We are planning a trip to Karumba via Charters Tower at the end of next month. We are towing a large van with a Triton V6 petrol motor. My concern is if there plenty of places where I can fill up along the way, as I don't have long range fuel tanks. I also believe it's illegal to carry fuel in jerry cans mounted to draw bar here in Queensland.
If you remain on sealed roads anywhere in Australia you will have no problem with availability of fuel/petrol.
Some may be 350km apart (eg Winton QLD>Boulia) but that is an extreme ... even across the Nullarbor the pumps are no further than 180km apart. I am fairly certain every vehicle on the road should be able to get at least 400km out of a tank of fuel towing, you shouldn't have any worries.
Of course, the price is a different matter ... some are OK, some are average, and others (further away from the coast) are damned expensive.
I believe it is OK to have jerry cans of petrol on the drawbar of a van - in a proper carrier. It is said it is illegal to carry petrol in jerry cans on the rear bumper of a van, but there is still considerable conjecture on that one. Either way, it is safer on drawbar - away from a rear end prang.
Cheers - John
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I have only a small tank on my 4.2L EFI (petrol) Patrol so when touring I carry at least one backup 20L plastic jerry can.
The cans fit neatly into the front boot of the Jayco Westport. I put the almost full containers into sealed heavy duty plastic bags & then put them inside chaff bags. They sit on a pieces of timber with foam padding. Sections of 5ply marine ply slide down the front between the van skin & the containers. If I only carry one it goes in the center of the boot, but I can get up to 3 in there, well away from the corners.
The single spare 20L is only there for cases of unexpected heavy consumption, like a very strong head wind.
I always take every opportunity to fill up when I get down to 1/2 tank & never leave an overnight CP without filling up irrespective of the state of the tank.
The three x 20Ls are only used in extreme cases like the Nullarbor where I am reluctant to pay the high prices.
In my experience there is always good fuel availability on the blacktop but a back up is good insurance.
-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 24th of June 2013 04:21:30 PM
I am currently in Townsville, actually about 15 mins north of Townsville about 200mts from the Very busy Bruce Hwy, have been for a month now and will be for at least another month. As Rocky said you will have no problem with petrol nearly everywhere you venture, gas (I do have 60lts ULP as well) as with me is another matter all together nearly not heard of inland so you are lucky there.
As for carrying fuel, I have seen travelling along the Bruce many different types of rigs and carrying fuel in many different ways, some on the back of the tug, some on the roof of the tug, some on the A frame of the Van and even some on the back of the Van/Campervan/Motorhome/Camper. At first I thought it was water on the back of the home on wheels but when it actually has written on 'Diesel' 'Petrol' well, I spose that tells you it's not water.
Whatever you do make sure you,
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