we have a Prado and road van 20 ft gulcher galaxy and want to go to the cape York also a roof top tent for 4wd trips . I would love some info on being realistic on how far we can get our van closest to the tip thanks
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John
2017 dmax lovells upgrade full CSM trade aluminium canopy,3.5 m quintrex tinny and rear boat loader mangrove jack aluminium trailer
Great question.
We have a 21 foot road van towed by a Mazda bt50 4x4 and I am interested in hearing responses to your question. We dont have any camping equipment like a rooftop tent.
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Caron __________________________________________ "Life is like an unwritten book, you decide how many pages are in it"
Hi, we were at the tip in june / july 2015 and while we were camped at loyality beach there were all sorts of caravans from kedrons / bushtrackers down to road going jayco's. we took our off road camper and done the OTT and came back the development road. A lot of people leave their vans at Bramwell stn and run to the top from there, but i'm not most people. this year 2016 we were going to take our VAN back to the top and stay longer however chemo will have me grounded for the next 8 months so 2017. your cars will be fine lower tyre pressures on cars and vans and slow down and enjoy.
Hope this helped a bit. bass
I 'm in Cairns for 3 weeks. Have heard the sealed road ends at laura. Going to Lawn hill and Forsyth soon. What is your BT-50 like on fuel and has it got a good extra fuel filter.
We travelled to Cape York Tip in August/September 2015 all the way with our Jayco Journey Outback pop top van behind our Prado. We had no problems travelling the dirt road, with some very heavy corrugations, but they were grading large sections on our way up and back again which made it feel like a highway. We travelled the Developmental Road up and back (not the Telegraph Track used by the 4X4 enthusiasts) but drove up via Lakefield National Park and returned through Laura.
Most people who had never taken a van tried to discourage us, but WE DID IT! It was fantastic!
Haaries did you fit any protection to underside of van??? We also have a Journey Outback and leaving for the Cape mid June. Have a tent also and waiting till we get up there to check conditions to decide if we take the van to the tip or leave at Laura or elsewhere and tent it. Great to read you had no problems. Cheers.
jbell6660, We didn't fit protection to the underside of the Van, that wasn't a problem at all. I did check that all vulnerable wiring and pipes were somewhat protected by the Chassis. As you venture along the dirt and corrugations you do need to keep up the checking of all the internals, tighten loose doors and daily checks of the MW etc etc etc. Basic tools and repair kit is essential.
Getting the Van up to Loyalty Beach was the mission and we did it. Happy to share the detail probably via email would be better.
Trick is to have plenty of time and listen to those that have gone before you. Low tyre pressures are a must on both the Van and Vehicle. Plenty of Spoon Drain driving and also driving on the right hand side of the road (the corrugations aren't as harsh travelling in the opposite direction)
We did carry a tent on advice but never used it. What we didn't do was go off the main roads (tracks), having a tent would allow you to visit some highly recommended places like Cape Melville, Port Stewart, Lockhart River, to name a few.
It was an awesome trip, we also went across the Savannah Way into the NT through Burketown.
Hi Caron, Take it from me living in Cairns for 12 years and the store's i here about the repairs when people get back, from broken springs to just every thing underneath ether comes loose or falls off. I have traveled up their 3 times. 17thousand corrugations, have tried low pressure and still harsh all round. The best vehicle to handle the ruff was the mazda. 200 series landcruiser which police use just fall to bits. not toyota tuff anymore. the cape is not for long vans.
