Towing a CT thru the Canning !

Hi Bucky,
My understanding and my practice is to drop tyre pressures on both vehicle and trailer.
I have done this with our Jayco swan when towing through sand and haven't had any problems at this stage.

Regards
Franga

I tend to compromise a bit. I drop the pressures but not as much as the car or I find the trailer bounces too much. Run the car around 18psi on sand and the trailer about 25.

Dropping pressure does improve the footprint but it also increases the rolling resistance and therefore drag on the tow vehicle.

Bucky ,

I remember a huge debate about this in the past , so check the archives .

Be ready for some flak re the camper on the CSR !

Willie .

Bucky,

Towing a camper on sand is hard on the vehicle, towing a camper with a 3lt motor is harder, and towing a camper on the Canning would be even harder.

Tyre pressure should be lowered for the vehicle as well as the camper and how low you go will depend on the sand.

I never know how low to go until I have driven on the sand and what others have said should be taken as a guide and not a hard a fast rule.

Be prepared to back down off a sand dune.
With the Canning you don't get a straight run at a dune unlike the Simpson.
There is nearly always a tight turn at the base of the dune and then when you do get to the top the is a bowl, similar to what is on the top of Big Red, which sometimes requires a small climb out of the bowl before the decent on the other side.

From what I have been told coming from the north is easier with a camper and you will still have to exit the stock route at well 6.

When you get you permit it should have all this information on it.

It may seem that I am trying to talk you out of taking a camper but I am only trying to give you some idea of what the Canning is like.
The other thing is make sure that you go with another vehicle.

Wayne

Bucky, Forget all the knockers and doubters. Yes, there are some fools and yes, there are some crap CT's and yes you can have a hard time. But...... I have done the CSR and Calverts and beyond towing a Camprite with 3 kids and all the fruitand guess what! I never once got stuck, bogged or dug the crap out the track. Let the tyres down so that te foot print is the same as the vehicle(you can measure the width in the sand if need be) drive cautiously but confidently and dont let all the know all, do gooders talk you out of what they wish they had the smarts or courage to do.
I get sick and tired of reading all the same old arguements about things like this, i reckon years ago you would have heard the same about Fraser or the Cape or the GRR(all of which i have done with a CT with zero issues)
Remember one thing though, you are literally on your own or at the mercy of an expensive recovery if it goes wrong. I personally dont have too much trouble accepting those conditions as i beleive i am prepared and if the worst thing to happen is it costs a few G to get recoveryed then so be it as that is the price i am prepared to pay for my travels.

Go well and dont be put off.

Rob

PS am now awaiting the Flak!!

"Firstly our Trak Shak is more than capable of doing the Canning with us !"
How did you come to that conclusion Bucky if you haven't been before particually seeing what others have done in the past is often irrellevant? ;-)
The Conditions on the Canning change from week to week depending on the heat, wind & rain. On my 1st trip we struggled all the way through the dunes (without a trailer), several people pulling out due to the difficulty, yet on the next run it could have been done in 2WD. Only problem that time was the track was flooded for over 50 kilometers & we had to pull out ourselves. The Canning is like no other trip as the additional weight of water & fuel adds a conciderable burden to both car & trailer.
But back to your question, definately let the camper trailer tyres down to the same pressure as the car. If as others above have said the trailer bounces too much, just slow down.

OK, maybe i am underestimating people. Yes i have a vehicle modified for this type of work, yes, i am mechanically minded(that is my work), yes i understand the remoteness. Yes, it is true i have only done the CSR once(and nearly every other track in Australia for that matter)
What i am saying is use your head, get the info, do your homework, be prepared, but dont be put off by all the "dont tow a trailer" brigade who for one reason or another continue to make things seem out of reach to those who may have all the above but lack the confidence and then get totally put off by all the negative comments.
I would love to just take the cruiser and a swag but with 3 kids and a wife i like to have a few more comforts and if that means i tow a camper then so be it, it hasn't stopped us yet. We also dont "go alone" so i guess i forgot to mention that little safety feature as if we did get stuck then it still is not a big deal to snatch or winch out of trouble.

Anyways i dont want to be accused of someone coming to grief out there on my say so. So Bucky mate, do a bit more homework and then make up your own mind but at the end of the day i would have no issue in doing it again or any other track with my camper in tow.

Cheers, Rob

I think this bloke http://www.direct4wd.com.au/tours/trailers.htm sums it up pretty well..
YMMV

Definitly drop the pressure of the CT probaly to les than the vehicle due to less weight.
While I havnt done the trip a quick glance at the fuel used in the treck notes shows most used barely more than they would in ideal Highwy conditions indicating it is as I have been told by those that have done it that it just a long dirt track for which a CT should be fine

Bucky

If you are running tubeless tyres then 16-18psi on the tow vehicle and 10-12psi on the trailer should do it nicely

If you are running skinnys on splits then 14-16psi on the tow vehicle and 8-10psi on the trailer will bee good.

Driving skills are important though and it would be good to get some serious practice in towing the trailer on soft sand.

Cheers