Victorians Chris and Anne B were excited about their three-month adventure to Cape York … but flipping the caravan wasn’t part of the plan. Here, Anne recalls the moment it all went wrong Â
I really do feel for those who plan a holiday and then things start going wrong when you are so immensely enjoying yourselves.
We had been planning a trip for three months to the Cape York Peninsula, where I bought a book about Cape York itself and purchased Queensland and New South Wales maps. These maps show where to fill petrol, caravan parks, and distance in kilometres between towns for fuel.
On July 4, we left for our three-month trip. Going up the Newell Highway we camped at various free camp sites and planned to get as far as Cooktown when we would ask locals and travellers about getting to the Tip.
On Tuesday, July 12, we were 19 kilometres outside Winton, into a 101-kilometre drive to get to Lark Quarry Conservation Park to see the Dinosaur Stampede when our caravan tipped over! I did not find Queensland roads the very best to drive on, and this one had a lot of dips in it. This one particular dip on the road was deeper than the other ones we have been through and, as you come out of it, there is a bend. Sure enough, as we were turning the bend, the caravan started to sway, fishtailed and … before we knew it … the car came to a sudden stop.
I heard a small little thump and did not think much about it until I asked my husband is everything okay. My husband flew out of the driver’s seat while I had a hard time trying to find my feet onto the ground. Now I’m only small, but tried three times getting closer to the edge of my seat and still could not feel the ground. Eventually, after a push off my seat, I slid and both my feet hit the ground a little hard.
Both Chris and I were okay, but our caravan lay on its side, still attached to the tow ball and our car was lifted at the back two feet high up in the air. A local stopped about five minutes after we had the accident, took our details, and alerted the tow truck and all emergency services came out.
Both Chris and I were checked out by paramedics in the ambulance, but reality hit when I saw the Queensland Fire and Rescue truck with lights flashing arriving while I was still in the caravan. All our ECG, blood oxygen and blood pressure where good.
To cut a long story short, our caravan is a total loss, even though it’s still in one piece. Only three glasses broke and one mug split in half, one dozen eggs in the fridge did not break or crack, and a one-litre carton of milk which was opened did not spill anywhere. Inside, we found bottles of wine and glass Bundaberg drinks that did not break. Groceries packed under the seat and some other storage under the bed came out, but sauces in jars did not break, and everything inside the cupboards did not move and all cupboards were still closed. All mirrors attached to the bedroom wardrobe and ensuite did not break. The microwave and oven are still in one piece, but the fridge moved inside the cavity by about two inches and still working.
After spending 10 days in Winton surrounded by floods we packed all the stuff from the caravan into our car and on July 21, we drove back home. We arrived home on July 25 and our total trip from our home to Winton and return was 5,717.5 kilometres.
But we will do this trip next year. We will not visit the places we’ve seen and do not know if we’ll end up seeing the Dinosaur Stampede. Time will heal all wounds, but we are very lucky that my husband and I did not suffer any injuries or that our car rolled over.  The only damage our car sustained was that the tow bar is bent, the side of the car, front bonnet and down near the headlights have some damage from the white post on the side of the road.
Now that we are back home, our car will get fixed and we will start looking around for another caravan!
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Hi
As a much travelled person on outback roads towing a van can be dangerous. Windy yet they do not change their speed. Pass me while I am doing 110kph with no van behind me and fish tailing as they they go past. Scary stuff. Many are newbies fresh from the city. Nice 4wd so why slow down they say…car can handle it..but the van ? You get told the van can handle the speed. If you are towing anything…slow down…stuff happens so quick..on country roads at speed. Seen caravans on their side so many times. Just slow down.
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As a couple just retired and looking at getting into caravanning, we are interested if this was a single axel or double axel van?
Yet another reason that the safest way to tow is a 5th wheeler, the hitch point puts more weight on the tow vehicle where it needs to be for steering control and traction. Glad that you both were not hurt though.
Glad you are both alright and haven’t been put off caravanning. We have a SWAY CONTROL on our van and it sure makes a difference when those big trucks go by. Our vehicle also has an automatic sway detection. But then again it’s not a huge van either. Regent 17.6 pop top being towed by a Holden Colorado 2.8 Diesel. We plan to do some touring next year.
We drove from T/ville to Winton 2 Jul. Just after leaving Hughenden we drove through a dip which had no signs. To late to brake, drove through at about 80kph. The car bounced badly, putting us over the white line. Scary stuff. If we had of been travelling faster I do not no what would of happened. You must be very alert on the outback roads. I had to change my pants after this.
Thanks for the story,
Did you have anti sway bars and a brake control unit?
CHeers JOhn