Have not travelled with van thru Cunninghams Gap but have previous experienced the Toowoomba downhill run into Gatton with a smaller van and wish to avoid if possible. Is Cunninghams gap at Warwick an ease for towing a heavy van at its maximum weight with Prado. Or Is there an alternative travel option.
Map wise a turn at Karara on the Cunningham hwy thru Leyburn to Clifton and to Gatton appears an option. Any advice appreciated.
I have not towed a big caravan down Cunningham's Gap or Toowoomba Range, My caravan towed behind the Discovery weighs about 2 tonne to say which one was easier I would say the Gap but it is much longer down hill then the Range and coming off the range you have dual lanes to Gatton where as with the Gap it goes back into single lane. Traffic wise the gap would be a lot less, now this is where it gets tricky.
Me I am fairly adventures I just love to stay away from traffic, major towns, Karara though Leyburn (a free camp there) Clifton heading toward Gatton crossing the New England Highway the road is not to bad some places narrow but serviceable you will now be dropping down though what we know as Heffier Creek taking your time you will hardly notice you are descending but you are, it will become a little slow as you wind tough the gap and there is a good rest area there not long after this you find you are into open farming land and not far from Gatton.
I have travel most roads over the years and this route,mainly the Eastern states, we as in interstate truck drivers we would leave Gatton area heading to the southern markets with our loads of produce this was the main one used up until improvement of the Pittsworth Road and use of B doubles that don't use this road. In the last 12 months I have had a need to go though there and found it still very quite to travel. I have back in March retired after 43 years of transport driving look forward to my years as caravan-er and using the roads less traveled.
-- Edited by Radar on Tuesday 13th of August 2013 09:35:19 AM
to radar and sandsmere. thanks for your comments. It certainly will allay some fears that I have. This will be my first big trip with the new heavier full van that has replaced the 17ft pop top. I also believe there are continuing roadworks and single lane down from the Toowoomba range.
Yes I would of mention the road works on both the ranges as I have now stopped work and one of my regular trips was to Toowoomba from Brisbane I was not 100% sure of the delays you may experience on both the ranges. My last trip up and down the Gap was returning from Mudgee in April and down the Range early March the month I retired.
Since then I have been going down the coast from Brisbane trice with the Van and once with out to Taree area.
There is a small town just north of Clifton, follow the railway line called Nobby 742 Camps 7 book, $2 for power, nice spot and not far is monument to Steely Rudds (Dad and Dave) while you having a cheap, good meal at the pubs ask for directions.
Cobberandco's, You did not say where you are headed to in the Brisbane area. There is another route besides the heifer Creek Road which is quite good.
Just a suggestion, head for Millmerran, Cecil Plains, Dalby, Kaimkillembun, Maclagan, Cooyar, Yarraman and on to Caboolture.
Two only section of lumpy road, last few Ks' Dalby to Kainkillembun, and a few ks' south of Cooyar.
All the rest of the road is good, little traffic, and misses the heart of Brisbane. No big steep inclines even the Blackbutt Range is Very good. We travel this road quite a bit with the van coming into The Northern suburbs of Brisbane.
Just another option depending where you are headed.
