Trailers in the Simpson Desert

Willem,
We had a good chat to the ranger at Dalhousie Springs before we left to cross the desert, and I would classify his input as constructive advice rather than discouragement. At no time did he say that he'd rather we didn't (take trailers). Rather he tried to fully describe the conditions we might encounter, and what sort of scenery we would see on each of the possible routes. Maybe he could see how well prepared we were, or maybe the other rangers are different, but that was our experience. The track is (for the most part) very easy, although it is a bit lumpy and slow across the French line. The number of dunes that are in any way difficult (west to east) is less than 10, or that's what it seemed to me anyhow. East to west after some dry weather would be different I guess. I really don't think that well prepared trailers do any more damage to the track than other vehicles, and getting past other vehicles is not a problem.
Not sure that the pressures need to be as low as 10-15 psi, but you could be right.
At the end of the day, I probably agree that if you don't have to take a trailer, don't - but if you do (have to), or really want to, then do it properly.

Hi Russell

I suppose that as the trailer industry grows, more and more travellers will venture in to far away places and as for the Simpson, unless the powers to be make a definite ruling for or against, more and more people will tow trailers across the Simpson. I too have a Heavy Duty bush trailer with 16 inch wheels which I am now preparing for an extended trip in to the western deserts next year. I will no doubt find out the limitations of the trailer and truck combination although I am not planning to do major dune crossings.

West to East across the Simspon is a lot easier as you acknowledge. I did a foray in to the desert in September(without the trailer) from East to West and my truck performed very well and made it over all of the dunes without fuss. My mate with me in a TD HiLux would not drop his tyre pressures below 20psi and I had to wait for him every so often as he would bog on the dunes causing track damage. After three days of this he finally conceded defeat and dropped the pressures down to 15psi. His driving skills are not that hot.( The 10/15psi advice was given to me by a Birdsville resident and regular desert traveller). I found more track damage however on the western slopes of the dunes than on the eastern slopes. That may be because more traffic does the west/east run.

I did meet some travellers with trailers including one with a 14" wheeled box trailer in tow. Freshly churned out tracks on the dunes were obviously their doing. Ten years ago we did the Canning and met up with several travellers towing trailers who were having real trouble getting over dunes. They were inexperienced and had to have up to 5 attempts to cross over dunes. I ventured a comment(as I am prone to) and was met by a vocabulary of expletives :o)

The majority of travellers today have modern, powerful 4bies, and if properly set up and with driving and towing esperience can do the desert crossings with ease. Unfortunately many travellers run incorrect tyre pressures and are inexperienced in towing and tend to stuff up the tracks and to those I advise not to tow trailers. There are many tales of woe coming out of the Simpson as inexperienced travellers chance their luck and pay for their folly.

Then again I really enjoy the desert and its aura and visit these places as often as I can.

"If you need a trailer - how much are you taking??"

Thats a fairly one eyed view.

What about families , or are they discouraged . . .

I have no interest in going across the simpson because I would NEED a trailer , and trailers are discouraged , even though , I'm confident , both my vehicle and CT are up to it.

I'll wait till the bitumen goes through . . .

Sorry Willem, I tried to stay out of this one.

"Do you actually think your trailer is built that tough as well? I wouldn't take my treg off-road trailer there, it's all too hard."

Sorry Jurgen but if you wouldn't take your treg there why did you buy it? Have you been there? If you have where else have you been?

Having been on a couple of the more famous 4wd trips in this country I found the Simpson to be one of the easier trips. Yeah it is definately 4wd but it is not particularly difficult and it certainly isn't "too hard"

Before I went to Cape York in 99 people said don't take a trailer, it's too hard. When I quized them further none of them had been there. They just thouhgt it was too hard. In 99 not many people took trailers to the Cape, but they do now.

Now that I've got that off my chest. I'll look at the next coment that got my attention. "I'll wait till the bitumen goes through...." When that happens it will be like Pitt St and I won't want to go!

Now trailers in the Simpson. I took mine and had no problems. I am prepaerd to listen to people like Willem and others who have been there and have well founded arguments to support there position.

Cost of recovery is something you need to think about. But that is there for your car as well. As is the issue of trak damage, something any vehicle can cause if it is not properly prepared and driven.

I recommend that, as with any trip planning, you gather as much information as you can and make a decision based on that information.

Know the risks, weigh the advantages and disadvantages and accept the responsibility. Whatever happens don't blame anyone else.

Have a good trip.
Duncs.

Hey, slow down guys. Let me rephrase.
Families are great on holidays, that's what's it about (I've got kids too). The point I tried to make was reversing back down a dune with a trailer ain't that easy. The problem of jack-knifing going down is an issue, as you can't go up to straighten back out.
The extra drag of non-driven wheels can make it a bit more difficult than it needs to be.
As far as needing a trailer for camping, I only had that problem with my Discovery (really useless boot space); not with my Defender. If I had no choice, the treg would be OK in the Simpson (after all, it's only sand, not really rough at all), just a real pain.
Of course that can open up the debate of trailer vs roof racks.
I had fun in the Simpson last year just after the rains, beautiful region, non-demanding drive, which is bonus to the overall enjoyment.

Hi,

This cost thing has also been mentioned previously, who does the recovery? (I presume out of Birdsville) And what does it cost?

Kind regards

Karsten

That is a great option all round.

Despite being a harsh environment, the Simpson, as you would be well aware, is also a very fragile envirnoment. It takes a long time for the dunes/vegetation to recover from damage and al desert travellers need to be, and most likely are, aware of the imapct that vehicles are having on the Simpson.

The impact of eco-tourism needs to be recognised especially if we want unfettered access to this type of area. Often it is said that a vehicle and trailer is far better than an overloaded vehicle. My view is that if you can't do it lightly even with just a vehicle, then think hard about doing it all.

Gaz,

Still trying to get me one of those squid poles. Emailed Compleat Angler and waiting for a response. Looked around Brisbane no luck so far - obviously not to many squid up here! Do you know if squid poles are the same as bopping poles (haven't seen one of these but apparently sound much the same and are used in freshwater lakes)?

Kind regards

I have to admit to not being much of a fishing person - so I can't help much on whether a bopping pole and squid pole are the same.

My supplier gets them from Galiator Tackle (syd) 02 9631 8966

Gaz

Gary,
I was going to post, but you said it all.....

Sorry, that shoul be 13.6l per 100km.