How to Prepare your Vehicle for a Cape York 4WD Adventure?

A well-prepared vehicle is vital to ensure you get to The Tip and back in one piece.

If you’re planning the epic journey all the way to The Tip (Pajinka) of Cape York, you’ll need a capable and well-prepared four-wheel drive vehicle to tackle the notorious red corrugated Cape York roads.

The region is not completely off-limits if you’re in a family sedan, but you’ll be limited to the Mulligan Highway between Mareeba and Cooktown; the coast road between Cairns and Cape Tribulation; and the Savannah Way between Cairns and Normanton — all of which are sealed. 

While there are a few long stretches of good, sealed roads to the Cape, the vast majority are unsealed and the road conditions will vary from pretty good to downright terrible, depending on when the road was last graded. The sheer volume of traffic during the dry season means that a newly graded road in good condition can turn corrugated and gnarly in just a few days, so it really is pot luck.

To tackle the challenging tracks such as the Old Telegraph Track (OTT) and other minor roads successfully you’ll need a ‘proper’ 4WD vehicle with low range gearing and good ground clearance. Any of the more car-like 4WDs, including so-called all-wheel drives and ‘crossover’ vehicles, which don’t have low range or have poor ground clearance and front overhang will not be suitable. 

The topography of the dirt roads on the Cape York Peninsula changes often. While there are many long, straight flat sections, there are also some hills (Bamboo Range), blind corners, dust holes, floodways, river crossings, crests and wandering stock. Drive to the conditions is the mantra, taking into account a whole lot of variables that will differ depending on individual vehicles.

In remote areas such as the Cape, it's a long way between major towns so the right planning and preparation before you leave home can help avoid situations that leave you stranded and needing help.

The following modifications and/or accessories may be required to bring your vehicle up to scratch for a trip to the Cape:

• Snorkel — the single most important after-market accessory 
• Bullbar — may save the radiator if you collide with a wallaby or feral pig 
• Dual battery system — essential if you’re running a fridge 
• Tyres — experts recommend light truck (LT) tyres as being the best for outback conditions as their nylon sidewalls are less prone to damage than soft wall radials 
• Winch (hand-operated) — if travelling alone 
• Cargo barrier — keeps the cargo in the back where it belongs and allows better use of the cargo area 
• Breathers for diffs and gearbox — helps prevent entry of water into these components during wet crossings 
• Heavy-duty suspension — the roads and loads demand it 
• On-board compressor— you’ll probably be moving from good dirt to rocky tracks, to sand, each of which requires different tyre pressure 

Before you go

A well-prepared vehicle is vital to ensure you get to The Tip and back in one piece. Consider the following before you go: 

• Workshop facilities are rare outside the handful of small towns on the Peninsula. Don’t leave home without having your vehicle thoroughly checked by a 4WD specialist, preferably one with first-hand experience of Cape York Peninsula conditions. Have all repairs attended to before leaving home. 
• Suspension failure is common on the Peninsula’s rough roads. It’s a safe bet that if your shock absorbers and springs are stock standard, they won’t make the distance. Load your vehicle up with everything you’ll be taking and head to the nearest after-market offroad suspension specialist for an expert opinion. 
• Replace the battery if it’s approaching the end of the guarantee period. If you’re running a fridge, it’s a good idea to install an auxiliary battery. Be careful to mount it where its weight and the vibrations won’t cause stress fractures. 
• Trailers should be heavy-duty, dedicated offroad types with suspension and hitching system to match. The lightweight trailers that are used around town for the odd trip to the local tip are best left at home. 

Finally, check everything before you leave, preferably on a weekend bush trip. Check the gas stove, lighting , air compressor, jack and jacking plate, tucker box, fridge, chairs, table etc. If the tent hasn’t been used for a while make sure that its zips and anchor points are in good order and that there are no holes to allow entry by mozzies and midges. Take sand pegs for each tent as windy conditions prevail along the east coast during the dry season.

Daily maintenance  

The vibrations that result as your vehicle pounds over the corrugations can take a heavy toll on vehicles whose drivers neglect to carry out simple daily inspections. 

The following daily checks should be regarded as mandatory:

• Air filter — check and clean on a daily basis, particularly if travelling in a convoy 
• Fluid and oil levels — check for leaks in the morning before breaking camp 
• Nuts and bolts — check for tightness; the presence of a loose nut may be indicated by a shiny surface where the nut has been rubbing 
• Battery mounts etc. — check for tightness and fractures 
• Tyre pressures — slow leaks usually show by morning 
• Stress fractures 
• Check oils for water contamination and replace if necessary 

Driver training and tagalong tours 

Four-wheel drivers who aren’t confident of their offroad abilities should attend a four-wheel driving course that includes the procedure for fording flooded streams and climbing steep muddy slopes. 

Operators include Australian 4WD & Advanced Driver Education (Ph 07 3264 1877, australian4wd.com.au) and Getabout Training Services (Ph 02 8822 5656, getabout.edu.au). 

You may feel more confident travelling with an expert, which is where tagalong tours come in handy. The following operators include Cape York Peninsula in their itineraries:

• Great Divide Tours (Ph 02 9913 1395, greatdividetours.com.au) 
• Safari Guides to Adventure (Ph 0455 335 036, guidestoadventure.com.au) 
• Tag-Along 4WD Adventure Tours Australia (Ph 02 4471 1235, adventure-tours-australia.com) 
• Tagalong Tours of Australia (Ph 07 4057 4096, tagalongtours.com.au)

Spare parts and mechanical kit

Some people like to take everything in the way of spare parts when heading to an iconic outback destination. However, the danger in carrying heavy objects such as diff housings is that the vehicle may become overloaded. This could result in the failure of suspension components, a cracked chassis and other damage that might have been avoided had they travelled lighter in the first place. 

Two spare wheels should be carried, particularly if you’re towing a trailer — the trailer and vehicle wheels should be interchangeable. Get advice from tyre specialists as to the correct tyre pressure for the load being carried and the road surface. 

Other recovery and ancillary items to carry are: 

• Workshop manual 
• Basic toolkit 
• Puncture repair kit, tyre levers etc. 
• Assorted fuses 
• Radiator hoses 
• Heater hose (1m length and clamps to suit) 
• Fan belts 
• Assorted nuts and bolts to suit vehicle and trailer 
• Oil for the engine, gearbox and diffs 
• Oil filter, air filter and fuel filter 
• Wheel bearings — also for trailer 
• Tie wire — 10g and cable ties 
• WD-40 or similar 
• Wading blanket (or canvas blind) — to secure over the front of the vehicle for deeper wet crossings 
• Tow rope and shackles if required, to suit recovery points 
• Jumper leads 
• Insulating tape 
• Long-handled shovel — for getting out of bogs; useful in the campfire kitchen as well 
• Torches — keep spare batteries in the fridge

Hema Tours

If you can’t muster a ready-made convoy, join Hema Tours for a 4WD tag-along tour, full of adventure and discovery. Hema Tours are powered by the Adrenalin Offroad Centre, licensed commercial tour operators. Find out more here.

Next steps

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