Simpson Desert - lift kit required?

[benjl Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close benjl]

Howdy,

Just wondering whether 120's and 150's are fine doing the Simpson desert without a lift kit? Hard to get a read on this and done a forum trawl.

Regards,
Ben

[mcsumway Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mcsumway]

Re: Simpson Desert - lift kit required?

While not stricty compulsory I would highly advise it.

If there has been a lot of travel the ruts in the sand can get quite deep causing the front to plough into the sand and reduce your momentum. With a lift you can carry that momentum through and make the whole trip a lot easier. Many of the dunes require sharp turns before the top where you will lose a lot of speed and momentum before reaching the top so losing speed makes you need to push your vehicle harder which leads to increased risk of damage and fuel use.

Remember you will need to climb over 1000+ dunes to cross so anything that makes it easier will make your life easier.

Not to mention that the hard terrain caould easily destroy a standard shock so you will probably need to replace these anyway - theres more than half the cost of the lift covered as the springs are usually quite cheap.

Warren

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

Re: Simpson Desert - lift kit required?

A lift does help to give better clearance but can be done without BUT and it's a big but. The amount of gear you carry will kill the standard suspension to the point where there is basically no travel left and every corugation you go over will be jarring the vehicle onto the bumpstops. You could do damage to your vehcile and it will be uncomfortable. Do your self a favour and upgrade to at least more firmer springs before you go to carry the load but might as well do it properly.

In my opinion anyone who does the desert will probably do other 4wding and would benifit from a lift.

[benjl Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close benjl]

Re: Simpson Desert - lift kit required?

Guys thanks for the feedback!

[vk2ss55 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vk2ss55]

Re: Simpson Desert - lift kit required?

I did the Simmo out to Poeppels with some mates a couple of years ago . Mine was a standard 120 with Grandcraps and the only problem I had was the front plastic bumper mounts broke away . Bolts with oversize washers fixed that . Everyone told me that the Grandcraps would be no good but in the sand they went ok .

Cheers

Ross

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

Re: Simpson Desert - lift kit required?

Everyone told me that the Grandcraps would be no good but in the sand they went ok .

Cheers

Ross

Grandcraps are not a bad sand tyre as they do not have an aggressive tread pattern and therefore are less likely to dig into the sand. What the issue with them is the tyre consturtion is poor for such a remote area and you risk a higher chance of a flat/punctured tyre due to weak side walls and face. Basically you are making your self a liability to the group you are with.

[Spurio Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Spurio]

Re: Simpson Desert - lift kit required?

Statistically, there are hundreds of prados operating perfectly fine in and around Simpson, Innamincka, Birdsville and Lake Eyre with stock suspension operate all year round. Most are driven hard and have a bullbar, 2x batts, winch, brushbars, grandcraps, twin spares fitted to rear and a heap of other OH&S stuff. If you break down it will most likely be one of these stock vehicles coming to your aid.

The standard suspension is fine and the Grancraps are good in sand but crap on the mud flats or gibber plains.

A lifted lady-cruiser does look more masculine though

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

Re: Simpson Desert - lift kit required?

The standard suspension is fine

I would strongly disagree. The standard suspension is NOT designed to carry a steel bar, extra battery, dual wheel carrier, roof rack, additional fueld, camping equipment and a load of other gear. It is designed to carry mum and kids to school/shops and back in a comfortable and quite manner. It will get you through but if your vehicle is carrying any weight then it can be a very uncomfortable ride over corrugations as the springs will probably be compressed right down with the vehicle continuosly hittting the bump stops. I would suspect that it may inflict some costly damage doing that. When I passed through the desert a few years back we had a 100 series that insisted on stock suspension and there was very little movement left in the suspension and they driver and copilot commented on the roughness and insisted on sitting on about 15-20kph over endless corugations.

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

Re: Simpson Desert - lift kit required?

I would strongly disagree. The standard suspension is NOT designed to carry a steel bar, extra battery, dual wheel carrier, roof rack, additional fueld, camping equipment and a load of other gear. It is designed to carry mum and kids to school/shops and back in a comfortable and quite manner.

I agree. Having done the simpson a few times in vehicles with standard suspension and lifted heavier suspension. I did the trip once in my brothers 78 series troopy, and that was an exception. Standard suspension, and all was good, however prados are not troopies.

[rptdprado Member Find all posts View Profile Close rptdprado]

Re: Simpson Desert - lift kit required?

Hi Guys,

Like some of the other posts, I've done the Simspon twice in the same 90 series but with aftermarket suspension upgrades. I can only comment on what I've seen on stock 4wds such as Prado and new Hilux. The suspension upgrade really helps on the "humpty doo" sections of continous bumps, this puts severe stress on the suspension componets, leading to faster fading. The Hilux for example was like watching a bucking bull as it was lacking clearance, hence the driver was forced to negotiate the bumpy sections faster to "bulldose" his way through causing the car to drive "all over the shop". With the upgrade, it was certainly a more controlled and comfortable experience. Another factor of course this the car is much more stable/safer when fully loaded.
cheers

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Re: Simpson Desert - lift kit required?

Howdy,

Just wondering whether 120's and 150's are fine doing the Simpson desert without a lift kit? Hard to get a read on this and done a forum trawl.

Regards,
Ben

HI Ben

IMO it depends on how its gunna be loaded. If like most its loaded to the gunnals then definitely fit at least upgraded coil springs to cope with the expected weight.

The important thing is to have the vehicle setup correctly and harder, as many shops will try and sell, is not always better.

If you pack to the vehicle as it is then you should be okay with std if you take it steady.

Have fun.

[vscorsa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vscorsa]

Hi All,

Another questions for the Simpson, is a winch a necessity for the trip?

One of the guys has a hand winch however I was wondering how often people found themselves winching up dunes?

Thanks

[cyclone Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cyclone]

A snatch strap would be a better option unless you are on your own. I did the Simpson a few years ago. In most cases those that got stuck were able to reverse back down the dune and have a go.

[ursos Member Find all posts View Profile Close ursos]

A snatch strap would be a better option unless you are on your own. I did the Simpson a few years ago. In most cases those that got stuck were able to reverse back down the dune and have a go.

Agree. Haven't done the Simpson (yet) but done other desert/dune areas where there's nothing to winch off so snatch strap, shovel and MaxTrax much better value than a winch.

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

Winches are best for bush use where there's trees to winch from. Steep, loose surfaced inclines that are too steep to gain traction or badly rutted & difficult to keep the car straight on. Wet, muddy & heavily cambered slopes as well. Snatch straps are ideal for sand/desert use. And as Cyclone mentioned, just back out of a bog on a dune/incline and have another crack at it with a bit more momentum. The key in the first place is not to over do it in a sand bog to begin with to the point where you do need to get the shovel out and commence digging. If you go nowhere forward for 1 or 2 seconds stop accelerating immediately. Then try in reverse for a second or two. If still nothing, then you're not going to make the situation any better.... Only worse. If you follow this guideline then on level ground a simple pushout with the help of 2 or 3 other people on the bullbar or back of the car while you feather the accelerator in low range will get you out no probs.

Sent from my 3yr old laptop using the keyboard.