Cunninghams gap

[mrsmfexpanda]

Ok we are off to Qld in june/july and going to gold coast first not something we usually do, So I need opinions towing 21ft down the Toowoomba range or using Cunninghams gap from Goondiwindi ??

Last time I towed the Expanada to Sunshine coast whilst @mfexpanda flew there. I went through Toowoomba on to Esk to Beerwah and was advised not to go Cunninghamsgap due to the trucks and long single lane slow gradient.
i know Toowoomba is steeper but is Cunninghams gap really that bad especially if raining etc ?

 

[twscoot]

I've done them both with our van. Several times. Both are fine. Choose the route that best matches where you want to visit. Take your time and don't be rushed. In the scheme of things and the distances you'll be traveling they are not that long.

 

[Dobbie]

Hi.

We've done both recently and neither is easy.

I'd agree that going down via Toowoomba is marginally better as its two lanes but we did it on Saturday last and found ourselves right behind a Bdouble doing 5 kms and didn't have enough space or breaking power to stop quickly so had to change lanes rather rapidly. Clear, thankfully but it's made me look for alternatives.

I hate Cunninghams Gap as well as it always seems to have fog and rain when we come through.

Have a look at the Helidon road. We use that to avoid both the Gap and Toowoomba when we leave Brisbane but we end up the other side of Warwick so that might not suit, depending on your route.

It's white knuckle time on those range descents.

 

[davemc]

We did Cunninghams gap accidentally the first time up people said bypass Toowomba via Warick.
Was our first big run luckily I was driving and dropped the gears and just went slow. Sarah did not know you could manually shift the auto
Next time up we went backway through Beaudeset its like driving around the Dandys almost one lane lots of bends. We ended up with a convoy behind us.
Which are you happier with going slow down the big hill vs lots of small bends with trees.
The third choice is coast road then you go through Sydney, we did that once coming back.

 

[mrsmfexpanda]

We did Cunninghams gap accidentally the first time up people said bypass Toowomba via Warick.
Was our first big run luckily I was driving and dropped the gears and just went slow. Sarah did not know you could manually shift the auto
Next time up we went backway through Beaudeset its like driving around the Dandys almost one lane lots of bends. We ended up with a convoy behind us.
Which are you happier with going slow down the big hill vs lots of small bends with trees.
The third choice is coast road then you go through Sydney, we did that once coming back.

mario doesnt like Sydney last time went the back way through Windsor torrential rain and skiddies with the Silverline on the back . Going slow with a conoy no big deal

 

[chartrock]

I have done both with my 14 footer and with the 18' Journey. I have never had any problems with either road but probably prefer Cunninghams Gap mainly because it brings me out where I want to be. I also prefer the approach roads to the Gap rather than the run through Toowoomba. Just select the lower gear to suit yourself, you will find reasonable passing lanes if you get behind semis and give me a call when you pass my place.

 

[davemc]

yes we done Sydney way one out of four. They also cut you off all the time and drive crazy like city drivers do.
What we also found on the Hume was NSW P plates are limited in speed so in 110 zone you get stuck behind one going slow and as dual carriage way everyone goes around you and you get stuck.

 

[mrsmfexpanda]

I have done both with my 14 footer and with the 18' Journey. I have never had any problems with either road but probably prefer Cunninghams Gap mainly because it brings me out where I want to be. I also prefer the approach roads to the Gap rather than the run through Toowoomba. Just select the lower gear to suit yourself, you will find reasonable passing lanes if you get behind semis and give me a call when you pass my place.

Pm us with your address love to catch up

 

[Jags73]

I do Cunninghams at least once a year, doesn't bother me too much,
I very rarely pull over in the slow passing lanes as they are too short & no one will gives way getting back in the main stream, so I just stay in the fast lane & stay out of trouble

 

[cruza driver]

Just go Cunninghams, its fine just tow at the speed your happy with

I don't mind it all and got to follow this down too :rockon: so if he can do it you'll be fine.

 

[bigcol]

I would love to see pictures of both actually,
I have heard lots of stories about both, but have never seen either..............

 

[Drover]

As an ex local I have regularly traversed both with vans and trucks, I prefer Toowoomba Range as it's short and sweet, just knock down the gears (auto or manual) and your at the bottom in no time while Cunninghams is a long windy haul but not all that bad, Qlder's tend to go on about them both but if you have travelled the roads in NSW to the coast these are just hills in comparison.
The Gatton/Clifton Rd (known as Heifer Creek Rd locally) is pretty but has trucks belting along it, a couple of narrow bridges and heaps of bends.
Driving down the expressways is worse I reckon.

 

[mfexpanda]

Personally I don't care which way we go but it's up to the boss

 

[cruza driver]

Personally I don't care which way we go but it's up to the boss

That's what she said too

 

[Bmhdg76]

We travel the Gap when we get out to Gordon Country and have no problems with it.
Admittedly we only have a 14.44-4 so not a huge van at all.
In saying that have seen some monsters travel down there with no problem.
Just take your time and don't worry about anything behind you whichever way you go and just enjoy the drive.
If you do go the Gap though, wind your windows down as there are heaps of Bell Birds in the gullies and sound great when you hear them.

BJ

 

[rags]

As an ex local I have regularly traversed both with vans and trucks, I prefer Toowoomba Range as it's short and sweet, just knock down the gears (auto or manual) and your at the bottom in no time while Cunninghams is a long windy haul but not all that bad, Qlder's tend to go on about them both but if you have travelled the roads in NSW to the coast these are just hills in comparison.
The Gatton/Clifton Rd (known as Heifer Creek Rd locally) is pretty but has trucks belting along it, a couple of narrow bridges and heaps of bends.
Driving down the expressways is worse I reckon.

Your right there Drover regarding the hills around SEQld after spending the last 30 years living in the NSW Blue Mts and travelling daily along the length of Bells Line of Road and now living here in Brissy, the hills up here are a bit like diving down the driveway of my old block.

 

[Dobbie]

Oh. Oh.
My comment re my scare last Saturday was based on the first bend as you come down the range.

I used to live in Toowoomba so know the range well but not in recent years but have probably been down it 100 plus times.

As we came around the first bend...to the left...and in the left lane we suddenly came up behind the B Double which was going a hell of a lot slower then us and we were probably going 15kms / hour. ..in second gear. We had no room to move and found the whole situation suddenly very difficult.

Had we been unable to move into the other lane to get around him, I doubt if we could have stopped in time. And we were going very carefully. We didn't want to pass him, just keep out of his way.

I thought we were going well within the safety limits but didn't take into account the B Double possibility.

Another lesson learned...you never know what challenges present themselves so I will be aware of that in the future.

It's scary when you're using the gears to keep control and then look like running out of gears and brakes.

 

[Drover]

It can be fun @Dobbie, after being here over 20 years I still smile when folks go on about the TWB Range, they would be terrified of MacQuarie Pass.
See whats happening on the TWB Range here: http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Traffic-c...n=Darling Downs&name=Toowoomba Range Top East