camper trailer on Old Ghan Track
Submitted: Saturday, May 21, 2005 at 19:13
ThreadID:
23184
Views:
4139
Replies:
7
FollowUps:
3
This Thread has been Archived
peter in sa
Just wondering if any one knows if you can take a camper trailer from finke to
alice springs via chambers pillow?
suspension rebound springs.
Cheers Greendog.
Reply By: Member - John - Saturday, May 21, 2005 at 19:16
Saturday, May 21, 2005 at 19:16
Chambers Pillow? Yes, should be no problems at all, if it is an offroad CT?
AnswerID:
112224
Reply By: Member - Duncs - Saturday, May 21, 2005 at 19:28
Saturday, May 21, 2005 at 19:28
Took my Trak Shak in there a couple of years ago. No problems at all. The road to Chambers was possibly the worst corrugations I have ever driven on, so take it easy.
Again I would only take a purpose built off road trailer. Also you should get to youre
campsite early, especially with a trailer.
Duncs
AnswerID:
112228
Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Saturday, May 21, 2005 at 19:33
Saturday, May 21, 2005 at 19:33
Have you checked out the June edition of Overlander as this trip appears fairly
well covered by National mag standards
AnswerID:
112229
Follow Up By: peter in sa - Sunday, May 22, 2005 at 15:10
Sunday, May 22, 2005 at 15:10
Thanks Davoe i'll havw alook at the mag cheer's mate
FollowupID:
368590
Reply By: Tony J - Saturday, May 21, 2005 at 20:22
Saturday, May 21, 2005 at 20:22
Hi Peter,
My wife and I travelled from Alice to
Rainbow Valley and then to
Chambers Pillar (not pillow:) )the "back way" via the new Ghan service track (directions given to us by a Nat Park
Ranger) and down to Finke via the Old Ghan last year with an off-road camper trailer. We had rebound springs with shockies. The part where the Finke Desert Race is held was 'interesting' for a while, then switched back onto the old train track. Reasonable going, not difficult, some corregations. Don't be in too much of a hurry and you'll be fine. Some great scenery, a bit of history, some unusual stuf (like a bloke on a push bike with a trailer!!! He did it hard! - wish we had took a photo). If you go to
Rainbow Valley, have a look in the bushes near the viewing platform for a brown leather hat. My name is inside it but not my address. I sat it in a tree to take some sunset photos and didn't think of it again untill we got out of the car at
Chambers Pillar. Anyway,
Check out your trailer
suspension before you travell, take a few spares and don't be in too much of a hurry on the rough stuff and its quite do-able.
regards
Tony J
AnswerID:
112232
Follow Up By: peter in sa - Sunday, May 22, 2005 at 15:30
Sunday, May 22, 2005 at 15:30
Thanks Tony for the reply we are just trying to work out our trip on which way to go from
Dalhousie Springs with the C/T, i allso wanted to include
palm valley on our way to the Alice and from there we would probally go to
Boulia and
Birdsville via the PLENTY HWY and DONAHUE HWY, so were are hoping them roads are ok as
well.cheer's GREENDOG
FollowupID:
368591
Reply By: Member - Barry W (VIC) - Sunday, May 22, 2005 at 21:14
Sunday, May 22, 2005 at 21:14
Hi Peter
We followed the old Ghan rail line from Alice to
Port Augusta 2 yr ago with a camper trailer with r/bound springs had no problems taking our time.
The only rough bits were the section the Finke racers used we went w/end after race pretty chopped up and as previously mentioned really corragated out to
chambers pillar but agreat trip.
Good luck
Barry
AnswerID:
112359
Reply By: Member - Gary W (VIC) - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 13:16
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 13:16
Went from Maryvale to Finke on the old Ghan last year with CT - most of it was like a sandy highway easily travelling 70-90kph for most of it. Watch out for the old railway spikes! - I understand the corrigations can get pretty bad though which will change the color of the trip quite a bit.
Enjoy yours
Gaz
AnswerID:
112424
Follow Up By: Member - Gary W (VIC) - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 13:18
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 13:18
BTW Here's a photo
[ View Image]
Gaz
FollowupID:
368689
Reply By: kimprado - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 15:05
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 15:05
Hi Peter,
Be aware, the section adjacent to Maryvale Station and Finke can have some of the worst corrugations you are ever likely to encounter up North, particularly after the race.
As with any track, conditions vary enormously. So it is best to seek local knowledge just before you leave.
We were planning to be in the area a few years ago and rang the manager of Mt Dare Station on an unrelated matter. During the conversation, we were told they had just received nine inches of rain. Under those circumstances we needed to set back out our departure date.
Regard
Kim
AnswerID:
112430