Camper trailers across the Simpson deset

Hi Black stump,

I've have witnessed people who have crossed the Simpson with them. I personally wouldn't try it with a camper trailer.

They had to winch the trailer over every sand dune. This really took its toll on the trailer and the winching gear.

The travelled from east to west and as I couldn't "overtake them" I was stuck behind this mobile roadblock for the best part of a day .(The sand was to hot and loose to overtake. It was a lot easier to "go around" when the sand is cooler in the morning.


I would go the west east route if I was trying it, Make sure that your trailer, recovery gear is in top notch condition

I guess it prob good be done, not sure its something I would have the guts to do though, but life is about trying something different. I believe it would make the trip across considerably longer though.

Just ensure that you prepare, prepare and lastly prepare.

Cheers Mike

G'day there,

I have not done a full crossing of the desert but have many friends who have done so. Some, quite some years ago, took their CT across and regretted the try - had to be snatched over many dunes. I have a serious off road CT and when I do cross the desert I won't be taking it.

Here's a link to the most reliable source of info re the Simpson.


Site Link

The bit in red re trailers says it all.

Perhaps take the CT to Mt Dare, do a double crossing using different tracks and collect the CT and then continue your trip.

Cheers

Blackstump
Yes there is a solution! Don't take the camper. Or are you going to wait for someone to come into the thread to say" yes its ok" and use that as your justification. It can be done - with a lot of hard work from you AND your mates, but be prepared to abandon the camper if necessary. Conditions in the Simpson can vary greatly and what someone was able to achieve 2 months ago might be impossible now. The double crossing suggestion above is the way to go. AND, you will probably achieve that in almost the same time it will take to do the single crossing towing the camper.

teege

Some people get on fine. Many don't.
Every trip I've done in the Simpson Desert in recent times, I've seen people having problems with camper trailers.

Last time, the Birdsville retrieval man was off to the French Line to retrieve a $30,000 Abandoned trailer. Owner had got so sick of it, he unhitched it and continued his trip, having notified Birdsville that it was free to anyone who wanted it.

Time before I saw a Hilux dual cab ute almost bent in half from having towed a Kimberley Camper across the French Line. All that weight a long way behind the rear axle just bends the chassis on many dual cabs.

Other times, you listen to Channel 10 to all the dramas that are happening ahead - you get there and find its just another camper trailer having trouble getting up the chicken tracks.

As far chopping up the tracks go - I think its equally shared between vehicles that are towing and inexperienced people who won't air down their tyres.

Hi Blackstump,

Yes, I have seen camper trailers and box trailers crossing the Simpson but they are a real hassle! Often having to be winched or snatch-strapped over sandhills whilst blocking the track for some time.

Another reason for criticism of trailers on the Desert, particularly on the French and QAA line tracks is that they cause significant wheel damage on the dunes, as do people trying to prove that they can achieve crossing in 2WD mode or with tyre pressures too high.

Better, as has been said, to leave the trailer at Dalhousie or Birdsville and do a double crossing sleeping rough and with simple pre-prepared meals if your kitchen is built into the camper. The second half will be more fun anyway as you will now have the knowledge and experience of the first half to allow relaxation.

BUT, if you really MUST take the trailer, be damned sure it is up to the task and in first-class condition. Tyre pressure 15 to 18 psi and keep its load to a minimum. Seems to me that some people find that with a camper-trailer they have much more room to carry a lot of extra stuff than is really unnecessary.

Bear in mind that if you have to get Dave Cox from Dalhousie Pub or Birdsville Motors to recover your vehicle or camper you are looking at $3k to $4k so it is a good idea to have Auto Club (RACQ etc) Total Care membership. Good idea anyway in the Bush.

Also allow that you will use significantly more fuel dragging a camper-trailer across the sandhills so allow for it when doing your sums.

Whatever you do, good-luck. It is a great experience.

Blackstump

I have been all over the Simpson towing a reasonably heavy trailer. East west and west east and all the tracks inbetween. Can account for 4 sandbogs in all my treks out there

Basically one has to take one's smart pills when driving on sand and towing.

Some points to consider

The wheel size of the trailer must be the same size as the tow vehicle
The trailer has to track with the tow vehicle
The trailer drawbar should be close to 2 metres in length

AND

LOWER THE TYRE PRESSURES !!!!!

