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CARAVANS ABANDONED & stuck for 1 week in flooded Australian Outback! Do we get out?

4WD 24-7

2,186,989 views

Seven days trapped by floodwater in Channel Country. Graham Cahill tows off-road caravans through outback Queensland when unseasonal rain hits — and the only way out means leaving the vans behind.

What starts as an easy run north from Kangaroo Island towards Cape York turns into a survival exercise on day one of the rain. Six hundred kilometres from the nearest town, the black soil turns to grease — Steph slides her van off the track and Graham Cahill runs the Runva winch out before the convoy has barely started, then the whole crew is down to 8km/h with the vans stepping sideways.

Then it gets worse: the roads officially close, the creek beside camp flows for the first time in years, and a message over the Zoleo satellite communicator brings a grave answer from the local police — more rain is coming, get out while you can. The drone shows the track in is completely underwater, so Graham and the cameraman take the D-MAX on a recce down a fence line track, past a dam that has burst its banks, hunting a route the vans can survive.

Day six is the big push: Maverick vans left on high ground running on lithium and solar, Clearview Rock Tamers copping a hammering, the Ultimate9 throttle controller flicked to adaptive mode for the sticky stuff, and one last flooded crossing between the crew and the road out.

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CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
2:21 Into Channel Country
5:57 Van stuck in black soil
11:04 Camp — waiting out the rain
19:39 Trapped — roads closed
23:14 Police warning — more rain coming
26:16 Track out underwater
29:51 Scouting a way out
32:36 Day five — fence line track
37:26 Burst dam blocks the track
40:28 Leaving the vans behind
45:52 The final flooded crossing
49:53 The road out

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Our Essential Trip Gear:
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Off Grid Campers/Caravans: https://maverickcampers.com.au/
4WD Roof Racks: https://rola.com.au/
Wine: https://www.offtrackwines.com.au/
Suspension: https://www.pedders.com.au/
Canopy/Tray: https://www.mitsalloy.com.au
Caravan & RV Supplies: https://camec.com.au/
Quality Towbars: https://haymanreese.com.au/
Graham's UHF/Comms: https://uniden.com.au/
Graham's barwork: https://www.raslarr.com.au/
4WD Protective Paint: https://raptordiy.com.au/
Throttle Controllers: https://www.ultimate9.co/au/
Off-Road Winches: https://www.runvawinch.com.au
Graham's 4WD Spotlights: https://www.stedi.com.au/
Satellite Communicator: https://www.zoleo.com/en-au
Tough Aussie-made exhausts: https://pacemaker.com.au/
Camping Fridge: https://www.dometic.com/en-au/outdoor
Towing Mirrors: https://www.clearviewaccessories.com.au/
Tasty Aussie-made Outdoor Meals & Snacks: https://ontrackmeals.com/

📸 Instagram: @4wd247
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Shaun, Graham, Jock & Jesse — formerly with 4WD Action — have been delivering Australia's best off-road content for 20+ years. From epic builds and 4x4 tips to Fraser Island, The Kimberley, Colorado and the Simpson Desert. Whether you're in a fully built LandCruiser or just starting out with a HiLux or Ranger — we've got you covered.

#4wd247 #OffGrid #ChannelCountry #Outback #Queensland #4WD #4x4 #Flooded #BlackSoil #OffroadCaravan #Caravan #Towing #Y62 #Patrol #DMAX #Bogged #Camping

20 Comments

@theunknowntommorow 2 years ago

Id like to take these time to appreciate the camera crew.We enjoy the sceneries and video but we dont understand the shit the camera crew go through to bring about something spectacular like these.I mean they sleep last,wake up first,not sure how often they eat and shower,put themselves in uncomfortable situations for a better view etc etc etc I thank and appreciate them for the work they put in.

@mightycarmods 2 years ago

There is SO much work in creating a video like this. Shout out to crew, editors and the on screen team also. Solid effort in terrible conditions. Good job team!

@markthorogood1825 2 years ago

Why don’t you give the camera guy just a little luxury and give him a roof top tent??

@jimmyd6819 2 years ago

"The harder I put my foot down the more throttle response I get"

That's how all accelerators work ya nim rod graham

@dixinyomum 9 months ago

The support vehicle driver is the only person who knows how to drive off road.

