Canning Stock Route

Advice also needed for Canning Stock Route.
Again, best time, route .
We have an Ultimate Nautilus and LandCruiser. Would it be ok to take th ed camper.
Thanks for all the wonderful info available on ExploreOz.
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Reply By: Member - Wildmax - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 10:46

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 10:46
We did the top and bottom sections in April this year.
At the top, early in the season the spinifex was very high and a significant fire risk (as our friends discovered to their cost - which is why we didn't complete the full length).
There wasn't anything we encountered on the northern section which would be difficult towing a compact trailer - though assuming the Nautilus is the bigger version in Ultimate camper range, then you might find some areas a bit tight, and would need to be prepared for some pinstriping.
However some sections at the southern end - wells 5 to 9 from memory, trailers are prohibited.
We just used tents on our trip and were glad we did. The drive is quite manageable with care and there are access points across to the Gunbarrel (eg via Glenayle station from well 9), where you could exit with your trailer.
Narrow and rocky in some parts to the south, but well worth the effort.
Can't offer any advice about the middle sections of the CSR, because as indicated above that section of our trip was aborted.
Cheers
Wildmax
2018 Hilux pulling AOR Eclipse
Black Wolf 210 tent

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Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 10:53

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 10:53
You must have been just behind us.
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Follow Up By: Member - Wildmax - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 12:15

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 12:15
If you din't see a burnt out Prado about 140 km south of Lake Stretch then, yes, we were behind you!! (it was actually early May by the time we got onto the Canning).
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Follow Up By: TTTSA - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 12:16

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 12:16
We were the group just behind you Ivan, 3 vehicles with campers.

We left Bililuna on 12th April.
Cheers
Peter
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Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 12:46

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 12:46
How did you guys fair?
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Follow Up By: TTTSA - Monday, Sep 04, 2017 at 06:37

Monday, Sep 04, 2017 at 06:37
We got about 50km south of Georgia Bore and were cut off by water, had a bit of a scout around to the left but the water looked to go a long way. We were a little time compromised so we decided to head back to Georgia Bore and the next day we took the Talawana track out to Newman.

Always next year.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Monday, Sep 04, 2017 at 18:52

Monday, Sep 04, 2017 at 18:52
We were force to pull out at Kunnawatiji because of time. The north section took a little longer than we anticipated.
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Follow Up By: TTTSA - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2017 at 06:53

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2017 at 06:53
Ahh yes, that's what the woman in the shop at Billiluna told us you were planning to do.

I am guessing by the detours you took you had done that part of the Canning before, or you had very good instinct on which way to go around some of those tricky sections.
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Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Tuesday, Sep 05, 2017 at 17:54

Tuesday, Sep 05, 2017 at 17:54
First time. Had to feel our way around and the missus and kids did a lot of walking to find a path but we still came unstuck in a couple of spots.
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Reply By: IvanTheTerrible - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 10:52

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 10:52
You'll need two separate permits and middle of winter is the best time. There is one section at the beginning that has banned trucks and trailers. Be aware that it is a difficult track and having a trailer only exacerbates the problems. We had a small trailer and went north to south and we struggled on the really big dunes but in saying that we were the first people on the track this year so the dunes were soft and the south sides of the dunes looked easier than the north sides most of the times.
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Reply By: Mick O - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 15:44

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 15:44
You will have some issues hauling the Nautilus up some of the monsters on the stretches north of Well 38. They are big, soft and at 2 tonnes plus, you may have some issues with your trailer.

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 16:31

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 16:31
We got stuck on all three big ones
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Follow Up By: Dean K3 - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 17:06

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 17:06
Corrugations on sand dunes - answer to this wrong tyre pressure !

