Crossing Simpson Desert - French Line
- Thread starter mark daly
- Start date
Belfy82
Active Member
The way I see it is if your purposely diging it up doing brakies then that's not on but however if you've dug up a bit as your stuck and need to get out then that's not such a bad thing if you ask me, I think your going on a bit about something that's not happening in this case, this is regardless of weither you decide to tow or not and in this case it's totally up to the driver if you ask me and there are no laws against it so get out there and have a go I say, I'm currently travelling with a family (misses and two little ones) and have no choose other than to pull a trailer to get all of our gear around and I will be doing the Simpson dessert with my trailer and can say if I'm stuck I'll be doing what it takes to get out, I'm not going out there to chew up tracks but some times that's what happens when you end up stuck, I'm sure you've chewed somewhere out a bit trying to get through as every one on this site would have its part of 4wding we aren't driving on tar so getting stuck at some point is inevitable and driving chewed up tracks is 4wding if you ask me if you want a smooth drive buy a Mercedes and stay on the tar but on the other hand going out and pourposely chewing up a track is another story
That's my view
Fire suit on
Cheers
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cookie64
4x4 Earth Contributer
My Mrs frowns on this sort of practice
LMAO - Too funny
Isn't it funny how one can snip a part of a conversation and it becomes totally wrong
cheers
cookie64
4x4 Earth Contributer
The way I see it is if your purposely diging it up doing brakies then that's not on but however if you've dug up a bit as your stuck and need to get out then that's not such a bad thing if you ask me, I think your going on a bit about something that's not happening in this case, this is regardless of weither you decide to tow or not and in this case it's totally up to the driver if you ask me and there are no laws against it so get out there and have a go I say, I'm currently travelling with a family (misses and two little ones) and have no choose other than to pull a trailer to get all of our gear around and I will be doing the Simpson dessert with my trailer and can say if I'm stuck I'll be doing what it takes to get out, I'm not going out there to chew up tracks but some times that's what happens when you end up stuck, I'm sure you've chewed somewhere out a bit trying to get through as every one on this site would have its part of 4wding we aren't driving on tar so getting stuck at some point is inevitable and driving chewed up tracks is 4wding if you ask me if you want a smooth drive buy a Mercedes and stay on the tar but on the other hand going out and pourposely chewing up a track is another story
That's my view
Fire suit on
Cheers
Yep better be an asbestos one
Tearing up the place for your own wants & desires is totally poor form and many people who have done that have been heavily chastised on here and with good reason, in my opinion, too.
I have no issue with people that have to tow a trailer across, indeed I was going to tow a motorbike trailer across due to a required change in plans for a double crossing. The trick is to have the maturity to know whether you can do it without tearing up the place - whether it be sand or mud or wherever. I indeed have cancelled trips due to the tracks being too wet and having the respect for those that need to traverse them.
As I've said previously, if you have the right knowledge, let down your tyres on both vehicle and trailer and know how to reverse a trailer very competently then you'll be fine. But if you don't, then I suggest that you get some practice where the sand dunes can recover relatively quickly such as by the coast where the sea breeze can recover your mess reasonably quickly.
Tour operators are already banned from towing trailers and it wont be long before everyone is banned.
In saying all of that, I have followed other non towing vehicles who have not let their tyres down sufficiently or haven't engaged 4wd, get stuck, spin their wheels thinking that will work and making a damn mess too. It is remarkable how you hear people boasting how they crossed the Simpson in 2wd - at what cost.
Many tracks have been closed over the years due to vested interests, read green / environmental movements, and us as a collective only give them the ammunition to close them when we display a lack of respect for these areas.
cheers
Belfy82
Active Member
Yep better be an asbestos one
Tearing up the place for your own wants & desires is totally poor form and many people who have done that have been heavily chastised on here and with good reason, in my opinion, too.
I have no issue with people that have to tow a trailer across, indeed I was going to tow a motorbike trailer across due to a required change in plans for a double crossing. The trick is to have the maturity to know whether you can do it without tearing up the place - whether it be sand or mud or wherever. I indeed have cancelled trips due to the tracks being too wet and having the respect for those that need to traverse them.
As I've said previously, if you have the right knowledge, let down your tyres on both vehicle and trailer and know how to reverse a trailer very competently then you'll be fine. But if you don't, then I suggest that you get some practice where the sand dunes can recover relatively quickly such as by the coast where the sea breeze can recover your mess reasonably quickly.
Tour operators are already banned from towing trailers and it wont be long before everyone is banned.
In saying all of that, I have followed other non towing vehicles who have not let their tyres down sufficiently or haven't engaged 4wd, get stuck, spin their wheels thinking that will work and making a damn mess too. It is remarkable how you hear people boasting how they crossed the Simpson in 2wd - at what cost.
Many tracks have been closed over the years due to vested interests, read green / environmental movements, and us as a collective only give them the ammunition to close them when we display a lack of respect for these areas.
cheers
Yeah I hear what your saying and agree mate
Try not to damage the environment but sometimes you do end up stuck it's part of the game we play
Trying to do something in 2wd seems stupid to me as that's not trying to not get stuck but if you are stuck then chewing up some turf is what's happened and can happen on the way out too I'm sure it's happens to everyone here at some stage or the other
Most of us don't head out to chew things up irresposablly which is a Big No but things do happen is my point and not going somewhere that is allowed in the right conditions is not getting out there and having a go IMO
And like mentioned this is a 4wd trek so you can't just expect a smooth journey like it's the highway
Asbestos flame suit on
Cheers
ToecutterVic
New Member
LMAO - Too funny
Isn't it funny how one can snip a part of a conversation and it becomes totally wrong
cheers
Cookie, now you've made me question myself?
