Crossing Simpson Desert - French Line

[mark daly]

Just wondering if anyone has some recent experience crossing the Simpson Desert from Birdsville to Dalhousie Springs with an off road camper trailer.

We are headed to Birdsville races in Sept and will then head off into the Simpson travelling on the French Line to Dalhousie Springs.

Lots of people tell us dont take the camper trailer, but most of the experts do and there are plenty of videos on Utube where people have with no issue.

Just wanted some feedback and suggestions.

We are a nissan patrol with 2 inch lift, winch, diff locks, etc.. We are travelling with another patrol and nissan nivara who has winch. We are the only ones with the camper trailer.

Would welcome suggestions.

thanks
Mark

 

[BarKer]

Expert do because most of them have got TV camera's following them. I know of a few that have crossed with trailers and have had no major issues. Altho they were pulling quality trailers. I would not take my $6K chinese jobbie there as it would vibrate itself to bits..

There are lots of arguments against trailers across the Simpson as they deem to damage the tracks and some might think it is selfish.. However, so far as I know at this time it is still legal so fill your boots..

 

[deepop]

If it's a good quality off road camper then I'd have few hesitations - you're still taking more with you to go wrong though.

So - Do you really need to? Do you have a lot of experience? Reckon you can back a trailer the whole way back down a dune face covered in very soft sand? ('cause you normally only ever get stopped near the top). Once you're crossed up you're knackered. Again, is it a quality trailer?

if so then go ahead. They're talking about banning them at some point but I don't think they've done it yet.

With or without a trailer just remember, don't bog yourself down. if you lose traction don't dig a hole - it just makes it worse. Back down and have a better go second time. You'll love it. Great trip!

 

[Jaye]

The reason everyone tells you not to tow across the Simpson is because you won't make it, its because of the damage caused by people towing. I was a day behind a crew towing a camper. They broke their axle housing in their cruiser. Destroyed the track, destroyed vegetation and made it generally more harder for others after them to cross.

It's think about the environment and others mentality that needs to be adopted.

I've seen too many people towing in general which don't know how to tow competently. Everyone's a hot shot these days.

 

[ToecutterVic]

I think it's ok to take a camper trailer. Talk to people that have and it's not a problem. Talk to those that don't like campers going across and they say it's deemed to fail and you won't do it.

As long as your vehicle is well maintained and you have a good quality camper, go for your life!

Hey, you got insurance so if all fails at least you can upgrade once your home lol

 

[80lover96gxl]

Its all falls back to tyre pressures at the end of the day, get them right and consistently checked I dont see a problem with it.
Some families need to take a camper away on trips for one reason or another, to potentially exclude these people is unfair imo.

 

[mac_man_luke]

Id say its possible but you would want another car to pull you over some of the harder dunes potentially.

 

[Jaye]

So the attitude is "f#@: everyone else that follows me as long as I have a good time"

To me that's the same as driving into a national park and tearing it to bits with ya 37 inch muddies to have a good time.

That's not ok. Simply irresponsible and selfish in both cases.

 

[Les PK Ranger]

I can see how a family excursion of 4 or more would = handy having a camper, it's hard for those families to pack all that most WANT to take for such a trip, in a normal 4WD.

If it was just 2 people, I would 'rough' it and not have the headaches / risks of a trailer along.

If all had trailers, and could travel the same speed, all get recovered from time to time etc, then I'd say go for it if you want to take the risk . . . as mentioned, not too bad when tyre pressures are right, both on the vehicle AND the trailer dropped the same (around 18psi).

Suppose you read this report ?
http://www.4x4earth.com.au/forum/qld-trip-reports/31569-simpson-desert-crossing.html

Also this thread is worth a read to see how some feel about doing many recoveries of others in their group with trailers.
4WDA - Camper Trailers in the Simpson Desert - NOT recommended !

They mention in this thread about backing down a soft dune for another go, not easy in some places or situations along there.

 

[ToecutterVic]

I'm going with a camper and going every which way I can! I need a camper for my family and will have unlimited time to explore it for as long as I like.

No I don't agree in ripping up ground but can't see my camper doing as much damage as a group of 10 going across it.

It's my right to take a camper and I will be exploring every inch before I leave.

You don't want to take one, up to you but sure am.

 

[cookie64]

I have come across a couple of people that have had issues with their trailers heading towards Birdsville yet to do any sand driving, indeed we once asked someone if we could help and they wanted to know if we had a welder to weld their trailer up.

I have also had the misfortune of sitting behind someone towing that either didn't realise we were there or just didn't give a toss and we waited and waited for them to get over dunes but they did not let us pass them so we had to contend with the dug out wallows - they were quite deep given that they had many attempts.

Winches & Diff Locks won't help you much out there, as Deepop says, you will need to be very proficient at reversing whilst having the sand try and steer your trailer and not having a firm base to brake on.

