SA/VIC Border Track
Submitted: Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 21:09
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Darbs
Hi guys,
I'm thinking of going over to SA to see the olds in June (I live in NSW) and after seeing it in a magazine, doing the
border track on the way.
Seems like the right time of year - if not a bit cold.
My question is - can you attempt this trail on your own? It'll just be me, myself and I in the ute.
I drive a 98 Hilux with 32" muddies. Done quite a bit of sand driving (just came back from Fraser) but only with others around.
I have no winch.
Thanks, James
Reply By: Member - Outback Gazz - Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 21:48
Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 21:48
G'day James
I've done this track a couple times on my own - southern section - Murrayville down to Bordertown about 5 - 6 years ago in a 2004 Rodeo with 2 inch lift and 32 inch all terrains. Read the info at the
gate and drop your tyre pressure and you will be fine ! Now having said that it is quite isolated so make sure you have some supplies and shelter should anything unfortunate happen !
I got a bit carried away and started playing in the mud down the bottom and got myself into a bit of a situation that with another vehicle around wouldn't have been an issue at all as I would have been out in about 5 minutes with a quick snatch but on my own with no winch it was an hours hard work with just a long handle shovel and muscle !
For a number of reasons I travel alone in remote
places and you don't realise how daunting it is being solo until you get stuck or break down !
Enjoy the trip and don't forget to stop and take some pics from the lookouts !
Cheers
Gazz
AnswerID:
553746
Follow Up By: Darbs - Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 21:52
Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 21:52
Thanks mate - that's reassuring. Was wondering whether to buy a winch and add it to the ute before I head off. Cheap insurance against the worry! I'll keep you posted.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Outback Gazz - Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 22:06
Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 22:06
James
Doesn't matter where you travel in this country if you don't do anything silly you won't really need a winch - I wouldn't buy a winch just for that trip but it's your call. I just did something silly at the time and had I chosen the "sensible" route I wouldn't have needed to use the shovel ! Just make sure your vehicle is well serviced and prepared for the trip - if it breaks down you can have 6
winches and your still stuck !!
Had a winch on one of my Patrols for ten years and only used it twice to rescue two people who did something "silly"
All the best
Gazz
FollowupID:
839646
Follow Up By: Mick O - Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 22:24
Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 22:24
Darbs, you are better off buying yourself a reasonable compressor so you can deflate tyres to handle any sand/slush and then re-inflate them later. This will get you out of most situations. You should not need a winch on the
border track.
Border Track
Cheers
Mick
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FollowupID:
839647
Follow Up By: Bushranger1 - Friday, May 15, 2015 at 08:31
Friday, May 15, 2015 at 08:31
Nah you wont need a winch but some of the low lying areas of clay can get very slippery indeed.
Was camped out that way last June & had 4 nights in a row that were below zero degrees! Usually gets that cold at night following clear days so if it's cloudy it will keep the night temp up a tad.
Cheers
Stu
FollowupID:
839650
Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, May 15, 2015 at 08:47
Friday, May 15, 2015 at 08:47
I actually used my winch - for gardening. To rip out a stubborn ground cover and a few shrubs.
But then again having learnt what it's like to lose a car in mud "we don't go if we don't have to go" into any tricky situation. The car is still there - an Army land rover sunk beyond the windscreen in the training area. Even the boss said to leave it. Won't happen again.
Young blokes who "knew it all".
But would I go without a winch? Nope! No way. Especially as our trips (deserts, CSR and high country) are now all solo. Haven't even used the sat phone but go without it. Same again, nope!
FollowupID:
839656
Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Friday, May 15, 2015 at 14:56
Friday, May 15, 2015 at 14:56
If you are going to rely on a winch in that country then take a ground anchor as well. There is very little to attach a winch to.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, May 15, 2015 at 15:35
Friday, May 15, 2015 at 15:35
We add a set of maxtracks and make sure not to forget the shovel for sandy trips/areas.
FollowupID:
839674
Reply By: Crusier 91 - Friday, May 15, 2015 at 08:30
Friday, May 15, 2015 at 08:30
Darbs, Winter is our wet season here in SA, so beware how deep some of the pits are. They will will filled with water and some are as deep as the roof line of a 4wd.
I also recall that the track was closed down for maintenance for a few months, though I cant remember which months. There is a website directly linked to this track, I'll try to find it and post.
Cheers
AnswerID:
553765
Follow Up By: Bushranger1 - Friday, May 15, 2015 at 08:35
Friday, May 15, 2015 at 08:35
Yes very good point Cruiser. I remembered those points after I hit submit.
You can get round them but when the clay is wet it's pretty easy to slide sideways into the pits when you lose traction.
Cheers
Stu
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839652
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Friday, May 15, 2015 at 10:38
Friday, May 15, 2015 at 10:38
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
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Follow Up By: Darbs - Friday, May 15, 2015 at 22:46
Friday, May 15, 2015 at 22:46
Looks like a lot of fun!
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Reply By: Robin Miller - Friday, May 15, 2015 at 10:15
Friday, May 15, 2015 at 10:15
You should be ok James - its fairly straightforward track and apart from potential mudholes others have referred to at bottom end you can back out of anything that might stop you.
We often do it as a 4hr side trip from coming back from SA desserts , even on my trail bike its ok.
If doing it on the way over, then drive from the north down and at the bottom end of the one way section turn right and relatively easy path loops around to SA side and camping area next to highway - this aviods the sometimes muddy section to the south.
Stay away from it on fine weekend mornings , else you could be in a traffic jam.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Friday, May 15, 2015 at 15:02