Just Done Another Big Trip

[BigRed]

Just spent over 3 months travelling 18000 klms towing a camper trailer. From Tassie to Mildura across to Maree up through Oodnadatta (wet and slippery) to the West Macdonnells via Alice then via the Tanami (wet in places and fierce corrugations) to Halls Creek, Kununarra, Broome via Gibb River Road (corrugated basically the whole way), Cape Leveque (300+mm deep sand for 100 klms) and home via Perth, Albany, Esperance, Adelaide and Melbourne.

There you go a full trip report in one paragraph:-)

We (the cook and I) had a terrific time and learnt heaps. 2 years ago we did the central NSW and Qld to Cooktown, over to Lawn Hill and back south via Tibooburra.

Big Red, our Ford Ranger, did not missed a beat however tyres were a real problem on the latest trip. I repaired several punctures however sidewalls are not repairable.

For those considering a trip over the Gibb before they seal it I would strongly recommend at least 2 x spares for Ranger and 2 for the trailer 4 in total. I did a side wall in one of my new Yokahama Geolanders and had to replace it with a new tyre at the Ellenbrae Station - $550 thanks. I did another sidewall on the road and had to replace it in Denham - $400. Given the tyres were new a couple of weeks before we left they have cost me all my drinking money for for a month or two:-) I also did a trailer tyre and spring leaf (repaired in Perth) on the Cape Leveque Road and managed to get back to Melbourne before replacing both trailer tyres.

I was very aware of and did reduce tyre pressures on gravel and sand. I dropped from my normal 40psi to 25 on gravel and 20 on sand. When sand was deep I dropped to 18.

I think I was overloaded which caused sidewalls to bulge too much. Don't know what the tow ball weight was but it was heavy. I do know that Big Red weighed 2990 Kg fully loaded. I estimate the trailer fully loaded would have been close to 2000 Kg. with a lot of weight in front of the axle e.g. 2 x diesel jerrys, 2 x water jerrys, recovery gear in the front tub etc. Those weights are well within the limits but the weight was mainly over the rear axle with Waco fridge and tucker plus misc camping gear filling the tub.

Interested in your comments / thoughts.

[robcaz]

Hi BigRed,

It sounds as if you are letting too much air out of your tyres allowing the sidewall to contact any sharp rocks, that is letting them down as if you were not towing & the extra weight of the tow ball & touring gear. Every tyre has their own characteristics depending on the type, construction, ply etc. They may only need deflating 5lb to achieve the desired ride.

I only let our tyres down if really needed to the low 30's when towing over very corrugated roads, where normally I would be looking at the high 20's when not towing.

[BigRed]

Thanks Rob, I think you are correct in your opinion. Yes we went up the Oodnadatta track on 30 with no problems but the track was by in large ok, sure wet and water logged in places but quite doable.

Seems every traveller has a differing opinion on tyre pressures. We were travelling with friends in their Courier and I was persuaded to reduce lower than my instinct told me.

[robcaz]

I always note where I am driving on dirt roads & make sure the wheels are positioned in the area where most drive over to reduce the possibility of sharp rocks. As for tyre pressures themselves, I read about the 4lb rule in Overlander 4WD magazine during the early 80's & have been using it ever since. It seems to work well for both the vehicle & the trailer, but does not work for low profile tyres.

You need to run at highway speed for at least an hour to give your tyres a chance to build up enough heat. What you are aiming for is an increase of 4lb from your cold pressure reading.

If you are over the 4lb you have not put enough air in the tyres from cold. An under inflated tyre drags on the road generating heat.

If you are under the 4lb you have put too much air in when the tyre was cold. Over inflation when cold will not generate enough heat.

I also add a couple of extra pound in the trailers tyres so they have less rolling resistance. It does not appear to effect the wear. I always rotate my vehicle tyres front to rear every 10,000 km too for maximum wear.