Central Australia 2015

[Mattfunk 120 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mattfunk 120]

Some great calendar shots there. Looks like you saw some awesome places Jay

[Designafield Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Designafield]

Gday

we did a trip this year starting from Sydney but got to many of the places you mentioned - the rock, Palm Valley, Mt Dare, Finke, Birdsville etc (although we did not cross the Simpson). Have a look here for our trip and what to expect

http://jaysea007-darwin.blogspot.com.au/

We were towing a trailer with matching wheels which meant we had two spares but i also took a tyre (no wheel) if i became desperate. (luckily only got one flat from a rail spikes on the track near Finke).

You will have a great time

I've been thinking of going down the off-road trailer (not camper) route, did you have any issues with towing the trailer? Did a 4 day trip last weekend and did a bit of a trial run with the packing/loading... packing gear for 5 into a 150 isn't easy!

[Designafield Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Designafield]

Has anyone towed a trailer across the Simpson? I'm looking at taking a H/D off-road trailer (not a camper) just to carry everything comfortably. Seems to be two schools of thought - trailers should never be seen in the Simpson (and burn in hell for considering it) and it can be done if you do it right (don't overload, tyre pressures, speed etc). Interested to hear from anyone who's done it.

We did a 4-day trip last weekend and I just can't see how we'd fit everything in we'd need for a 3 week trip!

By the time I put the tent (Coleman Instant-Up 10), 2 jerry cans, a spare tyre and maybe a couple of sleeping mats on the roof I'm just over the weight limit of 100kg. Drawers in the back aren't really any option due to it being a work truck and the expense, but don't see how they're going to make that big a difference - there's only so much cubic space in the back no matter how you pack it. Somehow I need to fit the fridge, food tub, cooking tub, recovery gear, spares, 150 litres of water, clothes for 5, chairs etc.

Happy for anyone to prove me wrong and show how they can carry gear, equipment and supplies for 5 for a 3 week trip and leave the trailer behind!

Cheers

[Redsand Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Redsand]

I was in a group who did the Simspon 2 years ago and one family of 5 towed a camper trailer. They had a 100 series TD Landcruiser and did the whole trip unassisted.
The others in the group were concerned about him taking the camper but it worked out OK.
Tyre pressure and gear selection was the key. He ran 12psi hot on the camper and cruiser. and made 95% of the dunes first go.

We placed him third in the convoy ( 2 in front & 1 behind) and would radio back how difficult the dune was so he could select the correct gear, either 2nd or 3rd low range.
Often there was a easier track off to one side of the main track which the lead vehicles would radio back to him.
The dunes were very corrugated so slow and steady was the go.
We travelled west to east which I beleive is easier than east to west.

I think the main issue with towing a camper in the Simspon is backing back down if you don't make it the first attempt as the tracks are narrow in places
If you part of a group who were prepare to help you through you've got a chance of making it. I wouldn't recommend you attempt it alone towing a trailer.

[skua Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close skua]

Packing for five is certainly a problem but don't attempt the Simmo on your own with a trailer. My wife and I did it two years ago without trailer from west to east in a 120 v6 with no dramas but I was very pleased we weren't towing.
We did it the following year from east to west as far as Poeppel Corner towing an Ultimate camper and had a bit of trouble on some dunes and let tires down to 12 psi front and on the trailer and about 14 on the rear and had to use matrax on several to just get over the top. We were on our own and then headed north up the Hay River track which was much easier going.
As Redsand said, if you are in a group who are willing, then snatch over the worst dunes, otherwise some are a very long reverse to the bottom for another try.

[Designafield Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Designafield]

Thanks Redsand and skua for the feedback. We'll be travelling with another family, however they're a family of 5 as well and in a Series 4 Disco - se he's got even less space and also been considering a trailer. One option we've been considering is taking a trailer between us and taking turns towing it. That way we'll always have a single vehicle for snatching if needed.

[Redsand Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Redsand]

What helped the guy on my trip was the LC had a three inch lift which reduced the draw bar from plouging through the crest of the dunes.
Often the crest of the dune dropped away quickly that much so you could see which way the track went.
We soon realised that the downhill side of the dune was to the right (west to east direction)

If your Prado doesn't have a lift the draw bar of the trailer will dig in at the top of the dunes causing you to get bogged.
It is also hard place to snatch because one vehicle will on the other side of the dune.

It will be a less stressful trip if you can downsize and go without the trailer.

