Fendy getting ready for Simpson

[fatcat]

Hi Guys,


Happy days the mrs has given us the green light to do a Simpson trip,

thinking of upgrading the old roof rack, i am in Brisbane is there a place i can go to that makes them up, i like the Baja rack,

i am thinking of redoing the suspension is there anything special i should get, for the 110.

Any other ideas would be good, i would really like to mount the spare on the bonetent

cheers

[weeds]

I reckon the front runner wind cheetah is good value for money

Which model 110 do you have????

I ran a bonnet mounted spare on my Simpson trip.....well all the time actually. I assume kits are still available, sometime member are up for a swap of bonnets.

Suspension, if you are still running 235's like I did than just heavy duty front springs and airbags inside the rear springs (I am uncertain what the rear spring rate was). I know a guy that runs one set of rear springs for when I'm touring mode and another set for round town.

Shocks......invest in good shocks, I ran Billy's which performed well.

Adjust tyre pressures to suit different conditions.

That about a I have, get
It there and enjoy it.

Oh you need a flag and follow a radio procedure......other will give you a heads up.

[fatcat]

Cheers Weeds

its a 2001

[weeds]

Ya don't see too many TD5's with bonnet mounts, pretty sure you need a TDI bonnet, maybe somebody can confirm that.

[Tombie]

You can get a bonnet mount kit for TD5s.

Although the Simo and 2nd spare are not really necessary as long as you have basic repair gear and good tyres to start with.

[PAT303]

Sounds like your trying to carry too much,KISS. Pat

[Tombie]

Sounds like your trying to carry too much,KISS. Pat


Amen brother!!!

People get so worried about breaking down they load up so much and it almost becomes inevitable...

Well maintained, good rubber, basic tools, water and food..

Then go for it, and drive with mechanical sympathy.

Correct tyre pressures and you'll walk the Simo, wrong pressures + excessive right foot &/or speed is a recipe for breakage.

I'd happily go bush in a well maintained vehicle with just food, water and fuel... And regularly have.

[AndyG]

Hi Guys,


Happy days the mrs has given us the green light to do a Simpson trip,

thinking of upgrading the old roof rack, i am in Brisbane is there a place i can go to that makes them up, i like the Baja rack,

i am thinking of redoing the suspension is there anything special i should get, for the 110.

Any other ideas would be good, i would really like to mount the spare on the bonetent

cheers

I wouldn't mind joining you in 2016 if that's suits your plans, I will probably get Murray's spare wheel piggyback kit and no roof rack.

[wollomi1962]

Did the Simpson last year in my 3.9 110. Only mods I did were Terra Firma shocks and springs, front and rear with a 2in lift all round.
Sat in 1st, high range and "walked in the park".Still do not know what the diff lock talk was all about......still trying to wipe the grin off.
Best part was the wife looking at the 1st decent dune, saying, "how do we get over that ?"...she only asked once.
Enjoy.
PS. I do not give advice....but might I suggest, go when it's cool, and run at 17psi on soft sand and 25psi on the gravel and gibbers.

[RVR110]

Standard 110 suspension is fine for the Simpson. The trip doesn't require a lift - if anything you are better off without the extra height. The basics are:
Ensure that your servicing is up to date and that all aspects of your vehicle are in good working condition including A/T or M/T tyres with adequate remaining tread. As mentioned above, one spare plus a repair kit is fine.
A UHF radio
Sand flag
Cargo barrier or other form of strong, secure load restraint
A good amount of drinkable water, including a reasonable allowance for an extra few days worth if something goes wrong. The Pink Roadhouse sells water in 10L containers. Showers and non-drinkable water are available at Dalhousie Springs. Take your swimmers.
Enough fuel to make it between Mt Dare/Oodnadatta and Birdsville. A rough rule is to assume 50% additional fuel consumption (due to the resistance of the sand) for the crossing plus an additional 20L as a safety net
As others have said, don't take too much "stuff". The less weight and the less volume it consumes the better. Sure, it's remote, but in reality you're "just camping out for a few days". There is plenty of traffic on the French Line, but less on the WAA Line & Rig Road.
Keep the weight (centre of gravity) as low as possible
Do without the roof rack if you can! You didn't mention if you are taking any passengers or not. If you don't have any passengers (other than the missus), then a 110 should have ample capacity to carry everything you need for a Simpson trip without needing a roof rack (unless you need to carry items that shouldn't be in the cabin - assuming that you have a wagon and not a ute). I've done the trip with my wife and 16 year old son without a roof rack. If you'll be passing Parachilna, spend the roof rack money on a night at the Prairie Hotel and have the Feral Mixed Grill :)


It's a brilliant trip and you'll have a blast!

[rar110]

All the above is pretty good advice.

I took a 2nd spare which I didn't regret, as I took no tyre repair gear. I only got a flat on the Oodnadatta track on the way back. I took about 7 jerries of fuel as I only have a 60 lt tank. A roof rack was no drama, but keep the load as light as you can. Take warm clothes and togs for a swim in the hot springs.

It's a great trip. We did it east to west with ease. I have a front LSD but no locker. I did get stuck on top of a dune once, but there was an easier track I could have taken.

[ted44]

I did it last year. Bloody good trip, I would suggest you take your time/make time, to stop and smell the coffee! 2nd & 3rd low range with transfer locked, worked well for me in the Simpson, I settled on this after a few attempts using speed! Lol. Birdsville is excellent, very friendly people. Enjoy it a very unique trip. We travelled from Brisbane to Cameron's Cnr to Inaminka to Birdsville to Mt Dare to Finke to Chambers Pillars to Uluru to Alice. Enjoy...

