Towing a car trailer up "Bellbird Hill"... do I have a death wish?

Shonky · 07-06-2006, 02:54 PM

Hey all!

For those of you on this site who are familiar with "Bellbird Hill" on Bells Line of Road in NSW's Blue Mountains, I have a question.

I have a few cars which I need to trailer up to my farm out past Lithgow. These cars range from a Laser, to a Series II SWB Landrover, and probably a Falcon Wagon at some stage too. My tow vehicle is my ED 4.0L 4 speed Auto.

Just wondering if it will be possible to do this, or will the Monty run out of oomph halfway up the hill? (Which would most likely result in a catastrphic accident)

I have towed box trailers with furniture in them up the hill many a time with no troubles, but I am thinking that towing a 1.5 tonne Landy up might cause me some troubles...

Anyone have any ideas?

deesun · 07-06-2006, 03:11 PM

Obviously the Laser won't be a prob but the heavier cars may be. There will be a weight issue ie how much you are allowed to tow but I'm not sure what it is. Of course living where you do you can practice through "The Gorge"

: There are some pretty big hills up there so leave home in the cool around 4am so you don't annoy too many other road users. Don't set a time limit so you can be relaxed, take extra water and if it gets a bit hot take a break off the road. Good luck.

nat_daly · 07-06-2006, 03:20 PM

when u say the gorge do you meen galston gorge?
great piece of road but u cant get a trailer through those hair pins..
make sure you take a reasonable choice of road..

MotherNatureVer2 · 07-06-2006, 03:22 PM

I think you should be OK ........ just make it in the cool ... not hard at this time of year round there ... and dont push it ......... most of the really steep stuff has overtaking lanes now ....... well some of them ........ I wouldnt go at the wee hours as I know that trucks use that route after hours as there is less traffic & cops ........ wouldnt be pretty with a huge Kenworth up your bum .........I would take water as deesun has suggested maybe a mate in another vehicle as a sort of escort just in case ;)

deesun · 07-06-2006, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nat_daly

when u say the gorge do you meen galston gorge?
great piece of road but u cant get a trailer through those hair pins..
make sure you take a reasonable choice of road..

Yes but I WAS just joking. I think Young'un would have known that.

Shonky · 07-06-2006, 03:37 PM

LOL! yer I don't think the Gorge is a good place to practice... :P But I caught the sarcasm ;)

Are there any other routes to get to Lithgow and beyond without using Bellbird Hill? I know you can go up Mt Vic but is that really any better?

KEV EB XR8 · 07-06-2006, 03:41 PM

Mt vic probably not as steep a grade then you have to go down either way, good brakes a must

MotherNatureVer2 · 07-06-2006, 03:44 PM

How much past Lithgow are you going ???????

deesun · 07-06-2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotherNature

How much past Lithgow are you going ???????

Depends on how good his brakes are :hihi:

Shonky · 07-06-2006, 03:51 PM

Capertee Valley if you are familiar with the locales. So a fair way past Lithgow.

And my brakes are standard ED Ghia 4 wheel ABS Discs. Should be fine aye?

- Also, Im a Red P Plater... whats the law regarding towing? (NSW)

MotherNatureVer2 · 07-06-2006, 04:00 PM

bwhahahahahahahaha deesun .........

I use this road when I go to Sydney ..... you arnt that far from Lithgow in compare to me young 'un :P ........ was thinking if it was further inland then Newcastle- Merriwa- Dunedoo/Gulgong/Mudgee may have been an option ...........

IF you drive with your breaks properly you should be ok ..... in saying that I mean no riding the breaks to go down hill & preferably use the gears to slow as much as possible ............ Luckily there are quiet a few run off areas on the way down for times like no break situations ....... but I wouldnt like to go into them as they are huge sand traps .......

MotherNatureVer2 · 07-06-2006, 04:03 PM

Other option would be to get a set of electric breaks fitted for about $200 ........

