Regular trailer and fraser

[crusty Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close crusty]

I have a 7x4 trailer no mods 15 inch wheels i think.My question is will it be alright to tow it up fraser.
Would the tyres be to small?
Will it just get dragged through the sand.
It will be my first time so im not sure.I'm guessing if i have to reverse anywhere it will be a major problem.
I was hoping not to take it but i think we are going to need it.We are going for three nights late feb to see how we go and then going back for two weeks later in the year if all goes well.

[MUMSRIG Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MUMSRIG]

It should be OK, although Fraser can be very soft...

You will have to let the tyres down on the trailer but it's not that simple.

There is a rime and reason to letting the tyres down on a trailer and it all depends on the track measurement.... Do a search as there may be something on here?

Mitch

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

the trailer should be fine for getting on the badge and up and down the beach, wouldn't go through too many inland tracks though as it would be dragging all the way, sand is about momentum, nothing will kill that quite like a trailer, better off going with a roof rack.

Their is a few fraser island trip reports in that section, check them out.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

Dont blame me if it all ends miserably, but I think you'll be ok.
Let your tyres down, And as MUMSRIG said, its all about measurement.
Saw that on a 4X4monthly mag (dvd) .
They were talking about measurement on similar tyre sizes but it shouldnt change to much.
hard tyres will produce a certain sized foot print. Letting air out will incease that footprint. Not really side ways but more length ways.
Check the footprint length of the cars tyres at your pressure requierment (could be 18PSI or less) by placing something like rulers (but tent pegs could be used) infront and behind the tyres contact patch. Measure between the 2. That will give you a dimension to work too.
Let air out of the trailers tyres untill you get the same or close to the same dimension, you will have a different pressure because the trailer (generally) is lighter. (remember that this was shown with the same tyres as the car).
Thats pretty clinical or scientific but will give the most accurate result.
You could just drop to 18PSI and give it a go..

I've towed a camper trailer several times on beach and dunes, Just used the pressure method with no major dramas, Only lost momentum twice, Once with road pressure, and one when I stopped so my wife could take a photo on a hill.

I think you'll be alright. But I dont know how soft fraser can get. I seen a few pics of cars stuck on fraser island sand. but you might get rescued by a nice young blonde..... hey chippy....

[MUMSRIG Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MUMSRIG]

I think you'll be alright. But I dont know how soft fraser can get. I seen a few pics of cars stuck on fraser island sand. but you might get rescued by a nice young blonde..... hey chippy....

Thats GOLD my friend, GOLD!

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Its simple ... get really bogged (above the high tide mark though) and wait for blondie to pop by and rescue you ....

.... after that you'd be amazed at how many accessories the missus will buy for your Prado ... just to keep you from getting bogged again.

Hell ... my missus even went out and got a job ... just so she could buy more stuff for the Prado :lol: :lol: :lol:

Cheers
Chippy

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Dont blame me if it all ends miserably, but I think you'll be ok.
Let your tyres down, And as MUMSRIG said, its all about measurement.
Saw that on a 4X4monthly mag (dvd) .
They were talking about measurement on similar tyre sizes but it shouldnt change to much.
hard tyres will produce a certain sized foot print. Letting air out will incease that footprint. Not really side ways but more length ways.
Check the footprint length of the cars tyres at your pressure requierment (could be 18PSI or less) by placing something like rulers (but tent pegs could be used) infront and behind the tyres contact patch. Measure between the 2. That will give you a dimension to work too.
Let air out of the trailers tyres untill you get the same or close to the same dimension, you will have a different pressure because the trailer (generally) is lighter. (remember that this was shown with the same tyres as the car).
Thats pretty clinical or scientific but will give the most accurate result.
You could just drop to 18PSI and give it a go..

This only works when you are running the same or very similiar size tyres, box trailer with 15 inch wheels is very different, plus fraser is in a pretty bad state at the moment from the recent weather.

[willdive Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close willdive]

You should be fine. My in-laws come across to Fraser each year with the missus and myself and they tow a 7x4 with 15" road tyres behind an old '85 4cyl Petrol Pajero. If they can do it without to many hassels then anyone can. 1/2 the time he forgets to lock in the hubs.

The others are right about the inland tracks though they should probably be avoided with an on-road trailer.

[crusty Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close crusty]

We will probably be staying at central station does anyone know what the track is like from eurong to there.I figure that will be the worst part of the trip.

[jeff s Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close jeff s]

Check and ask some ppl in the trips section, Been a few that have recently came back from Fraser.

Jeff.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

We will probably be staying at central station does anyone know what the track is like from eurong to there.I figure that will be the worst part of the trip.

Last time we went that track was on of the hardest, we deep soft sand, we bogged a vitara and navara that was with us, in saying that tracks can change in a week, if it has rained a lot it will be compacted, best ring parks and wildlife at rainbow beach.

[Byrnsie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Byrnsie]

We will probably be staying at central station does anyone know what the track is like from eurong to there.I figure that will be the worst part of the trip.

Crusty

Track condition varies from week to week depending on the weather. When I was there for two weeks back in October, it had been extremely dry and the sand was very soft. It was also NSW school holidays so there was a fair bit of traffic between Eurong and Central Station (I even got pulled over by a trackside RBT).

Biggest factor with your trailer is how much weight you are carrying. If it is just bulky stuff rather than heavy, just drop your air pressure right down (start with 18 PSI) and see how you go. A lot of times standard box trailers are better than decked out off road trailers as they are only a fraction of the weight.

Having said that, we were held up on the way back to Eurong by a guy travelling solo who had his camper trailer stuck well and good. When we showed up, he was whacking the bejesus out of his Treg hitch trying to separate his trailer from the car. :shock: F%&k knows what he was thinking. Anyways, we convinced him to leave it attached. Dropped all (6) tyres to 14 PSI (He did not like us doing this as he had already lowered them to 28PSI . . . . what the?) Gave him a big push and he was on his way.

You will also get a lot of tourist buses between Central Station and Eurong. I think these guys have to prove themselves total arrogant arseh@les before they get a job as a bus driver. :evil:

Fraser Island is a totally awesome place. I have now been there 3 times and I know there are other PPers that go every year. In my opinion it only gets better the further north you go. Just don't tell anyone else . . . we don't want it to get too crowded. :wink:

Good luck with your adventure.

Cheers - Byrnsie

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

If you take an on road trailer onto Fraser and you travel any distance on the beach, just be careful with the drop offs where the creeks flow into the sea.

They can catch you off guard if you dont have your wits about you and before you know it both your vehicle and trailer have plunged down anything up to a metre.

I bent one of the wind up stabilser legs on my off road camper when we went down a drop off, my mate behind thought it was hilarious until he did the same to his straight afterwards. Mine was only slightly bent, his was almost ripped off.

Dropping down one of those with a normal trailer could be see some major damage to suspension and axel.

Apart from that, Fraser Island is a magical place, shame its on the other side of the country. Wedge Island just isnt the same.

[crusty Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close crusty]

Thanks to everyone that replied. Lots of helpful information.
It doesn't sound to good for the trailer idea so hopefully we can get a roof rack and basket before we go then we don't need to worry about the trailer.

[Byrnsie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Byrnsie]

It doesn't sound to good for the trailer idea so hopefully we can get a roof rack and basket before we go then we don't need to worry about the trailer.

That's what I did as well!


Cheers - Byrnsie