Simpson Desert and Kimberley Kamper

Graeme, last year we towed a KK 25000 kms over 4 months, with a 99 petrol Jackaroo. We had no trouble taking it to Palm Valley, Chambers Pillar, across the top of Lake Torrens, the Bungles, the GRR etc, but we didn't take it across the Simpson when we crossed for one reason. The public are requested not to take trailers across the Simpson desert. This request comes from the NPWS, and the locals at both ends. This question always gets a lot of responses, including from those who say it's "OK because I did it". Well I could have done it too, I have no doubt that my rig would have done it OK, however, I chose to be responsible. I left the trailer at Roxby and came back for it. We then went through Andamooka, across station tracks to Farina and up the Strzlecki track.

So in answer to your question, yes you can but please don't

Happy trails, Mike.

G'day Graeme666, you seem to have all bases covered, and one of the best Off Road campers on the market, I hope your time in the Kimberly goes well.

We are yet to purchase a camper, the KK in on the top of the list, with that in mind I would not have a problem with taking that sort of unit over the Simpson, Canning or where ever else for that matter.

You have to bare in mind that you are towing, and weight will be a factor so tyre pressure will play a big part on any desert crossing, and approach each dune with care, not only for you vehicle but the track as well.

Have a great trip and keep your powder dry.

In July, I followed a party of 3 vehicles towing two off-road camper trailers, travelling west to east on the French line. I didn't realise how much they were plowing the dunes until I managed to leapfrog past them onto "clean" track.

I couldn't judge whether they were running sensible tyre pressures or whether they were overloading the trailers (they were camped well off the track when I passed) or whether their driving techniques were appropriate. Nor have I towed a trailer through this sort of country, but I suspect that they had to grind fairly slowly up the dune faces to avoid shaking the bejasus out of their kit (it gets a bit bouncy).

On the plus side, I also observed that the oncoming traffic (and there was a lot of it) tended to smooth out some of the worst approach ruts.

Of course, the Rig road avoids a fair bit of that loose dune country. Not done it yet but understand it to be a nice drive.

Enjoy your trip. I'd be back there tomorrow if I could.

Hi Graeme,

Have done the Simpson about 4-5 years ago with another vehicle both without campers. I'm really surprised when I hear people say towing a camper etc across was easy, a piece of cake, no trouble. I know when we went fully loaded but without trailers it was by no means easy. Wouldn't say it was very difficult but certainly not a walk in the park. We are both very experience drivers both long distance and off road and at that stage belonged to a club that did extensive trips offroad. We had tyres deflated, travelled completly in 4x4 low range to reduce the strain on the vehicles and even so had to take a few runs on some dunes. We adopted a German traveller who was having quite a bit of trouble due to lack of experience in a Troopy. By the end he was doing well. Could you take a trailer across? Probably could but is it going to be easy? I doubt it. Last weekend we went to a NP with some sand on the access track, us without trailer and 4 others with campers. Certainly surprised me just how much difference a camper can make in soft sand. On the way up we where in 2H and had no dramas. On the way back after the campers had been through, tyres down and bulk spinning, we had to use 4L and quite a bit of go juice. The last camper threw bogged well and truely with a diesel ute at the helm. Don't get me wrong, we will be in the same boat in a couple of years but after seeing just how easily campers, vans and boat trailers can get bogged in sand I will be very, very carefull. Just one last example, we watched a Nissan diesel pull a KK onto Kinkuna beach a couple of years ago and went straight down. Tyres at 10psi and bulk revs resulted in a glazed clutch. We hooked a turbo patrol and petrol patrol together to get him going up the beach. I'm sure others will say no dramas been doing it for years, but if something goes wrong your in for a very lot of work to retrieve the camper. So please be carefull.

