Thread: Simpson Desert - Car Set Up Questions

Hi Jason,

We have plans based on distance or time each day. Travelling at a pace to enjoy the trip. Not race across to see how quick we can get to the next stop point. We dont care if we make the distance but we do care that we stop by the latest 16:00 each day. Should be BRILLIANT!!!

The tyres are a concern because I have too do something to make the car safe. Either change the tyres,(hitting on the suspension) or change the rims. Happy to change rims if that gives an advantage long term..

setting yourself up for a trip.

get your hands on a second battery, fridge, some kind of a winch if your solo, a little other recovery gear put some food in the vehicle, plenty of water, add a little beer, couple of changes of cloths, ground sheet, tarp, some collapsing poles, rope, pegs and a good sleeping bag.

Buy stock landrover, service it put the stuff above in the landy and then head off.

Trip prep complete, Doesnt matter where you want to go.

It's a case of the standard tyres are the best tyres. Or at least the best compromise.

Just get the 235/85/16s, perfect fit for the D1 rims. As already said, they're more than adequate for the Simpson. Plus they have a very high load rating, and as available as any tyre in the bush in an emergency.

And they'll be legal, think about insurance with non standard tyres.

Plus,are there any other Defenders in your group? It helps to run the same size as your mates.

Regards
Max P

As has been pointed out, and worth re-iterating, low range is irrelevant in sand as momentum is everything. Having said this, in a manual low 4 is my favourite gear in the desert. Straight through in the gearbox so no strain and a good top speed. In an auto high 2 or 3 will get you through easily.

Don't be afraid to let your tyres down, it's amazing how paranoid some get about this. Run at less than 20 psi and check your tyres several times a day and carry a GOOD compressor. It's amazing how much difference there is in 'driveability' at these pressures so have a go at different pressures and go whats best for you. Down to 16psi will be no problem. Just be careful if you're running tubes in tubeless tyres as the inside of the tyre casing can rub through the tubes. Use quality thick (Dunlop or Michelin) tubes if this is the case, not the usual cheap thin Korean crap. Tread pattern is basically irrelevant, tyre quality is far more important, 235/85's or 750R16's will be fine.

Don't load heaps of crap, keep it light and all will be good. Do not tow a camper or trailer under any circumstances, this will only lead to maximum grief.

Run quality shockers, if yours are a bit dodgy change them before you go as they get a real pounding as you cross the 600 odd dunes on the Simpson crossing. Good quality heavy duty shockers are the best after market item you can have for this trip.

It's roughly 620 Km from Mt Dare to Birdsville on the shortest route (French Line) so not really that far but do not rely on there being fuel at Mt Dare !! On two out of my last three trips they have had no diesel available. Carry enough fuel to get you to/from the next fuel stop, Alice Springs, Finke or whatever.

A well prepared and maintained vehicle is you best asset for this trip.

Don't worry about your winch, it's just useless ballast for this trip.

You don't need to worry about fancy after market water tanks, those 10 litre heavy duty cardboard box water containers from Coles are the best value for price, weight, packing and general ease of use. And they are refillable without too much trouble.

Deano

First time I crossed the French line we were travelling with '07 Hiluxes (I was in my 130). High 2nd and 3rd worked well but we were faster than the Hiluxes and it meant that we had too far to double back when I had to tow them out. Ended up in low 4th (popped it into 5th on the longer faster dune swales to keep revs low, with an extremely light throttle!) and if the dune face was bumpy could drop to 3rd and gently roll up at a speed that allows the rear suspension to cycle without bottoming out. I agree with Deano, 4th low works well.
One Hilux was towing a camper trailer and bent it's chassis, frustrating rig to recover as well.

Chilly,

In July 2011 we crossed the Simpson west to east via French Line and rig Road. A wonderful trip as we were there only 3 days after the track was opened after all the rain.

I had bought a new Puma cab/chas in January, added a Trayon slide on camper and that was it.

The Puma has the heavy duty suspension and the standard steel rims and tyres.

We had 140 litres of fuel and 100 litres of water. The most important tip is to keep tyre pressures low.

We had no problems on the trip and in fact the worst part was from Oodna to Mt Dare. The road was very, very rough with long stretches of "goolie pavement"

A tip on fuel is to phone Mt Dare before you leave William Ck and Oodna to make sure they have enough.

If your truck is well serviced you should have a great time. Don't load up on a lot of unnecessary stuff. Keep it simple and go for it.

Originally Posted by DeanoH

As has been pointed out, and worth re-iterating, low range is irrelevant in sand as momentum is everything. Having said this, in a manual low 4 is my favourite gear in the desert. Straight through in the gearbox so no strain and a good top speed. In an auto high 2 or 3 will get you through easily.

Deano

This is not necessarily the case. It all depends on "conditions" and what you feel comfortable with. Many dunes are easier to cross with a take it easy approach.........in my opinion

On 2 Simpson trips, a Madigan crossing (including Geo Surveys Hill) and last year on Googs track, low 2 and 3 were the gears of choice for diagonal moguls and badly chopped up dunes (caused primarily by bull at a gate drivers and too high tyre pressures)

I have done all my desert driving (so far) with 750/16 and 235/16 tyres. The former were Bridgestone duellers on the Stage 1 and the latter General Grabbers on the Defender.

You'll love it.

I have crawler gears in my Defender as well. Whilst there is comments that low range is of no use, I found the exact opposite when crossing the Simpson Desert. Our crossing was east to west and a lot of the dunes were cut up really bad due to people not dropping tyre pressures.

What this meant was any speed resulted in you bouncing all over the place, which became quite dangerous - and that's not considering what you are carrying inside the vehicle.

What ended up happening was I'd engage low range at the bottom of the dune, and then ended up back into high range once at the top of the dune. Staying in low range along the flats was painful due to the slowness and primarily the noise from the straight cut gears.

Check the conditions wen you get there. You'll know quick enough.





As for the rest - stop stressing about it all. The crossing is enjoyable and nowhere near as hard as say Stockton Beach or similar.