I thought you in Robe, in the wilderness, practicing self extraction, as most cruiser drivers do
was weirder than the voices in my head telling me to stay home and keep cleaning the guns Now if I misread your comments I'm starting to question my sanity again?
I'm so confused. Lol
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cookie64
4x4 Earth Contributer
Yeah I hear what your saying and agree mate
Try not to damage the environment but sometimes you do end up stuck it's part of the game we play
Trying to do something in 2wd seems stupid to me as that's not trying to not get stuck but if you are stuck then chewing up some turf is what's happened and can happen on the way out too I'm sure it's happens to everyone here at some stage or the other
Most of us don't head out to chew things up irresposablly which is a Big No but things do happen is my point and not going somewhere that is allowed in the right conditions is not getting out there and having a go IMO
And like mentioned this is a 4wd trek so you can't just expect a smooth journey like it's the highway
Asbestos flame suit on
Cheers
Agreed, we all get stuck from time to time, I guess the point I'm trying to make is that if you can avoid getting stuck or indeed in the event you do get stuck you make the least amount of impact on the environment as you can.
I had a situation on one of my trips that the lead vehicle made it through a dune, I didn't as I am a little wider than he was (the vehicle guys
) and on my second attempt slid sideways thus chewing the dune up a little, didn't try again just went around a different way.Fail to plan, plan to fail, if you can avoid added weight & hinderances then I'm all for it.
cheers
cookie64
4x4 Earth Contributer
Cookie, now you've made me question myself?
I thought you in Robe, in the wilderness, practicing self extraction, as most cruiser drivers do
Now if I misread your comments I'm starting to question my sanity again?
Stop it - you're a bad man
Having visions of Deliverance - can hear the Banjo playing in my head
I think we're all insane, those that deny it aren't being totally honest with themselves
cheers
Dogsbreakfast
Member
I've done it before with a well set up trailer and vehicle. Correct tyre pressures and you'll be sweet,. The most damage comes from heroes with or without campers full tyre pressure and some not even in 2wd spinning the crap out of every track. Halfof the people bagging you for having a trailer are well over the weight limit anyway doing more damage.
Some hills might take acouple of goes. You know when youre not going to make it, back off stop and do it again. Take the chicken tracks when available straight off.
Some hills might take acouple of goes. You know when youre not going to make it, back off stop and do it again. Take the chicken tracks when available straight off.
With any simpson crossing people pack way too much crap - unless you really need it don't take it. I've been across several times 4 up in a landcruiser easily fit with no trailer. Two tents, single shared twin burner gas cooker, eski and a car fridge - easy. extra water inside and fuel in 20L cans.
I'm heading off to do it again in a SWB pajero Io and space will be tough, but still easily do-able but won't have the 5 star porta-palace
I'm heading off to do it again in a SWB pajero Io and space will be tough, but still easily do-able but won't have the 5 star porta-palace
ToecutterVic
New Member
Add in a family and other travel plans, like going around Australia and you have no other option but to take a trailer.
The people in the outback will suffer bad if they stop trailers going thru the Simpson. It's on a lot of people's list, as they go around Australia. Not all people going thru have just gone all that way to just do it, it's just apart of their big trip
Crossed west to east in a convoy of four vehicles just last week. All of us were towing trailers. Western sides of dunes appeared more cut up than eastern sides. I only had to reverse down 6 or so dunes for a second go and they were all towards the east (bigger dunes closer to Big Red). Didn't get stuck once but tyres were only 15 PSI all round and never out of 4H. Once wheels started to spin, the trick is to stop immediately before they start to dig in, reverse and try again just that little bit faster. No need to attack a dune at full throttle, most dunes I just idled over. Best to maintain traction, not speed.
Reversing down the dunes is pretty easy as nearly always the trailer will just stay in the wheel ruts and track nicely to the bottom.
Wish I had a dollar for every time I heard somebody comment on the UHF that they needed to have another go at a dune because they were not in 4WD. Not in our touring party! What were these dills thinking? Also spoke to several vehicles who were having problems and they had tyre pressures way too high. One guy was running 40PSI !!!
As for trailers doing damage, what a load of total rubbish. 90% of the rutting and damage I could see was caused by vehicles bunny hopping up the dunes. Trailers do not cause that sort of damage. It was obvious the real culprits were inexperienced drivers. Hell there were several hire vehicles out there !!
You will not have a problem towing a well prepared trailer. Good luck.
Reversing down the dunes is pretty easy as nearly always the trailer will just stay in the wheel ruts and track nicely to the bottom.
Wish I had a dollar for every time I heard somebody comment on the UHF that they needed to have another go at a dune because they were not in 4WD. Not in our touring party! What were these dills thinking? Also spoke to several vehicles who were having problems and they had tyre pressures way too high. One guy was running 40PSI !!!
As for trailers doing damage, what a load of total rubbish. 90% of the rutting and damage I could see was caused by vehicles bunny hopping up the dunes. Trailers do not cause that sort of damage. It was obvious the real culprits were inexperienced drivers. Hell there were several hire vehicles out there !!
You will not have a problem towing a well prepared trailer. Good luck.