Googs track.

Peter, in my research for Googs, I spoke with the head ranger of Yellabinna on the phone. I specifically asked if it was ok to tow, his response was "why not - we tow trailers for maintenance of the park every day up there".

A trailer on a track like that will not damage the tracks if managed properly.

I go by what the ranger says.

That relates to my Tvan

You see the scalloping in the vids? That is a clear indication that many do not "manage properly" and it is clear that those who tow trailers do cause more damage than those who do not.
Taking trailers is not banned, like in the Simpson, you are quite correct, but there certainly have been discussions about banning them in the future and as volunteers in this park we have been canvassed about this specific subject by Parks management.
Of course, everyone thinks it is always someone else who does the damage and never them.

When those vid were taken in 2019, I watched a camper trailer crest a dune. The camper was bouncing 300mm off the ground on every scallop and the wheels of the tug were having a little spin in each dip. I regret not getting a video of it because I doubt the driver had the slightest clue what was happening behind him.

I repeat what I said to the OP...... "I would respectfully ask that you DO NOT tow ANYTHING on Googs Track."

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Towing on the Simpson isn't banned.

I understand you have your opinions. But you're assuming that trailers made the track damage. It is usually caused by heavy and overloaded vehicles with incorrect tyre pressure.

I am satisfied that I have verified that towing is ok from the authorities and that a proper setup with experienced driving and correct tyre pressures are not causing any more damage than any other vehicle. You can have your opinion but please don't try to portray those as facts.

If I had wished to say they were banned in the Simpson I would have said "Taking trailers is not banned, UN-like in the Simpson,..". That is not what I said.

Yes, I have my opinions and will continue to express them, like you do yours.
Yes, I agree that tyre pressures (and tyre size and type) are critical and needs to be appropriate to weight.
Yes, 6 load carrying wheels on the sand with 4 driving will do more damage than 4 driven wheels, all other things being equal.
Yes, I do hope that trailers are banned from the Simpson and from Googs Track at some time in the future.

I repeat what I said to the OP...... "I would respectfully ask that you DO NOT tow ANYTHING on Googs Track."
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Auto gear boxes are easier on the track than a manual gear box.

A heavy vehicle with hard tyres and a manual gear box can cause heaps of damage to the track.

Googs can not be described as a hard track and if a winch was employed, it only tells two things......

1 inexperienced drives with no idea on sand driving....

2 most importantly........tyre pressures.

That’s all I will say, as if any calls this a hard track, they better keep out of our deserts

He did say 2.25tonnnes!!!!

So he did ??......a bit heavy for Googs I think

Years ago (2008, maybe?) a convoy of Kimberley Karavans went up there. 2200kg each. There had been rain, the track was firm and no-one had any issues.

There has been some discussion within Parks about making Googs Track one way traffic.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Looks like it's been under discussion for at least 15 years!!

Link

Probably :)
I can only speak for 2019.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

One way traffic defeates the purpose of building the track in the first place.

Thank You.
While you are in the area, spend some time exploring the Gawler Ranges NP to the east. No problem towing in there.
Also, follow the coast west from Fowlers Bay (there is a slow track that goes down to the coast from just north of Fowlers) to a spot called Mexican Hat and even further west to Cheetima Beach if you like to explore. SQUIRT will follow you in there too.
Very special country.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Map of the Fowlers Bay - Mexican Hat area.
The red lines are GPS tracks from 2018.
The track from Fowlers via Scott Point and along the coast does not appear on many maps.
There are also lots of partially overgrown tracks that go to fishing spots.

Scott Point - Mexican Hat.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Last year when we headed east from cheetima on that track there was a gate indicating it is now private property.

East of Cheetima as far as Cape Nuyts is private property (and has been so for "ever") where you enter Fowlers CP.
There is a fence and grid, but I have never seen it closed. That would be a pity.
I suspect that Parks may be trying to acquire everything along the coastal strip and that may have upset the owners - just my speculation....
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome.

Do you think 30psi is significant? No mention was made if that was hot or cold?

Gday
15 psi would be better

He should have been running around 14 - 16 psi and no higher.

I can relate that on one of our solo Simpson trips.we were heading west and the dunes were more cut than normal on the eastern face. We then started to hear radio chatter, so I knew they must be close.

What I could gather it was a larger group, and they were complaining about one dune that was taking 4 to 5 tries to get over? Yet we were sailing over at 14 psi no worries at all. The leader then spoke out over the radio, try dropping your tyres down to 36 psi.......WTF.

We caught up with them at Eyre Creek, had a chat with a couple of them and ther were 10 vehicles in the convoy.......a paid tag along. I asked one of them about the tyre pressures, they were all novice, never done any sand work and going by what their trip leader was telling them.

I told one guy to go lower, but he said no, how could he pump them up again......

Did you travel from the Ceduna end to the Nth

Yes we did. It got worse towards the Northern end. The dunes were fine, the usual holes where people had got stuck. But the corrugations between were horrific.