Caravans and Touring the South Coast from Albany

This guide is for caravanners and camper trailer owners starting from Albany or passing through on a south coast trip. It looks at the routes out of Albany and what each asks of your electrics, keeping the van battery charged in cool, cloudy weather, brake controllers and WA trailer rules, and a pre-trip checklist.

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The routes out of Albany

Albany sits towards the western end of the South Coast Highway, which runs about 590 km from Walpole in the west to Esperance in the east. Heading west takes you through Denmark and towards the tall forests around Walpole. Heading east takes you through farming country past Jerramungup and Ravensthorpe to Esperance, with long stretches between towns.

Chester Pass Road runs north from Albany through the Stirling Range, past the turn-off to Bluff Knoll, and the Porongurup Range is a short drive east of Mount Barker. Albany Highway is the main route back to Perth. Each of these trips is different. The western leg has short hops between towns. The eastern leg is longer and more remote, so a charging fault there is a bigger problem.

Charging a van battery in cool south coast weather

Many caravan electrical setups are designed with sunny northern trips in mind. The south coast is different, particularly outside summer. Albany has mild, wet winters, and the forest country around Denmark and Walpole adds shade. A solar panel that easily kept the battery full in the Pilbara may struggle here in July.

That makes charging while driving more important. A DC-DC charger in the tow vehicle takes power from the vehicle's alternator and charges the van battery at the right voltage, even over a long cable run. It's especially useful with smart alternators, which can lower their output in ways that leave a van battery undercharged. Our guide on why a caravan battery isn't charging while towing covers the common causes.

Short drives between towns on the western leg may not give a DC-DC charger enough time to do much. If you're staying a few days at a shady site, plan for a powered site now and then, or use a portable panel you can move into the sun. For sizing, see how much solar you need for a caravan.

Brake controllers and hills

The roads around Albany aren't mountainous, but there are hills on the way to the Stirling Range and plenty of rolling country through the farmland. Many caravans have electric brakes, and these need a brake controller in the tow vehicle. A proportional controller senses how hard you're slowing and applies the van's brakes to match, which gives smoother braking on downhill runs.

Set the controller's gain with the van loaded the way you'll travel. Test it on a quiet road before the trip. If the brakes feel weak, grabby or uneven, the cause may be a poor earth, a corroded plug or worn magnets rather than the controller itself. Our guide on installing an electric brake controller explains the wiring.

Check the brake wiring at the van end too. The brake circuit carries more current than the lights, so a thin or corroded wire, or a loose earth at the drawbar, reduces braking force even when the controller looks fine. If your van spends time parked near the coast in Albany, open the plug and the junction box under the drawbar once a season and look for corrosion on the brake terminals.

WA trailer brake rules in brief

The WA Department of Transport's Safe Towing bulletin (IB-107) sets brake requirements based on gross trailer mass. In summary, at the time of writing:

• A single-axle trailer with a GTM of 750 kg or less doesn't need brakes.
• Over 750 kg and up to 2,000 kg GTM: brakes on at least one axle, and override brakes are allowed.
• Over 2,000 kg GTM: brakes on all wheels, operated from the driver's seat, so override brakes aren't permitted.
• Over 2,000 kg GTM: a breakaway system that applies the brakes automatically if the trailer comes off.
• Lights, wiring and reflectors must meet the Australian Design Rules, and the towing vehicle must have the right electrical sockets and brake connections.

Planning around road conditions

Roadworks, closures and weather events can affect south coast routes, particularly in winter storms and during bushfire season. Check the Main Roads WA Travel Map before you leave and again on the road. Read the current IB-107 bulletin too, because rules change and this guide is only a summary.

Kangaroos are common along country roads at dawn and dusk. Plan your driving so you're set up at camp before dark where you can. If you do drive at night, make sure your headlights are aimed correctly with the van hitched, because a heavy van can tilt the beam upward.

Pre-trip electrical checklist

Do these checks a week or so before you leave Albany, so there's time to fix anything you find.

• Test every van light with a helper: tail, stop, indicators, reversing and clearance lights.
• Check the plug and socket for corrosion, especially if the van lives near the coast.
• Check the van battery's state of charge, and that the DC-DC charger shows it's charging when the engine runs.
• Test the brake controller and the breakaway system if fitted.
• Check the fridge works on 12V while driving, if that's how you run it.
• Look under the van for cables that have dropped or rubbed through.
• Pack spare fuses, a multimeter and a spare plug.

Where to get help on the road

Albany is the main service centre on this part of the coast, and there are auto electricians there and in the surrounding towns. If something fails on the western leg, see our Denmark page for local advice. Remember that 240V work inside the van, including the inlet and power points, must be done by a licensed electrician.

Parts for this job

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Questions Albany drivers ask

Will my caravan solar be enough on the south coast in winter?

Possibly not. Short days, cloud and forest shade around Denmark and Walpole reduce output, especially in July. A DC-DC charger that tops up the van battery while you drive, plus a movable portable panel, helps. If you're staying put for several days, a powered site now and then may also be needed.

Do I need a brake controller for my caravan in WA?

If your van has electric brakes, you need a brake controller in the tow vehicle to operate them. Under WA rules, trailers over 2,000 kg GTM need brakes on all wheels operated from the driver's seat and a breakaway system. Check the current Department of Transport Safe Towing bulletin and your van's compliance plate.

Which is the longer leg from Albany, east or west?

East. South Coast Highway runs about 590 km from Walpole to Esperance, and Albany sits well towards the western end. The eastern leg through Jerramungup and Ravensthorpe to Esperance is longer, with bigger gaps between towns, so a sound charging system matters more.

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