Cape York

[Jabob]

Hi Everyone, I am a new member to the club based in Adelaide SA. We are travelling to Cape York in June this year with a group, but we are the only ones planning to tow our caravan. It is 2011 ATV2 Kedron (with the new independent suspension) - the van is a 21 ft. with an extended draw bar - its ATM is 2800 kgs

I plan to take the Development Rd predominantly, rather than tackle the Telegraph Tracks - I am not planning a Gall Boys adventure! However, there seems to be many parks that do not allow caravans. Does anyone have any recent information/experience with towing a van to the top and taking any side trips to Chilli Beach, Twin Falls, Edith Falls etc with or without the van?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[Zolle]

Hi Everyone, I am a new member to the club based in Adelaide SA. We are travelling to Cape York in June this year with a group, but we are the only ones planning to tow our caravan. It is 2011 ATV2 Kedron (with the new independent suspension) - the van is a 21 ft. with an extended draw bar - its ATM is 2800 kgs

I plan to take the Development Rd predominantly, rather than tackle the Telegraph Tracks - I am not planning a Gall Boys adventure! However, there seems to be many parks that do not allow caravans. Does anyone have any recent information/experience with towing a van to the top and taking any side trips to Chilli Beach, Twin Falls, Edith Falls etc with or without the van?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Jabob

An ATV 21ft with an ATM of 2800kg ?????????????????

Are you sure it is not 3800kg?

Might see you on the Cape.

Cheers

[Bill and Wendy]

We travelled on the Development Road with a camper trailer last year but would have absolutely no hesitation in pulling our new Kedron ATV on that route. Our Toyota 200 was fitted with tougher tyres and we lowered the pressure while on the dirt which was rocky in places. As for side trips - it really depends on your own confidence while travelling on narrow rough tracks with the possibility on oncoming traffic. Doyley (another post) towed a 20 footer into Elliott Twin Falls with confidence. We would baulk at that after driving into Fruit Bat Falls - so it is really up to you. Can't comment on the other side trips as we did not go there.

As I said - what is possible for some may be too daunting for others (us included). June is a good choice of time to start your trip but there will still be a fair bit of traffic in most places. Be aware that National Parks now insist on pre booking sites in their camping areas. We think that this is not great as it takes away your travelling flexibility and locks in locations that you may not like on arrival. Some sites are just too small for vans. Other KOGgers may like to add to this.

Cheers,

Bill

PS. Our 20 foot (external) ATV has a tare weight of 2750kg and is plated for an ATM of 3500 kg. We haven't weighed it loaded yet but with 260 L water (if we choose to fill up), an outboard, genny and fuel up front, plus "essential" travelling comforts, including a few litres of liquid refreshment we may struggle to keep within limits. 2800 kg - I don't think so.

[Jabob]

[Hi, thanks for the information - it is very much appreciated. The rest of the group we are travelling with are all leaving their vans and off road trailers at Cooktown, so their access to various parks etc is not restricted.

I incorrectly typed the weights in my note - the tare is 2800 kgs, the ATM is 3500kgs. I was able to reduce the tare by 100kgs by adopting the new independent suspension. We tow it with Discovery 4 vehicle.

Bob and Jaquie.

quote name=Bill & Wendy' timestamp='1367320911' post='9946]

We travelled on the Development Road with a camper trailer last year but would have absolutely no hesitation in pulling our new Kedron ATV on that route. Our Toyota 200 was fitted with tougher tyres and we lowered the pressure while on the dirt which was rocky in places. As for side trips - it really depends on your own confidence while travelling on narrow rough tracks with the possibility on oncoming traffic. Doyley (another post) towed a 20 footer into Elliott Twin Falls with confidence. We would baulk at that after driving into Fruit Bat Falls - so it is really up to you. Can't comment on the other side trips as we did not go there.

As I said - what is possible for some may be too daunting for others (us included). June is a good choice of time to start your trip but there will still be a fair bit of traffic in most places. Be aware that National Parks now insist on pre booking sites in their camping areas. We think that this is not great as it takes away your travelling flexibility and locks in locations that you may not like on arrival. Some sites are just too small for vans. Other KOGgers may like to add to this.

Cheers,

Bill

PS. Our 20 foot (external) ATV has a tare weight of 2750kg and is plated for an ATM of 3500 kg. We haven't weighed it loaded yet but with 260 L water (if we choose to fill up), an outboard, genny and fuel up front, plus "essential" travelling comforts, including a few litres of liquid refreshment we may struggle to keep within limits. 2800 kg - I don't think so.

[Bill and Wendy]

Hi Bob & Jaquie,

Before we got the LC 200 we had a Disco 3. Loved it to bits but it was a lemon. Thought of going to a 4 but wanted to be able to have same wheels on the van and tug. Hope that yours doesn't have 19 inch wheels. We saw two up near the Cape, waiting to have tyres brought in because there were none available locally.

You are sure to enjoy your time up there providing you don't do anything silly. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there and would go back soon - if we didn't have so much to see elsewhere. Hopefully we will do WA next year after a few short local trips to get to know the new van.

