Camper trailer and the Cape

Question
Is taking a camper trailer up the cape a viable option?
reason I ask is with the possible up coming trip to the cape, what are peoples thoughts/opinions on tackling the cape with a trailer in tow

cheers

Shaun

Apart from a bit more fuel usage and possible repairs/maintenance along the way it shouldn't be a problem Shaun.
If the Gall Brothers from Kedron Caravans in Brissy can tow a full size van, a camper should be a walk in the park

I guess it also comes down to what tracks you take and which ones you dont. I have heard The development road is easy as, but the OTL can be tricky at times and then some of the others are even more so.

From what i have read and researched OTL can be done as long as you pick your lines and have a winch or two in the crew as well, and if this trip goes ahead no doubt there will be plenty around to lend a hand.

I am in a similar delema and i think when i do finally get to go, if the family comes too we will be towing. In saying that though my folks towed a camper across the simpson and all through w.a. and back, but they both said they were glad they didnt tow when they went up the cape. I guess it comes down to what you prefer, or in my case, what ever it will take the missus to consider.

Wouldn't worry me.
In June this year, another group I'm associated with, all very good friends(x10), took their campertrailers and 4bys to the Cape and back, the only headache was a broken shock absorber on a L/Cruiser 200series.
The only surface that would worry me, would be gibber rock country, like the Stoney desert.
But it's all comes down to vehicle maintence and driving style.
You'll be fine, and like they say, GET OUT THERE!

cheers guys
the main reason for asking is that with 3 kids and the wife, real estate in the vehicle will be at a premium

Hey Shaun -

As others have said, will depend on tracks taken and driving style. There's not really many other options with wife and 3 kids though. If there were two of you I'd suggest a roof top tent, but 5 up there would be interesting to say the least. We'll see what becomes of our planning, but I reckon with a good trailer and enough common sense you shouldn't have too many problems. Plenty of people have done it!

You have an extremely capable truck Shaun. (and you know how to drive it)I'd think that as long as you make a good choice when you get a trailer you will have no trouble at all.

We are considering taking a Camper Trailer to the Cape next year. I think I would agree with all the comments so far. Our trailer is a off raod built trailer. Vist http://www.robustcampers.com/ When we took delivery of it I asked the question, and was told that a friend of theirs had just returned from the cape with a Robust Camper. No worries. I am told that the company had cut back on their production, not because of demand, but obtaining skilled workers.

Seen plenty of them up there last year....and that was on the OTL as well. As said, pick your lines, use common sense, shouldn't be a drama. But above all else, do your preperations to make sure it will handle the Cape

great thread

we're now re-thinking our options after driving a load of stuff down to the gold coast today- heap of light but bulky stuff in the tray and float, upside down table on the roof. on the way home we took nearly an hour less, did a minimum of 90 most of the way and used half the fuel; with the float still on but nothing up top. this rules out our idea of a roof top tent as aside from being so slow, the fuel will be a problem.

so now we're trying to work out how to get enough stuff for long distance travel for 3 without anything on the roof. we're even considering taking the roof racks and canopy off to see if the roof racks make much difference.

don't know how we would get a camper trailer, but we can figure that out later

and to my lovely in-laws, yes i know we pick on camper-trailers a lot but maybe our only option

Taking the roof racks off will make a difference, but I don't think taking tha canopy off will make difference

no but our roof racks are full commercial bars mounted by about 1.5" square tubing through the roof of the canopy bolted to the floor of the tub- so it's pretty much for the bars to come off, off goes the canopy. that's why they're still on there- if it were easy they would've been removed and stored by now. on the upside, i imagine they take a huge amount of weight and aren't easy to flog.....

good old ex-telstra cars- certain mods they don't muck about with. shame the canopy is off an older ute, and the fact they just cut the live wire for the orange flashy and left it lying under the vinyl for the floor.

Squawker wrote:
don't know how we would get a camper trailer, but we can figure that out later

Camper trailers can be hired so that's always an option to keep in the back of your mind.

There is a company in Bris that hire the Trackabout campers and they hire them out to ppl going to the cape all the time