greenhorn intro

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Hey everyone! found this site through the 4wd action forums and as i'm planning on going to the cape in the next 12 months, thought i'd best join up!
Get the small talk out of the way first...21, live in brisbane, work for Cummins, 1990 GQ, rb30, 5'' efs lift with the usual bits that go along with it. runs 33'' mudders. pretty basic setup.

Want to go to the cape(from brisbane) in the next 12 months after doing a little more work on my truck. was wondering what basic requirements should be met, what are the best tracks to take, time of year to go etc. Want to go when it's a touch wet for some water crossings.

I haven't done much to this truck as of yet as i wasn't sure what i wanted to do with it (have had a few fourbies before) so now it's set up for strictly weekend warrior duties at local tracks, fraiser, straddie etc. What would you all consider neccesary when setting up the vehicle? I'm planning snorkal, winch, dual batteries, roof basket. Also, should i even bother with a petrol patrol? I could just as easily sell my current one in favour for a 4.2 or 2.8 diesel

I have everything i will need for camping, genset, bruno, swag, bedding, cooking stuff, water tanks, shower etc.

What places are safe for kayaking, swimming? and last but not least, How many k's in the round trip?

cheers for the great forum guys. Keep on truckin.

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and in regards to track options....i'd want the stubby lever to be firmly locked in 4wd low as much as possible.

[Stacky]

Hey everyone! found this site through the 4wd action forums and as i'm planning on going to the cape in the next 12 months, thought i'd best join up!
Get the small talk out of the way first...21, live in brisbane, work for Cummins, 1990 GQ, rb30, 5'' efs lift with the usual bits that go along with it. runs 33'' mudders. pretty basic setup.

Want to go to the cape(from brisbane) in the next 12 months after doing a little more work on my truck. was wondering what basic requirements should be met, what are the best tracks to take, time of year to go etc. Want to go when it's a touch wet for some water crossings.

I haven't done much to this truck as of yet as i wasn't sure what i wanted to do with it (have had a few fourbies before) so now it's set up for strictly weekend warrior duties at local tracks, fraiser, straddie etc. What would you all consider neccesary when setting up the vehicle? I'm planning snorkal, winch, dual batteries, roof basket. Also, should i even bother with a petrol patrol? I could just as easily sell my current one in favour for a 4.2 or 2.8 diesel

I have everything i will need for camping, genset, bruno, swag, bedding, cooking stuff, water tanks, shower etc.

What places are safe for kayaking, swimming? and last but not least, How many k's in the round trip?

cheers for the great forum guys. Keep on truckin.

I think you sound pretty much setup for the cape, oh except that you own a nissan. If your gonna bring that up here then make sure you have plenty of extra fuel and spare parts or even better, a good pair of walking shoes to get home in.
If your still game and want to see the place wet then i reckon April and May would be best as long as we don't have a late wet season or cyclone. You probably won't get into a lot of places if that happens.
How much time you got off? There is an endless amount of places to go where the little lever will need locking in.
As for kayaking and swimming, anywhere along the telegraph track is good or the upper upper upper reaches of the Archer or Wenlock, be very wary in any creek or river. I have a rule, if you can't see the bottom then there's no garantee it is 'SAFE'.

[ant]

April and May are good if you don;t mind a bit of a gamble with a late wet. In saying this, if you leave things till later, then it may not be as interesting on the tracks and it sounds like you want as much adventure as you can get.

I would recommend going to a diesel with a snorkel.

There is a fella up there at the moment who got stuck in Nolans who is waiting on a new motor so he can get going again! Not that it makes too much difference, but I hear he was driving a Nissan.

Crocs: I was given some good advice when I first went to the cape. " Treat any piece of water on the cape with caution as they can have crocs in them"
I have seen salties far above waterfalls and in sections of fresh water in the Wenlock. As a rule, I am always looking for signs of them and will not venture into water that I cannot see at least a few metres in front of me.
UNLESS I am chasing mudcrabs! Everything goes out the window then.

[plucker]

You have to remember you get crocs on the beach, some closer islands and even some reefs when mother ships are anchored for many days at a time.
Swimming is safe in designated areas!!!

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cheers for the advice guys! i've thought about the petrol v diesel argument and am leaning towards waterproofing it a little more than it already is and seeing how i go. How many track oprions are there? I would most likely take 4 weeks off work if neccesary to allow a few days either side for warm up/cool down.

In regards to toyota v nissan, have owned a few of both. decided to go with nissans because A, cheaper B, coil sprung C, Cheap parts (toyota parts KILLED me last time i owned one) and D, I like working on cars....this one gives me a steady supply of things that can be fixed or modified....
Looking at upgrading to a cruiser troopy one day. but not till this one kicks the bucket.

[Stacky]

cheers for the advice guys! i've thought about the petrol v diesel argument and am leaning towards waterproofing it a little more than it already is and seeing how i go. How many track oprions are there? I would most likely take 4 weeks off work if neccesary to allow a few days either side for warm up/cool down.

In regards to toyota v nissan, have owned a few of both. decided to go with nissans because A, cheaper B, coil sprung C, Cheap parts (toyota parts KILLED me last time i owned one) and D, I like working on cars....this one gives me a steady supply of things that can be fixed or modified....
Looking at upgrading to a cruiser troopy one day. but not till this one kicks the bucket.

I recommend getting the 'Cape York Adventurers' book by Ron and Viv Moon. It has most tracks listed and gives a good description on time taken and places to see. A good read of this and you can make your own mind up on which route to take. There are lots of options, even leaving Cairns you have the CREB track or Cape Trib but it really depends on how much driving each day and how long you stop to which way you want to go up through the Cape.
It sounds as though you like to stay off the main track and have a go, so i'd recommend taking the CREB, from Cooktown take Cape Melville and come back down through Lakefields NP and on to Musgrave then Coen. Now you should have gone through most of the grog you might have carried, so while your at Coen get the latest details on the AMP restrictions and restock accordingly. Then you can tackle the NP's north west of Coen and back out to Archer. Most choices from here north you can tackle by taking one route in and another route out for eg. main road into Chili beach and Frenchman's track out or other way round if southbound. I could keep going but i would be rewriting an informative book i mentioned.
These suggestions are really going to depend on how wet it is when you come up.
Oh yeah, you definetely chose the right car if you enjoy doing lot's of work on them.

[moo-moo]

does anyone know if the creb track is open yet

[dave]

YES I THINK THE CREB IS OPEN .THE ROAD REPORT WEB LINK

http://www.cook.qld.gov.au/council/Roads/currentstatus.shtml