Cheers,

Bill

[Jabob]

Hi Bill and Wendy, our D4 does have 19 inch wheels but we are taking 2 spares - one on the roof, so hopefully this will suffice! We have already taken our D4 and ATV on the Oodnadatta Track, Borefield Rd, the Darling River Run, outback NSW, Flinders Ranges etc and have had no problems. We have General Grabbers fitted, as Cooper tyres did not have a 19 inch tyre at the time. Interestingly on our last trip with the Range Rover/Discovery Club into outback NSW, there were 3 punctures over 7 vehicles - all were Cooper tyres!

Thanks again for your help.

Bob and Jaquie

quote name='Bill & Wendy' timestamp='1367463475' post='9950']

Hi Bob & Jaquie,

Before we got the LC 200 we had a Disco 3. Loved it to bits but it was a lemon. Thought of going to a 4 but wanted to be able to have same wheels on the van and tug. Hope that yours doesn't have 19 inch wheels. We saw two up near the Cape, waiting to have tyres brought in because there were none available locally.

You are sure to enjoy your time up there providing you don't do anything silly. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there and would go back soon - if we didn't have so much to see elsewhere. Hopefully we will do WA next year after a few short local trips to get to know the new van.

Cheers,

Bill

[Bill and Wendy]

Hi Jaquie & Bob,

We ran Coopers on our trip to the Cape last year. Wrangler Silent Armor made in America, not Indonesia (recommended by Kedron) were not available at the time. There were no flats but we replaced three under warranty at 12000km because of splitting just above the bead line. Those wheels are now on the Kedron while we get some wear out of the factory Dunlops fitted by Toyota.

Conditions on the Development Road changed daily because graders were working continuously. But freshly graded roads don't take all that long to get chopped up again. Interestingly, I was breath tested in the middle of nowhere in the vicinity of Archer River Roadhouse. We saw boofheads in a few places driving with a stubby in hand, so there is obviously a need for Police to make themselves seen.

Next year we hope to do a somewhat circuitous trip around Oz and we hope to see Flinders Ranges when we are in SA. To date we have only seen a bit of country from Murray Bridge through Adelaide and onto Yorke Peninsula - plenty left to see, I know.

A spare on the roof? I've seen it many times, but I know that my arms aren't hairy enough to lift one of ours up there.

Cheers,

Bill

[Jabob]

[Hi Bill and Wendy, when you are planning to come to SA let us know. The Flinders Ranges is one of my favourite places in the world. We would love to provide you with some ideas - I also spent much of my childhood years on York Peninsula so again can make some recommendations should you need them.

Regards,

Bob.

quote name=Bill & Wendy' timestamp='1367635315' post='9959]

Hi Jaquie & Bob,

We ran Coopers on our trip to the Cape last year. Wrangler Silent Armor made in America, not Indonesia (recommended by Kedron) were not available at the time. There were no flats but we replaced three under warranty at 12000km because of splitting just above the bead line. Those wheels are now on the Kedron while we get some wear out of the factory Dunlops fitted by Toyota.

Conditions on the Development Road changed daily because graders were working continuously. But freshly graded roads don't take all that long to get chopped up again. Interestingly, I was breath tested in the middle of nowhere in the vicinity of Archer River Roadhouse. We saw boofheads in a few places driving with a stubby in hand, so there is obviously a need for Police to make themselves seen.

Next year we hope to do a somewhat circuitous trip around Oz and we hope to see Flinders Ranges when we are in SA. To date we have only seen a bit of country from Murray Bridge through Adelaide and onto Yorke Peninsula - plenty left to see, I know.

A spare on the roof? I've seen it many times, but I know that my arms aren't hairy enough to lift one of ours up there.

Cheers,

Bill

[Bill and Wendy]

Thanks Bob,

It would be good to get some local knowledge for down your way. We loved what we saw on the Yorke Peninsula, but we were there at the wrong time of the year (August). The timing was not of our choice. There was an event at Monarto and we volunteered as assistants. It was a great experience but we had rain and wind. We had hoped to fish on the Peninsula but that was not really possible. Hopefully we will get there early in the year when we can expect better weather conditions.

We'll keep your offer in mind when we start to make definite plans.

Regards,

Bill

[Zolle]

Hi Everyone, I am a new member to the club based in Adelaide SA. We are travelling to Cape York in June this year with a group, but we are the only ones planning to tow our caravan. It is 2011 ATV2 Kedron (with the new independent suspension) - the van is a 21 ft. with an extended draw bar - its ATM is 2800 kgs

I plan to take the Development Rd predominantly, rather than tackle the Telegraph Tracks - I am not planning a Gall Boys adventure! However, there seems to be many parks that do not allow caravans. Does anyone have any recent information/experience with towing a van to the top and taking any side trips to Chilli Beach, Twin Falls, Edith Falls etc with or without the van?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Jabob

We are in Weipa and can assure you the PDR is generally in great shape having been recently graded and some road works still ongoing.

There are some nasty bits at some dips and creeks where a sign usually indicates a rough road but what is found in the bottom is a washaway filled with fairly large crushed rocks so take heed at all these signs. In other places there are what I call usual dirt road corrugations.

We were assured by a Bamaga local at Archer roadhouse that all roads heading north are in good condition.

The condition of the PDR is as good as we remember the GCR being in 2010.

If you intend camping in national parks then you will have to use the ePermit system as there is no self registraton on arrival.

Be careful of the booze restrictions in community areas.

Cheers