Member - John (Vic) replied:

Tim the Strez and Oodnadatta are graded roads and can be driven in a 2wd sedan without hassle.
Road from Tiboburra to Camerons Corner is about the same.
Not sure on Bollards Lagon track from the corner to the Strez.
I would think that as long as your existing tyres are in reasonable condition and your bearings are serviced and you carry spares of both you should not have any problem.
Take it easy and don't overload the trailer.

Crocbit replied:

Tim,

As long as the tow hitch is secure (and you dont get too radical) you shouldn't have any problems, I towed a standard non 4x4 camper trailer loaded up through the Gibb River, check the trailer and load at regular intervals (every "pitt" stop). Check the bearings etc before departure and happy motoring. However, it also depends on the condition of the trailer too - check the welds where a frame meets the trailer!!
Corrugations can shake anything loose too

Don

duncs replied:

Tim,

I would recommend you keep the trailer as light as possible and take it easy. I came across a very good, well maintained trailer just near William Creek that had spat the axle out on the corrigations. The spring hangers had come loose, cracked welds. The movement that followed bent the axle. It was not an off road trailer and cost the guy his holiday and quite a few bucks to get the necessary parts up to WIlliam Creek for the repair. A similar thing once happened to my trailer on the way to the tip and was caused by overloading.

As has been said above you should have no problems on any of the roads you have talked about. Oodnadatta track can be rough if it has had rain and the grader doesn't get to it before you. Check the Transport SA website for road conditions prior to leaving. Also if your trailer has different wheels to the car make sure you carry a spare. If you are going from Broken Hill to Cameron Corner then you need to be careful on the SIlver City Highway as there have been quite a few punctures up that way recently often on more thatn one wheel.

If you have a time limit on the trip I would seriously consider staying on the balck top. There is still plenty to see although it is not as much fun.

Duncs

Utemad replied:

Have you considered changing the hubs on your trailer to 6 stud ones to accomodate the same size wheels and tyres as on your Terracan?

A friend did this mod to his on road box trailer so he could tow it to Double Island Point and the like. He also put some spacers somewere so as the wheels would fit under the original guards. He was towing it with a '91 Pajero. Didn't cost much as the parts came from Autobahn and the wheels/tyres from the Trading Post.

This by no means makes it an off road trailer but increased the trailers ground clearance and made it tow better behind a lifted Pajero. I guess it would also make life easier on the bearings as they won't be spinning so fast. Your wheels are then also interchangeable between trailer and tow vehicle.

Utemad

Max - Sydney replied:

Tim

I'd not muck around changing wheels etc - as the guys have said you are looking at pretty good tracks. Cameron's Corner out to the Strez is in pretty good nick too.

I'd pull off the spring shackles, change the bushes, inspect and grease them; carry the spares you said, and most of all - keep the speed down! You haven't got shock absorbers and with only a light load its going to bounce real good if you push it, and that can break things.

Have a good trip.

Max

Member - Jiarna (SA) replied:

I changed the tyres on my 6x4 trailer to LT (yes they are 14"), and haven't had a flat tyre on the trailer since.
Also, keep a close eye on the spring keepers if you have slipper springs. They wear through quickly on unsealed roads, and you can cause a bit of tyre damage when the springs don't sit straight.
Next, check the welds around the spring shackle mounts at the front. On my trailer, when I flipped it over to weld up mounts for Landcruiser springs, the front shackle mounts were 90% cracked through. If one had let go, the axle would have disappeared out the back, as the slipper spring has nothing else to keep it in place once the front shackle lets go.
Last but not least, as has been said already, check the welds where the A-frame meets the body of the trailer. Welding a strip of steel on edge across this weak point might be a good idea, and only costs a few dollars. I had the unwelcome experience of seing my trailer cartwheeling up the Oodnadatta Track last year when the A-frame parted from the trailer body.
Good luck.
John
Oodnadatta

Croozer replied:

In addition to the other responses I have a couple of points for you. Since the trailer will have little weight in it perhaps it would be advisale to keep the pressure in the trailer tyres to a minimum to help absorb the bumps. But more importantly make sure you protect the rear of your car (particularly the window) from stones which will deflect off the front of your trailer into the vehicle causing damage. Some sort of stone deflector on the A frame (angled forwards & down), and/or a full width, to the gound mud flap attached to the rear of the vehicle to deflect stones before they hit the trailer.
I once towed a box trailer for about 100k's of dirt and while I fortunately did not bust the back window the paintwork became dotted with stone chips.

Hope this helps,
Stuart

ianmc replied:

Putting heavy 4x4 wheels on a light trailer could throw it around so much & damage it due to the high unsprung weight bouncing up & down.
If going for new supe cheap hubs or bearings make sure they are Aussie built, should cost very little extra over the dubious imported chinese ones,