Cape York

[Jon Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Jon]

Re: Cape York

I am also going to the Cape in July, with 2 Poojeros and maybe a Rangie.
Will post itinerary shortly (need to convert it from Excel)

Basically, we depart Cairns on 7 July, go through Daintree, Cooktown, OTT track, Cape on 11July, TI,
back via bypass tracks, with all the good bits to see in between.
Back to Syd from Cairns on 21 July.
Hope to see many PP'ers on the trip!

Look out for my 2009 120 Charcoal Prado 120 with all the goodies

Jon

[kylie88 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kylie88]

Re: Cape York

We went to the Cape in August last year for 2 weeks. Didn't take the Prado, but instead took a Cruiser Ute (I didn't want the scratches!).

Had an awesome time, here is some pics:

We went across to Thursday Island - such a beautiful place. If you go all the way to the tip, it's worth pulling in here for a day trip. Had a drink (or 2) at the Top Pub.



This is all that is left of the "Frenchmans Track" sign. Hard to spot in all the dust.



This was the fuel price at Branwell Junction.



Gun shot, 2 sides. As per the first post on this topic - there is a way around, which is much easier than these!! The sign is pointing the hardest way to Nissans (left) and easier way on the right to Toyotas.



1 attempt at gunshot by GQ Patrol



And a 100 series having a go. We didn't know this guy, but he saw all of us having a go, so he did:

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

Re: Cape York

Fuel at $1.88. Better than the $2.32 we paid in the centre 2009. Watch it go up when we go later this year!!!

[Mardi120 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mardi120]

Re: Cape York

Lucky I have a corporate fuel sponsor planned (The old man's truck company fuel card).
Its all BP up there isn't it???
One week til departure - 4 weeks to get there. Can't wait!!!

[Jon Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Jon]

Re: Cape York

I will be travelling to the Cape in July with 2 Poojeros.
Their question is "do they need to have a snorkel fitted?'
Note both vehicles are a few years old and have done a few Km's. Would seem a waste of money if they are not really essential.
I now have a snorlkel and winch fitted, however have always used a bra and hand winch (only used to winch out the Poos) and never had any problems.
Advice please

[FlyNdrive Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyNdrive]

Re: Cape York

I will be travelling to the Cape in July with 2 Poojeros.
Their question is "do they need to have a snorkel fitted?'
Note both vehicles are a few years old and have done a few Km's. Would seem a waste of money if they are not really essential.
I now have a snorlkel and winch fitted, however have always used a bra and hand winch (only used to winch out the Poos) and never had any problems.
Advice please

Here is a quote from an information site for Iron Range NP. I wish I would see road signs with this as opposed to the "4 WD high clearance recommended" signs we have here.

"This is a challenging route with unpredictable creek crossings and steep banks. The road is severely eroded in places and is not recommended for vehicles towing trailers. Vehicles will require snorkels and recovery gear and drivers will need to be experienced."

COo.oOL!

BTW: I will be on The Cape from 20 Jun. - 4 Jul. If you see a black Land Cruiser 105 W? markings for "Dirty Weekends, and MAXTRAX" stop by and say, G'day.

[prado4x4 Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado4x4]

Re: Cape York

I will be travelling to the Cape in July with 2 Poojeros.
Their question is "do they need to have a snorkel fitted?'
Note both vehicles are a few years old and have done a few Km's. Would seem a waste of money if they are not really essential.
I now have a snorlkel and winch fitted, however have always used a bra and hand winch (only used to winch out the Poos) and never had any problems.
Advice please

Short answer - Yes.

I'm guessing at what vintage Pajero's you're talking about, but recent models have a terrible inward facing
air intake that sucks in water way too easily. Plus some of the water crossings will be reasonably deep at
that time (assuming you're going to use the OTL, and other fun tracks). For about $500, it's simple insurance
on the Paj's really.

Of course that's just my opinion, but I'm sure you don't want to be towing a stuffed Pajero out of anywhere :roll:

John

[toddy Member Find all posts View Profile Close toddy]

Re: Cape York

Hi all,

Visited the tip two years ago around easter in a stock standard '06 GXL. It handled it beautifully. Even after the rains there was only small creek and water crossings. Mind you we did only take the bypass track as we only had 4 days for the trip. (Was living in Weipa at that stage) Stayed at Elliot falls, awesome swimming hole along with Crystal Creek if you get a chance. The log bridge is one for the photo album

To answer a previous post, Yes BP are pretty much the only servo provider up north.

Personally i think anyone who drives gunshot is mad and wants to damage their car I had too many mates come out of there with severe damage...

Hope your trip goes well, I'm sure there are plenty of us wishing we were going also

Cheers,

[ABR-SIDEWINDER Member Find all posts View Profile Close ABR-SIDEWINDER]

Re: Cape York

I'm all set.

Snorkel and winch fitted and tested.

See you guys at the Tip 21st June to 5th July 2010.

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

Re: Cape York

Less than 2 weeks and we are off as well.1 x 120 GXL, 1 x 120 VX (white with trailer) + 1 x 150 GXL white. Leaving Brisvegas saturday 19-06 at 4 am from the twin BP's just north of caboolture.
Russell.

[jimtan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jimtan]

Re: Cape York

We are leaving for the cape in five days Yahoo!!
One silver 120 series and camper and one 80 series cruiser
C U up there.

[FlyNdrive Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyNdrive]

Re: Cape York

I'm leaving in 1 week. If you see a black LC 105 with "Dirty Weekends" and MAXTRAX printed on the side come over and say hello. We night have an extra Bundy's and Coke somewhere around.

-Ben

[Mardi120 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mardi120]

Re: Cape York

Just got back after 7 weeks return to Melbourne.

We did the southern half of OTL only bypassing Gunshot because we had the trailer on. Another guy with a trailer that we travelled with had a go and we spent 4 hours digging him out and he bent his trailer and busted a wheel bearing. The guy at Bramwell Roadhouse gave us some fantastic advice. "Don't let one crossing ruin a good holiday."

The 2nd crossing on the track (Ducie creek I think) is the hardest one on the track this year as it has a steep muddy entry. We bent a side step here and busted the trailer hand brake. If you get through that your right. Didn't do the northern half as we didn't want to flood the camper after hearing on windscreen high water on some creeks up north. Also we wouldn't have got the camper over a log bridge according to people coming south due to a sharp right hander. With no bypasses, we thought we'd exit at the falls and head to the tip from there on the PDR.

Highlight of the trip: Meeting Roothy and Milo at Archer River Campground and having our photo taken by the owner of TJM. Nice genuine blokes and they were all interested in having a good chat. In the end it was us who had to leave them.

[Aussie86 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Aussie86]

Re: Cape York

Hi Guys

To all those who went up in June, what's the condition of the OTL? I'm gettin a 2008 Prado Standard next week (8 July) and have been invited up the Cape via OTL track in August. My 4WD skill is low-medium and I'm a bit afraid of the water crossings if the water's up higher than last year (which I've heard). Still weighing up on whether to go or give it a miss this time and get some more experience up my sleeve first.

Cheers

Aussie86

[plucker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close plucker]

Re: Cape York

August is a great time to visit the Cape. The creeks are starting to fall and the roads are still good. The tourists are also starting to reduce in numbers but there are still enough around to provide help.