Chambers Pillar Warning For Camper Trailers

[bushbandit]

Ok last night I was checking the Hemma 4WD Adventures Great Desert Track Book on Chambers Pillar it is a somewhat difficult drive to get to the Pillar you are advised to use low range and there is very soft sand going across the Finke Riverbed.The part that stood out is they have a Warning Section and it says track into Chambers Pillar is officially NOT Recommended for Camper Trailers.

Someone may be able to comment on this and we get some feedback.As I don't want to miss out on this sounds like a training exercise in itself .Tyre Pressures,Snatching,Maxtraxx,all the recovery gear I have could get a workout.

[JCOJ]

We had absolutely no troubles when we took our campers in there - just reduced tyre pressures once we left the bitumen.

It is not that bad, and the worst things would be the corrugations. There were a couple of those Britz Winnebago things when we were there too.

[bushbandit]

We had absolutely no troubles when we took our campers in there - just reduced tyre pressures once we left the bitumen.

It is not that bad, and the worst things would be the corrugations. There were a couple of those Britz Winnebago things when we were there too.

Thought someone would have first hand experience .Thanks

[weeds]

gotta agree with John......although i didn't tow a camper trailer but from memory there wasn't anything tough at all.....it was 6-7 years ago now when i was there

[Bird]

its covering their arses for when the lemmings try going down there.

[chester ver2.0]

its covering their arses for when the lemmings try going down there.

Yep always have to keep the lowest common denomenator (fool) in mind when writing guides

[Campsite Cruiser]

You should have no dramas.

[fabulous]

We went out there around 1 month ago, as a day trip from Alice.

Road out to Maryvale was great - though given the clay, would be very slippery it wet.  After Maryvale, it was very corrigated, we dropped out tyres (more for comfort than anything), but the traction was good, didn't engage 4wd at all.  The sand dunes I've heard people talk of where surfaced with Gravel?  There are still signs as you head out there that this is an extreme 4wd track and to engage 4wd as you enter the park - but we didn't find anything like it.

Depends on the camper trailer I guess, ours would have been fine, but as I said, corrigations were pretty bad.

Chambers Pillar in my opinion was sensationan and well worth the trip.

[SteveandViv]

Yea, it's easy. We had a guy in a Bushtracker down there as well. Was a bit of an effort getting back out of there as there is one climb that is easy when you don't have several tons behind you but all in all we were in 2WD or in the Paj All Wheel drive - cause we can

[Malcur]

We took our camper in to Chambers Pillar a couple of years ago without any problem. The corrugations were pretty bad, and there was one hill that was quite steep, but we manged it quite easily. Our tug was a Prado 120, and we didn't need to use low range,

Mal

[GU_Thomo]

It is an easy run with a camper.
Just be careful as some of the tracks are narrow and you can't always see the oncoming vehicles.
On the track into Chambers there are a few blind crests so a sand flag is a good idea and keep your speed down.
It is a great place and well worth at least one night.

Cheers
Parry

[Mandrake]

We had absolutely no troubles when we took our campers in there - just reduced tyre pressures once we left the bitumen.

It is not that bad, and the worst things would be the corrugations. There were a couple of those Britz Winnebago things when we were there too.

Is that photo Chambers Pillar or Castle Rock..? Mandrake

Sent from Mandrakes Motorola

[JCOJ]

The photo is Castle Rock but taken from the Chambers Pillar camping area.

On the left hand side there is a sand flag, and just behind that is a Jayco so there are no issues getting in there.

[Shoey]

We went there 3 weeks back and had no trouble at all towing the camper in there.  There is one high hill but even that was no drama.  It is a wonderful place and well worth the visit.   We dropped the tyre pressures once we left the bitumen and enjoyed the drive. 

When we camped at Ruby Gap however we DID have some dramas as we became bogged in the river bed twice -- once in and once out.  Our recovery gear has now been used but my wife was worried at the time.   If we went to Ruby Gap again I think we would drop the camper before the river bed drives and then drive up with just the 4WD.  It also is well worth a visit - the garnets there are so small they are like sand in the river bed.  GemTree is the place to go for garnets!!! 

Cheers Shoey

[letsgo]

Hi, we went into Chambers Pilla last year and did most of it in the dark. We towed the camper in there no worries. There were caravans and motorhomes in there too.


The view from our site.

When you get to the campers areas, there is a sign pointing towards a designated caravan/motorhome area. If trailers couldn't get in there they wouldn't have a designated caravan area. Anyway don't go there, drive down further to there camping area closer to the Pilla. There were van's and motorhomes there when we went also. Here is a link to our trip there last year http://letsgotravelaustralia.com/2012/07/20/chambers-pillar/

[speewa158]

Did Chambers last month for an overnight camp . Magic spot . The road in is coorrrrigated & 1 hill is a bit steep but l slept cosy in the CUD Supermatic Escape overlooking the Pillar . Do take a sand flag travel with lower tyre pressures & at a comfortable speed . 

[Frostd]

As many have said, when we were there last month, the road was heavily corrugated after Maryvale but passable with reduced tyre preasures.  Saying that, we only made the climb up the hill and down the other side, before we got a call over the UHF from our travelling partner, saying he had just snapped a leaf spring on his Camper.  I don't believe this was caused by Chambers, but possibly some other tracks we had driven prior to this one.  Decision was made to ALL head for Alice, get new Springs, return, install and head back into Alice without touching the Pillar.  The closest I got was a photograph from the ridge.   Oh well, another excuse to travel out that .

[speewa158]

That's sad to think so close but yet so far .  At least you got to view it 

[JCAT]

No issues for us in 2011 either towing our Lifestyle in there.