through the simpson desert

Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 00:53
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Just wondering if anyone has pulled their camper trailer across the simpson desert along the rig road. i have heard conflicting stories of not being allowed to tow a trailer through there. but if you are allowed to tow a trailer, and if anyone has done this, i would like to hear about your tales.

thanks in advance,
John
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Reply By: Ozhumvee - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 07:26

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 07:26
Yes people have, when we did it in 1985 it was 2wd, the desert was still full of exploration teams and semis were encountered on the rig road. These days the rig road is less travelled, is not maintained, gets more eroded with each passing year and covered in more and bigger sand blows on the dune crests. Some sections get very little traffic at all. The bit from K1 across to below the knoll track is very hard going, big dunes with up to 2 and 3 metre crests, very hard with trailers on. These days you are better to stick to the well travelled tracks like the French line but still can be hard going with a trailer especially if you are not experienced.
BUT it is specifically requested by authorities that no one tows trailer across the desert due to increased likelihood of track, vehicle and trailer damage. They have to remove abandoned trailers that have not survived. Remember too that even the bigger 4wd's like cruisers and patrols only have an off road towing capacity of around the unbraked trailer towing capacity ie: 750kg.
Currently through access is not likely till July due to flooding.
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Reply By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 07:36

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 07:36
Hi John,

We towed our Tvan across the Simpson last July. West to East, from Purnie Bore we turned onto the Rig Road, followed it around to where the WAA/Erabena Track meet, then north to the French Line. From there, east to Birdsville. We took it nice and easy, 5 nights camping out there.... wonderful!! For me, the absolute highlight of a fantastic holiday!

The Rig Road is deteriorating but is still driveable. There are some big ruts here and there that tried to swallow our Patrol, and some are hard to pick in the distance. Don't drive too fast and everything will be fine.

I don't know of any legal issues.... "i have heard conflicting stories of not being allowed to tow a trailer through there"...... I know that towing is not recommended and it does put a strain on your vehicle. Depends on the quality of the trailer I guess. Our travelling partners towed an older Jayco Flipper CT, it broke a leaf spring down the first section of the Rig Rd, and we bush-mechaniced it with a lump of firewood to keep it going. Other than that it was fine. Having said all that, we had upgraded from a Cavalier Off Road ct to the Tvan, and I can honestly say I wouldn't try towing anything else across the Simpson. There will be others who will say they've towed different brands, and that's absolutely fine... just that I wouldn't.

Cheers

Brian




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Reply By: Robin Miller - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 07:46

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 07:46
Took the bikes on Rig as well as K1 .

Mostly ok , but in can be a bit daunting particularly after a sand blow.

We had to do a fair bit of snatching but only when bikes were on the trailer at 1.2T , without bikes was only about 700kg and ok.

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Follow Up By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 07:49

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 07:49
Looks like fun Robin!!!




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Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 07:56

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 07:56
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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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 09:04

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 09:04
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
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Follow Up By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 19:20

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 19:20
"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

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Reply By: Crackles - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 12:48

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 12:48
John you will always get conflicting reports as the conditions in the desert change every year with the Rig Road getting increasingly more difficult the nore the clay cap gets covered. It's almost at the point now where it is no longer the easiest route.
High Quality full offroad trailers under 1.2 tonne being towed by a high clearance 4by with 130KW or better can generally make the crossing without too many hassles. Even lower pressures than normal are required as is a back up vehicle to avoid holding others up for too long.
The Simpson is not the place for novices to be towing trailers hence the recomendation from the authorities not to do so.
Cheers Craig..............
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Follow Up By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 19:17

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 19:17
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




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Reply By: wendys - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 17:14

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 17:14
Towing trailers stuffs up the tracks for those who come later. It is much more responsible to do as Parks ask, and not tow.
Remember also that it can cost a hell of a lot for retrieval if/when things go wrong with your trailer and tow vehicle.
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Follow Up By: Baz&Pud (Tassie) - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 17:31

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 17:31
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
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Follow Up By: Crackles - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 18:08

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 18:08
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................
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Follow Up By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 19:12

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 19:12
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.
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Follow Up By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 19:12

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 19:12
How do you break sand??


;-))


Cheers

Brian

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Follow Up By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 19:15

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 19:15
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



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Follow Up By: Blue's 80 - Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 22:30

Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 at 22:30
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.
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Follow Up By: wendys - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 18:08

Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 18:08
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.
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Follow Up By: muffin man - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 21:46

Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 21:46
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
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Follow Up By: Crackles - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 22:04

Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 22:04
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......................
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Reply By: Member - Desert Storm (QLD) - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 02:25

Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 02:25
well thank you all very much for all that information and interesting reading. i have a converted 6.5L chev diesel in a gu patrol towing a cape york trailer with independent suspension etc.
i have been been off roading for years, but mainly rocky stuff around FNQ. i would be the first to admit that i would be a novice at towing through sand and as far as climbing dunes while towing, well it will be a first. but i'll take the advice and resist going out there without another vehicle.
if anyone is going that way in the future, (next year) i would be glad to hook up.
thanks again,
John
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Follow Up By: Blue's 80 - Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 21:07

Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 at 21:07
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
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Follow Up By: wendys - Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 16:39

Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 at 16:39
'cos they talked about it and we passed no other travellers coming our way after them.
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Reply By: Member - Craig (NSW) - Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 14:05

Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 14:05
I agree, the key is getting the PSI correct in your tyres. There is far more damage in driving with your tyres over inflated than any damage that could be done towing a trailer.

It is such a shame that the arrogance of some people with no regard (or just too lazy to do tyres up and down) causes these regulations to be implemented.

If they were digging and dragging trailers they should go back and fill in where they have been. I have crossed the simpson many times and once with a trailer (yes I will do it again), I cannot see how if the tyres are inflated/deflated :) correctly that it would do any more damage than a normal vehicle.

The Simpson is there to be enjoyed, if someone is driving too slow I just pull over and have a beer (light of course) and enjoy my surroundings and worry about getting around them later. I have found too many want to see how fast they can cross it and not even really ever see it.

Found this a couple of years ago:
Ron Moon - Simpson Desert
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Follow Up By: Member - Craig (NSW) - Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 14:08

Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 14:08
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.
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