through the simpson desert

Looks like fun Robin!!!

That was quick Brian - only just had time to get a coffee.

Its fun , but you have to leave out the embrassing photo's.


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Hi Robin

You beat me to it. As you know, most of the way on the Rig Road there are no problems but that last big dune before the K1 line can be a challenge in the right conditions.


Cheers


Stephen

"Robin Miller posted:
That was quick Brian - only just had time to get a coffee.

Its fun , but you have to leave out the embrassing photo's. "



Amazing how similar to a Patrol those cruisers can get!!!! LOL...

And, for the record Robin.... you're not the first to say to me "That was quick Brian" ....

;-))


Cheers

Brian

Yes..... I agree with Craig!! Lower than normal tyre pressures! I had forgotten that!

We ran 16psi all round, I usually run 18..... amazing the difference that 2 psi made!!

Cheers

Brian

We were in Birdsville in 06 and met a couple of guys from Brisbane who's trailer had the suspension collapse on them, they were not all that far from Birdsville as i recall, but it did cost them $3000 to have the trailer retrieved.
Cheers
Baz

Clearly Wendy you have never towed a trailer in the Simpson nor followed behind one being driven by an experienced person if you think they specifically cause damage. With correct tyre pressures our group successfully crossed the desert only to have to back up once at the last dune on which the detour was taken yet on five occations we were held up by cars without trailers bogged to the axles leaving great holes on the approach's.
And even if a car was to be bogged (with trailer or not) what really is the damage? 4 holes in the sand that will be filled in the next time the wind blows.
The argument for expensive trailer recovery is also valid for innapropiate cars too but no one says to ban them.
What the problem is with trailers, is inexperience. People that have rarely if ever towed on sand taking on what can be at times a difficult trip, running too higher pressures, who have no idea how to back, with too much load, not enough power or clearance & taking trailers that are unsuitable for the journey.
Obviously the authorities need to protect people from themselves so strongly recommend that trailers not be towed hopefully putting off the inexperienced. They don't ban them outright because even they know that done right towing in the desert is not a problem.
Cheers Craig................

Crackles, as you know I'm totally with you on this matter.
Please also be aware that this year with all the water in the Desert means it is going to even more difficult - and why, because not only will there be mud and slush and probably water in the swales (the sloppy muddy part between the dunes) the dunes will have dried out and be soft and difficult because there will not be the traffic on it knocking down the tops. So this means, if you are a novice at towing a trailer, and a novice at driving and towing in the mud, and if a novice at driving and towing in soft sand - it would be an unpleasant trip worrying all the time. That's not what the Desert trip is about - it is about feeling the ambience - felling the serenity and being totally enjoyable.
You don't need to take a trailer - just go out and enjoy it without the worry.

How do you break sand??


;-))


Cheers

Brian

Hi again...

I was typing when Ruth posted, so I missed her follow-up.

Ruth's last comment there, about the ambiance, is absolutely 110% on the money!!!

Cheers

Brian

Crackles is spot on. Three of us pulled Kimberley campers east west in2009 and west east in 2010. Two modified turbo diesel cruisers and one stock turbo prado. The secret is 14psi in the tyres,trailers inclueded, momentum, and grunt if needed. People who knock those who can do it obviously have no idea. We were constantly being held up by drivers who did not lower tyre pressure, experts telling others to use 1st low range, and clapped out underpowerd bombs.It need not be a stressfull experience and it certainly isnt for our group. We will be pulling our trailers up the canning this year. Dont worry we have done it before. So my answer is if you have a decent tow vehicle & strong trailer, lower your tyre pressure, use momenton(dont try and change gears once on the dune) say 3rd low range for manuals or 2nd high for autos and manually pull into 1st as needed, you will have very little trouble unless you are a complete idiot. This talk of digging up and wrecking the track is nonsence. I have seen tyre tracks disappear in minutes on a windy day.

No, haven't towed anything across the Simpson, but have travelled it with all the camping gear, water and fuel we needed, fitted easily into the 4WD. So, can't see the point of towing a trailer. However, we did encounter a group, going the other way to us, who seemed quite proud of the fact that they'd had to dig, winch etc, themselves up and over lots of the dunes to that point. As we went on, could certainly see where they had been - huge holes, sometimes 4 foot deep, just over the crests of the dunes - to the extent that they could easily have caused a vehicle coming over the crests to rollover.

Wendy... Im with you on this matter.
If it's good enough for National Parks to recommend leaving our trailers home for this trip, then I reckon they would no more than most.
Muffin Man

You continue to overlook the point that it's not the trailer that is the problem. It's the nut holding the wheel. Rather than ban the trailer (which is taking the easy way out) lets educate the nuts. Why should the majority of people who successfully tow accross the desert without major issue be punished for the handfull of people that have no idea?
On one of my trips I tavelled with a family of 7 in their TD Cruiser towing a camper. How do they possibly fit all the gear on board for a crossing or should they be banned as punisment for having too many kids ;-))

Cheers Craig......................

Wendy, How did you know it was the group with the trailers digging the holes? You dont of course. You've convinced yourself that it was them because you want to blame someone so you picked on them. It could have been one ill equiped and inexperienced traveller doing it. I have seen that so many times. If you follow the previous advice you will have no problems Desert Storm. Your vehicle and trailer are ideal for the trip. Diff locks while not essential are pretty handy in sand. Cheers

'cos they talked about it and we passed no other travellers coming our way after them.

Forgot to say I have actually found that the lighter weight of my Kimberley Kamper with wide wheels also tends to flatten my wheel tracks from my tug anyway.