Poeppel Cnr

Tony,
We were out there just after Easter in our stock standard diesel NT. Took exactly 6 hours from Birdsville. We were thankful not to be towing and saw no other vehicles towing. Some of the sand dunes have sharp dog leg approaches which really sap momentum and there were some quite sharp crests which required careful throttle control. On some dunes, the approaches were very chopped up necessitating chosing another track. Personally, I think it would place a lot of unnecessary strain on your NS. Also, we had to reverse down several approaches through bends to have another go. Very tricky with a trailer.
Jon W

We were out there last week and the QAA line was easy going and your Paj would make it look even easier. Who knows what September it will be like.
I don't tow but there were a few out there who I spoke to and one guy said he had no problems but another said never again with a trailer.
Cheers

Tony, read Evan McHugh's book "Birdsville". He has some uh..."interesting" stories about rescue parties he joined, all while towing a trailer...digging until his blisters bled, jack-knifing while trying to reverse when bogged etc. And he was in the company of very experienced people who'd done the trek quite a number of times!
Read that and then make up your own mind.
It can be done, but it's rather pricey when it comes unstuck in any way.
That said, I have a friend who did it without towing...could you ditch the camper at the caravan park and head out without it?
Just a thought.
:)

There's a couple of cracker dunes between big red and ayre creek. I've pulled cars off them without trailers. As others have said you might make it, you might not - depends on the day, the heat, the wind and which goose got stuck with his trailer before your attempt. You will make it with just the car and a tent.

Tony Hi,
Give it a go, You will not be disappointed. If You can't get past Little or Big Red You have at least had a good day & seen some great country.
Just remember the sand is a bit softer & the dunes a bit higher than the beach.

Regards Mike.

Trailers are not recommended for a reason and will be banned soon for the same reason. I was there a month ago and had to help two vehicles with trailers get turned around after only three dunes past Big Red. The western faces of the dunes are mostly the steepest and pretty cut up by people towing trailers getting bogged and making it hard for everyone else. A tent for one night in the desert is recommended.

Iza

"Can it be done?" Tony your vehicle would be quite capable of towing a high clearance full off-road spec trailer out to Poeppels as long as it wasn't too heavily loaded.
"How many hours?" Around 6 to 7 hours towing in average conditions.
Some variables to consider particularly when towing are....
* Total weight of trailer.
* How soft, wind blown & cut up the dunes are at the time.
* How much rain has fallen prior.
* Lack of experience towing in the desert.
* Travelling solo or with other cars?
For you the bonus is you can play it by ear & if conditions are exceptionally difficult at the time simply turn around. If progress is slow an option would be to drive out to Eyre Creek, camp there then do a day loop without the trailer to Poeppels.

As a side note winches in the Simpson are not very practical for recovery as by the time you've buried your spare for an anchor point someone you're holding up will drag you out of the way. Likewise Maxtrax are time consuming too & may be an indication you're tackling the dunes wrong.
Have fun.
Cheers Craig.........