Thoughts on dragging a Camper Trailer across the Simpson

[GXLMatt06 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close GXLMatt06]

Hello everyone.

My family are planning to do a Simpson Desert crossing in September 2009 as part of a month long trip. We will be starting from , and returning to Brisbane.

We have a 2006 120 Prado TD with modifications, and am planning to pull a camper trailer behind me. We obviously have a couple of options of which way to attack the desert (East - West or vice versa), which are still open for discussion.

There will be the wife, myself, and two kids (10yrs, 8yrs), and I don't think I can fit everything I need to carry in the back of the truck and on the roof.

There will be a couple of other trucks coming, probably current model Hilux dual cabs (one with a camper trailer of his own).

I would appreciate any input you experience folk can offer in relation to the idea.

I have read on several sites, that the towing of a camper will damage the dunes, and increase fuel usage, and increase the risk of getting bogged. So I am aware of all these factors, but would still like some suggestions/ideas that you may have.

Thanks
Matt

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

The only issue I can think of at the moment is there are plans to
ban camper trailers from crossing Simpson Desert from next year
after a group with CT cut up the track badly this year (running with high tyre pressures)....

[Jacto Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jacto]

Is this documented anywhere lc120_man as I find it difficult to imagine them being banned when it is a gazetted road and the vehicles are all road registered? :shock: :?

[GXLMatt06 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close GXLMatt06]

Thanks lc120_man.

I just called the Desert Pass 1800 Number, and the lady I spoke to confirmed the head ranger is considering a ban on camper trailers through the Simpson Desert. The reasoning is based on damaged caused by vehicles/trailers having to be recovered and limited access now to the French Line and Rig Road by the native owners of the land.

The lady did say that the decision will take a while to be made, as per most government issues, but the desert parks pass and website will be updated as soon as that happens.

I will still plan to take the trailer at this stage, but work out a contingency plan to do the trip without it.

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Sounds as though the Simpson will soon be off limits to 4x4's. Once they start pulling the old Native title BS then it is only a matter of time.

[TOPNDR Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close TOPNDR]

GXLMatt06

I completed a west to east Simpson crossing in June. Admittedly I was driving a Patrol :P and towed a Kimberley Kamper.

I got bogged once, on the top of a dune because I wasn't paying enough attention and was in the wrong gear at the wrong speed. A simple snatch and we were off.

Apart from that, with tyre pressure of 15 psi all around, including the trailer, I had no troubles and no further boggings.

I used low 2nd or 3rd for all the dune climbs, and probably half a dozen times, I'd have to back down the dune and have another go, in a better gear. I found high revs (3000 ish) and constant speed was the better way to go, rather than trying to drive too fast.

The Patrol also pulled the Kamper up and over Big Red, both ways. The experts say west to east is easiest because the dune gradient is gentler on the west side. It did seem that going down the dunes was steeper and rougher than climbing them, but I'm not convinced that this wasn't just an illusion, as I didn't try climbing any but Big Red going east to west.

From memory I used about 150l of diesel (3 litre manual). A mate travelling with us, also in a Patrol but without a Kamper, used about 110 litres.

My advice is: slow and steady wins the day. There's a book at Dalhousie Springs, with photos in it. The cover says almost everything.



Recovery prices from Mt Dare were $50/hour plus $2/km. Birdsville recovery was $3/km but I don't know what the hourly rate was.

It's a great trip.

ps, what's a Patrol driver doing here? Looking at avoiding doing business with Nissan.....

[GXLMatt06 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close GXLMatt06]

Thanks for the feedback TOPNDR.

It's plain to see that common sense will take you a lot further out in the remote areas.

I hope your trip was everything that you planned.

Regards
Matt.

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

I have to say that I do not agree with Australians being told they cannot visit parts of their own country because of native title issues. Fair enough if the environment is being damaged, but at the end of the day, humans cannot exist without some impact on the environment. We are all going to have to accept that the environment will take some type of hit if we choose to live in it. Of course, wrecking the environment is entirely different. We cannot allow that at all.

I am Australian. Are you telling me that I cannot access vast areas of my own country because my skin is white? I know that Aboriginal people do not feel welcome in some parts of Australia. But they are not told they cannot go there because they are Aboriginal. It's a sensitive issue, I know. There is one type of Australian. People who live in Australia. This drawing of boundaries for "certain types" of people will do no good in the long run in my opinion. As long as the local people's wishes are respected, I believe all Australians should be able to visit all of Australia.

[rhs58 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rhs58]

Crossed Simpson in July.
No trailer.
Word from Ranger is that camper trailers will be banned next year.
Came across a number of trailer tow-ers struggling, even winching.
Steady, slow and low tyre pressures are the go.
Used 84.5 litres diesel from Mt Dare to Birdsville.
Think used slightly more red wine!