CARAVAN Disaster Ahead! Learn from these mistakes!

[@tonymccosh5875]

Over the last 12 months travelling (towing a 21'6 van)we have gone down the Dorrigo to Bellingen range twice and both times we hit fog/rain. Both times l kept my landcruiser 200 in 1st & 2nd gear the whole time letting the gears do the braking. With parts of the road only one lane and driving rain/fog it is scary but making sure the vehicle is in control is so important (obviously oil/grease adds another element to negotiate so l am not throwing blame at the van that was against the rail). My main point is drive to the conditions and control your rig dont let it control you.

[@gonecaravanning]

@@tonymccosh5875 Thanks for watching Tony. Good advice👍 Appreciate the feedback. Safe and happy travels Ken and Julie

[@tonygersbach375]

Thanks guys, no criticism here, you did your best at the time for yourself and your wife. There is no right or wrong and hindsight is 20/20 vision. All the best to you both

[@gonecaravanning]

@@tonygersbach375 Thanks Tony, appreciate the feedback. Very well said. Thanks for watching Safe and happy travels Ken and Julie

[@gjeess1]

That accident happened last Thursday. I remember hearing about it on the radio. We drove over Clyde Mountain on Friday, and there were a lot of caravans en route from Braidwood direction. I'm glad the road has been widened compared to what it was a few years ago. Happy that nobody was seriously injured, and you both got through safely. Thanks for sharing.

[@gonecaravanning]

@@gjeess1 Thanks for watching. Appreciate the feedback. Safe and Happy travels Ken and Julie

[@kadachiman7234]

Great lesson for everybody, thanks for showing this video. This is why I state on videos time and time again that it may be legal to tow a 3500kgs van with a car that is less in weight (even most 4WD's) but it is not a good practice. IMO - the towed vehicle should never be heavier than 75% of the towing vehicles weight....and most towing combinations out there exceed this limit. 1. the car coming down the hill was pushed into the opposite side of the road by his heavy caravan, even though damage would have been sustained it was fortunate that the guard rail was there or no car coming otherwise the situation could have been much worse....yes the road conditions were a major factor but when you have a towing combination like he had then your chance of handling any adverse situations greatly reduces. 2. your combination found it very difficult to gain traction again once stopped and you are very lucky that the van did not pull you back down the hill (any momentum would have gained more and more momentum)....well managed by the driver to not panic and concentrate on the situation, others may not have fared so well. More people need to investigate towing the 3,500kgs caravans they insist on buying with a light truck as it is a far superior weight to weight ratio....no tail wagging the dog. If you need to buy a 3,500kg caravan (4 or more people to bed, etc, etc) then you need to budget a light truck that is 5,000 kgs or above into your combination....and a licence upgrade. My combination is 8,000kg rated light truck towing a 4,500kgs enclosed trailer setup...but granted you need a truck licence (I think MR...I have HR), and I cannot exceed 12,000kgs as a combination, so the truck and load is only 7,500kgs max actual weight (including tow ball weight), otherwise it becomes a heavy vehicle logbook situation in some if not all states. As you can see, I spent a lot of time investigating weights vs safety when I looked around to purchase my setup.

[@gonecaravanning]

@@kadachiman7234 Great feedback, its good that so many see the point of the video. I agree, and maybe its time to lighten our load or look for something a bit heavier. Thanks for your imput. Safe and Happy travels Ken and Julie

[@kadachiman7234]

@@gonecaravanning I probably added more to my original post while you were commenting...so apologies if it changes your reply 🙂

[@OurWanderingWays]

Thanks for showing us the video. We did that road a couple of years ago minus the van to see what it was like going that way. We opted out of taking the van up there. Plenty of vans were coming down it. Some a little too fast for my liking. Thankfully the weather was good then. It just shows how quickly things can go wrong unexpectedly.

[@OurWanderingWays]

PS. Lucky you weren’t going up when that 4x4 and van were coming down. How scary that would have been.

[@gonecaravanning]

Thanks for watching, this was a video we weren't sure we should put up, so glad people get the point. It's a reminder not to get complacent, things can happen very quickly. Appreciate the feedback Safe and Happy travels Ken and Julie

[@dotwillcoxson5352]

We live in Braidwood and heard about the accident on local FB pages. So sorry Julie was frightened but everything worked out for you. The mountain is renowned for being slippery in the wet. We are pleased you put the video up. Sorry we didn't know you were in town. Did you park down near the RSL club? Our caravan was parked in front of our house, very close.

