Cape York or bust May 2012

[Brains Find all posts View Profile Close Brains]

Waiting with baited breath. Doing this trip next June.

Same, going June/July next year too.

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

That afternoon sprayed all the electrics with CRC, checked air box, etc and tried to start the Prado but it would not fire up. Decided to let the Prado air out over night and try again in the morning. We set up camp and i had the worst night of sleeping, chewing over what i could have done different, and what to do in the morning because in my heart i knew i will need to be towed. The next morning tried to start the Prado and it started and ran but the starter stayed engaged so i popped out the starter fuse and let the moter run and warm up. All the water sitting in the exhaust got blown out but after about 5 minutes the engine died and didn't run again. It was decided to tow me to the Developmental Rd, so Nathan with the 100 Series wagon volunteered.



The plaque we left at Nolans Brook before we left that morning.

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

Doesn't sound good Derek, I can imagine the night of laying awake worrying. I cant tell if you are writing this 'live' or if its retrospective?
You also haven't mentioned is there water in the air box? or is it an electrical issue?

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

Doesn't sound good Derek, I can imagine the night of laying awake worrying. I cant tell if you are writing this 'live' or if its retrospective?
You also haven't mentioned is there water in the air box? or is it an electrical issue?

There was a little bit of water on the air box but dry on the intake side, the issue was electrical, engine wanted to start up by itself, the starter button was playing up, the starter stayed engaged, radios not working, lots of dash lights on then off then on again.

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

It was about 11km to the Developmental Rd on the side track there so slow going being towed.



Once we reached the Developmental Rd Pete with his Hilux was going to take over towing me to Bamaga, so we unhooked from Nathan's 4wd and hooked up to Pete's Hilux.



Helga and me said goodbye to the Tip Trippers and thanked them for letting us join them and helping us, and then the trip to Bamaga.

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

When we got to Bamaga went straight to Cape York repair garage, i walked in and saw Andy and told him what happened, he said i was the 2nd vehicle to get drowned at Nolans this year. The first one was a 200 series cruiser 4 or 5 days previous but in a worst case senario the cruiser was stuck for over 24 hours with water over the steering wheel. Andy said it was one of the hardest recoveries he's had, burnt out a winch and busted several straps. He asked if i had insurance which i did, he then asked what the electrics was doing, whether strange things was going on, yep spot on. Its a write off and its covered by insurance as the OTT is a gazetted road. He would organise to get the Prado to townsville on the barge. We grabbed some clothes and other items and Andy borrowed us his old toyota ute to set up camp at Loyalty Beach while we wait for a flight out to Cairns.

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

We made the most of it until we were set to fly out to Cairns, the staff and owner at Loyalty Beach were great, a big thankyou to Debbie and the owner Patsy. Here are some sunsets sitting near our room at Loyalty.

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

We hired a Troopy and rattled our way to the tip, so we finally made it to the Northern most point on Australia's mainland.



Us having a meal at Loyalty Beach restaurant, this is a great campground, if you go up there this is the place to stay.

[stevensr34 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stevensr34]

Nolan's takes another one...
Really the only safe way to go is to be snatched across...(we were, and our 120 series petrol was/is fine).

Incidentally, is each model of Prado less waterproof than the last? I bet there's far more electronic aids, etc just waiting to get wet!

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

We flew to Cairns last monday 21st May and waited for the Prado to arrive on the barge from Bamaga, it arrived thursday and we unloaded all our camping gear etc, then we flew home to Darwin that same day, that afternoon before we flew out our insurance company who had stated that our Prado was a write off before this phone call now said that it was repairable and it was getting repaired in Townsville, so now we are just waiting what the outcome will be. Either way i can't wait to get the Prado back or a new one so we can go out on the tracks again.
As soon as i get more photos/videos of the trip i'll post them up here.

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

Wow! My hat is off to you and Helga for persevering through that drama and still making it to the tip; that's inspiring! .

We set up camp and i had the worst night of sleeping, chewing over what i could have done different

I know that feeling. We all take calculated risks when 4WD'ing and sometimes it goes awry. Such is the risk of adventure, but well worth it! I guess we could stay at home and wait for Roothy's DVD's to arrive so we can be couch potatoes and brag about his adventures . Nah, glad to see you took the risk and now get to write it up for us to learn from.

You know, there doesn't seem to have been so much water in the cabin that it should cause such electrical drama. Do you know if the problem was a drowned computer? I must look to see where the computer is mounted; does anyone know?

LFaR.

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

Nolan's takes another one...
Really the only safe way to go is to be snatched across...(we were, and our 120 series petrol was/is fine).

I guess someone has to go first. After the first crossing, this sounds like a sensible precaution.

Given Derek lost momentum for less than a minute, it seems you would have to snatch them all the way across the creek to be safe. From the vids I've seen, I doubt that is practical? How did you prepare for the snatch Steven?

LFaR.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Derek great trip, my heart sank as i read about the drowning, when u talikng about been snatched across the river are we talikng a dry snatch with the car off, or driving across and a snatch attached so u don't get stuck. i am assuming no water entered until u came to a stop?? i thought it was great that u went on in a rental and lived the dream anyhow, not sure i would have been in the right frame of mind to continue.

[adamr7 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close adamr7]

Got me a little nervous. We head up the cape in just three weeks.

[blkd4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close blkd4d]

Derek reading what you said I must of been close to having the same problems . Maybe the water just didn't get as high as it was in yours . I had every thing wet that was siting on the floor and it took a bit to dry out . The computers are in the same place aren't they between the 120 and 150. I will do Nolans again and should be up there 2014 try the Simpson next year. Its luck up there . 2 hiluxes and my fathers challenger they made it then I got stuck and me mates 76 series we both had trailers then while waiting for the car to dry out a bit i think another 4 cars no drama. Next time i think the snatch strap will be already attached and whoever can start pulling straight away . i would go up again now if i could get the leave