You won't need extra fuel the 150 lts will get you from Mt Dare to Birdsville with a reasonable safety margin

[Designafield Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Designafield]

I've got a 2" lift and larger tyres, however I've just watched one of the 4WD action DVDs of Roothy and Glen towing camper trailers with the wife - after they'd snatched up the second dune in a row (and I pointed out that there's 1100 dunes) she replied with "we ain't taking a trailer, I'll cut back!". Also Redsand, did you take a second spare? I've been looking at a lot of pics of setups for desert crossings for ideas, and it seems to be a 50/50 split as to take one or not. Without would give me an extra 35kg on the roof.

[Redsand Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Redsand]

I was driving a Rodeo Dual cab at the time so I put second spare in the tub, I didn't get a flat
Of the four vehicles we only got one flat from a railway spike on the track into Finke , it was on a 80 series LC running BFG AT.

There was 120 series Prado in the group and he only had one spare didn't get afloat, he was running BFG AT.

If you pushed for space maybe one spare and quality puncture repair kit.??

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

In order to require a second spare you need to be in a situation where you destroy 2 tyres to the point they can't be repaired, assuming you take a bit of gear to repair a flat. I personally have never damaged a tyre to the point I couldn't repair it on the tracks, damaging 2 tyres that badly in the four or so days it takes to cross the Simpson would be extremely unlikely. I crossed the Simpson via Madigans line which is much tougher on tyres than a normal crossing, I never touched my spare, only my plug kit.

As for basing decisions on what you saw on a 4wd action video They would be just as likely to pump their tyres up in order to get bogged so they can make this trip bigger and badder than the last time they did something stupid.

Cheers Andrew

[Redsand Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Redsand]

I've got a 2" lift and larger tyres, however I've just watched one of the 4WD action DVDs of Roothy and Glen towing camper trailers with the wife - after they'd snatched up the second dune in a row (and I pointed out that there's 1100 dunes) she replied with "we ain't taking a trailer, I'll cut back!". Also Redsand, did you take a second spare? I've been looking at a lot of pics of setups for desert crossings for ideas, and it seems to be a 50/50 split as to take one or not. Without would give me an extra 35kg on the roof.

Have you considered a tow bar mounted swing away spare tyre, TJM have a system there's also a brand called Tire Gate might be worth looking at.

[Designafield Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Designafield]

Hey Redsand that Tire Gate HitchGate system looks pretty cool! Will add it to the wishlist - might even go halves with the brother as his spare 35" for his Hilux is always in the way when packing! Cheers

http://www.tiregate.com.au/photo-gal...50-series.html

[Designafield Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Designafield]

In order to require a second spare you need to be in a situation where you destroy 2 tyres to the point they can't be repaired, assuming you take a bit of gear to repair a flat. I personally have never damaged a tyre to the point I couldn't repair it on the tracks, damaging 2 tyres that badly in the four or so days it takes to cross the Simpson would be extremely unlikely. I crossed the Simpson via Madigans line which is much tougher on tyres than a normal crossing, I never touched my spare, only my plug kit.

As for basing decisions on what you saw on a 4wd action video They would be just as likely to pump their tyres up in order to get bogged so they can make this trip bigger and badder than the last time they did something stupid.

Cheers Andrew

Hi Andrew, that's kinda what I figured - I spent 7 days on the Endeavour Rally in my old 120 last year which went from Brisbane to Cameron Corner, Innamincka, Haddon Corner, Betoota and the back to Bundaberg - most of it on a mix of development roads, back roads and goat tracks and never had an issue. Running BFG AT and have a full tyre plug and repair kit plus tyre levers. Plus we're not coming down the old Ghan track so won't be dodging rail spikes!

As for the whole trailer thing, the video was more the icing on the cake for me after doing a lot of research online. Was also thinking that as we'll be crossing end of Sept/start of Oct, the tracks may be a bit worse for wear by then??. Plus factoring in the increase in fuel for towing.... Time to implement the KISS approach!

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

We towed across the Simpson in Sep/Oct 2012. Have a read here to give you an idea. Any questions just ask. Also re the second spare I carried one but as AJ said you would be bloody unlucky to destroy 2 tyres. Also it is sand so whilst there are shrubs etc you would be very unlucky to get a puncture let alone destroy a tyre, not saying impossible just unlikely.
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topi...9247#msg399247

[BrettYourTripRight Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close BrettYourTripRight]

I would stay at Kings Creek Station where you can. The Resort at Kings Canyon is not great at the moment.

We are doing the French Line and the Hay River Track in June. Cant Wait. My Wife is Blogging all our preparations and obviously will put up trip summaries. We are leading a group of 9 car's across so it should be interesting.
http://www.yourtripright.com/crossing-the-simpson.html

We live 230km west of Ayres Rock Resort and I do have a few money saving tips if your keen.
http://www.yourtripright.com/saving-...ck-resort.html

Any questions on the region flick me an email,

[email protected]

Good Luck Brett Toll