Hands down best comprehensive insight into the Cape I've seen! I've been up there 5 times and have to laugh at the "fluf" that gets thrown around on RU-vid and forums. Well done 👍👌
Thanks mate, appreciate that. Means a lot coming from someone who is no doubt more qualified to speak on this area than me. I'm glad I managed to resonate relatively accurate information though, hopefully it helps many others plan their ultimate Cape trip 👍
a great overview and summary of the trip to the cape - it is really freshing to get an unbiased and down to earth review of what to expect and the options and services and facilities along the way. there are so many youtube's of the cape trip that build an unrealistic picture of what it is really like to over dramatise it. thanks for the honest and really informative episode - keep up the great work.
I agree with the previous comments. The best summation of a trip to Cape York I've watched, and I've watched a lot over the years. It's about as good as it gets. Anyone planning a trip to Cape York would do well to watch this video. We had our little adventure back in 2017 towing a Jayco Eagle Outback. We went via Weipa and had an incident free trip. We did not attempt the OTT but looked at bits of it and saw the carnage it can cause. Our focus was the Tip, not the OTT. There is a lot of history up there and lots to see. I would have loved to have been able to watch your video before we left. Well done Nathan and thanks.
Thank you so much Nathan, you should be proud of this video. It is not only the most comprehensive and well thought out video I have seen on Cape York but arguably any Australian destination. We are really enjoying following your adventures and look forward to the next episode. Regards Steve
Awesome, thanks Steve! Appreciate that comment and hopefully it can hope many others. I've got plenty of footage ready for the editing desk, just struggling to find the time at this stage 😬
Thanks Nathan for taking the time to provide this information in such detail. This video will be invaluable to us when we head up the Cape next year. Cheers, Richard.
Thanks mate, they do take some time but I find reward in the positive reposes I get here and the people who can get value from this information 👍 Thanks
Really appreciate the video mate. We've been talking of a cape trip for a while. We have the same zone base with 2 kids as the other couple so this is invaluable! Haven't found as good a guide as yours definitely appreciate the down to earth style.
That's awesome to hear mate and I'm glad this video could help somewhat too! Hopefully you'll be out there in no time and now, you don't have to worry about the van setup 👍
Thanks Nathan for this down to earth assessment of the options for us towing folk. When I eventually get to do this trip your video will be an invaluable planning tool. Great job and it sounds like you guys are really enjoying your travels.
Another cracker mate! Brilliant adventure and the usual top shelf analysis. I closed my eyes for the scary bits 😂 pleased you and the family team came through unscathed
Excellent video. I worked uo the Cape for many years, rescued and repaired many silly sausages even back in the late 90s / 00s before it got super popular with tourusts. Your video should be compulsory viewing for anyone heading up there. Great to find a youtube 4x4 guy that's a normal decent sensible bloke, not the usual hyperactive cockheads that infest the genre. Love your work mate, subscribed.
Well done Nathan, another great video. Cruiser might need some panel & paint when you get home but that's what they're for. Oh and that shirt, mate I think you won the bet. 😊👍
Apart from your very loud shirt (which made my eyes bleed) that was a really excellent video. Covered all the topics that someone who has not been there before would want to know about. Well done. Thanks - David
Most caravaners/motorhomes/ campers run channel 18. Channel is the truckies channel & unfortunately the language used on channel 40 is definitely not family friendly. My tip as a 2nd generation truckie of over 35 years experience is, whether you use 18 or 40, get a vinyl sticker on the rear of your van or camper, large enough to be clearly read, with your name/handle & channel, or channels (if you use 2 UHF radios) clearly displayed Hey Nate, what brand & model are the wheels your running on the Cruiser This might be one of the best episodes in busting the myths about how "treacherous & difficult" the Cape is.
Hi AndyKmet, Dan here with the ranger in the video. Nathan and I were both running 2 UHF’s each. In the case on the Bloomfield track that Nathan was talking about there is a sign at the start of the track that tells people to use channel 40. We did at points have to scan all the channels to try and make contact with other convoys, to try and do the right thing and let them know we were heading towards them. Thanks for the tips, we will be looking at getting a sticker made up. I’ll let Nathan answer the tyre question. 😊
Hey mate, looks like Dan has beat me to your points re. the UHF channel, but yes many people on the road could do with some education regarding this form of communication 👍 In regards to the wheels, I'm running the Method NV305 matt black in a 18x9'' with a +25 offset. They sit just flush with the guards and obviously look good 😆
Hi Nathan (and family) Appreciate the time and effort in producing these so Thx for uploading this - very comprehensive and informative for those of us that still have the Cape on a ‘to do’ list. Noting your friends in the Ranger had no winch, was that an issue on the sections of the OTT you did or they got through without one ok ? Cheers
Thanks mate, this was an awesome trip and was fun to put something together that might be able to help others out 👍 So that's right. Neither of us required winches in the end anyway for the 75% of so of the OTT that we completed. As mentioned in this episode, it really doesn't have to be as hard as some people make it out to be. This also being said, I wouldn't go out there along without a winch though... 👍
Absolutely fantastic Nathan ! Extremely well presented and detailed with not only great advice, but very practical advice. Well done mate but one question I have …. why, why … the shirt Nathan ?? ! 😎😁
Thanks mate appreciate that and hopefully it can help others out when they plan their ultimate Cape trip 👍 Seisa was a nice little community. We didn't stay there, but spent a little time having a look around. Couldn't really offer to much more opinion given my little time spent their 👍
Thanks Natham, for the great Insite to the tip. I have a daughter in Cairns, so when I am over there ( yes I too come from WA) I would like to do the tip, but was wondering about the roads around there, and how suitable they were for a camper
Hi Allan, I’m Dan from this episode, taking a camper or in our cases caravans (that identified as campers during different parts of the track) was fine. We drove to the conditions and took our time especially around bends as the road was slightly more corrugated. Good luck on your trip!
