off road trailers through the simpson

Darian, I fear you'll change your mind if you strike wet or sandy conditions on outback roads towing a heavy duty off road trailer, but I guess you'll need to experience it before you realise what a drag they are behind a vehicle in difficult conditions. That's the reason for the recommendation by so many people not to take them in desert areas. Believe me they're right!!

I'm with Darian on this one. In dunes a trailer probably isn't a good idea, but in most other conditions there isn't much difference if you know what you are doing and look far enough ahead. If the roads/tracks are so wet to be a problem for a trailer, NO-ONE should be driving on them and cutting them up. Thats if you are a responsible person, of course.

Bill, if you have towed a trailer in the bush, then I would consider your point of view more seriously, but you haven't stated anything from personal experience, apart from what you have seen from someone who either didn't know how to drive with a trailer and/or shouldn't have been cutting up the track if it was that wet. And if it was that wet, what were you doing there, making a mess as well?

Darians point on weight distrubution is a good one. A question for those who choose to go with 4 wheels...how much air are you able to let out of your tyres when fully loaded and going over so many dunes as in the Simpson? Can you go as low as you would as if you were on a day trip to a beach? Or do you need to keep tyre pressures up to protect the integrity of your tyre wall? I ask this purely as something to learn from the experience of others, for the day we decide to do a Simpson crossing. In all the years I have driven on our local beaches we are never really loaded up and I find with low pressures and low revs and a steady right foot, dune climbing is far easier than attacking it at speed. Every bump at speed allows a wheel to spin a little (or a lot) and all the following actions makes it harder for the vehicle to keep going forward, and makes it harder for the next vehicle coming along.

A classic example I can relate is the big dune climb out of Yeagarup beach in SW WA. From memory it is about 1 km. You can see the tracks of those who have gone at it fast and those who have gone up steady. I know in whose tracks I would rather follow.

So, what pressures do laden 4x4's run in the Simpson?

Looking forward to learning something

Grant

Skippyking - haven't you ever been in the outback when it has rained? The road I referred to was the Tibooburra to Broken Hill road. It had been closed and we went on soon after the RTA vehicle lead the first vehicles out. A Cruiser with a small trailer simply could not continue. These conditions can be found on many roads quite unexpectedly. If it rains when you're there you have to deal with it. If roads are closed you don't go on them (very heavy fines). If you are towing a trailer you can't traverse them. End of story!

Darian .. also with respect I wasn't referring to towing a trailer on trips such as Goog's Track. Of course you can take a trailer in areas like that. Of course you can go through rocky creek beds etc. But sometimes you encounter situations where a solo 4wd vehicle struggles. Can't you understand that with a heavy trailer behind you will not be able to get through and you'll do heaps of damage trying? For example 12 months ago the Eyre Creek crossing was closed. A temporary crossing was established downstream. A number of vehicles were stuck in it for many hours. Vehicles with trailers could not attempt a crossing. Alternatives? Wait for many days, take a 100km detour or go back through the desert to Dalhousie. Take a tent!! Please!!!!

Bill, sounds to me like it was a lack of experience or unsuitable tyres. At least they stopped and waited instead of sliding into the scrub. I have driven trailers on wet and slippery dirt roads and tracks (I live on them) and if you know what you're doing and drive to the conditions, you will get through like the 4x4's without trailers. The relevant authorities aren't going to let anyone cut up the track, so it's not a case of trying to plow through bogging mud. Not end of story;~)

Just because you got over the top dosnt make you a good sand driver. I lived on a station in northern SA for 30 years with a lot of sand. I hope to do some traverling in the Simpson soon, towing a off-raod trailer that I bilt with 2 axels spreading the load more.

i think that could be a tad harsh on the inexperienced....."we all" had to start some where. I think that if the term inexperienced was replaced with the word irresponsible everyone would agree with you.

Mal, thanks for passing that on. I must admit I was surprised the tyre pressure you use is as low as 15 (assuming you have on a heavy load). Lightly loaded I have used that but you have done it so I bow to your experience. Once on a really bad south coast WA beach we went to 8psi to get out and have been told you can go to 5 if in a bind. As to the idiot, coz thats all you could call him, you had to snatch, it goes to show that some people don't know, or choose to ignore, some of the basic tenets of 4 wheel driving. It's amazing what you can traverse with low tyre pressures and low steady revs and what inexperienced or as Darian pointed out, irresponsible others can't. If everyone lowered their tyre pressures, the dune tracks everywhere would be in good shape and not rutted and cut up. TO THOSE LEARNING ABOUT 4WHEELING - read what Mal has written above - "Used 15 psi and never needed a run up" Grant

lol........im guessing your thinkin second hand trailer market :)