CKGR North to South - thick sand?

**Nelis Geyer** · 2009/08/08, 11:07 PM

We plan to tow off-road trailers with a Fortuner and Prado's in Jun 2010 through the CKGR entering from Rakops, and exiting at Jobe Pan, Khutse. Many reports indicate difficulties towing through thick sand in the southern parts of the CKGR, but there are some reports indicating that it is negotiable with a trailer. We plan to spend 7 days in the reserve, and advice on campsites would be also appreciated.

**freeflyd** · 2009/08/09, 09:14 AM

http://www.pictureafrica.org/Picture...ampers....html

Many people have done it with trailers. The sand is very thick in the south, so make sure you know how to recover your trailer. You need a fuel range of 900km and ad 25% on for sand driving. You also need to carry all your water for the entire trip. 150km in one day is a full day in the CK. If you attempts more than that, you may get into trouble by not reaching your destination before dark.

**Nelis Geyer** · 2009/08/09, 08:29 PM

Dear Freeflyd

Thanks for the advice. Roughly how much of the 900 km range would be heavy sand driving ?

I have recovered a vehicle a number of times from sand, but never a trailer. Are there specific techniques ?

**freeflyd** · 2009/08/11, 12:24 PM

I can't advise on trailer recovery as I do not have one and personally don't like them.

I'd guess about half your distance would be thick sand. Shortest route distance from Rakops to Lethlakeng is about 620km. Your longest day should be Xade to Bape camps which is 150km.

You biggest and most urgent concern should be to get a booking. Even this early I would not be surprised if most camps are fully booked for that time already.

**James MacKay** · 2009/09/16, 03:39 PM

I have just done it , make very sure that your tow hitch is well built, make sure that your trailer suspension is serviced , and make sure you have enough water , we droke our tow hitch in Bape it cost us a day and 700km's . DONT TRAVEL ALONE.

**witklipbank** · 2009/12/27, 07:58 PM

Hi Nellis We were there last year, We came in at Kutse, drive to Bibe, Molopo where our care nearly burnt out. Very very long gras, luckely after 5 fireexting and about 100 l water it is down, stay 2 days in veld to make it drive again, then we decided to go to Xaxa, then Xade and out to New Xade and Ghanzi to repair our car. No wild and a lot of sand, very very thik sand, we see about 3 people stuck in the sand with their trailers. I would go ever to the south of the park again, i promise you you didnt see any wild, and the road is bad, very bad. We planning also a trip in 2010, from 25 may to 1 june but get only camps in the north, at deception valey and sunday pan, we go in at rakops and plan to leave the park at the same gate, al 4 couples tow trailors, so i think you must be think twice to do the south, stay at the north and enjoy it.

**Andre King** · 2010/01/05, 09:19 AM

Nelis, the roads are really not that bad. We did CKGR in April last year. I'm driving a 2.7 Hilux and I towed an Imagine trailer. We were 3 vehicles. Entered from Xade (via Grassland Safaris) and drove from there to Piper, Deception & Sunday Pan. The road was hard sand - no soft sand to speak of. The only really soft sand was outside the park when we left via Tsau Gate.

Very few animals at Piper, but very remote and very quiet - loved it. At Deception we camped at one of the Kori sites (had lion in the camp). At Sunday we had the site on the hill overlooking the pan - I think #2.

Worth the effort. Best time to visit ? Probably Feb/Mar just after the rains.

Enjoy !

Amberstone · 2010/01/05, 06:09 PM

I've been through CKGR twice with single car (Land Cruiser) and trailer (Horizon) - just got back from latest trip. From Maun entering along the vet fence is quicker than via Rakops. This time went out through Xade. Broke trailer on first trip - lots of corrugations. Took 6 hours to fix - nobody around. Ok this time though road out south is long and hard, even after Xade gate. Sand is thicker in August than December. Love it though.

**Kalamazoo** · 2010/01/05, 06:47 PM

Hi Nelis we did the CKGR and Khutse from North to Sout in June, July 2009 with a Disco3, Fortuner and Defender 90 - all 3 vehicles towing and we had no problems.

Take it slow on the bumpy and corrugated roads. Thick sand before Xade and from Xade to Bibe. Almost never used 4x4.

If you can i would reccommend that you spend at least two nights at each camp. You are welcome to send me a PM for further advice.

Also go with Freeflyd's advice

I am sure you would enjoy it as it is a beautiful place.

Enjoy!

**Nelis Geyer** · 2010/01/16, 11:14 PM

Thank you for all the advice. We managed to get a booking from 18-26 June 2010, entering from Khutse, and exiting at Rakops. We will be 3 vehicles with trailers. I will be towing a Conquest with Fortuner 4x4D. I am still not too sure about recovering a trailer from sand. I would imagine the trailer willl need to be unhooked, and dragged though the sand with a longish tow rope.