[The Cone of Silence]

Last year's trip report (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/sa-reports/196931-april-2014-simpson-desert-sydney.html) here.


I arguably took too much stuff but the benefit was that the missus wasn't worried about something going wrong because we had plenty of spares and tools. You can't put a price on the right kind of silence.

I crossed from West to East (easiest on fuel) and didn't use low range once.

Plenty of great advice here already regarding your tyre pressures and load, water and more water so I shan't bother adding to it.


Take a fly net for your hat and get yourself some of the rosemary and cedarwood fly repellent cream - it totally works...and don't tell the missus you have it for a day or so. See how long it takes before she notices that she's the only one being attacked by seventeen trillion flies at once. Then ask her if she wants to have some of your fly repellent cream....and then run. Run like the wind.
Don't buy fuel or beer in Mt Dare if you can avoid it.
Have the Oodnaburger with the lot when you get to the roadhouse...but also try the Transcontinental hotel up the road.
Try not to lose your temper on the gibber. Harder than it sounds. Keep calm and carry on.
Don't pee in the spring
Maintain discipline of using your UHF and calling out from time to time so you can hear if there's chaps coming the other way. Avoid a collision out there at all costs.
Give it the beans up Big Red.
If you're taking a thunderbox (or similar), chuck it up on the roof and take a map/ book/ newspaper. It'll change your life.


I'm jealous now I want to go back....you'll have a great time, Fatcat, it's a smashing trip.

Take a million photos.

[DieselDan]

......... If you'll be passing Parachilna, spend the roof rack money on a night at the Prairie Hotel and have the Feral Mixed Grill :)


I've been to the Prairie Hotel in Parachilna a few times (awesome spot!), but I didn't think the feral grill was THAT expensive....!!!:p

[DiscoMick]

Lots of good advice.
Re. fuel, our 300 Tdi auto Disco, which in normal driving averaged 10-11 l/100 km, used 130 litres between Mt Dare and Birdsville. Your consumption will depend on how you drive, the route you take etc.
I suggest you travel light and don't plant the go pedal if it can be avoided. Gearing and tyre pressures are the key, not power.

[weeds]

Lots of good advice.
Re. fuel, our 300 Tdi auto Disco, which in normal driving averaged 10-11 l/100 km, used 130 litres between Mt Dare and Birdsville. Your consumption will depend on how you drive, the route you take etc.
I suggest you travel light and don't plant the go pedal if it can be avoided. Gearing and tyre pressures are the key, not power.


130L sounds pretty high......is that crossing the French.

Pretty sure I used around 80L via the Rig Rd.....from memory it did have a lot of clay top sections

[MLD]

If your suspension is in good order don't mess with it, save for probably a good set of shocks to handle the heat generated from corrugations. I was there in June this year and the trucks with softer coil rates handled the dunes better than the HD rated coils. The softer coil allowed the axle to move under the truck rather than the truck body rocking and rolling over the corrugations in the face of each dune which were dug out by over enthusiastic drivers. Air pressure is the key. Don't be afraid to drop them into the low teens if the sand is dry.

You truck doesn't need any fancy upgrades, a good pre-trip service, a full tank of fuel, spare fuel for the Simpson part, food/water and accommodation. You will be surprised by the amount of traffic. You won't wait long for a vehicle to come along should you have a mechanical stoppage.

First high with CDL was my sweet gear.

Burned 117ltr from Oodnadatta to Birdsville. Mt Dare to Birdsville is less kms than Oodnadatta to Birdsville.

Unless you go off-piste you won't need a second spare. The rider to that is the assumption you have quality AT or MT tyres with a solid side wall. It also assumes a dose of sensibility not to knowingly drive over dead branches.

Take your time and absorb it all in.

Everyone else has done a great job of covering the basics. I will add, buy your alcohol provisions in a big town same for food. I know it denies the local businesses money but it hurts when you pay $70 for a case of beer that costs $50 elsewhere. The other hint is don't stock up in mining towns. I found there was a "mining town money" premium on basics.

Even with the trip so new in my history i long to get back out there and see more of the desert.

MLD

[wollomi1962]

RVR speaks with much wisdom. Good post. Thanks

[edddo]

130L sounds pretty high......is that crossing the French.

Pretty sure I used around 80L via the Rig Rd.....from memory it did have a lot of clay top sections


Agree 130 sounds high
We used about 90 Mt Dare to Birdsville via WAA line
That was about 560 km from memory so about 50% more than usual but had MTs on that were too chunky for sand.

[RVR110]

I've been to the Prairie Hotel in Parachilna a few times (awesome spot!), but I didn't think the feral grill was THAT expensive....!!!:pWell, there is the cost of accommodation, and the rest went on some rather nice Shiraz... :D:D:D:D

As for Fuel, we used about 100L from Oodnadatta to Birdsville via the WAA line in a 2.4 Puma 110 SW.

[Kanga1]

Hi guys, we are planning on a East West Simpson crossing after the Big Red Bash next year which is on the 5 and 6 July next year ( don't know who's playing yet tho ) we did a crossing last year in a 2013 D-Max Space cab ( which unfortunately had some issues with after market improvements, suspension particularly ) and are hoping for a more relaxed crossing next year before heading into the Kimberley. If anyone is crossing at a similar time, it'd be cool to have a yarn? Cheers, Kanga. :BigThumb:

[DiscoMick]

130L sounds pretty high......is that crossing the French.

Pretty sure I used around 80L via the Rig Rd.....from memory it did have a lot of clay top sections



We spent five days out there and wandered around a bit.