Camper Trailers on the Canning

Seem to remember something in the A4WDRN Network News months ago about trailers not welcome on the Canning by the Station owners, too much wear and tear? Worth following up before you head off and, if you are not already an HF radio user I STRONGLY recommend you not only get one, (or have one in your party), but also be a member of this great network. You won`t regret it!

Since found the reference was Sept 2000 so obviously dated. Then access through Cunyu Station was strictly no traier or wide track vehicles. No Okas, Akas or anything bigger than Landcruiser. The Station recommended ringing
Wiluna Police Station for the latest data on o8-9981-2934. The web site suggested then was http://4wdclubs.sofocom.com/au/an4wdrn/canning.htm
The Australian National 4WD Radio Network has an email address of vks737@camtech.net.au and phone 08-8287-6222
Hope this is of some help
Cheers

We have just had a discussion about taking trailers on the Canning. Please check mail of 17th January posted by Trixie on Canning and Gunbarrel. Use the 'Search' function. There are those for and those against taking trailers on the Canning. Myself and others are against it as vehicles towing trailers stuff up the dunes. No matter how well prepared you are, how well prepared you vehicle is or how sturdy your trailer is YOU WILL DO DAMAGE to the dunes and you will then make it difficult for those who come after you. The Canning isn't a picnic. There are about 950 dunes to cross. Yes the track runs parallel to the dunes but there is normally a straight run up. That is if you are going south to north. Travelling north to south is far more diffcult as there is no run up to the dunes and every crossing has to be done on a left hand turn and a rush over the dune. Please consider leaving your trailers behind. Cheers, W

Richard. Having travelled the csr solo in sept/oct 2002, I have some opinions. We have to be carefull when talking of towing camper trailers as sometimes apples aren't compared with apples. I was in a relatively lightly loaded nissan ute 4.2 turbo with intercooler and ran tire pressures at 20-22psi. I was not towing a trailer. Despite this I still had to 2nd go about 5 dunes. Some of these were driver error(daydreaming)! Most people would say this is quite a compelling argument to leave your trailer behind, and to a point I agree. If however I had a vehicle with plenty of grunt (perhaps a toyota 4.2 td, I,m not ashamed to admit they have more grunt then my nissan!), had plenty of traction(i.e. double cross-axle diff locks, and prepared to run really low tire pressures of 16/18 psi) and were towing very light trailers(600-700kg max) I think that it could be a relatively easy trip.With this sort of setup you may be able to idle over dunes without doing any damage to track or vehicles. A nightmare scenario to me would be a naturally aspirated, heavily loaded vehicle with no traction aids,high tire pressures and towing a one tonne plus trailer.
Another factor not mentioned in previous posts, is the condition of the csr north of well 33 in those areas that have been flooded. The detour tracks that have been put around the wet areas run along the top of the dunes. They are incredibly rough and soft.
To sum up, if you're well set up and prepared to take your time, it is possible. My personal recommendation is still try and leave trailers behind. Hope this helps a bit. Tim.

Afraid I agree with Willem. Some of the dunes have little or no chance of a run up to get some momentum up on the soft climbs. Last year, I noticed that the dunes were much rougher than my previous visit in '98. This is due entirely to people NOT airing down their tyres and churning holes and steps into the dunes. Some of the driving was now unpleasant due to the amount of traffic. Generally it is accepted that north to south is more difficult due to the steeper southern side. Around the area of Well 18 to 22 some of the dunes are very soft double headers that also have blind turns that will rob your momentum in the short valley, and regaining that speed, with a trailer in tow is very, very difficult and a bogged down vehicle WITH TRAILER, will cause huge holes and chop up an already deteriorating track. Leave the trailers home.

Richard,
I'm confused as to why you asked this qn and even made reference to not finding it answered on this site. You obviously haven't read the Canning Stock Route trek note on this site. It is very clearly answered there for you... here is an excerpt

"From Wells 3 to 5 follow the sign- posted route from Well 3a to Well 4a which is almost a permanent dry weather access track. Please stay on the track and do not deviate onto station tracks. *NOTE - this section of track passes through private pastoral lease on Cunyu Station and trailers are NOT allowed, nor are vehicles larger than a Landcruisers (ie. NO OKAS). These vehicles can access the CSR via Granite Peak or Glenyle (Wells 5 & 9)."