[@gonecaravanning]

Thanks for watching and your kind reply, we were going to stay in Braidwood, it's a town we have visited many times on our way down the South Coast and we love it there, we always visit the Bakery😊. We finished up staying at the Warri Bridge reserve, where we had a pleasant night. Safe and happy travels, Ken and Julie

[@MiniLuv-1984]

Thanks for sharing that - we all benefit from such sharing. Kudos.

[@gonecaravanning]

@@MiniLuv-1984 Thanks for watching Agree👍👍 Safe and happy travels Ken and Julie

[@sepsadventures]

Jesus Ken bad enough as it was but could have been a major disaster if multiple vehicles were involved. Is certainly sends the message that when driving a vehicle you really need to concentrate and be alert wether you are towing or not. Glad you shared the video I certainly got something at of that one. Cheers!

[@gonecaravanning]

@@sepsadventures Thanks Sep Appreciate your feedback. Was a big reminder to us, we need to be on our game all the time. Thanks for watching. Ken and Julie

[@thewonderof06790]

Car and caravan is part of the problem. Heavy on the tow vehicle distresses things a ton. Even so, towing in the US mountains with a 1 ton truck, I pull over at the threat of ice. I don't like the possibility of losing traction or braking.

[@gonecaravanning]

@@thewonderof06790 Thanks for watching, was a scary moment for everyone but could have been a lot worse. Safe and Happy travels. Ken and Julie. PS, have subscribed so look forward to having a look at some USA content.

[@tonybuttigieg5123]

Thanks for the video. I think to many people on the road including caravaners, truckers, motorists and motorcyclists don’t realise how quickly an accident can occur. To be honest I try to stay away from steep mountain roads for the very reason. Safe travels

[@gonecaravanning]

Thanks for watching tony, appreciate your feedback. 100% Safe and happy travels Ken and Julie

[@Travellingmcleods]

Thanks for sharing, a great lesson for us all. 😊

[@gonecaravanning]

@@Travellingmcleods Thanks for watching, appreciate the feedback. Safe and happy travels Ken and Julie

[@jenandchris66]

Thanks for sharing this video. We travelled down there with our van for a holiday in Bateman's a couple of weeks ago and then back up last weekend and had similar conditions. It sure shows the reality of slippery roads when towing. Very glad to watch this!

[@gonecaravanning]

Thanks for watching, it certainly is a good reminder that things can go wrong quickly. We appreciate the feedback and wish you Safe and Happy travels always. Ken and Julie

[@leonwilliams5175]

Thanks Ken and Julie. We live near Canberra and have been up and down the Clyde many many times. I take it very easy, and thankfully never been in that type of weather before. My biggest fear though is car failure going up on the top section where its narrow and very winding. Nowhere to pull over and how a tow truck gets you out is a mystery. Imagine the traffic jam. Thanks for sharing.

[@gonecaravanning]

@@leonwilliams5175 Thanks for sharing your thoughts Leon. We have also travelled it a few times, but never like that. I think we will be checking the weather and road conditions before we do it again. I know Julie will be anyway.🤔 Appreciate the feedback. Safe and Happy travels. Ken nd Julie

[@leonwilliams5175]

@@gonecaravanning yes after your video and close call we will not go down in the rain. All the best.

[@jeffscott5312]

For those who are wondering if they can get by towing without a 4x4, this is an example of a situation where you would be thanking yourself for choosing 4x4.

[@gonecaravanning]

Thanks for watching Jeff, 100% agree, so glad we had it. Safe and happy travels Ken and Julie

[@Travelbug68]

Wow what a nerve wracking experience!! 😳 I’m glad it all worked out in the end 💕👍🏽

[@gonecaravanning]

@@Travelbug68 Thanks for watching Appreciate the feedback. Safe travels Ken and Julie

[@markdavison4454]

Always expect the unexpected you both done well to work through the situation 👍👍

[@gonecaravanning]

@@markdavison4454 Thanks Mark, appreciate the kind feedback. Could have done better, but in the heat of the moment!?, was a good result for us. Very unfortunate for the other couple. Can only hope they get things sorted quickly. Thanks for watching Safe and happy travels Ken and Julie

[@Cadz-On-Tour]

Had the same thing on a City Off Ramp and just in a Ute. Took a few seconds to know I was sliding. Gripping just before the road turned. Quite the wake up call and nothing you can do about it at the time!