Ray

You could take the KK accross the Simpson , we took ours on it's maiden voyage to the Gulf in july no trouble in the sand with right tyre pressure but as mike said S.A parks ask's people not to take campers across the Simpson as they chew up the dunes to much. Also if you need recovery in the Simpson it will cost you a bomb to get pulled out.Regards Bob
Where to next

Graeme,
Have a look at ID 7590 3/10/03 re our trip up the Canning in July this year with a KK in tow.
We also did the Simpson about 4 years ago with the same Cruiser but without a trailer and after the ease of the CSR I can't imagine why the Simpson would be a problem with a KK, perhaps excepting Big Red. However, I met a KK owner in Adelaide in September this year who took his KK to the top of Big Red (by dropping tyre pressures and going at it slowly, albeit with a turbodiesel Cruiser).
DickyBeach

Thank you all for your responses. I was not aware that it is requested that trailers not be towed across the Simpson. I will confirm that and if it is the case we will not do so; we'll probably take the Plenty Highway instead. We are the sort of people who also do not climb Uluru, out of respect for the wishes of the traditional owners.

Our Prado is an automatic, which will probably help with towing. I was dead against automatics, but got it to keep my wife happy. With modern disc brakes, steep descents are not the problem they used to be. I think I would now not go back to manual in a four-wheel-drive. The Kimberley Kamper is a Limited Edition model - very nice piece of gear.

You should read the info provided about Simpson Desert "roads" put out by the South Australian Authorities. "the use of trailers is strongly discouraged"

G,,Remember 1 thing,,plenty for the trailer and plenty against,,it is NOT illegal to tow a trailer into the simpson,,work it out for yourself using common sense and just a tiny bit of maths,, who does more damage,,3odd ton on 4 wheels or 3odd ton spread over 6 wheels ,enjoy your trip and your camper.

Hi,

Not to sure where your maths or commen sense comes from Publician. Most hard floor campers come in at around 1 ton for a bed and kitchen. My swag and gas stove don't weigh that much. Of course they cause damage, of course they limit you in all areas of four wheel travel. Do they make travel more comfortable? Of course and I'll eventually get one for my travels. But be assured regardless of how good you think your vehicle is or your driving skills are if you get bogged with a trailer on and it will eventually happen it's a damn lot of work to get it out. Got no problems with them most of my travels are with friends who cart them along and have seen them bust a gut in soft sand and and..... Do they have it as easy when traveling on sand, steep inclines, winding goat tracks, reversing etc, well now that's common sense!!

Regards

Ray

Graeme666

I have just come back from a trip across the Simpson towing a Trak Shak camper.

I have TD4.2T GU I had no problems at all except on a couple of the salt lakes. Better tyres would have solved most of these. On the sand I barely spun a wheel. Even on the steepest dunes. I missed out on big red by less than a car length and if I had been there earlier in the day I am confident I would have got up.

The guy at Mt Dare explained why they don't like you to take a trailer but didn't say anything about it being illegal. When I challenged him about his attitude he backed away from blaming trailers and admitted that it was more likely overloaded and badly driven vehicles that cause the damage.

My trailer goes everywhere with me. Cape York, Western Queensland, NW Victoria, Blue Mountains, Chambers Pillar, Lake Eyre the list goes on.

Most of the people who complain about trailers either haven't towed one or have come across someone who was doing it wrong.

Be sensible a little conservative even but take your Kimberly adn go wherever you want to. Thats what I do and will continue to do.

Duncs

I must have one more shot at this.

Yes, my KK went everywhere else we went, including a lot of sand tracks and, yes I am confident that I could have towed it across the Sinpson, when we crossed last year, but I chose to adhere to the REQUEST of NPWS and others. We passed lots of trailers on our trip and we also saw how incredibly chopped up the tracks were after them. Now you can justify all your trips guys and say how easy you did it, BUT, you weren't following you. This question always raises the same arguements.

Graeme, you will enjoy the Plenty an donohugh Highways, turn left at Boulia and call in to Birdsville, it's a magic place. You can carry on to Innamincka and east past the Jackson oil fields to Noccundra, great trip.

Happy trails, Mike.

We have towed two trailers (on separate occasions!) across Simpson, one a lightweight conventionally sprung, and one a TVan. No problems at all with sensible smooth driving with correct tyre pressures (low!). I hasten to add we travelled West to East both times and incorporated French, WAA, and Rig Road. I am of view East to West is more difficult. Unquestionably there is more drag with a trailer. However, a good driver towing is better that a bad driver not towing anyday! There are too many smarties who do not engage 4WD until they are already digging sand or just blasting their way through - they are the main problem with regards degradation.

Unfortunately too many Parks and Wildlife people would disallow all access to parks other than themselves if they had the opportunity!

Go TVan - very smooth over the Simpson. I'll be back!