Rule of thumb is 14psi on the tow vehicle and 8psi on the trailer. But you can play with tyre pressures that eases your sand driving experience as it does not have to be One Size Fits All

Trailer damage to the Simpson or other desert tracks is an Urban Myth

Gday,
Are you expierienced in sand driving while towing a trailer? Do you have the right recovery gear and survival skills. Are you capable of performing running repairs or have a back up plan if you get stuck?????
If yes, why not take your trailer?
Only you can decide if your up to it.
What some people consider a huge challenge, others call a walk in the park.
Im not sure....but could the reputation the Simpson becaused by the type and amount of people it attracks rather than its exceptionally bad conditions?

Just a thought?

Cheers

Having towed a Cub Supamatic (which weighs 500kgs loaded with bedding only) behind a NA diesel troopy over most of the main Simpson tracks over the years I'd advise caution. As has been said it depends on what time of year, time since the last rains and even time of day, as well as your level of experience
It is much easier after recent rain as the sand is harder, much easier after little or no traffic (school hols has increased traffic which leads to softer chopped up sand) and much easier in the early/cooler part of the day before the sand warms up. Most of our trips were in June/July with only one in the later Sept/Oct period (never again, too hot and the sand is too soft.)
By early to mid afternoon most days the sand starts to "flow" as it dries out making it noticeably harder to climb dunes.
It can also make a difference if you are first in the convoy and whether the vehicle is leaf or coil sprung (coils tend to follow the bumps whereas the leaf sprung vehicles flatten them slightly.)
The trailer also need to have the same track width as the towing vehicle and most importantly you have to be able to reverse it down a winding dune approach or be able to unhitch, get the vehicle over and then flat tow the trailer.
You MUST also drop tyre pressures to the aforementioned figures, I usually run 10 -15 in the trailer (it has 14" light truck radials) and 15- 18 in the troopy.

I have towed my Tvan all over Australia and pull it with a 100TD Cruiser with Safari HO kit (buckets of power) having just returned from my second Simpson trip without the camper I can't see why anyone would want the hassle, backing down in the soft sand as you slide sideways is hard enough without a trailer. The double crossing is the best plan and you will be able to see a lot more.

Just finished the Simpson mid Aug and we saw several trailers being skull dragged over and I am sure that mine would have been fine too had I towed it. But the extra drad and risk on the car is not worth it.
We took 5 days to cross (old retired farts) and enjoyed every minute of it. Suggest you do the double crossing eg: leave the trailer at Mt Dare then go east to west, down the rig road then come back west to east over the French line.
This way you get the best of both routes, can have fun on the dunes and don't hold others up.
We saw 4x4s making a mess of the track without trailers generally because they were inexperienced or didn't have the tyres low enough. The Ranger at Dalhousie told us to run 15 PSI on our tyres all the way across and we didn't get bogged on any dune.
Oh and there were the two idiots, one in a Rangie and the other in an Overlander, racing each other over the dunes, no radio's on channel 10 and thought it was a great joke when they nearly met one of our vehicles head on over the crest of a dune. We were broadcasting each dune crest that a party of seven were heading west etc..... All other users did the right thing and responded but not this pair.

Cheers

Gidday Blackstump, here's my 2 bobs worth.
1. Almost a year ago I posted thread 61427 re a Jayco across the Simpson. It's worth a read for all the good advice and it got 1500 plus hits so it's a popular topic.
2. I take a lot to convince so I went up to Stockton - the very soft sand in Lavis Lane was worse than usual as it had been quite dry in the month before I went in Jan 09. My tyres were all at 12psi and I was struggling up the track when I had to stop as some goose was bogged as he had not lowered his pressures. Needless to say I couldn't get going again so with the help of some young muscle I unhitched and we spun the van around and got out of there - it was only a couple of k's back to the servo to air up. I had a compressor for all those about to jump, but it had started to rain.
3. Skip to first week of May and we are into week 4 of our trip. We have already crossed numerous dunefields on the road to the Rock (OK it's tar so some won't count it!!) and are now at Dalhousie Springs. Flooding has meant no access thru to Birdsville. Left van and did a 220km round trip to just past junction of Rig Rd and French Line where sign says Birdville 330km.Crossed enough dunes to be satisfied.
4. Drove the 900km of tracks thru Oodnadatta to Birdsville and had a ball. And got to cross more dunefields.SWMBO was driving beautifully. Left van in town and went out to Eyre Creek via Little Red, then Big Red for sunset. Used my Pathy to tow a Prado off a dune crest. So did the biggest 20 dunes twice, which finished getting the desert crossing out of my system.
5. Went to Innamincka - more dunes, then Merty Merty to Camerons Corner with more dune crossings, all van friendly - see pic in my profile.
6. Welll prepared, stong C/T's will make it as my research last year discovered. Search threads here for more info and build up a picture of the facts, not the hearsay and rumours. Good luck..... Glenn

PS OK out of my system for now

"Can it be done easily with a good off road C/T?" No towing in sand dunes is simply not easy.
"Is it best to go west east?" Doesn't really matter.
"Why are some guy's are so against it ?" Far too many people with little experience get bogged regularly holding others up, digging trenches which makes it difficult for all who follow.