[@gonecaravanning]

Thanks for watching Wayne, totally agree, nothing you can do, we feel very fortunate but sad for the couple coming down the hill. Very unlucky. Safe travels Ken and Julie

[@lorrainemorrison1124]

Thanks for sharing. Good to see things that happen in the real world.

[@gonecaravanning]

@@lorrainemorrison1124 Thanks for watching, Appreciate the feedack. We consider ourselves to be very fortunate that day but feeling for the couple. Safe travels Ken and Julie

[@gregwade6719]

Thanks for posting and it’s a lesson for us all to expect the unexpected

[@gibbosroadtripadventures]

Glad you came out of it unscathed except a little shaken. Mountains make their own weather/climate, its actually quite fascinating. Only a couple of weeks ago we travelled down the Clyde and as we approached the mist drifted in, incredible really. Such terrible luck to have diesel on the road, the poor guys who went for a scary ride. Our sister-in-law had an awful accident on the Clyde years ago, it is quite common. Happy & safe travels. Cheers Marg

[@gonecaravanning]

@@gibbosroadtripadventures Thanks for the feedback Marg, they certainly do make there own weather, was fine in Nelligen and fine in Braidwood, but that mountain, wow Thanks for watching Safe and happy travels Ken and Julie

[@gibbosroadtripadventures]

@ we’ve camped a few times at a property in North Haven which overlooks North Brother Mountain, and one time I set up a timelapse which captured something quite remarkable of the clouds swirling around the top. So amazing to see. Cheers Ken & Julie.

[@gonecaravanning]

@gibbosroadtripadventures Hi Marg, we know Northaven well. I'ts on our shortlist of places to live if we leave the Central Coast and it's a go to place for us for short breaks along with the Dalmeny to Narooma area on the south coast. Weather events certainly can be amazing. Thanks for sharing. Ken and Julie

[@gibbosroadtripadventures]

@@gonecaravanning we’ve thought the same thing about North Haven.

[@darrenturner8035]

Clyde mountain can be unforgiving, traveled it plenty of times when I lived in the Bay. Remember Poohs corner well.

[@gonecaravanning]

Thanks for watching. It certainly can be, as we seen first hand. Appreciate the feedback. Safe travels Ken and Julie

[@billmcintosh1242]

Glad it all worked out for the best for all. Know the Clyde Mountain well as I lived in Ulladulla Mollymook area in the 60"s and again in the mid 70's to late 80's and travelled to Canberra to see family. Seen many accidents including one case when a motor bike ended up under my front bumper, as you stated conditions can change so quickly. On a lighter note you missed seeing Pho- Bear's Cave on the right at 8:01 on the video. Thanks for sharing, Bill Mc

[@gonecaravanning]

Thanks for the feedback bill, consider ourselves to be very lucky to be going up the mountain and not down at that time, but at the same time feel sad for the couple involved. This was an accident that could of been way worse, as you mentioned. Thanks for watching Bill. Ken and Julie

[@paulineh4019]

A few days before this there was a fatality on the Kings, further towards Braidwood. The road itself isn't too bad, it's bad weather, oil on road ( lots of trucks use it) and impatient drivers usually. Your experience was hairy and I was feeling same as your wife, especially when you started slipping backwards. Glad you're both safe. Safe travels.

[@gonecaravanning]

@@paulineh4019 Thanks Pauline, we really appreciate that. Stay safe and happy travels Ken and Julie

[@Weyrling]

Thanks for sharing this, a good eye opener! Bicky Dippers unite!

[@gonecaravanning]

Love the slogan👍 might have to get a t-shirt designed. thanks for watching, Stay Safe Ken and Julie

[@douglaslamb8709]

Thanks for the footage very scary indeed glad to see/hear everyone is ok thanks again

[@gonecaravanning]

@@douglaslamb8709 Thanks for watching Douglas, appreciate the feedback. Safe Travels Ken and Julie

[@peterguertler2752]

That stretch is notorious for bad weather iv ridden a motorbike through there and it was terrible.

[@gonecaravanning]

@@peterguertler2752 Thanks for watching, would not like that experience on a bike. Would need to be a brave person. Appreciate the feedback. Safe riding Ken and Julie

[@glyn829]

Looked a little scary so well done 👍

[@gonecaravanning]

@@glyn829 Thanks for the positive feedback.👍 Safe travels Ken and Julie

[@jorobson1]

Diesel & water turn the road surface into a skating ring! A downhill sharp bend on a wet road is not a great place to strike a diesel spill!