**witklipbank** · 2010/01/17, 09:46 AM

Hallo Nellis
As jy op die hoof roete bly vanaf Khutse na Xade, dan Pipers pan en dan boonste helfte behoort die sleepwa nie 'n probleem te skep nie, Ons het die roete via die "boesmans" geneem. dit was absoluut 'n ramp, ons voertuig het aan die brand geslaan, kon hom gelukkig na 5 brandblussers en 5o liter water dood kry, het 2 dae in die veld gestaan en drade gelas en herstel, gelukkig was ons 2 voertuie, het toe gereis na Xade en toe uit na Ghansi, ek belowe jou, baie baie dik sand en ons het geen maar geen voertuie gekry voor dag 4 nie, hierdie roete is baie afgesonder en ek sal dit nie aanbeveel nie, maar as jy bly op die roete wat jou vanaf khutse neem en halfpad na links gaan na pipers pan, daardie pad is meer besig en is die sand meer rybaar. Lekker gaan, Ons het ook plek gekry die laaste week in Mei maar gaan net by Rakops in en bly 5 aande oor by deception pan en sunday pan. Sal laat weet hoe dit bo was. (Jy sien ek moet die spook gaan begrawe van die vorige keer wat ons kar aan die brand geslaan het, ons het toe nooit uitgekom waar ons wou wees nie. Hierdie keer is ons 4 voertuie met waentjies)

**freeflyd** · 2010/01/17, 04:36 PM

OK Guys, can someone please explain to the poor man how to recover a trailer from thick sand? I'd love to help, but I do not know....

On the burning vehicle front, I assume you are talking about dry grass around the exhaust?

Nelis, It seems you have things under control. The road Witklipbank is on about has not been recommended for year. Even the 1st edition of Veronica Roodt's book advises against it.

**Krummelpap** · 2010/01/17, 05:03 PM

I would like to recommend a exhaust jacks. That's what I am going to take to CKGR

**Nelis Geyer** · 2010/02/25, 10:42 AM

Thank you for the advice. We will be keeping to the "main" road from Khutse to Xade as explained by Witklipbank, so hopefully we will not struggle too much with getting stuck in the sand with the trailers.

Can anyone recommend a place to stay near Khutse the night before we enter the reserve ?

**Kalahari Safari** · 2010/03/03, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by freeflyd

OK Guys, can someone please explain to the poor man how to recover a trailer from thick sand? I'd love to help, but I do not know....
.

Okay guys, here how I do it.
Unhook the trailer and recover the vehicle first, bring it to save ground within reach of your recovery strap or winch cable.
(I use a Mile Marker hydraulic winch)
Then free the trailer wheels from sand in front and the side walls.
Hook the trailer in front on the A-frame and pull the cable (or strap) through the handle of the spade in such a way that your spade is positioned under the jockey wheel and can act as a slide.
Tighten the cable and assure the spade is pointing in the direction of pull and the jockey wheel is standing on top of the blade.
In this situation the cable is holding the spade up on the handle.
Gently pull the trailer to safe ground and make sure the jockey wheel does not slip from the spade as this would lead to bending the supports of the jockey wheel.
You might have to re-position the spade a few times in the process, but it is controllable as you don't move the trailer fast.

This is best done with the vehicle stationary and a winch as slow but save method.
Once the trailer is on save ground, turn vehicle around and connect trailer to drive off.
Note:
In CKGR you must often leave the track for higher ground beside the sandy track, this will lead to crashing through some bush which will do some jobs on your paintwork.
Keep in mind not to try to turn on too limited space as you will churn over the whole area, thus making it more difficult to find solid ground.

Hope this works for you, but best to prepare the rig and check if you succeed in an attempt of trial, takes the stress out when you need it least.
Good luck then... and enjoy the trip.

**Nelis Geyer** · 2010/03/03, 07:14 PM

Clever idea using the spade to glide the castor wheel. I unfortunately do not have a winch, so I suppose I will have to make a plan to try and secure the spade a bit better, as the recovery will be much faster than with a winch.

**Kalahari Safari** · 2010/03/04, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Nelis Geyer

Clever idea using the spade to glide the castor wheel. I unfortunately do not have a winch, so I suppose I will have to make a plan to try and secure the spade a bit better, as the recovery will be much faster than with a winch.

You are 3 vehicles all towing, wouldn't it be worthwhile to equip one with a winch to secure the recoveries (and there will be some - believe me), just thinking for peace of mind?

If recovery is too fast you risk to bend the castor wheel or the bracket, happened to me twice before.