Camper trailers on the Border Track

I got my Ultimate over all the dunes without any dramas about 2 years ago (November 2003) and the dunes were very dry. Tyre pressures are critical......we saw a Disco with no trailer having all sorts of problems cos he wouldn't take advice and lower his pressures.....did untold damage to the dunes (and then blokes like me get a rocket for taking a trailer!!!!! Go figure!!!!).

I'll be taking the car along there when eric finds me one

SA/Vic boarder track south of Pinnaroo has just been reopened.I wood check with national pks if trailers allowed. number 08 8576 3690. They did'nt close track for nothing.

Pete we are planning on doing this same track next year.
Let us know how it was thinking of heading in from Mildura and doing a few of the Nat parks then onto the great ocean road.

Hope to hear about it
All the best
Eric

If someone can give instructions as to how to post a picture on here I wil post one showing the biggest dune on the track. There used to be others but some have now got detours around them.

I personnally think a trailer would not be a good idea.

It should also be rememberred that the Border track goes for a long way. A trailer would not be a problem on the sections North of Pinarroo (ie to Renmark) or South of Bordertown. The 1 way section with the bigger dunes runs between Pinarroo and Bordertown.

Anyway, can someone tell me how to post a pic? Or perhaps I can email it to someone else who can post it

Trevor

Thanks Everyone - I had intended to contact the Rangers before attempting it but just thought I would get the advice of anyone who had actually driven it with a trailer - and thanks for that info Roachie.

Cheers
Pete

My brother got through without any real hassles driving a Troopy and towing a Kimberly Kamper. We snatched him over a couple of dunes early on but after lowering tyre pressures down to around 18-20psi on car and trailer found the going easier. Most big dunes have an easier route around them. Just carry a couple of Snatch Straps. We when from the Sturt Hwy to the Western Hwy.

Pete, you should be able to take a trailer through without too many hassles, just let your tyres down - 15lbs or less and you shouldn't need that tirfor. There's been a few times when I've had my tyres at 10lbs or less to get up a dune. Don't forget about your trailer tyres as well. It all helps. The degree of difficulty is controlled by the amount of moisture in the sand. This time of the year is easy, February and March difficult.

There is some talk of the track being closed each year between November and April because of the fire risk. Seems they'll use any excuse to close the track.

One option if the track is closed, is the Murrayville-Yanak Track which is easy going. You then get onto the dog netting fence track which goes west back to the border track. Brings you out onto the southern section below the national park (closed section). The dog fence track can be a challenge in places, but no worse than the border track. Either way the scenery is much the same.

I would strongly recommend against travelling on the southern section (near Nhill)of the border track after rain. It is clay and there are huge bog holes as deep as a car. When dry you can drive through them. When full of water you can't see them. If you drive straight in and have a snorkel, no problems, you'll drive out ok. The danger is putting one wheel over the side and tipping over.
I hope that helps your planning.
Cheers Ferris.

If your Patrol has plenty of power & the trailer isn't too heavy it's a fairly straight forward run on the one way section. All dunes have chicken tracks & the last time we went with a trailer it only needed a short snatch on one. With a second vehicle to help you out you shouldn't hold other groups up too much.
Cheers Craig............

Going through this weekend - will let you know.

Travelled the section from Pinnaroo to Serviceton on the weekend. We did not tow a trailer but thought of your question as we drove along. The sand was very dry and loose on the Saturday when we made the trip. A little rain would make it easier.There are some big dunes either side of Red Bluff but all have side tracks, although some are still steep.Several dunes have four or five tracks up so the secret is to pick the easiest route. In almost all cases I generally found the right hand tracks would be easiest for you. I had my tyres at 25 psi until the biggest dune which I failed to clearfirst attempt. Dropping to 15 psi solved the problem.

Apart from the dunes the track was firm and the sand not at all deep.

South of Red Bluff there are some massive bog holes - deep enough to cover the vehicle. Just when you think you have cleared the worst another one shows up. All have sidetracks - make sure you chose one before you get too close to the bog hole as there is not a lot of room to turn and there is a fair amount of scrub between the main and side track so you would have to reverse. Of the four vehicles in my group three got stuck at least once.

Take the trailer but if you want to tackle the biggest dunes unhook it first, go up without it, go around then take the trailer by the sidetrack.

If you have an email adress I can forward photos.