Jindabyne to Corryong

Hi Gary 15, yes it is possible with some care. I have not towed a caravan on this road but a large tandem trailer on many occassions. The road from Jindabyne to Thredbo resort is easy but, once you past Threadbo the road starts to get very windy. Once you get to Gheei, the road opens up for a good run. There are a couple of switch backs in this road, and as you will need both sides of the road make sure there is nothing coming in the opposite direction. use channel 40 for the trucks, it pays just to sent out a call near switchbacks just in case of over vechiles. This road is loved by the boy racers on their motorbikes, and are frequently on the wrong side of the road. Also be wary of logging trucks as they also frequent this route. There are emergency run offs at some of the bad sections should there be any trouble. This road is real hard on brakes so use a low gear. There are a few pullovers where you can stop and let built up traffic pass you.

Gary we haved towed a 21ft van on this road with no problem during warm months. Same advise about tight switchback and other road users.
I doubt you would be allowed during winter snow months as you need snow chains. If you are planning during winter call National Parks before and ask if you can tow your van

Towing with a 4WD chains are not mandatory. The Alpine Way will be snow ploughed and is a fabulous run with snowy scenery. IIRC the warning sign still says road ahead unsuitable for vans. Black ice could be present.See pics in this link. No.7 has the sign.
https://www.exploroz.com/places/52315/nsw+dead-horse-gap?s=dead%20horse%20gap

That part of the Alpine Way has gates at the top and bottom. I don't know if it's closed seasonally for the whole winter or only when conditions require - check at NPWS in Jindabyne, they'll know.

As GarryR said, use your gears and engine braking to preserve your brakes for when you really need them. I often tow our Kimberley Karavan behind our BT50 and find on the steepest parts frequent use of second and first gear is needed with just a touch on the brakes as needed to keep RPM under control. Sorry if I am preaching to the converted, but many recreational drivers are simply unaware of this.

I once met a family at Leatherbarrel Creek campground who had come down from Thredbo in a Pajero towing a large family camper. They stopped on the flat outside the campground entrance with six smoking wheels, mum and dad ashen faced because they had almost lost control before stopping. Neither knew anything about using gears downhill and had driven that top third of the descent just on the brakes, which had faded to nothing.

Outside snow season it is not a dangerous road, you just have to know what you're doing if you're towing.

The road is called the Alpine Way. It is sealed all the way. There are some very steep climbs/descents on this road, and the pavement is not particularly wide either, so you have to travel slowly and know how wide your caravan is and where it sits on the road. Trucks use this road so it is trafficable.

To say it is safe to tow your van on this road requires a lot more information. The van will probably weigh around 1600 kg + and if you are towing it with say a Falcon, yes it would do the job but it would be working very hard. If you are using a medium 4WD, it will still work hard, but will be more suited to the task. Your own experience is even more critical. The downhill section from Leather Barrel Creek to Tom Groggin is about 20 km and it is steep. relying on your brakes alone will result in brake fade f or sure. Use your gears - 1st gear. The next section is a mild climb, but you then have a steep section down to the Geehi Airstrip. Again, use your gears. You then have a moderate climb for about 15 km, before yet another descent (about 10 km, and steep). From there on, it is an easy drive, although there is one 25 km/h hairpin which may catch you out as you cross a ridge a few km past the Murray River.

It should take you about 3 hours driving time to do this trip. The Kosciuszko National Park charges admission fees (currently about $38 I believe), but is you say that you are going through to Victoria, they will give you a pass which does not allow you to stop on Thredbo or en route. At this time of the year (or even in summer at times), you can expect ice or snow on the road. If you have a 2WD it is compulsory to have snow chains which fit the vehicle. You can hire them in Jindabyne and drop them off in Khancoban. 4WDs are exempt from this requirement, although a 4WD going downhill on an icy road with its wheels locked up is as bad or worse than a 2WD in the same conditions. As for towing a caravan on icy roads, I would rather not...

Although officially you are not allowed to deviate from the route, a drive down river at Geehi (beside the airstrip) is worthwhile - the area is beautiful. Turn left just after crossing the bridge over the Swampy Plains River.

As far as I know, it is not recommended for caravans, but I do know that people tow their vans on it. The scenery on this route is superb, but the road is not really suited to towing caravans on it. I would tow my van on it, but I have lived in the area for 55 + years, and know the area very well.

The other option available is to go via Tumut, but you are exposed to icy conditions and one very steep descent near Talbingo. At this time, the Elliot Way is closed so this route is not available to use.

Gary
Is your 2010 Colorado a manual or auto? Manual will be hard on the clutch. If Auto and towing up significant hills or just towing through some hilly country, if the Radiator viscous fan isn't performing correctly the engine coolant will possibly overheat requiring slower travel in lower gear to keep the cooling airflows and water flows under control. Often the prior fitting of a transmission cooler is a distinct advantage.
If attempting mountainous territory, it is slow hard pulls with low radiator airflow and near maximum heat being generated in the torque converter to heat the engine coolant as well as the engine heat.
Not knowing your tech ability, it may be worthwhile to invest in a Scan Gauge of some type to be able to erase any engine codes and limp modes which could happen. Being in limp mode in mountains isn't what I would enjoy.
With either Manual or Auto, unfortunately, you can't use LOW range especially in tight turns or hard ground and the fitting of Free Wheel front hubs WILL ALLOW low to be used in hilly country as it then isn't locked to the front axle. FW Hubs are also great for any manoeuvering in LOW where backing and turning is often needed.
Don't be alarmed but towing big things in hilly stuff changes the rules and needs.

I just checked the Kosciuszko National Park and the NSW Live Traffic websites. It seems as if the road from Cabramurra to Khancoban, which is normally closed from the June Long Weekend to October Long Weekend MAY be kept open. The website is ambiguous about road closures. Whatever, the website does say that the Elliot Way (Cabramurra to Tumbarumba) is scheduled to open in July 2021. Both of these roads have steep sections which are subject to a lot of snow and ice, but they are generally easier than the Alpine Way (via Thredbo). The Cabra to Khancoban road is normally closed for the winter, but the bushfires have changed everything. Check with the RTA Live Traffic website before you drive. The Cooma VIsitor's centre 0264551742, or Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre 1800 623776
or the Kosciuszko National Park visitors Centres
Jindabyne - 0264505600
Khancoban - 0269477025
or Tumut - 0269477025
can give the latest road information.

In general, if you travel these roads later in the day ie afternoon, the snow clearing crews will have had time to clear the roads. Also, the sun may have melted a lot of the icy patches. If you travel early in the morning, you are likely to run into frost (ice) patches.

Be warned that the area around Cabramurra will be busy for the next few years due to the Snowy 2.0 construction activities. There will be a lot of oversize loads being hauled between Cooma and the Cabramurra area, but these convoys will have pilots to scout ahead and clear the road if required.

Many years ago, I wrote a series of route notes for a friend who was travelling to Melbourne via the mountains, pointing out the highlights of the trip. If you have time to read these notes (about 18 pages), some points of interest are given, although some of them may be out of date by now. I can email them to you if you are interested.