I would ensure that you are well prepared for the challenge, and as you're asking the question, it would suggest that you may not have a great deal of experience trailer on sand, so would go get some closer to home. Although you are going with friends, if you keep holding them up this could stress friendships real quickly.

Remember to let your tyres down on the trailer too.

Oh and no I'm not anti-trailers, I was going to tow one myself and I have done the Simpson numerous times so am quite experienced out there.

cheers

 

[ToecutterVic]

Also this thread is worth a read to see how some feel about doing many recoveries of others in their group with trailers.

4WDA - Camper Trailers in the Simpson Desert - NOT recommended !



They mention in this thread about backing down a soft dune for another go, not easy in some places or situations along there.

It was a Pajero lol (TIC)

 

[Les PK Ranger]

It was a Pajero lol

Believe it, the Paj's are a very underated 4wd, and often surprise the cruiser / Patrol drivers

On our April Simmo trip, one old 88 Paj in our group walked up all the dunes, including Big Red, while Big Red stopped one Patrol and one cruiser in our group.
Yes, those drivers were quite proficient drivers, tyres down to at least 18 . . . maybe just a little overloaded.

 

[cookie64]

It was a Pajero lol

I know you've said it tongue firmly in cheeck but, I've had many Pajeros in our trips and they have all done the tracks without issue - it is really the driver that dictates the situation

cheers

 

[billolga]

I think it's ok to take a camper trailer. Talk to people that have and it's not a problem. Talk to those that don't like campers going across and they say it's deemed to fail and you won't do it.

As long as your vehicle is well maintained and you have a good quality camper, go for your life!

Hey, you got insurance so if all fails at least you can upgrade once your home lol

Take a trailer across the Simpson after rain & the sand is firm - no problems. Give it a try on the French line heading west when it's very soft with "S" bends at the top & see how you go.

I've seen them have five goes at a sand hill without a trailer.

 

[ToecutterVic]

I don't see the difference in taking an inland route to the cape where it takes the group an hour to get everyone thru etc and the desert. Is the desert a speed track that you have to fly thru with no fun challenges?

Looking at all the vids of people's trips, is it ok to have to winch, snatch strap your way thru the high country but not in the desert.

If you are prepared and have a few going, what's so wrong taking the time in either place?

So it's ok to chew up and wheel spin the bush to get thru but don't disturb the sand of the desert?

 

[stevemc181]

So long as the trailer is up to the task, I don't see an issue pulling one through there. As others have stated, so long as you are proficient at reversing in less than ideal situations and have all tyres at correct pressures, there won't be too many hills that will stop you.

Some have no choice but to take a trailer, particularly if they have family etc along with them, need somewhere to put the gear! Chopping up dunes etc can be done by anybody, towing a trailer or not, who doesn't air down correctly and drives like a numbat!

 

[stevemc181]

I know you've said it tongue firmly in cheeck but, I've had many Pajeros in our trips and they have all done the tracks without issue - it is really the driver that dictates the situation

cheers

Believe it, the Paj's are a very underated 4wd, and often surprise the cruiser / Patrol drivers

On our April Simmo trip, one old 88 Paj in our group walked up all the dunes, including Big Red, while Big Red stopped one Patrol and one cruiser in our group.
Yes, those drivers were quite proficient drivers, tyres down to at least 18 . . . maybe just a little overloaded.

I've passed many a cruiser/patrol in my NW Paj on the Sandhills. Just a week or two ago a group of 4 of us in Pajeros went to Wilbinga near Perth to do some recovery gear testing, we literally had to dig holes in 2wd and then use a shovel to bog the front, because we couldn't get them stuck enough to need recovering, but we still passed a stuck Landcruiser! Always nice to stop and offer assistance of course

I'd bog mine down in 2wd on a Sandhill, but as soon as I put it in 4wd it would extract itself no problem, frustrating when you are trying to test recovery gear. (Lan-Cor ground anchor, Maxtrax, Treds, rubber mats)

 

[Les PK Ranger]

frustrating when you are trying to test recovery gear. (Lan-Cor ground anchor, Maxtrax, Treds, rubber mats)

Mate, just stick all that recovery gear on ebay now !!

 

[cookie64]

I've passed many a cruiser/patrol in my NW Paj on the Sandhills. Just a week or two ago a group of 4 of us in Pajeros went to Wilbinga near Perth to do some recovery gear testing, we literally had to dig holes in 2wd and then use a shovel to bog the front, because we couldn't get them stuck enough to need recovering, but we still passed a stuck Landcruiser! Always nice to stop and offer assistance of course

I'd bog mine down in 2wd on a Sandhill, but as soon as I put it in 4wd it would extract itself no problem, frustrating when you are trying to test recovery gear. (Lan-Cor ground anchor, Maxtrax, Treds, rubber mats)

Absolutely, no matter what you drive it comes down to the driver and their knowledge, people have even lost their lives as a result of not having the right knowledge in the outback.

I purposely got my 200 stuck down at Robe so that I could practice self extraction - boy I had a lot of offers to help me out

cheers