Roof racks or traler

Hey Kim,

I'd go for the trailer. As long as it's well built it'll handle most roads you'll want to go with the kids. Gibb River Road etc. Lots of camper trailers when we were up there a couple of years ago. Personally, I don't like things on the roof at all, and with a trailer you can throw a jerry can of fuel in. Good insurannce when you only have a 90 litre tank with diesel and almost essential if you have the petrol version.
Check out the weight you can carry on top of the Paj and what racks are suitable. As you know from that other forum there were some initial problems with Rolla Racks. Think they've been fixed now.

By the way, what did you finally do about your suspension.

G'day Taize,

Mate, take a trailer (make SURE its a good off road one) and leave the roofrack for the tinnie.

Friends of mine borrowed one when we visited Cape York 2 years ago - well they ended up buying that same trailer just recently for a trip we're doing to the Kimberly next year also. They didn't find the borrowing route very satisfying because they couldn't personalise the trailer, which everyone does.

I've used both and I found that the trailer has made life so much simpler so long as things don't go wrong with the trailer. Packing becomes less of a challenge with a trailer paticularly if your traveling with a tribe.

Kind regards

Ross,

I have not upgraded the suspension yet. When I do it will bilsteins. I'm planning on installing a portable dual battery before christmas and maybe a shelf in the back to go over the fridge. The suspension will be after that.

Kym

I'm not going to tell you to go eitherway, just offer my experiences with the Roof bars and basket with a Rack Sack. I'm a pretty tall fella 6'3" so I find the roof rack bloody great. Never had a problem with it, IMO much easier than worring about the trailer on the back, especially in deep sand and tight tracks or if in a convoy with the expeted 63 three point turns on a trip LOL
For the kimbley by yourself the camper might be a good way to go, but if you get the roof rack you can use it again and again for the same price as what the camper's going to cost to hire for 1 holiday. Food for thought...

A trailer with a stock crate to keep you little ones confined?

Check out what the maximum weight is for the Pajero. When we had a 100 series it was something like 2600kgs tare and gross of 3200kgs. 600kgs doesn't leave much when you take the weight of the 2 adults, & 2 kids from it. Then take into account the weight of any extras you have, Bull Bar, Towbar, extra battery, fridge and roof rack. You will be well and truely over weight by the time you put all your camping equipment in and on a roof rack.

I towed our Caravan through the Kimberley this year and we went into most places including ElQuestro, Old Mornington Station, Mitchell Plateau, and had no problems at all. Back in 1983 we towed a standard 7 by 4 box trailer through there and had no problems with trailer.

I would definitely recommend the trailer over a roof rack, but as we suffered a broken rear window when we towed the box trailer, I would recommend a good screen to protect the back of the vehicle from rocks hitting trailer and then flying back into the rear of vehicle.

Kym,

It really depends on where you are going in the Kimberly or the top end. I have done numerous trips into this country over the past 20 years and there are some places where a trailer will be OK and there are others where it's just impossible.

If your just planning to "tour" then in most places a trailer will be fine but if you want to get away from it all and fish, explore remote areas then I would strongly suggest the roof rack option.

Also take into account the changes in the track conditions throughout a season. I'm often amused by the people that say the GRR is fine for trailers because they went through once. This particular road changes from smooth to the worst possible track over the season and it really depends on the recent traffic and when the grader last went through. As an example 3 years ago I towed a 23 ft aluminium sportfishing boat across the GRR without an issue. Last year, at the time I went, there is no way I would have got the same rig through without damage to either the trailer or the boat.

Personally, with the kids etc I would go for the roof racks, pack light, take your time and enjoy yourself. You can always go back again and have another go with a different set-up :)

Taize,
IMOHO If I were you I would go for a trailer, once you take into consideration the weight of the Roof Rack/Surf Bars and Basket it Won’t leave allot of fat left to put stuff on the roof. My NM Pajero is rated at about 50 or 60kg's (Correct me if I'm Wrong) so I can only put about 30 or 40kg's (Correct me if I'm Wrong) on the roof not that I would it would make it all a bit too top heavy for my liking on a recent trip to Mt Magnet we ended up putting our table and tent in the storage space of our friends camper trailer and they still had heaps of room.

HtH