Hi, was wondering if anyone might have something like their opinion of the top 10 or 20 "hell" descents on the east coast - by State.
We're from WA where we have very few long drawn out hills . We'll be towing a caravan across the Top shortly then down as far as Sydney-ish. We have towed up from the other direction before from the south coast and had a scary ride !!! with the brakes getting very hot and soft coming down the Talabingo hill near Tumut.
And we've flown into Cairns before and hired a sedan and came down the Gillies Hywy and we were very glad not to be towing ! We know all the right descent techniques (in theory), but just knowing in advance what the bad hills to watch out for, or not do at all, would be great. Nice to know what to expect in advance rather than half way down the runaway !!
Our 2016 Ford Ranger tows a 2.2 tonne 18' Jayco popup, twin axle 4 x ALCO electric brakes - CVM over 5 tonne. Generally its fine on the steep stuff, but not so good after about 10 minutes of downhill.
Hi, was wondering if anyone might have something like their opinion of the top 10 or 20 "hell" descents on the east coast - by State.
We're from WA where we have very few long drawn out hills . We'll be towing a caravan across the Top shortly then down as far as Sydney-ish. We have towed up from the other direction before from the south coast and had a scary ride !!! with the brakes getting very hot and soft coming down the Talabingo hill near Tumut.
And we've flown into Cairns before and hired a sedan and came down the Gillies Hywy and we were very glad not to be towing ! We know all the right descent techniques (in theory), but just knowing in advance what the bad hills to watch out for, or not do at all, would be great. Nice to know what to expect in advance rather than half way down the runaway !!
Our 2016 Ford Ranger tows a 2.2 tonne 18' Jayco popup, twin axle 4 x ALCO electric brakes - CVM over 5 tonne. Generally its fine on the steep stuff, but not so good after about 10 minutes of downhill.
Well I would say to you my WA visitor read the road signs and come down long hills in first gear, no ifs or butts.
The old saying is "drive to conditions". The worst road down the GDR that I have driven is the Oxley Highway from Tamworth to Port Macquarie, 40 odd Kms of winding road with very few places to let traffic overtake you when towing.
Being a West Australian that grew up in Midland the only long descent I really know of around Perth is down from Darlington. As kids we used to ride our bikes up to the State Park then coast down the hill.
Anyway, to the present day the worst descent in my area is Macquarie Pass between Moss Vale and Albion Park. Next would be Brown Mountain east of Cooma down to Bega - ten long kilometres from top to bottom.
Clyde Mountain between Braidwood and Batemans Bay, although the main descent is only five kilometres.
Kangaroo Valley isn't too bad, although heading south you have one descent, a climb up the other side then another steep descent. Heading north it is reversed.
Back in the early days the Bulli Pass down into Wollongong used to strike fear into ordinary motorists, but nowadays that can be bypassed by going down Mount Ousley - six lanes wide, almost straight with a 80km/h speed limit.
For Queensland the only one I have been on is the Cunningham's Gap - which is almost like a freeway on ramp after the mountains in this area.
As Radar says, manually select low gears when going down steep mountains. I mainly use 3rd gear in our Ranger, occasionally dropping down to 2nd for very steep, tight turns. That means I only have to touch the brakes from time to time - they never overheat. Where you see a sign "trucks and buses use low gear" consider that also applies to towing caravans as well.
There is other steep descents. They are all over the Eastern Seabroad of Australia. As a retired cranky old transport driver my brain would go into over drive trying to name them all.
Toowoomba to Brisbane
Canungra to Nerang and Mtn Tamborine to Gold Coast.
Tenterfield to Casino
Atherton Tablelands to Cairns where there is several
Charter Towers to Townsville.
Off the Blue Mtns to Lithgow
Bells line road Richmond to Lithgow, Kurrajong, Scenic and there is another in there that I can't remember the name, only short but very steep with a bend at the bottom or you could go Victoria Pass
Up near Rockhampton not as steep as some but will give your brakes a work out coming off the Range.
Walcha to Gloucester, it bute drive with a sneakie descent near the end.
Moombies near Tamworth
Where ever they are there is some of the best scenes, beautiful rain forest, generally less people, less traffic.
The Great Dividing Range, awesome bit of gear, just love it.
Freelancer1956 wrote: We know all the right descent techniques (in theory), but just knowing in advance what the bad hills to watch out for, or not do at all, would be great. Nice to know what to expect in advance rather than half way down the runaway !!
If you know the theory then the rest should be learned quickly. The signposting is getting better these days, Most of the steep ascent and descents I have encountered have the percentage of the maximum gradients on then. However I use lower gears on many more of the hills than other people do. As I breast the hill I look to see if a lower gear will retard my descent sufficiently such that I may not have to use the brakes on the way down. I am more likely to select too low a gear to descend some hills but in those cases it is easy to shift up a gear to increase speed and still not have to use too much braking.
