driver drop his wheels onto the gravel verge and try to reef ot back onto the road, inattention, tiredness, poorly loaded van.

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All above is possible ?? BUT !! lets not pre-emt, nor jump to conclusions ? we were not there,? we do not know the people ? or the towing/loading experience the may or may not have had ?? there are many factors that could cause the situation, even electrical, or mechanical could be the cause of the 'jacknife' and fire ?? as well as human error, ?? BUT we do not know, so lets just be happy that they are insured and were not hurt,

Santa · Guru

Not pre-empting anything, the question I posed is why does this happen so frequently early on in a trip? ignoring the subject will not make it go away. confuse

GaryKelly · Guru

Another scrolling thread. What mystifies me is why there seems to be no "feel" for the vehicle being driven as well as the vehicle being towed
that might warn of any impending problem... like zig-zagging or wandering. A friend of mine was involved in a similar incident on a straight road
in the outback. He said everything seemed to be normal when he suddenly looked out the driver's window and saw the caravan beside the car!
The caravan then flipped and took the car with it. The whole rig was a right off, but he and his wife were okay. So why did everything "seem normal?"
Why wasn't there any indication of something not being quite right? Maybe there was but my friend simply didn't notice. BTW, he said the car was
travelling at about 100kph.

GaryKelly · Guru

Er... write off.

Magnarc · Guru

It is a disaster for those people and I do not want to guess the reason for the jack knife, just a couple of observations. Just because the speed limit is 100kph you don't have to do that speed! I sit on 90kph on good roads,I have had caravans pass me going a damn sight faster on B roads and it is downright dangerous. I hasten to add that I do not assume that this was what happened on the Stuart Highway. I feel for those folks but, like Gary, I wonder if some warning sign was ignored???

wendyv · Guru

It is a pity that ,whilst we regularly see reports of such incidents, we do not ever find out the actual cause of same. One wonders if the same mistakes are repeated over again, by other travellers? There is some use in speculating about possible causes - because it can make new travellers aware of some of the possible wrong ways to do things.

For example, years ago when we were planning our caravan, we knew nothing about caravan weights, matching vehicle and van weights, towball weight limits etc. It was very fortunate that we were dealing with a reputable maker who ensured we finished up with a stable rig. Some are not so lucky.

One does see some very badly set up rigs travelling the roads - accidents waiting to happen. Are they this way because the owners didn't know better? Or do they assume it will all somehow be ok?

Sheba · Guru

I might be very wrong, but I can't help thinking that a lot of the time, it's due to inexperience. I think people buy a Caravan, and then just load up, and start driving, without knowing anything about what is involved in Towing a Caravan.

It's like some-one driving in the city all their life, then going Bush, but still driving the same way. It doesn't work.

I think it would be very helpful if newcomers to Caravanning had to under-go a comprehensive course, before they went travelling.

Cheers,

Sheba.

spida · Guru

I agree Sheba AND every adult travelling should have to do it - not just the one who will do most of the driving. I worry when I see a partner who has never tried to tow a van. What happens if the driver gets sick?

herbie · Guru

I agree 100% Sheba, not just the towing side of things ,also how to pack a van, I see them rock up and before they can even step inside the van they have to stand outside the door and pull plastic tubs out on to the ground before they can take one step inside their van and still once they get inside still dumping gear out side.Some people think they are going from their house to another house but this time the house is on wheels.

Santa · Guru

Another one bites the dust, seems to be a common occurrance, wonder why so many vehicles towing vans get into trouble?

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I suspect overloading/incorrect loading is a major problem, particularly among inexperienced caravaners.

tezza n tomoko · Veteran Member

We shouldnt judge this was a horrible thing to happen to anyone it may have been driver error or mechanical doesnt matter too much ,we should all feel for these people they are after all grey nomads trying to live there dream,only good thing was that no deaths occured,we wish them the best.