Information about Trailers for towing in the outback

The outback is littered with the skeletons of old trailers that don’t make the distance. We have towed a trailer across the Simpson Desert over 100 times, however it is extremely solidly built. The draw bar is 150mmX 50mm steel tubing with web trussing underneath. Regardless, it still gives us trouble from time to time. Ask any Outback mechanic from Birdsville to Oodnadatta and they will curse “Bloody Tourists with their damn trailers!” If you can, leave your trailer at home. If you must bring it, make sure it is extremely tough. Tape cardboard or foam across the rear windows and lights of your vehicle so stones bouncing back don’t break your glass. Make sure the stud pattern on your wheels is interchangeable with your vehicle. There are all kinds of fancy 4X4 trailers on the marketplace, and often the manufacturers make all kinds of claims about their capabilities. The word off-road means different things to different people. Don't expect your trailer to go anywhere your vehicle will, and keep in mind the recovery costs when it falls apart. Don’t be one of those inconsiderate people that abandon their trailer in the middle of nowhere and leave it to someone else to recover.

Tregonis Engineering in Adelaide make great neoprene block universal “Treg” trailer hitches. This hooked up with a Hayman Reece tow bar is about the best option. Ball joint hitches are noisy, and they wear very quickly due to movement. This is exacerbated in sandy country.
In our experience the best running gear for trailers in the outback is heavy duty leaf springs over an over engineered axle. We have seen and tried all kinds of fancy suspension including wishbone/coil combinations. At the end of the day they don’t cut the mustard. They may be OK for a casual trip, but if you live Outback you wouldn’t want to rely on them all the time. Industrial Springs in Adelaide supply Diamantina (and many other outback businesses) with heavy-duty springs they manufacture in their own foundry. We rely on them to get us through.

The trailer accident below occurred on the Birsdville Track. The operator was very experieced and was travelling at only 40kph.in a convoy. These images display graphically how careful you must be towing a trailer in outback Australia.

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Best time to travel
Information on the best time to travel, which season is best to get the most out of your Outback adventure

Vehicle and preparation
What you should consider and what preparation you should undertake to get your truck ship shape

Toolkit
What you should have in your toolkit, with handy tips from experts in Outback travel.

Roofracks
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Tyres
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Maps
Information and links to both paper and digital maps, what you need and where to get it

Communications
Modern communications are essential in remote areas. Find out the what, why, where and when

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