Great video Nathan and the summary of the trip was well explained, I am very interested in the Bloomfield Track and towing my van through there. my van is quite heavy around 3.7 ton loaded with water and 9m long, and i am wondering if my tow car will handle the steep 30-degree incline. my tow car is a well maintained 100 series land cruiser with around 650nm and manly setup for towing and running 2 transmission oil coolers with a lockup torque converter kit. what do you think after your experience on the Bloomfield Track, about towing a heavy caravan up those steep inclines.
Thanks mate, glad this video could help somewhat. With the the information you provided, I personally think you will be just fine with the weights in your setup. Utilising low range, lowered tyres pressures and taking it easy, your 100 series would be able to complete this no problems (in my opinion). Let us know how you go if you end up completing the track. 👍
Another great episode Nathan. Did Teagan & the kids enjoy the cape as much as you? I just realised it’s been 22 years since my last trip up the cape & 31 years since the first. Many of those crossings on the OTL (OTT 🤔) looked completely different to when I last saw it. One of the years I was up there, there were still guys forging across the old Ford on the Jardine River to avoid the ferry toll…..it was actually quite hard on the bottom. That Ferry is a joke. Was Chilly Beach windy? Could you visit the Mungkan Kaanju National Park or is that still closed off to non Aboriginal people?
Thanks mate 🤙 Teagan and the kids loved Cape York! I think it really is the definition of an adventurer's paradise! So much to see and do, we barely scratched the surface! I can imagine the crossing and mainly the entries to the creeks would look significantly different! They sure are a challenge in themselves. Yeah, the ferry is a bit ridiculous. The Jardine doesn't look that bad (at the time of year we visited). Some money making schemes going on there! Chilli Beach was very windy! Like really, really windy and it didn't ease up day or night. We certainly got tested in regards to our outdoor living/kitchen arrangements.
@@XploringOz That’s great, I’m glad ur all enjoying it. At least there’s a little bit of technical Driving, dropping the 200 of Gunshot would have got the blood pumping, there’s literally only an inch or so before you do a panel on the embankment. I don’t think I will ever get the chance to go back, so watching your episode was all the more enjoyable 👍🏻 Onwards and upwards, not sure where you’re off to next but you must be in your 8th month…..wow time flys when ur having fun……I reakon you will get about 100km out of Perth, pull a handbrake turn and head in the other direction to see what a clockwise lap is like 🤣
Great vid mate. We are planning a trip next year and this is exactly what I was looking for. Is there a particular map book or guidebook you would recommend? I Appreciate the time and effort you put into this. Subscribed! 👍
Thanks mate, appreciate the feedback 🙏 We just used a HEMA Australia Atlas and a HEMA detailed map on the Cape York region. This seemed to be enough for us 👍 All the best with your trip mate, I'm sure it will be epic! 🤙
Great review. We are purchasing a new Ford EverestV6 as we didn't want a ute. In your opinion and what you have seen will this pull a van as well as the Ranger.
Hi @@james1966., I own the ranger in the video, the ranger did well, all things considered, I’ve done 30,000kms now and it’s done everything I’ve asked of it. It’s clearly built at a price point and my expectations are reasonable. With a snorkel and a lift (maybe a winch) it could have driven the whole Telegraph track, being that it is our only vehicle and we live in the caravan full time, we made the decision to minimize risks that were not necessary. To engage & disengage the locker was a bit annoying as it needs to be done using the screen in the middle (which I needed to do about 💯 times on the southern part of the tele track.) I also had a pretty bad oil leak at about 15000km out of the turbo which is a common issue for the V6. I drive a 3.2lt Everest for work and really like it, I would have liked to go an Everest as well but I know that they won’t be releasing any sort of GCM upgrade soon which is what we are going to need when we upgrade our caravan in a few months. Hope you enjoy your Everest as much as we have enjoyed our ranger!
Another great vid thanks Nathan, a little side issue how did your mate go with his ranger compared to the cruiser, currently running a cruiser but have a ranger on order . Car will basically be a tourer towing a van, cheers
Hi @ozbound6608, I own the ranger in the video, the ranger did well, all things considered, I’ve done 30,000kms now and it’s done everything I’ve asked of it. It’s clearly built at a price point and my expectations are reasonable. With a snorkel and a lift (maybe a winch) it could have driven the whole Telegraph track, being that it is our only vehicle and we live in the caravan full time, we made the decision to minimize risks that were not necessary. The most annoying thing I found while on the tracks was putting the diff lock on and off, having to use the screen in the middle to engage and disengage.
Thanks mate, looks like Dan beat me to your questions and he is much more qualified than me to answer this question 😆 The Ranger was impressive given how stock it was 👍
Hi @@ozbound6608, whatever you choose it’s all a compromise in one way or another. Money, reliability, modifications, capabilities, etc. Good luck with your decision!
@XploringOz awesome mate thankyou. Trying to get my heights right. That's the extra long shank or the standard? Any tips would be great. Currently have a HR hitch but need a drop as the van sits high at the ball.
