How FAR can I get with my Camper Trailer??

Hi Smitty,
Should be no problem taking the trailer up the OTL on the cape, did the trip in 93 with a track trailer, the only part I did not do was Gunshot, just took it easy and stopped at each creek crossing and watch what other people were doing before going across.
Regards Ray
Sadly the new vehicle won't fit on the OTL

Thanks Ray! That is a nice looking set-up you've got there!

Smitty,

With your setup I would not hesitate to do the OTL. The track does change a lot from year to year I know but we done it in a pathfinder and homemade offroad trailer (see my rig photo's for that setup).
Don't try to break land speed records and all should go well. Have fun.

Cheers Trevor.

G'day Smitty,

Have done this trip twice and last time with a group towing trailers. We did the pascoe (along the frechmans track) and Verilya Point. One of our crew took one of the easy options at Gunshot but the rest went around. There are some narrow log bridges along the top part but you should have no problems with that set up.

My trailer weighs that much and as has already been said don't rush you'll be fine. What ever you do DON'T leave the trailer behind. There are plenty of places to pull up and camp with a trailer (lot more comfy too).

Kind regards

I totally agree with what has been said, but I just love how some trailer manufactures and sellers say 'this is a tough trailer, it will go wherever your tow vehicle goes'. Well yes, it would be hard for it to go where the tow vehicle doesn't go!! They forget to mention that the overall weight, ball weight, length etc have a limiting effect on what you can do when towing. So there are some places you won't get to when towing that would otherwise be pretty simple.

That said, the Cape should not be a problem. I hope to get up there with my CT soon.

SWMBO won't camp without the trailer these days, so that puts the pressure on.

Yep - that class of trailer is built to withstand the rigours of off road bush travel. As other have said, just take it easy ! Give the hardware a comfortable time of it ! Let all 6 tyres way down and you can sail through deep, soft sand. Slow right down over rough rocks etc - fine. If the seals are ok, water will be no problem. Tight turns in scrub etc. can be an issue, but you deal with it - slowly. Check up on Jol Fleming's page at http://www.direct4wd.com.au/ - he encourages people to take the trailer, but only if you are careful and plan for it. IMO, if the vehicle can handle the weight, the trailer can go. There are only minor compromises for the careful driver it seems.

smitty
we are also kk platium owners and with our 3lt patrol and lots of common sense not had a prob yet (touch wood), have you got a winch ?

mate
no real probs if you do it south to north except gunshot and maybe one or two others but just go cruising and look for the easy crossing - there is always one somewhere

we were there in 2004 with a 3.0 l td patrol and a kk classic mariner with boat and fully loaded 1450 kgs did not quite get to the top as had a few too many probs with both vehicle and trailer and took the wiser option on the day - just one of those things but a mate went on to the top alone and did the full trip with a toy ser 100 and an ultimate ( no winch )

the development road is just a bloody awful stoney rough bugger of a road which can rip BFGs to bits and did to me - and the corrugated battlecamp road to cooktown is a swine of a thing - so if it was me i would go north on the otl and south on the dr slowly

you really do need to have lots of time and just potter along at 80 kms on the dr and chicken out on the otl at the creeks etc if it looks too bad - but it changes every year

good luck see you greg

Smitty
My set up looks to be identical to yours
Last year a mate with his 80 series and KK and myself with KK did Perth - Ularoo - Simpson - Fraser Island - Cape York - Normanton - Katherine - Kakadu - Coburg Peninsular - Kunnunurra - Broome - Perth
You hear all sorts of stories, but I am sure the disasters are from people who are unprepared or make driving errors. The KK is made to go ANYWHERE and it will. We had only several minor problems. My friend ripped the disk brake off when a big rock go caught up just out of Dalhousie and I needed to have new shocks on the trailer (replaced by Kimberley under warranty whe I got back) Take note of the above advice to let your tyre pressure down. We both ripped lugs off our Cooper tyres and Cooper claimed the pressure was too high. Having said that we had virtually no tyre problems in 17000 kms. Never needed to use our winch. Make sur e you go right up to Shotgun (to have a look) Do the entire OTL BOTH directions - you will be surprised at what you miss on the eay up. I have heard of travellers who took the bypass road the whole way - they missed the best parts.

Here is a PIC of my setup

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/SMITTY51_/IMG_0099.jpg

Smitty
Great idea your wife and yourself have at your age. Get out and explore - you never know what opportunities it will open for you - you may never return home.
We are at the opposite end - mid 50s and kids gone and I have a good business partner.
We took about 9 weeks. In hindsight was too quick but we like to say it was our preliminary tour to check out the lie of the land for future trips.