Us Creek to Coasters do enjoy a challenge… so when the idea of towing a huge caravan across Moreton Island came up, we thought hey, why not tow FOUR of them!
No one said it would be easy, but with ARB, Sunseeker Caravans, Safari 4X4 Engineering and Cooper Tires on board, we were aptly prepared.
So, here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking of taking up the challenge for yourself.
First thing’s first, you need to book all your permits (camping and vehicle) before your trip. There are several ways you can do this, click here for details.
When it comes to the ferry ride across, it’s pretty simple. You just need to measure your car and van from tip to tip, and arrive nice and early to ensure the crew can get you on in time. Moreton Island Adventures will take care of you from there.
It takes about an hour and a half to get to Moreton Island which is when you’ll need to take your tyre pressure down in preparation for driving on sand. David from Cooper Tires recommends around 18PSI on the vehicle’s tyres, and of course the caravan’s too.
So, you’re ready for the sand! Some tips from Roger: There’s a really fine line between getting on top of the sand and staying in control on the bumps so it’s a matter of when you hit the bumps, you’ve got to slow down but if you slow down too much you start to dig in and get bogged!
And hitting the bumps with some momentum is where good suspension comes into play.
If camping on the eastern side of the island, you’ll need to pick the track you’ll cross to get over from the western side. Middle Road is definitely NOT recommended with a caravan. It’s the roughest track of the island, and very narrow.
Heading north toward the Cowan bypass and then across to Blue Lagoon Road is smoother and wider. Alternatively, there’s the slightly more challenging North Point Road at Bulwer, where you then come out at Cape Cliff. This basically takes you around the entire northern end of the island with only a few inlet roads to navigate through.
Once you’ve reached the eastern side, it should be smooth sailing from there!
Don’t forget, just because we had a successful trip, doesn’t mean we weren’t prepared for the worst. Always ensure you have all the retrieval gear you need to get unstuck if you do happen to bog, and also first aid kit in case of any accidents or injuries. Details of the gear we used below.
ARB Equipment
ARB E-Z Deflator Digital Gauge
Sunseeker Caravans
Safari 4X4 Engineering Equipment
Safari 4X4 ARMAX Engine Control Unit
Cooper Tires:
