Simpson - Anyone there at the moment or recently there?

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

We are going to the Big Bash on Big Red 10th July and were wondering whether the Rig Rd to the west off Warburton Track is suitable for off road campers (Tvans) or not? Have heard that the dunes are very big and therefore tough on trailers. Any one have some recent experience?
Cheers............Wayne

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

OK, back from the Simpson and the Rig Road has been graded as far as the airport. We did a cooks tour of the Simpson before arriving in Birdsville including towing the Tvan over Big Red (took the easiest track though). Had to get some help over a few dunes but reckon I should probably have lowered my tyre pressures, Over the dunes I had around 17 in the front and 22 in the back. If I ever do the Simpson again towing the Tvan I will have 10 in the front and 12 in the back and 10 in the Tvan. Great trip though and the Big Bash was very good. Great mixture of music set at the foot of Big Red (Birdsville side). Saw a video of a 200 series Sahara launched over Big Red without a pause and nose diving into the sand!. Don't think his wife will be pleased with the mods he did to her Sahara.
Cheers...........Wayne

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

Don't tow campers through the Simmo

That's the reason the tracks are screwed
They don't recommend it so don't do it.

I have crossed 3 times and the damage done by people towing over the dunes is madness.
Not hating just saying so don't take offence nothing personal

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Or the damage is done by wallies using road pressures and/or trying to do it in2wd or without centre diff locked or in low range with lots of revs instead of rolling over in high first or 2nd with few revs. OR the shear volume of traffic on sand.The tyre pressures mentioned above aren't too far off the mark. A trick that I was taught when towing in sand was to try and get the footprint length of all 6 tyres to be the same and to be at least 300mm long. On a recent trip through the Googs Track with others towing campers this technique was used and no one got stuck.

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

Don't tow campers through the Simmo

That's the reason the tracks are screwed
They don't recommend it so don't do it.

What he said

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

What Neil said. There is just as many if not more non towing vehicle out there who do as much damage.
How is a family of four or five suppose to carry all their gear, food and water and be under their gvm and not damage dunes.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Yep, not in the Simpson but I've seen people not towing chewing up dunes with high tyre pressures only to have me tow my trailer over the same dune with ease having the correct tyre pressures.

Cheers Andrew

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

Yeah, take your point about towing, however we took a great deal of care and there were quite a few others out there not towing who didn't have a clue about tyre pressures and loading and did heaps of damage, churning up the dunes. As to a family of four with all their gear and water, good luck being under the GVM. It is a big enough challenge with just two adults staying within weight limits (however we achieved that this trip) Cost $44 to go over the weighbridge though

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

Yeah, take your point about towing, however we took a great deal of care and there were quite a few others out there not towing who didn't have a clue about tyre pressures and loading and did heaps of damage, churning up the dunes. As to a family of four with all their gear and water, good luck being under the GVM. It is a big enough challenge with just two adults staying within weight limits (however we achieved that this trip) Cost $44 to go over the weighbridge though

Yeah that GVM is a paint in the butt. We are now researching a camper trailer because we can't fit everything in or on the car.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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

This is the recommendation from Mt Dare.
http://www.mtdare.com.au/outback-tra...simpson-desert

Particularly see the note in Red about 80% down the page.

or check out page 2 of the Desert Parks Bulletin

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

Yeah, take your point about towing, however we took a great deal of care and there were quite a few others out there not towing who didn't have a clue about tyre pressures and loading and did heaps of damage, churning up the dunes. As to a family of four with all their gear and water, good luck being under the GVM. It is a big enough challenge with just two adults staying within weight limits (however we achieved that this trip) Cost $44 to go over the weighbridge though

Hey Wayne,

Next time you want to weigh your Prado and Tvan go to the tip. I go to the one at lysterfield and they are more than happy with me to check my weights there for free. I do it after I do an extra mod to the Prado to see what difference I have made. We also did it before our Central trip last year with our Tvan

Glad you had fun.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Don't tow campers through the Simmo

That's the reason the tracks are screwed
They don't recommend it so don't do it.

I have crossed 3 times and the damage done by people towing over the dunes is madness.
Not hating just saying so don't take offence nothing personal

Respect the advice, especially as I am yet to do the Simmo and definitely not taking it personally. However, as an old bugger that does a lot of my 4wding with a trailer I sit here somewhat unconvinced given my 4wding experience shows most 4wders stuff up everything, they fail to stop after a water crossing to allow excess water to drain, they fail on tyre pressures, they fail on vehicle control, gear selection, hi or low range selection etc etc, all of which negatively impact on tracks. While open to be told I'm wrong, I suspect I would do less damage towing my trailer than the average 4wder will do without one. Not bragging, just a little experienced, old enough and ugly enough to care and think before doing.

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

Dave, I went to Pick a Part Recycling and they actually weighed the Prado plus Tvan for free however told me that one freeby was ok but not two, so when I returned later on with just the Prado, I copped the fee. Next time I will put some scrap metal in the Prado and then just write down the weight after I have unloaded the scrap. That way they will actually pay me (for the scrap and the weighing).
Yes, we did have fun and the Big Bash concert was great however the desert itself was far less interesting than when we went four years ago. That was the year the Birdsville races were cancelled. The rain in the desert promoted growth including wild flowers and it was much prettier back then. The Simpson was so popular this year that we heard Mt Dare actually ran out of fuel for a few days, so that would have made it a challenge for some
Cheers.......Wayne