Not sure on the legalities though ...... maybe check out the RTA site

deesun · 07-06-2006, 04:06 PM

P1 drivers only allowed to tow small trailers up to 250kgs unladen weight so that puts you out. Get a mate or wait till P2s

Tote · 07-06-2006, 04:22 PM

I'd be more worried about going down scenic hill than up Bellbird. Check that the towbar on the falcon has a rating sufficient to cover the weight of the trailer. Should be ok otherwise but check that the brakes work on the trailer. I once towed a trailer in the opposite direction down Bellbird with a load of bricks on board. The hydraulic brakes stuck on on the way down and I ended up on Windsor road with a cooked bearing. If you need a tow vehicle rodeos and hiluxes can be hired with a towbar that might have a big enough rating, else find a mate with a landrover that works (although that might be a difficult call ) :evil_laug

Regards,
Tote

Hally · 07-06-2006, 04:39 PM

I gather that you are travelling from Hornsby? If so why don't you just use the M2, then M7 and then M4 and go up the Great Western Highway. The only major hill that way would be at Lapstone and your Falcon would tow up there easily. As previous posts have mention, going down Mt Vic would be your only major concern re braking.

Which way were you thinking of going out to Bells Line anyway?

07-06-2006, 04:53 PM

Id also look at the GWH route.

Do during the night, when its fairly cold (watch out for ice on the road though).

When going down Mt Victoria, stop before the decline and lock it into 1st. Take the hill very easily because everytime I've been down that - unladen EF, all I could smell was brake pads.

Trans cooler is a must.

Bring a spare top radiator hose (~$10)

deesun · 07-06-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hally

Which way were you thinking of going out to Bells Line anyway?

Really only one decent way from Hornsberry,Peanut Hiills Rd,Caster Hill Rd,Showpony Rd,then up the Windsor Rd.

Hally · 07-06-2006, 05:16 PM

yeah, i thought thats the way you would go.

I still would go out via the M's and GWH, you can st a good pace and theres plent of servo's and lay-by's if you need to stop and check the load etc, smooth road and I think it would be quicker due to higher average speeds.

just my two cents worth. hope it all goes well.

Shonky · 07-06-2006, 08:14 PM

oh... another fairly major thing :(

My car doesnt have anywhere to attach a safety chain. previously I have just wrapped a second, short length of chain around the bar and shackled it all together. While this is sufficient for a box trailer, I think I may have to get something more substantial if I am to tow a car trailer.

EDIT: Thanks heaps to all who have provided advice so far... it is greatly appreciated!

notty1978 · 07-06-2006, 09:46 PM

You will be allright just take it easy keep up the reves give your self plenty of time to brake and make sure the manual brake has the stopper liffted off so when you brake so will the trailer
and dont go pass a fuel station
because baby she will burn the fuel up

MotherNatureVer2 · 07-06-2006, 10:52 PM

Saftey chain is easy ........ get a big drill & drill a hole big enough to hold a d shackle ....... orrrrrrrrrr if you or a mate can weld ..... weld a bracket onto the tounge of the towbar .......

Im still thinking the Newwy freeway & then Merriwa/Gulgong/Mudgee way would be safer ..... no major hills going down ..... little further in k's but not that many .........

notty ........ have I seen you in Dubbo town ?????????? Im not that far away from you :P

deesun · 07-06-2006, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotherNature

Im still thinking the Newwy freeway & then Merriwa/Gulgong/Mudgee way would be safer ..... no major hills going down ..... little further in k's but not that many .........

I know they aren't always correct 100% but searching Where is it tells me that via Richmond it is 172km about 2 hrs or via Merriwa/Gulgong 504km and 6 hrs so I guess theres your answer.

blackers10 · 08-06-2006, 01:54 AM

i have towed a car trailer with an old R30 skyline on it using a XF 4 speed manual from sydney to brisbane via the new england highway thru cunninghams gap in the wee hours of the morning!!

also car trailer with an old hyandai excel sedan(80s model) on it being towed by a RWD 88 pintara wagon 3ltr 3 speed auto with overdrive along the same route
that thing was overheating due to a blown head gasket we think it was
but made it anyway. just kept using the auto manually especially down the hills!

LOW gear is your friend
ensure all fluids are good
maybe look at a set of higher temp brake pads for the trip
and id say stop 1/2 way down to let everything cool off

and we found when going UP hills keep your foot at 1 point and let the engine use its torque to pull you up the hill.no need to floor it
trucks know why your going slow and if they want to they will overtake when they want to. they arnt slow vehicles. just seems that way

good luck mate!