I've seen many trailers get towed across & only have to back up a few times, no more in fact than most who dont tow. The quality of the camper has far less to do with a successful crossing than the weight one puts in them & the experience of the driver. Overloading is the number two reason people get stuck or break something, too higher tyre pressure of course being number one.
The question you probably need to ask yourself Blackstump is.... If you need to ask on a forum if towing across the Simpson is an option for you then do you really have the experience to do it? Possibly practice somewhere easier first that doesn't have the same consequences.

Solution: Practice else where. Pack light. (Ensure trailer is under 1 tonne) Tow vehicle to have 130KW or more power. Have non tow vehicle scout in front to let you know what's coming up & enable quick recoveries. Check latest conditions before crossing.
Depending on sand conditions, some times of the year aren't even suitable for towing.
Cheers Craig...........

Towing across Simpson we did it 2004 all vehicles were stock standard and our trailers were in good nick and off road type campers.
We went in june or july from memory . We never got bogged once we had a dream run.
We went from west to east. We started each early and set up camp by about 3.30 each day.When you are driving in the mornings you can tell the sand is firmer from the dew in the morning.
The time we went the Simpson , had a good rain a week or 2 before we left.
We went on the rig road. We did see a couple broken trailers on the side of the track one still full of camping gear. But these should of been used to take rubbish to the tip not suited for off road both had there draw bars bent and broken.
We all had a great time and yes all the knockers were around then when we did it. Best to listen to ones that have actually been there done that not the ones with all the lip service from the arm chair.
We were staying at Alice Springs in a caravan park and a guy by the name of Joel someone gave a talk about 4wd driving and he had done heaps of testing for 4wd Vehicle manufacturers and he said he had towed a trailer up Big Red
Well I don't think I would ever attempt that but if you do go use the Rig Road and try and go when the rains have been.

Cheers Scoof . :-)

There are a lot of replies from those who have never done it but have heard stories and those who have crossed without trailers and wouldn't etc.
Yes, it depends on the trailer, the vehicle and the driver and desert conditions -Tyre pressure is important.
In July 2004 a friend in an 80 series turbo diesel and myself in 100S turbo diesel with each towing Kimberley Campers did the Simpson from West to East. (I am not sure that direction would make a difference on the way we went)
We did a lot of research and decided against the French Line - so I cannot comment on yes or no to that.
We went on the first part of the French Line, Colson Track WAA Line as far as Erabena Track, Rig Road to K1 - We had NOT ONE PROBEM - There was only one dune I had to back up on. Started early each morning and stopped about 4 each afternoon. We took 5 days and I would do it again!

Thanks guy's. Some good reply's, some not so. I am of the opinion that it is better to ask than not. I may have the experience but have not gone across the Simpson before. Another one "just waiting for a reply of Yes it can be done". I was not after a yes, I was after some good honest feedback and on the whole it was.
Have decided against it. If the trailer needs to be unhooked at all I would consider that to be too much of a hold up for the group as a whole.
Thanks for all the feedback.
David

Just back from a double crossing. One thing I would add to the responses is that those with trailers may well find they get little sympathy or assistance from other travellers if they come to grief.

There are sound reasons for this apart from a bit of attitude. How do you realistically help someone up the big dunes with such a setup? I saw one group in trouble going over and heard another on CB coming back getting into trouble with trailers. One needed very serious recovery gear to be of much assistance, such as they have at Mount Dare and Birdsville. I think the trailers had a very slow and difficult crossing and is not the idea to enjoy oneself, not to survive an endurance test.

Not wanting to flame the issue but it is my view they should be banned from the crossing and stiff on the spot fines issued to offenders. They are discouraged in the South Australian desert pass material and still people ignore that advice so maybe more is needed to discourage it.

On another note. The crossings are very changeable. I found the rig track easier going than the French line and the day after a strong wind was good as well. The wind filled in some corrugations. I think one could get a wrong impression of how hard it can be based on one crossing that went well.

If at Mount Dare they advise against it then head that advice. After all they do the recoveries and they do know.