Camper Trailer along Goog's Track

We took our Aussie swag through a couple of years ago. We went south to north. We had no real problems in the cooler times of the day, however afterlunch the sand dunes became more airated and as a result harder to get over. Our companions snatched us over a couple of dunes on the northern end in the hotter times. We got a permit to enter the Woomera Rocket Range and continued north through the stations to Coober Pedy. This is an isolated area, you need to be well prepared, as we didn't see any traffic for atleast 2 days. There is a good camping area at the salt lake.

Lloyd M

We did it north to south in 2009 after accepting Stephen L (Clare) 's suggestion we include the Buckleboo Stock Route (Gawler Ranges) in our trip.

To include this we went north through the Gawler ranges from Kimba and then back down north to south along Goog's Track.

In my opinion doing it from this direction was very easy in our Prado (16-18psi)
and it certainly appeared that it would have been far choppier going the otherway (south to north).

UHF channel 18 from memory is the station to be monitored and we were constantly alerting other goog's track travellers that we were on the road. Over the length of the track we saw 2 other vehicles.

From my experience I would certainly recommend going this way if it fits in with your travel plans.

We were there in October and the wildflowers were spectacular PLUS we encountered sturt desert pea in full bloom. Oh yeah!

Our little group (8) loved the track so much we could have turned around and done it again, albeit not as smooth.

Enjoy.

Wayne

Doesn't sound like much has changed since we did it about 10 years back, north to south. Towing a HD offroad trailer - as I recall, there were only 3 modest dunes at the upper end that required some tactics on our part (we were not experienced sandy people at that stage). After that, the going was strait forward along sandy tracks and minor dunes. We camped at the Mt Finke and Goog's lake camping areas - quite good (no facilities but). Mt Finke worth the climb (early cairn on the southern tip). Goog's is one of the Treks on this site.... tab above.

Hi Rob,
we have taken our T-Van from north to south twice in the last two years, there was no problems other than I left my tires at 28 psi last year to test some gear on a sand dune after testing We aired down to 20psi and had no problems from then on.You will enjoy it and as mentioned a great camp spot near Goog's Lake. The first year we also had a couple with us towing a Cub camper once again no problems.

Cheers
Graham

Rob did it a few years back south to north. Was towing a Tambo Cooper trailer behind the Navara. A few sticky spots here and there but with tyres aired down, you should be OK. Blogged the experience as follows;


Googs Track - Day 1

Googs Track - Day 2



Cheers Mick

Rob I think a man of your experience with a capable vehicle & sturdy trailer will wonder what all the fuss is with Googs track after it's done. There is nothing as remotely challenging when compared with the Simpson & should cause no problem to any high clearance 4x4 (not overloaded) with correct tyre pressure. If looking for a comparison then the Mallee scrub along the SA Border Track has sand conditions much the same.
Have fun which ever way you decide to go.
Cheers Craig.........

Done Googs track a few times - last was in 2010 when we spent 2 weeks on it doing volunteer work. From watching the many vehicles and trailers go over the dunes, I'd estimate 80% of vehicles do it a lot harder than they should. Listening in to the radio conversations, a lot of people do a fair bit of damage. The southern faces of the dunes are chopped up and way too many people think you need a head of steam to get over them. But if you lower your pressures to around the 15-18psi mark (including your trailer) you can walk the vehicle at slow pace over the ruts and your vehicle and trailer will arrive in one piece. Smooths out the corrugations as well.

On our first Googs trip we were travelling with someone who took a strong offroad trailer and they had the joy of watching a trailer wheel overtake them and head off into the bush - they'd broken an axle - we spent the afternoon welding it up.

The DENR people recommend you do it from the south - lots of the track is thick low mallee - single lane only, so its safer to go from the south.

Enjoy your trip
Phil

Hi Rob

We traveled south to north in Nov 2011 it was a good trip, we towed a Assie Track & trail CP. We got bogged 3 times all my fault...... steep learning curve.

But it would be better traveled (as fare as I'm concerned) north to south as all the approaches from the south are a mess, chopped out and you can not keep a good speed to maintain momentum with out leaving the ground.

Power was not a problem as I drive a 4.2 TD troopy, but it is a good trip and I will travel it again but this time from north to south (it probably would have changed by then).

PS track are pretty straight so easy to back down if you don't make it first time :-)


Cheers

Just make sure you travel when it,s cooler. Feb/march can still be a heatwave there.

You should have no problems South to North, with the right tyre pressures. We tow an Ultimate through there a lot and run 16 psi in the Prado and 12 psi on the Ulti and use first gear high range and centre diff locked and walk every dune. Never got above 1500 RPM for the trip on any climb.

You need to appreciate that this track is one lane and to get off it to allow someone coming from the opposite direction to pass, is almost a guarantee of pushing a lot of scrub, bush pin stripes and a possible puncture. You may get lucky and meet where there is some space but then again you may not

Sand flag and Ch18 as recommended. Do a regular channel call. But that doesn't mean anyone will have a radio or be listening as we have experienced on several trips

Do not drive on Googs Lake, there's plenty of decent campsites but sadly lots of them getting chopped up and more rubbish each time we visit. Good camping near Mt Finke so no need to make a new one

Take wood as there's not a lot around that's easy to find

Apart from that enjoy the trip and drop in at the Kingoonya pub if they are open

Regards

Rob