Towing Outback Jayco Into Cape??

[AC]

Hi All,
I brought a new Jayco Swan Outback last year and will be travelling north in it. Still trying to decide whether to leave it at cooktown or drag it all the way to punsand bay. I will be looking at stopping off at all the usual spots and will have different base station points to do day trips from. I was expecting to go the easiest way up.

I will have the wife and two kids, wife doesnt look keen on tenting it for 4 weeks, just after suggestions on whether to take it into the cape or not.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

thanks Alan

[loxsmith]

I had a Jayco several years ago and if they still have leaf springs I would leave it somewhere short of the Cape maybe Hann River Roadhouse or Musgrave Roadhouse!
Failing that grab yourself some spare spring packs, you'll need 'em. Stay away from Battlecamp road and you are in with a chance!

Set realistic travel distances and just take your time.

Glen

[campdog]

I came across a a couple of outbacks in Weipa a couple of years ago and folled them across Batavia in the rain, Seemed to handle it OK and met up again at Bamaga. They didnt venture the Tele Track tough. I think I would take one. Why drag it half way, But thEn again I break trailers in half as well.
JOHN

[AC]

I had a Jayco several years ago and if they still have leaf springs I would leave it somewhere short of the Cape maybe Hann River Roadhouse or Musgrave Roadhouse!
Failing that grab yourself some spare spring packs, you'll need 'em. Stay away from Battlecamp road and you are in with a chance!

Set realistic travel distances and just take your time.

Glen

Currently the plan is to leave it in cooktown and tent the rest of the trip. farthest i have been into the cape is lakefield, i am sure i can easily get it at least to there.

Regards Alan

[plucker]

Bitumen all the way to Cooktown, but the road onwards can be corrugated.

[the tractor]

i've seen them at Weipa, and if you stick to the PDR and go EASY you can get to the tip. But that means all the intersting bits will become side trips.

One of my mates sells them and recommends against it.

I'd drop it at cooktown, musgrave, merluna or weipa and tent up!

[dingo]

Taken from Jayco's website about the Outback Campers


Jayco’s Outback range has the added strength and clearance you’ll need for rugged conditions, but there are limits!
Some bush tracks are barely suitable for a 4WD, let alone a Camper Trailer!

One thing’s for sure: when you reach your destination, you’ll really appreciate the home comforts inside your Jayco Outback Camper Trailer!

When you are driving ‘off road’ and in unfamiliar territory, always take precautions such as driving slower and with extra care … as the most experienced 4-wheel drivers say: “it’s best to use your Camper Trailer as a base station and head into rougher terrain without anything under tow”.

So having had a bit of a look at them on the net only and there recommendations just a few places places I wouldn't take it,
Battlecamp Road
CREB Track
Old Telegraph Line Track

Now it depends on how much time you have to set it up as a base camp for a few days and go and look at things as you will have to back track all the time to go and pick up the camper and move it to the next place.

You will be able to take it to as far as Bamaga/Siesia if you use the PDR all the way with a bit of common sense and reduced speeds just remember that this type of trailer is a off road/dirt road trailer and not an all terrain trailer like the Track, Kimberly , Ulimate , Australian Odyssey trailers just to name a few of the more "Hard Core" trailers.

Take a few spares for it like wheel bearings , spare spring pack, spare nuts and bolts of the right size to suit the trailer, including coupling bolts.
It's easier to have the spare bits with you rather than have to wait up to a week at times for parts to catch up with you (and cheaper)
I found last year that getting even nuts and bolts between Cooktown and Bamaga or Weipa is a real hit and miss affair.
Also think of the size of nuts and bolts for any bolt on accessories as these probably wont be the same thread size or pitch as your vehicle. Also metric and Imperial type threads.

Also consider how much extra camping gear you will have to carry if you leave the camper somewhere for a few days and you camp elsewhere. It's all added weight for the tow vehicle.

Just as a side note my mate wants me to tow his 25 foot boat to Siesia in 2011 while he tows the 16 footer. So I have set him the task of up-grading / beefing up the trailers before then to suit the trip. I am even trying to convince him to barge the big one up and back from Cairns.

[AC]

Taken from Jayco's website about the Outback Campers



So having had a bit of a look at them on the net only and there recommendations just a few places places I wouldn't take it,
Battlecamp Road
CREB Track
Old Telegraph Line Track

Now it depends on how much time you have to set it up as a base camp for a few days and go and look at things as you will have to back track all the time to go and pick up the camper and move it to the next place.

You will be able to take it to as far as Bamaga/Siesia if you use the PDR all the way with a bit of common sense and reduced speeds just remember that this type of trailer is a off road/dirt road trailer and not an all terrain trailer like the Track, Kimberly , Ulimate , Australian Odyssey trailers just to name a few of the more "Hard Core" trailers.

Take a few spares for it like wheel bearings , spare spring pack, spare nuts and bolts of the right size to suit the trailer, including coupling bolts.
It's easier to have the spare bits with you rather than have to wait up to a week at times for parts to catch up with you (and cheaper)
I found last year that getting even nuts and bolts between Cooktown and Bamaga or Weipa is a real hit and miss affair.
Also think of the size of nuts and bolts for any bolt on accessories as these probably wont be the same thread size or pitch as your vehicle. Also metric and Imperial type threads.

Also consider how much extra camping gear you will have to carry if you leave the camper somewhere for a few days and you camp elsewhere. It's all added weight for the tow vehicle.

Just as a side note my mate wants me to tow his 25 foot boat to Siesia in 2011 while he tows the 16 footer. So I have set him the task of up-grading / beefing up the trailers before then to suit the trip. I am even trying to convince him to barge the big one up and back from Cairns.


Thanks for the advice, tracks to avoid are great, I was only going to use the jayco as a base station, after all it is outback not offroad. i do heaps of 4wd driving so the idea of dragging a trailer of any type over 4wd tracks is very overated. It may be different in the cape but in vic I personally think it is pointless other than for a base station. Towing anything offroad seriously impairs the capability of your 4wd while increasing the opportunity for something to go wrong.

The intention was to leave it at Cooktown at a friends parents place and the camp it for the next 4 weeks. When the wife heard the 4 weeks part she wasnt too keen. Still think we can fit it all in by roof bag for clothing and bedding.

The fartherest north I was looking at going was Punsand Bay and then just day trips from there.

Just out of curiosity what would be the possible places that i could leave the van further North?

Thanks Alan

[the tractor]

weipa, merluna station, bramwell, moreton might too.