Camped up in Mareeba, Queensland for a few weeks gets a bit boring so we decided to check out Cooktown on the weekend. Weekend shenanigans are great if everything goes to plan. Our plan was to set of from Mareeba on a Saturday morning and take a leisurely drive to Cooktown for the weekend.
Hitching up the caravan was easy enough, we even put a brand new tyre on it as the old one looked a bit worse for wear. Cooktown is only 265 kilometres from where we were so no big drama getting there... a 530 kilometer round-trip however, didn't eventuate.
The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful, mountains on our right poking into the clear blue sky. The odd kangaroo dodging across the PDR (Peninsula Development Road) and few stray cattle which was a huge relief. I so don't like stray cattle on any road, but it is what it is... so we drive slow and steady... you know, being semi-grey nomads ourselves.
First you go through Mount Molloy, a beautiful little township with the biggest burgers ever, a great pub with icy cold beer, and a good bunch of people to chat to. From there you head towards Mount Carbine... blink and you've missed it, and onwards to James Earl Lookout where you're rewarded with spectacular views of the start to Cape York.
Leaving the lookout is when things went belly-up! 3 kilometres down the steep slopes and something went plonk plonk plonk... we both said at the same time: "What's that noise?"
Then a strange sight, like something from 'Alice in Wonderland'.... this tyre comes bouncing past the drivers door, down the road, hopping through some mangled sign posts, and careens off into the never-ending scrub.
Scraping, clanging, and hissing sounds combined with 'not so choice language' before we came to a grinding stop.
Oops!
We ended up dragging our one-tyre contraption into the gutter, ripping up the bitumen in the process. With sweat trickling down our face, hands clenched around steering wheel, and heart in our mouth we sighed with relief once fully stopped and engine turned off.
The caravan is just over a year old, brand new tyres, full off-road little rig. I endearingly call it my 'Little Cockroach'
Well this little roach got kind-of squashed and lopsided.
I'm going to rename my Ezytrail to... EzyFrail just a matter of some white automotive paint through the letter T.... and a new brand of caravan will be born.
Anyway, hubby has recovered and bolts down the road and off into the scrub yelling something about a $1000 tyre not getting away this easy. After 27 minutes he comes back beaming with pride 'Got Her' he yells.
Great!
So check this out! Nothing wrong with the tyre, nothing wrong with the rim, bolts not sheared off.. all intact.
We ended up unhitching the caravan from the car and I left hubby behind because there was zero reception of course! Why does mobile phone reception always fail us when we need it? I'm back-tracking to James Earl Lookout where reception is excellent and call for help from RACQ, and from any sympathetic ear willing to sacrifice their weekend time listening to my predicament.
Tow truck organised, only 3 hour wait which is amazing considering our location. Finally we creak back into Mareeba in the dead of the night, snatch strap and pull the limpy EzyFrail off the tow truck tray and somehow managed to Jack it up and block it up for support. Our kangaroo hopping tyre also bounces of the truck's tray and rolls into some stupid ditch. It can stay there until daylight!
The mechanic came out the next day to gloat over our misfortune and to present us with the bill. Never mind... he'll do a good job and will replace those chinese bearings with some good quality snazzy ones. Thanks mate 👍
Will we attempt Cooktown again... Nope, nope, nope. Actually that's the name of a horror movie... Nope. It was more like our personal horror weekend, and we were the star attraction.
Ironically the next weekend, on a Saturday night we went to Mareeba Drive-In and guess what was playing?
Source
How Creepy is that!
We're skipping Cooktown (Yep) and heading straight to Weipa and beyond... to the northernmost point of the Australian Continent.
Why wouldn't Ya!
Same weekend road carnage... not us... but those poor buggers 😭
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That's a decent failure and, as I'm sure you're aware, could have ended very badly indeed. You got off lightly I think.
I've always thought the EzyTrail products were good but have also heard a few words to the contrary; now here's some direct evidence...and only a year old? Not good.
When I bought my off-road rig the stipulation was Australian made and whilst I know I paid more for it I have had it since 2015 and it's served me well. I had a blowout last year in May when heading to Port Lincoln doing 120kph but got away with it with no damage, just the cost of a new tyre.
Failures like this can go very badly. Whilst this was inconvenient you came away safe, the Lux didn't turn over and your van careen into someone coming the other way. I'd say that's a win.
@emma-h have a look at this post, and check the account out...You might see something you like.
Thanks Galen, I will do so. Appreciate it.
Could have ended badly but we're both very thankful that we are okay and no one else was involved. I thought EzyFail was Oz but not so.
Yeah, you were very lucky indeed.
I know... pretty shaken but not hurt thankfully.
Mareeba boring?? No! ;D
A wheel coming off is scary - coming off a trailer must be far worse. Super lucky you didn't jackknife.
I have never seen anyone drive on the west of there and have the mountains on the right of them. Are you going to stop by in the Daintree at all? When I was in highschool, one of the best trips I did was to the Daintree Eco Lodge (or something like that). Fireflies filled the trees and there was glowing moss - but the best part was (being from the city), was the lights went out at midnight and then there were just the stars above.
Heading north towards Cape York so the hills or mountains were on our right for awhile and in front too. Yes very happy we didn't jack-knife and no other cars were coming towards us. Did the Daintree some years ago so will do them on our return. Those fire flies are magnificent aren't they!
Whoa Ingrid that was a near miss if ever there was one, considering what could have happened, I'm glad that you have a tongue in cheek sense of humour about the whole ordeal. Kangaroo tyres clearly weren't the problem and I'm glad your husband was able to retrieve it. I would have serious words with the company your purchase was from because that Ezyfail of yours certainly doesn't sound as safe as it should. Glad you guys are ok. Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Chinese bearings and bushes. Out of alignment too. Made in China, shipped here and sold to me as A1 aussie caravan. I feel had 🤣
On the bright side, no one got hurt and what a blessing there was no oncoming traffic. We will continue to enjoy our journey on the road, thank you 😊
Well I'm just glad that you are ok and can live to tell the tale with some humour to boot. I'll remember to not buy that kind of EasyFrail.
Go well and hope the rest goes off without a hitch :)
Definitely will enjoy the rest of our trip, thanks.
unfortunately, unforeseen events can always happen😪
Yes... my son in-law reckons we had an adventure alright! I can do without that kind of adventure 🤣