OFF Road Caravaning
Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 15:34
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Member - Louise Cain L
Just wondering has anyone out there taken an Off Road Caravan up to Walsh Point/Port Warrander WA. Doing this trip in a few months. Just wondering what to expect beside extreme Off Roadness.
Reply By: Member - Peter G20 - Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 15:59
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 15:59
Hi there. We were there years ago and turned back only about 30 k's from the coast.
The track was as rough as guts and a crew leaving there who passed us and stopped complained bitterly about the hordes of sand flies!
However we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Surveyers
pool. Just off the same track North of
Mitchell Falls.
It's a short track in but it was ok for the camper trailer but would have been too difficult for a larger caravan. Very narrow and sharp corners on a steep slope!
Cheers
Pete
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Reply By: braggy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 16:34
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 16:34
You don't say what size van,
but it wouldn't want to be very big or heavy,
It's rough and narrow (not overly used),
and from memory I think there were sand/mud flats at the end.
Was over 3 yrs ago, but doubt it would have been maintained.
Nice spot though,
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546494
Follow Up By: Member - Louise Cain L - Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 16:42
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 16:42
An Off road 18.6ft Kododa Mission, they advertise that they are off road so we are going to give it a go especially while its under the 1st year warranty
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Follow Up By: Gronk - Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 20:12
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 20:12
Just because they advertise it as offroad, doesn't mean it can go down tracks only suitable for 4wds and SMALL fair dinkum offroad vans..
At 18.6ft, it is too long and heavy for anything extreme...that size van is better suited to dirt roads and tracks...just like the
Gibb river etc..
Nice looking van though...and I'd be checking the wording of the warranty if planning to abuse it !!
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Follow Up By: braggy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 21:12
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 21:12
If you take it slow and easy from
King Edward River into
Mitchell Falls you should be OK. Then maybe do a drive out that way without the van to see what its like.
The track was a bit narrow for a 8'wide van, you will get scratches and that cladding is quite thin.
You will want to have a decent 4X4, with diff locks,winch, a heap of recovery gear and a buddy, and a real desire to get that size van out there, I'm guessing it would be over 3 ton.
Kalumburu (
Honeymoon bay), north of the
Mitchell Falls turn off is easier to get to, and a really magic spot and still a fair effort towing a van. but that road usually opens late in the season.
They do look like a decent sort of van for the dirt roads
Caravans and warranty, uhmmmm
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Reply By: PhilD - Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 22:55
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 22:55
I ditto the above. I have been as far as Surveyors
Pool 3 times, but have not ventured as far as Port Walsh/Port Warrender as it is sand fly hell a lot of the time, beach launching is not good, and I have not wanted to destroy the vehicles and trailers. It depends on the season, but I have been reliably informed that the last part is very washed out and steep, and if you get stuck, there is no way backwards with a large something on the back. There are much better
places to visit if you value your money. A 18.5 foot van is NOT compatible with that area. Leave your van at say Surveyors
Pool and do it as a day trip, if you have to go, and do it with company.
If you don't believe the advice, please talk to the guys at
Drysdale River Station who used to go up there, and I am sure they will know its current condition.
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546525
Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 23:06
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2015 at 23:06
I heard a good story a few years back.
A couple of lads drove into Port Warrender in a Hilux with a tinny on top, putted across to
Kimberley Coastal
Camp in the tinny and house sat there for the wet.
When the rain stopped, they putted back to the Hilux, but then could not get out because the road was gone.
At great expense, they got the Hilux out on a barge.
Good story anyhow.... :)
It's still on my list....
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
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546526
Reply By: Member - Kelvo - Wednesday, Feb 25, 2015 at 01:01
Wednesday, Feb 25, 2015 at 01:01
Should you take a 18'+ caravan, no.
This was June 2014 at this point
https://goo.gl/maps/k7Yjp
This was after a fairly long, steep, narrow, rocky decent. Which you then have to go backup.
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Follow Up By: Member - Rosco from way back - Wednesday, Feb 25, 2015 at 15:36
Wednesday, Feb 25, 2015 at 15:36
I second Kelvo's comments. We went in last year and it was exactly as shown in the photo. From memory the last 6 Km took about 2 hours towing a solidly built CT.
No place for a van of your size (if you want it out in one piece).
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