Simpson Desert 2016

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

I did the Simpson last September (4th time now in a v6 Petrol) and fully loaded. I agree with all the others plenty of wood around, what we do is that as soon as we pull up no set up until everybody does a scout around for the wood. You won't need much as the desert mallee burns really slowly and very hot it is perfect for camp ovens.

As for fuel last trip in my 150 was west to east and the tracks were the worst I have seen them huge wombat holes at the tops from too much wheel spin by others, we just did low range at walking pace and it was the easiest. I used on an average 22lts/100 for the whole trip and AJ will tell you I don't have the lightest foot

In the four trips never had a puncture (touch wood) I had BFG AT's for two and MT ATZ 4 ribs for two. One thing I did notice is that muddies seem to get more punctures maybe due to the larger gap between lugs, pressure is the key, I used around 18 psi.

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

We did the Simpson recently in July 2015. Coincidently I report the same as AJ, except I used around 2 litres of more fuel. I put that down to the price of being better looking than AJ. Oh and not stopping at Dalhousie because the wife wanted to avoid bogans and crowds.

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

I am planning to use a sand flag attached to my roof basket as per the latest regulations, "flag pole attached to the front of the roof rack, with top of the flag a minimum 2 metres from the roof of vehicle"
I have a Rhino alloy basket, does anyone have a suggestion regarding the best way to attach the flag?

Cheers

Jim

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

I am planning to use a sand flag attached to my roof basket as per the latest regulations, "flag pole attached to the front of the roof rack, with top of the flag a minimum 2 metres from the roof of vehicle"
I have a Rhino alloy basket, does anyone have a suggestion regarding the best way to attach the flag?

Cheers

Jim

That sounds exactly like what I have.

Have a look here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post282947

Cheers Andrew

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

Looks solid Andrew!

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

Its done numerous Mallee trips where the sand flag cops a hiding on the trees, also 2 Simpson crossings and a stack of beach trips. I don't think its going to break any time soon

Cheers Andrew

[Dreamer Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dreamer]

Hi Andrew,

Not trying to hijack this thread, just expanding on it a little. I noticed earlier in this thread that you took a trailer across the Simpson. I'm tempted but I'm hearing a lot of negativity about those who do.

We're going back to the Kimberly next April (from Sydney) and I was thinking about going via Birdsville and the Simpson. My trailer is a Complete Campsite weighing in at approx 1500kg. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions regarding such a trip?

Thanks,

Lee.

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

Hi Lee, yeah I have a few thoughts.

I wouldn't take the idea of towing across the Simpson lightly, I specifically built up my skills towing in sand dune country over a number of years preparing for this trip, the experience I gained through that was pretty helpful for me.

I tend to agree that trailers should be discouraged from the Simpson, but at the same time I think a suitably experienced person towing a modestly weighted camper with a capable vehicle can cross the desert with little or no trouble, and cause little or no damage to the dunes. I believe I crossed without causing any more damage to the dunes than any other vehicle. I didn't get bogged once and only needed a second go at 5 dunes, 1 on the WAA line and 4 on the French Line, in each case it was due to lack of momentum as I was tackling the dunes with the minimal speed possible, something I learned on Googs track.

My trailer would have weighed in at around 1000kg for the crossing, so you would likely have a bit more trouble than me. But there are also plenty of options for crossing the Simpson. The Rig Road was really pretty easy, if you took that the whole way you would be fine. The WAA line a bit tougher but not bad, the French Line was really badly chopped up, so easily the hardest of the tracks, but the key as always in sand was tyre pressures. I ran around 18psi (cold) 21psi running pressure all the way across the Rig Road, WAA line and a short distance along the French Line until I bailed out going up a soft dune as I knew I wouldn't make it. I then dropped pressure to 13 front and Trailer and 15 rear, that was good enough to get me the rest of the way.

Our route travelling west east.


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When travelling East I used Low range to cross the dunes all the way to Poeppel Corner, along the QAA line I mostly used high range as the dunes were smoother and further apart, although I played around with low a few times depending on the dune. I used High Range for all the North South Tracks.

Fuel was no issue with a burn of 130 something litres I reckon.

If you were to head out across the QAA line, really the very first dune after big red will give you a pretty good idea of how you will go, its a bigun and softish, although has had a smooth run both times I have been there.

Cheers Andrew

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

Lee, I am with Andrew. Towing in sand is a PIA BUT doable with the right tyre pressures. This year I towed into Boggy Hole in the Finke Gorge where the sand was softer than either the CSR or parts of the Simpson. I used 14 psi for front and 16 psi for the rear and that was fine. One article that I read suggested "300mm". ie let each tyre down until its footprint is 300 mm long. For the trailer this could mean as little as 10 psi but it sure as hell works when you tow on sand. The alternatives to the Simpson include the Oodnadatta Track, the Plenty Hwy or the Sandover Hwy, all of which are easily towable. Also, April may be a little early for the Simpson in terms of heat, flies and how many cars have been through. It may be better to do it coming back when it is cooler. Hot sand is worse to drive than cooler sand. Neil

[Dreamer Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dreamer]

Thanks Andrew and Neil,

I don't have a massive amount of experience with sand driving and most of what I do have is on beaches. I'm also a bit on the cautious side so I'll have a good long look at doing the Rig Road. My original plan was; Tibooburra, Cameron Corner, Innamincka, Lyndhurst, Marree, William Creek, Oodnadatta, Marla, Alice Springs, Tanami, Halls Creek, Broome. Whichever way I decide it's going to be another exciting trip. I haven't worked out my return trip yet.

I have 4 months for the whole trip (retirement ain't so bad!) but we'll be travelling alone, so there's another reason to be cautious.

Thanks again for the tips.

Lee.

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

Heavy trailer, limited experience and solo travel. Caution would definitely be a good idea.

I have driven your other route over various trips and several of those tracks numerous times, always towing my trailer. You shouldn't have any dramas with those tracks, well not related to having a trailer anyway. There is lots to see and do along that route as well.

Cheers Andrew

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

Why not come back via the Duncan and Buchanan hwy from Halls Creek to Dunmarra on the Stuart hwy. Great road and scenery and no problems towing. OR.... Marble Bar to Alice. Also easy to tow, fuel every 400 km ish,great desert scenery but will need a few easy to get permits.

[Dreamer Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dreamer]

Thanks Neil, I'll have a look at that as another option.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

My original plan was; Tibooburra, Cameron Corner, Innamincka, Lyndhurst, Marree, William Creek, Oodnadatta, Marla, Alice Springs, Tanami, Halls Creek, Broome. Whichever way I decide it's going to be another exciting trip. I haven't worked out my return trip yet.

I reckon this might be my 2017 GTG route v1.1. Starting in Sydney then via Pooncarrie and Menindee

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

You always can go to Birdsville and stay a day or 2 and go out into the Simpson for a look and a play . eg Big Red is only about 30 km away. You could go a dune or 2 further west and get a good taste of the toughest parts of the desert. From Birdsville north through Bedourie to Boulia is mainly all single lane tar and a good sample of western Qld. Turn west from there onto the Plenty or Sandover hwy to Alice. Or Come back that way. Dreamer -I am close to you so PM me if you want a chat. I have been through all of these areas in the last few years, some of them several times. Neil