@adventurelifestyleaus 2 years ago

Caravans help you go places! ...Leaves caravans 😅 Great episode but just reinforces why we don't tow!

@nunya9034 2 years ago

Great to put a face and voice to camera man. He does an awesome job.

@dn059 2 years ago

Harley so amazed that mud flaps are carching mud 😂🤔

@Ironbark_Bushcraft 2 years ago

Fun fact. If you're in black soil country... it's better to drive through the water than trying to avoid it. Always seems to be harder underneath the water.
I cut my teeth on black soil out at Walgett.
A farmers quote:" If you stick to black soil in a drought, it'll stick to you in the wet" 🤙

@ashleyboyer2721 1 year ago

14:42 does someone live in that house? That's insanely remote, I want to buy that house 😂

@fibienn250 2 years ago

I live in far western NSW. People are always ignoring the closed or caution signs posted at the start of a dirt road.

Now, I’m not saying you did this or mad bad choices, but you have reminded me of an interesting story.

A couple of years ago, we had a spot of heavier than expected rain and a couple of caravaners got themselves stuck in mud on an isolated dirt road.

They called roadside who told them that they couldn’t take a truck out to them until the road was dry.

Then they called a local breakdown service who laughed and told them good luck. So they called again and again. After many calls with the caravaners getting increasingly abusive, they started calling the local cops.

The cops asked how much water and food they had with them. The caravaners had enough for a few weeks so they were told to ration it carefully; because, if they ran out before they could be rescued, more supplies would have to be air dropped, at their own expense.
The caravaners were furious and argued that it wasn’t their fault. That the road hadn’t been closed when they’d first turned on to it.
It turned out that a local had seen them drive around the great big road closed sign and had reported them.
The police then told them they would be getting fined which would amount to 10’s of thousands of dollars and they’d be billed for any rescue or support. Finally, if they continued to needlessly call 000, they would incur further penalties (not sure what).

So they didn’t give up. They called the local radio station. Now it just so happened that the local area police commander was being interviewed that day. He used the opportunity for a great teaching moment.

Years later, people still remember that pair of idiots and I for one, have repeated that story at many dinner tables.

I don’t know what happened in then end. I did hear that they were stuck for a couple of weeks. I don’t know how much their choices cost them but I’d be surprised if it cost less than $30000.

@Vegland 2 years ago

Your camera team needs a raise. epic shots throughout with bad conditions

@tuuevcc 5 months ago

I'm from Lithuania and i would love to go to Australia one day.

@acacomiskey 2 years ago

When you’re camped in the black mud country you should bolt when you see the rain clouds coming,or be prepared for a stay and just enjoy the country.

@basiloloughlin6105 1 year ago

Spent over 40 years in the bush if its raining get to the highest bit of ground and stay put until the tracks dries out be it 2 days or 2 weeks, lot of people panic out bush when it starts raining they try to drive out strait away cutting up tracks making a hell of a mess, stations owners hate these idiots cutting up their tracks.

@Lee-in-oz 2 years ago

Can you start using the camermans name? He is definitely part of the team and deserves recognition.

@paulclarke4431 2 years ago

The OG Graham is back, bringing the rain with him!

@darinfisher989 1 year ago

You need a pro like me. The key to go in the cross mud and sand is to go as fast as you can drive like a maniac and never slow down

@Outbackvintagevehicles 2 years ago

Lol reminds me when our family was stuck between 2 flooded rivers. It kept raining boggy as hell. We waited for 3 weeks until the flats dried up before we could get out. We had a 1974 fj 40 and a CJ3B Willys Jeep. Lucky we had rabbit traps, 22 rifle and sheets of Marsden Matting. I know we were sick of eating rabbits. We made our way out across country about 100ks until we got back onto a gazetted dirt road that was relatively easier going. No caravan and no winches no snatch straps just Marsden matting, shovels and sticks.

@whyzed250 2 years ago

Something that always sticks with you are the trips where you have to be resourceful and adapt to adverse situations. I barely remember the perfect trips - but the ones i had to trudge and scramble on will stay for life. Thats what this vid gave me - extremely entertaining - thanks folks.