Outback Towing Tips & Techniques

Drive at speeds suitable to the terrain being traversed.

Always drive within your capabilities.

Ensure that your load is properly secured. Limit the amount of load in the boot of the tow vehicle.

Always drive appropriately for the road/track conditions.

Know where the vulnerable/ low points are underneath both the car and trailer.

Off-highway towing is challenging and is recommended for experienced off-highway drivers only.

Ensure that your caravan design is suitable for use off the highway.

Check your warranty coverage as some items may not be covered for off-highway driving.

Be realistic as to where you are going. Use a suitable tow vehicle. In most cases a low range capable vehicle is necessary.

Know your approach, ramp over and departure angles and also the angles associated with the drawbar and trailer.

Have a safe and enjoyable trip!

For more tips and advice, places to stay and where to purchase products and services visit: caravanqld.com.au Look

Use an “off-road” style coupling.

Have at least basic 4WD skills.

Have electric brakes fitted to the trailer/caravan. Mechanical over-ride brakes may not be suitable for off-road use.

In an “off-road/highway” situation set the bias on the trailer brakes. The trailer wheels will lock up before the car, preventing the trailer overtaking the car.

Know where the wheels of the car and trailer are travelling.

Southern Outback Drive

ROUTE: Brisbane – Roma – Charleville – Quilpie –Eromanga – Thargomindah – Eulo – Cunnamulla – St George – Brisbane

DISTANCE: 2,410km DURATION: 10 days (loop)

Visit the largest cattle selling centre in Australia and answer the call of the universe with a tour of the Cosmos Big Sky Observatory. In Charleville, find out why you should join the Easter ‘bilbies not bunnies’ campaign on a visit to the Bilby Experience. Discover exquisite boulder opal in Quilpie. Follow the footsteps of giants in Eromanga and sample wines in St George.

HIGHLIGHTS

▶ Big Rig Tour and Night Show – Roma

▶ Infamous Cattle Saleyards – Roma

▶ Great Artesian Spa – Mitchell

▶ Cosmos Centre and WWII Secret Base and Tour – Charleville

▶ The Bilby Experience – Charleville

▶ Opal fossicking – Quilpie

▶ Quilpeta night show experience – Quilpie

▶ Eromanga Natural History Museum – Eromanga

▶ Australia’s first hydro-electricity system – Thargomindah

▶ Artesian Time Tunnel and ‘Cunnamulla Fella’ – Cunnamulla

▶ Cunnamulla All Aboard show – Cunnamulla

▶ Riversands Wine Tasting and Vineyards Tour – St George

▶ Sandytown River Cruise – St George

Warrego Way

ROUTE: Brisbane – Toowoomba – Roma – Mitchell – Charleville – Windorah – Birdsville

DISTANCE: 1,578km DURATION: 5 days (one way)

The Warrego Way starts at Brisbane and finishes in the iconic and remote outback town of Birdsville. Along the way, you can see ancient trees from the dinosaur age, endangered mammals, unwind in the soothing waters from the sub artesian basin, delight in yarns told over country bars, or just relax and enjoy the brilliant sunsets and starry nights.

HIGHLIGHTS

▶ The Big Rig – Roma

▶ Roma Saleyards, the largest in Australia – Roma

▶ The Great Artesian Spa – Mitchell

▶ Cosmos Centre – Charleville

▶ Bilby Experience and WWII Secret Base and Tour – Charleville

▶ Baldy Top Lookout – Quilpie

▶ Quilpeta night show experience – Quilpie

▶ Eromanga Natural History Museum, home to Cooper the dinosaur –Eromanga

▶ Cooper Creek and fishing – Windorah

▶ Spectacular red sand dunes – near Windorah

▶ The Birdsville Hotel – Birdsville

▶ ‘Big Red’ sand dune – Simpson Desert, Birdsville

▶ Birdsville Billabong – Birdsville

▶ Birdsville Courthouse Museum – Birdsville