Cape York Vehicle Requirements???

[Victim]

Hi All,

I am planning my trip up the cape for the June/July holidays this year, I have a 2004 100 Series V8 petrol landcruiser.
I am wondering what I really need to do to the vehicle to get it ready for the cape as I will also be towing a camper trailer

It currently has a 1200lb electric winch, UHF and I also have air bags in the rear suspension which holds the back up nice when towing.
I am in the process of purchasing a duel battery set up (thanks drivesafe!!) and due to funds running a bit low at the moment (due to just buying my CT) I am wondering do I really need to put a lift kit in and also a snorkle?? I was tossing up between just getting a water bra for the front??

Also is there anything else anyone can recommend that is a must have that would be great.

Thanks!

[dooguss]

I'm pretty sure you can find a thread about it in the 2012 cape York trip planned by Mcgirr

[Symon]

http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=14833.0

You won't really need the lift kit, but good shockies are a must as the corrugations will rattle your teeth out.  You can get away with a water bra but I'd be leaning towards a snorkel personally.

[BigJules]

It does sound as though you're almost right to go.

Don't tell my wife, but a 100 series can go most places without needing a cent spent on it. Upgraded suspension, snorkels are excellent products which further enhance your vehicles capability and reliability and the receovery kit means you can take more risks along the track.

[ozbogwam]

Depends on what tracks you will be taking. You can drive a 2wd car to the tip no dramas or you can take other routes that will need the lift, snorkel etc

[jaycamrie]

Victim i think you will be fine i have a2005 petrol ,100 series with similar gear although i do have a snorkel,    we went in 2010 not really a drama but in saying that  Symon is right if you strike it ungraded corrugations can be bone jarring our cruiser handled it really well though, nolans brooke can be deep so water bra handy ,We are booked in to go on the my swag trip but are waiting to see if our camper will be ready if it is not we are leaving on the 15th july got 5 weeks

[Victim]

ozbogwam, yeah I want to do as much of the OTL as I can...


jaycamrie, did you have the standard shockies under her when you did it? I think I will get a snorkle and also a bra just in case! Im not sure if I have the funds to do the suspension as well at this stage 
 
My Itinerary for the trip up at this stage is below... Im still not sure about booking the camp spots after reading the thread about the new rules!! I just hope there will be room to set up the camper!!

Day 1   Thursday, 21 June 2012
Townsville to Port Douglas   
    
Day 2   Friday, 22 June 2012
Port Douglas to Rossville Via CREB TRACK   
(If CREB track is open) if not we will take the ferry across and go via the coastal road   

Day 3   Saturday, 23 June 2012
Rossville to Archer River Via Cooktown   
Traveling along battle camp road to Laura   
    
Day 4   Sunday, 24 June 2012
Archer River to Bramwell Junction   
 
Day 5   Monday, 25 June 2012
Bramwell Junction to Twin Falls   
   
Day 6    Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Stay at Twin Falls   

Day 7   
Twin Falls   Wednesday, 27 June 2012
    
Day 8   
Twin Falls to Jardine River   Thursday, 28 June 2012
   
Day 9, 10, 11, 12    (Stay at Seisa 4 days)
Jardine River to Seisa      
      

[gclan]

Hi Victim,

we'll be at Twin Falls as well from 26-30 June, and the official Myswag crew will be camped nearby at Canal Ck for part of that time too, so I dare say we'll run into each other (if you try really hard, you may be able to avoid us ). As you have read on the other threads here, camping at the Twin Falls(Eliot Falls) campground now has to be pre-booked. As of this morning, there were still 6 campsites available for campertrailers on the dates that you will 'hopefully' be there. The QNPWS have even measured the sites for us so you can work out which site suits best, but as for the site actually being vacant for you, that's another story,and one that seems to be getting a fair bit of attention across several forums.

I wasn't sure whether to book at Eliot Falls, or camp up the road a bit at Canal or Sam Creeks(which are supposed to be very nice), but since the Myswag crew were hoping to camp at Canal Creek(they'll need all the room they can get), and since we have a group of 6 families with kids, some of them quite young, we decided to try our luck and booked at Eliot Falls. If we turn up and someone is there, and a solution can't be reached, then I guess we'll just have to move on, but at least there are other options. We could always camp at Canal Creek 

Looks like we'll all be around the Tip at the same time too, though we're staying at Punsand Bay, away from that rowdy lot at Seisia 

Have a great trip, and we'll say hi if we cross paths.

Cheers

Karen

[Victim]

Hi Karen!

Yeah I just booked into Elliott Falls in Site #29 from 25th to 29th (I added an extra night just in case!)

I havent booked any other sites yet as I am not sure exactly where we will be camping at this stage!

Looks like we might see you there!! I will be the one drinking excessive amounts of XXXX GOLD 

 

Richard

[TOPNDR]

My suggestions, having been up there only once (mind you I've a diesel) are:

Snorkel
Diff & gearbox breathers for water crossings.
Bra for water crossings.

A lift kit might be nice but if funds are low, I reckon you'd get away without it.

[McGirr]

Hi Karen!

Yeah I just booked into Elliott Falls in Site #29 from 25th to 29th (I added an extra night just in case!)

I havent booked any other sites yet as I am not sure exactly where we will be camping at this stage!

Looks like we might see you there!! I will be the one drinking excessive amounts of XXXX GOLD 

 

Richard

Richard site 29 is a good size site as you can fit 4 campers easy.

Mark

[Victim]

Richard site 29 is a good size site as you can fit 4 campers easy.

Mark

Sounds like I will be able to share it then!! for a beer that is  It will be my wife and I with our 5 kids..... which is why I thought I would get the big site!! 

[Victim]

My suggestions, having been up there only once (mind you I've a diesel) are:

Snorkel
Diff & gearbox breathers for water crossings.
Bra for water crossings.

A lift kit might be nice but if funds are low, I reckon you'd get away without it.

Thanks TOPNDR!! Good adivce  I did have a look at the breathers are they do have a hose above the diff to the body although do you think I need to raise them higher into the engine bay for the front and some where higher at the back??

 
Richard

[Victim]

McGirr, actually when I booked they said it was good for 10 people so as I have 7 including the kids I thought it would be good  but as you say 4 campers that is massive!! might have to rent out the extra room!! 

I just cant wait to get up there and check it out 

[McGirr]

Pm sent

[TOPNDR]

G'day Richard,

As I understand it the standard Toyoa diff breathers are 700 mm above ground, hence the 700 mm waing depth stipulated in the specs (I've got a 200 but think the 100's the same).

Ihad my kit fitted by TJM, front & rear diff breathers terminate on the firewall in front of the drivers just below bonnet height.

 For reasons I can't explain, I didn't have the gearbox of transfer case done.   :'(