Need advice Re: GRR and camper trailer
Submitted: Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 11:12
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FionaD
We are going to central australia in June & July and are thinking of doing the GRR if we have enough time. We have a 03 Patrol ST wagon and a camper trailer. It is not an off road trailer, we did put bigger tyres on to give it a bit more clearance. We need some honest opinions about whether we should attempt the GRR without an off road trailer. Is it possible? What is the road like at that time of year and are there any particular areas that we should avoid?
Any advice about the GRR would be great.
Aaron & Fiona
Reply By: Notso - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 11:20
Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 11:20
We did it a while back now but saw some normal caravans doing the GRR, we also saw a Cub on road camper and some other non off road types there as
well. Many people do it in normal holden or ford sedans as
well.
The important thing is to take it easy and have decent tyres.
AnswerID:
236562
Reply By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 11:23
Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 11:23
Hi Fiona
All the tour operators in
Darwin that run the GRR, Have upgraded their
suspension to either Hilux rear or l/cruise front springs, they also use a 2 tonne axle.
These trailers do the GRR no problems now.
Cheers Steve.
AnswerID:
236563
Reply By: Crackles - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 12:51
Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 12:51
Keep your weight & speed down, repack the bearings before you go, fit some decent tyres & get an update on the road conditions just prior to leaving. Also cover your rear window & expect a fair bit of stone chipping on the trailer if you don't have a gaurd. Ground clearance is not normally a huge issue unless the road has ben severely chopped up or the creeks are running. Actual road conditions change all the time depending on the rain & when the last
grader came through but in general it's a long rough often corrugated road.
Cheers Craig...........
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236582
Follow Up By: FionaD - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 15:46
Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 15:46
Hi Craig, thanks for the info. When you say cover the rear window, I asume you mean the car? Is that because rocks ricochet off the trailer? What do you cover it with?
Thanks
Fiona
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Follow Up By: Voxson - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 22:34
Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 22:34
Yes it is because of ricocheting rocks,,, just tape some cardboard over it..
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Follow Up By: Crackles - Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 17:53
Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 17:53
As Voxon said a bit of cardboard will do although I use plastic coreflute so it doesn't disintergrate when wet. Willem's current Rig
Pic shows a clear plastic cover over his & was described in a recent thread.
Cheers Craig............
FollowupID:
497925
Reply By: The Rambler( W.A.) - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 15:53
Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 15:53
At that time of year the GRR would have to be the most overated and talked about road in the country.Take your time and you will have no problems.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Borgy.. (SA) - Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 23:02
Sunday, Apr 29, 2007 at 23:02
Hi Aaron & Fiona, We did the GRR in May 2003 towing a standard on road camper trailer behind our GQ patrol, only problem we encountered was one of the bolts through the spring hanger worked its way loose ...providing you take it easy and regularly
check everything on the trailer i don't think you should have any probs , maybe the occasional river heights could pose a prob, if so just do what i did , wrap a tarp around front of trailer and create a bow wave effect, worked every time for us , never ended up with anything in trailer wet, Enjoy your trip.........Cheers ........Dave
AnswerID:
236754