[@gonecaravanning]

Thanks for watching Johnno, totally agree, just lucky it wasn't worse, could have easily been a fatality. Appreciate the feedback Safe and happy travels Ken and Julie

[@gregclaydon6727]

One of the best way to tow is with a vehicle that has all time 4x4 , it does make for a much safer drive in all conditions,I would not consider anything else..

[@gonecaravanning]

@@gregclaydon6727 Thanks for watching Greg. Certainly would have helped us in this situation. Appreciate the comment. Safe travels Ken and Julie

[@johnallen3555]

thankyou for showing this

[@gonecaravanning]

@@johnallen3555 Thanks for watching. We hope it helps. Safe and happy travels Ken and Julie

[@bstoday01]

Thanks for Sharing guys 👍

[@gonecaravanning]

@@bstoday01 Thanks for watching. Stay Safe Ken and Julie

[@wildkurley8428]

@@gonecaravanning Julie I hope you sucked him dry that night

[@neilwisnewski7013]

I have a couple of questions about your tow vehicle. 1. Does it have a rear LSD? If not, it's basically a 1WD under normal conditions. 2. Is it heavier than your van?

[@gonecaravanning]

@@neilwisnewski7013 Thanks for watching

[@jeffbarbara9188]

Thank you guys

[@gonecaravanning]

@@jeffbarbara9188 Thanks for watching Jeff. Safe travels Ken and Julie

[@Mick_4591]

Good to see your still wearing your Shimano shirt. Must be your favourite shirt? Or are you "sponsored " them?

[@gonecaravanning]

@@Mick_4591 Thanks for watching Mick, Not sponsored. It is a bit of a favorite but ill try to get to the shops for a new one now. lol Ill show this to Julie, hint for Christmas. Appreciate your feedback👍 Ken and Julie

[@David-e2n6t]

Can happen to the best of us

[@gonecaravanning]

@@David-e2n6t Thanks for watching David. 100% agree. Wrong place, wrong time. Safe travels Ken and Julie

[@roddieruddie4545]

Why were you climbing the apex of the road and not the shallower angle of the down lane until gaining momentum ?

[@gonecaravanning]

@@roddieruddie4545 Thanks for watching, we tried to stay on that side because there was less oil on the road as well as cars on stopped on road just out of view that were coming down mountain. If you look when we rolled back there was a massive amount of oil on the road surface on the inside lane. Appreciate the feedback. Safe travels Ken and Julie

[@GYP-ms7ko]

Why would you even be driving towing a van in these conditions. As an emergency services member this is sheer crazy. Pull over and wait it out.

[@gonecaravanning]

@@GYP-ms7ko if you watch the complete video you would know the weather was fine when we left Nelligen.

[@rhystan8254]

For goodness sake Julie can you stop taking over and talking over people. Sheesh.....he dares not take a breath before you leap in.

[@gonecaravanning]

@@rhystan8254 Lol, Thanks for watching, there was a time i couldn't get her to talk in the video's, so no complaints from me, it's all good.😊 Appreciate the feedback though. Safe travels Ken and Julie

[@LynSaville]

For goodness sake Julie 😂 you’re fine, a husband and wife talking naturally in my opinion.

[@davidmilledge221]

Are you serious there a lovely couple and only talking like couples do it's normal mate , go back under ya rock you peanut 😂

[@glenndarragh4417]

@@davidmilledge221 Well said sir 👍

[@gregwaghorn8496]

Shes a female

[@jeffwhalan3413]

Nosey people, and you were worried about was getting out of 4wd and not the saftey of the other people, I've experienced an accident in very similar circumstances and it I thanked the people whom had stopped to offer help, not the gossip of people who can't mind their our business.

[@gonecaravanning]

Thanks for watching, it was a very scary situation but thankfully everyone was OK.

[@kadachiman7234]

IMO you comment is incorrect. As everybody knows the first action when you come across an accident is to ensure that you do not put yourself (or others) in danger. If Ken had of stopped to assist an actual trained medical officer that was already on the scene and waving them through, then his car and van would have been more of a danger to other road users than if he just moved on.............there is a place and time for everything, and if it had of been a long flat straight highway were Ken could have safely pulled over to assist I am sure he would have, as most of us would. By focusing on the task at hand it ensured that he did not add to the problem, which could have easily become much worse for everybody...so his comment of still being in 4WD low was valid for where his mind was at.

[@666dualsport]

Tow rigg needs to wrigh more than van is first rule

[@gonecaravanning]

@@666dualsport Thanks for the feedback. 100% Safe and Happy travels Ken and Julie