If you foll that technique you may like our hilly country eventually, just as we like to experience it. Just be vigilant each time you see the road drop. "Nice to know what to expect in advance rather than half way down the runaway," if you follow my advice you will never be caught again. On descents do not wait for the speed to increase too much. Brake a little to rein in your speed and downshift before the speed builds up too much.
Now go and look for the hills listed above and get some real driving experience. You will increase your skills immensely.
Happy traveling in our scenic country.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
Be very aware also of the trucks that may be on the road during your times of travel, they may need a lot of space to negotiate some bends. Macquarie Pass is a good example
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Sunday 21st of April 2019 12:14:06 PM
I think that is the one bit of theory that I previously did not have. I was using 3rd and 2nd gear coming down the Talabingo and the Ranger was still pulling away - had to constantly alternate the brakes on and off. Down to first gear would have red lined the motor and rig down to a crawl. But if that's what it takes.......so be it.
Thank you all to the Replies so far - too many of you to reply individually - But I'll certainly be compiling all the info and cross referencing maps.
Any other replies MOST welcome.
Hi Freelancer1956,
If you go to UTube and search for the different roads that are of concern when you are travelling you may find dash cams and other movies of the descents.
There are some good ones in the most part from truckies but for an example I would ignore the vids by most motor cycle riders with no reasons why apart from my observations
Yes I agree re motorbike footage. I've seen a couple. Some of these riders probably have serious riding skills on the racetrack - but a dangerous mismatch with other road users just trying to stay safe.
I've been towing a 28 ft fifth wheeler now for 12 years and the scariest sight I had was the drop before me when I approached the start of the decent of the Stott Highway out of Angaston heading down to Sedan and Swan Reach SA.
What made it so scary for me was the narrowness of the road, the sheer drop on your left on the outside carriageway during the descent and the sudden awesome fall of land before you as far as the eye can see; you literally look out into a void of empty space. Thankfully it's not a never ending nightmare - quite short really, but I'll never forget the horror of that empty bottomless pit at the top of that descent.
Also depends on what engine you have and whether manual or automatic.
Normal diesels provide very little engine braking regardless of what gear you are in, and sometimes it is easier to control speed if you go up a gear so that air resistance increases enough to keep speed reasonable
There is a road that is a short cut from Bendemeer (NSW) to Manila going through Watsons Creek (a small village no an actual creek). This road is a total impossibility to tow a van as there is a left hand spur (severe bend), on a property named "Bungendore".
Another that is impossible for vans is Road from Taralgar (NSW) to Mittagong. Another in this general area is the road from Wombeyan Caves campground to Mittagong. Also the road from Black Springs to Yerranderie (Ghost Town) Campground. These three roads are the worst I have driven. They have severe hairpin bends and no safety fencing over horrendous steep sided valleys.
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Also depends on what engine you have and whether manual or automatic. Normal diesels provide very little engine braking regardless of what gear you are in, and sometimes it is easier to control speed if you go up a gear so that air resistance increases enough to keep speed reasonable
I disagree with that premise. If you are sticking to the main roads (highways) there is very little that I can not get down using engine braking as my main method of engine braking. Having an automatic diesel just means you have to use a lower gear to descend the steeper hills safely.
This thread seem to have generated into pick the hills that you should not tow an van through. Taralgar (NSW) to Mittagong via Wombean caves is not a road for van towing, it is not the hills that are the problem it is the tight curves and very narrow surface that is the limiter. It is not a main road so stay away from it.
If you stick to the sealed highways, there are no dangerous hills. Just dangerous drivers. If you develop your skills for driving mountainous roads you will not have any problems on the eastern coast highways.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
Also depends on what engine you have and whether manual or automatic. Normal diesels provide very little engine braking regardless of what gear you are in, and sometimes it is easier to control speed if you go up a gear so that air resistance increases enough to keep speed reasonable
I disagree with that premise. If you are sticking to the main roads (highways) there is very little that I can not get down using engine braking as my main method of engine braking. Having an automatic diesel just means you have to use a lower gear to descend the steeper hills safely.
This thread seem to have generated into pick the hills that you should not tow an van through. Taralgar (NSW) to Mittagong via Wombean caves is not a road for van towing, it is not the hills that are the problem it is the tight curves and very narrow surface that is the limiter. It is not a main road so stay away from it.
If you stick to the sealed highways, there are no dangerous hills. Just dangerous drivers. If you develop your skills for driving mountainous roads you will not have any problems on the eastern coast highways.
PeterD
Could not agree more.
Hey I was going to send the rescue squad to look for you, you have been quite.