Always a tough one enough momentum vs comfort vs tyre run off rim vs walking up everything
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Follow Up By: Mick O - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 20:48

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 20:48
Dean totally agree but another big issue with the Canning dunes is that often the track takes a sharp turn immediately prior to the climb up the dune face meaning you lose momentum. If you're not on the ball to get the gearing and rev's right, even the most suitable of tyre pressures won't help you. I've had my party balloons down as low as 10 psi all round and walked up with the lockers on but on some dunes where there was extremely loose, fluid sand, and runnelling caused by those hitting the dunes hard and digging in continuously, even that wasn't a guarantee of success.

I think the OP's biggest problem will be the extra weight of the Nautilus which is a pretty heavy beast (1550 kgs dry weight with an unladen ball weight of 120 kgs). No dramas on 70% of the Canning but that last 30% may be a heartbreaker.

Cheers

Mick
''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Follow Up By: Dean K3 - Saturday, Sep 02, 2017 at 12:41

Saturday, Sep 02, 2017 at 12:41
Reality is towing anything in sandy conditions places alot of extra strain on mechanical of tug being used not to mention the issue of structural integrity of towed unit.

In short my simple motto/answer is never tow on some tracks/roads CSR is one of them.
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Reply By: Robin Miller - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 18:00

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 18:00
Hi Scout

Just spent 15000km and 8 weeks with a Nautilus and 100 series mate doing the Gibb river and all sorts of places from melbourne.
They averaged approx 17lt/100km

My assessment of the Canning (in 2010) is that it wasn't hard and that camper is ok.

On recent trip though the Nautilus did a have a few issues, some were that dust settling on the pod made it difficult to close and got inside and pod top needed to be cleaned before closing.
The door fell off as pop rivets pulled thru.

Also 100 series starter began to play up and this turned out to be drain being blocked with mud , also terrain tamer shocks became loose at mounts.

Can't remember all issues , think side windows would not hold open , and aircon failed to operate - don't know why ,suspect dust.

No issues were caused because it was to big or not capable however I would suggest you keep it light as possible - we carried 36lt of water but Nautilus carried 150lt and it was never needed, as every few days we picked some up.

Robin Miller

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Follow Up By: Scout - Saturday, Sep 02, 2017 at 10:24

Saturday, Sep 02, 2017 at 10:24
Thanks for this reply,
We are still considering our future touring options, however was interested in your Nautilus difficulties.
We had a near miss with a circlip coming off the bar where the door attaches to the roof. fortunately the bar stayed in place so there was no damage.
Where did the pop rivets on the door pull through, this area does concern us? Did you have damage from this.
Also, dust on the pod? We have had some difficulties pulling in and the last stage of pushing out of the pod, better some times than others. Do you think this is due to dust? Did the dust entry at the pod happen as you were travelling?
Our aircon has also failed, not noticed until after warranty expired, I wonder if this unit is suitable for offroad purposes. We are looking for someone who can sevice it, local companies seem somewhat lacking in knowledge, as we are rarely in powered sites it also is not a problem.
Also, TV currently not working, also wonder if it is not suitable for off road. Any ideas?
Inverter also packed in recently, smoke alarm going off at 1.30 am in a very quiet camping spot, insurance company not happy to pay. We wonder if the unit produces too much heat for the cupboard it is in.
Sounds like a lot a complaints, however, we really are very happy with our Nautilus, it takes us places that are amazing and we rest in comfort when we arrive.
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Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Sunday, Sep 03, 2017 at 17:27

Sunday, Sep 03, 2017 at 17:27
I have asked my mate to comment on your issues Scout.
Robin Miller

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Reply By: PhilD - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 21:51

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 21:51
Towed Kimberley Kamper up the CSR a few months ago. No problem, just took it slow over 24 days. You will scratch the Nautilus up on quite a few sections, but if it has the same track as the LC, you shouldn't have too many problems. Make sure your tyre pressures are down 20-15 or less depending on the sand, and be prepared to stop every hour or so to let things cool down. Remember it is an endurance test, not a race to break everything! There are a lot of side things to do, so do them and don't be in a hurry.
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