Towing trailers across deserts

Thanks all for your response(s)!
Melissa, the question was put with our focus being pretty much on the Simpson... Vehicle is a GU Patrol TD42 (purchased new in '99).. Trailer,
looking to buy.. currently "leaning" towards the Aussie Swag (flipover)..
Any comments/suggestions re this choice most welcome...
Here's the skinny... We live in Toowoomba (Q'ld) and are hoping to travel to Perth & Albany in mid '04.. Have done it many times, incl. "round the block" on the tar.. First crossed the Nullabor in '73 on the dirt..
This time we are contemplating going via Alice, & down thru Laverton, Kal. etc. via Warburton/ Gt. Central Rd., & back via Esperance & (hopefully) Anne Beadell "H'way" to Coober Pedy, from whence we have a few choices, one of which being the Simpson, hence the query.. (though in the curent "political" climate, we will probably excercise "discretion" here, & choose one of the alternatives)..

We hope to be in company with at least one other vehicle (hopefully 2), all experienced outback travellers.. We anticipate being away from home for at least 2 mths., so we WILL be taking a trailer of some sort (offroad compatible, of course).. We know there is a bit of homework to between now & then...
Again, any comments/suggestions re the proposed route(s) will be carefully considered..
Experience ??? .. Well, I'm 54 yrs. young (Janice is 47), & have spent most of my working life driving trucks, tractors (big ones), & all manner of farm machinery (& everything inbetween).. Have also been employed as a (unqualified) mechanic, this was 30 yrs. ago, long before things went high tech..
I can confidently say that I am regarded by my peers as someone who "knows what he's about"..
Jan is an "experienced front-seat passenger", though she is a licenced driver & capable of handling the Patrol, though the "hard stuff" may present a few "challenges" for her..

Sand driving??? .. between '74 & '88 employed on farming properties east of Esperance, with the main recreational activity being surf fishing.. Self explanatory, I would think.. RV at one time was an Austin Champ, affectionately referred to as "the Rolls".. Wish I still had it!

Towing in sand?? .. Long weekends & school hol's often spent camped on one of the beaches (Alexander, Kennedy's, or Thomas R. to name a few), & 4 young kids + "the cook" + all the camping gear were never going to fit in the "Rolls", so, hook up the trusty 8 x 5 tandem box trailer (std. road type, made it myself 20 yrs. ago, & still have it!), & away we go! Never a problem! ..
As Geoff (above) rightly pointed out, tyre pressures are the key, and I like to think that I know a bit about such things.. I firmly believe that having a trailer means you can spread the load over more tyres, which means less weight in/on the vehicle, which in turn means that you can SAFELY run lower pressures all round, thus a bigger "footprint" & less pressure on the sand = LESS damage (IMHO)..

Sorry for the long post (life story?), and Thanks again to all who replied.
Thanks for reading...
Regards,
Ed. C.

Hi Ed,

Well it certainly sounds like you have it covered. From what I've seen and heard the Aussie Swags are a well built, robust unit. We seriously contemplated buying one ourselves back in 2001. We decided not to in the end only because it didn't really offer any more advantages than our then current campertrailer (just a little more refined, LOL). We bought our Camprite last year because it is designed specifically for families whereas IMHO, the Aussie Swags, KK's etc are best suited to couples.

Re your intended route...sounds excellent. Shouldn't present any problem although freinds recently travelled the Anne Beadell and had shockie blow outs on both car and camper. As for the Simpson, I know many people who have towed trailers across without any problems and also some who have done it sans trailer. Of the latter group, at least one commented that with hindsight he could have done it easily with his trailer and he couldn't see what all the fuss was about. Next time he will take his trailer. Remember, the people I am referring to are all experience off-roaders with well set-up vehicles and rigs and pride themselves on being self-sufficient. In the end, I think crossing the Simpson with a trailer comes down to a personal decision considering as you say, the current political climate.

Have fun!

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper