Campertrailers & Simpson Desert - AGAIN !
Submitted: Saturday, Feb 15, 2003 at 15:49
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Brad
Do previous discussions on this issue assume that campertrailers are unsuited to French line/WAA line crossings, but okay for Rig Rd. crossings ?....or that campertrailers would still be 'disallowed' or inadvisable on the Rig Rd ?
Does anyone know the URL of the relevant 'authorities' who are disallowing campertrailers (so I can have a read of what they have to say for myself)?
Thanks,
Brad
Reply By: Member - Willem- Saturday, Feb 15, 2003 at 20:06
Saturday, Feb 15, 2003 at 20:06
As this subject has been canvassed 'ad nauseum' on this site, the short answer is, that taking trailers across sand dunes, is inadvisable as this may damage the track across ther dunes and make life difficult for those who follow. Some 'authorities' frown on travellers who enter their domain with trailers for whatever reason but as far as I am aware, there is no law against taking trailers anywhere. Cheers W
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Peter- Saturday, Feb 15, 2003 at 20:33
Saturday, Feb 15, 2003 at 20:33
Brad
I belong to the volunteer group " The Friends of the
Simpson Desert Parks" , the official line is asking/pleading with people NOT to take trailers into
the desert.
I have been visiting and crossing
the desert since the early 80's.
On my first trip we did take a camper and tinnie acrossthe desert but the rig rd was 2wd, there were full blooded road trains hauling supplies across. Since exploration has ceased the tracks are not maintained and each year they deteriorate further due to increased traffic and the weather. I have towed a camper across in the last few years but in my opinion it is too hard on both the towing vehicle and the trailer.
It seems that the majority of people crossing
the desert do not deflate their tyres enough or at all which leads to track damage, scalloping and corrugations. This combined with excessive speed (I crossed in 3 days syndrome) accelerates the track damage.
Vehicles towing trailers then have to really push the vehicle to get over the dunes creating even more track damage.
There are many people that have towed trailers across with no problems but there are also many that do have big problems and each travelling season finds at least a couple broken and abandoned which then have to be removed by either volunteers or the rangers.
Conditions can and do vary from day to day and even hour to hour depending on temperature, wind, rainfall(rare) and amount and direction of traffic.
In my opinion these days the
rig road is just as hard as the french line and in some sections harder due to the lack of traffic and the large sand blows on the crests, you are also travelling further and are further from assistance if it is required.
At the moment the decision is yours but not too far down the track I expect trailer towing will be banned.
Parks ask that you do not take trailers or campers across
the desert.
Peter
AnswerID:
13216
Reply By: Truckster - Sunday, Feb 16, 2003 at 12:40
Reply By: leighh - Sunday, Feb 16, 2003 at 20:23
Sunday, Feb 16, 2003 at 20:23
I was fortunate to do the French line last year having done the
Rig Road etc. several years earlier. The contrast in track conditions (on the French Line) was considerable. Whislt I was challenged by a few dunes in my 3.0TD Lux it was nothing compared to those few towing trailers who needed higher speed (land and air) followed by lots of churn to get up some of the larger dunes. If you have an opportunity to witness the duress this equipment is put under and the effect this also has on a dune I rekon you'll leave the trailer at
home.
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Follow Up By: Brad - Monday, Feb 17, 2003 at 06:41
Monday, Feb 17, 2003 at 06:41
Thanks for all the info.
It sounds like the Rig Rd. is much less travelled (or those who travel it don't talk about it ! ) but that similar conditions to the French/WAA are encountered.
Brad.
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