DefenderBrisbane
23rd September 2017, 08:14 PM
InJuly this year my wife and I took our TD5 Defender across the SimpsonDesert. We travelled from Oodnadatta via Mt Dare, Dalhousie, WAA line,Lone Gum, French Line, Poeppel Corner, QAA line to Birdsville.
There is plenty of information onSimpson Desert crossings in books and internet pages but as an inexperienced4WD’er there were still lots of things I was unsure of. Hereare some Defender specific learnings - it may assist someone else planning thetrip in a Defender.
Vehicle load. We had a 2ndhand aluminium TJM roof rack. Being mindful of weight, I limited its loadto an Oz tent, spare wheel, tool and spares box, 2 max tracks and otherrecovery gear, two camp chairs and a gas bottle in a bracket. Fridge, battery, food, water, bedding and clothes were inside.
Vehicle mods. None, although Ihad removed the rear seats to carry fuel and water jerry cans. Additionalbattery in the back.
Fuel. I have a standard fuelsystem so carried an additional 4 jerry cans in the rear seat footwell. These were strapped to ring nuts inserted into the rear seat mount holes.
So my total fuel was 75 litres inthe main tank and 80 in the jerry cans. This was way more than needed, we used about half of it. We probably could have returned to MtDare without refuelling. Consumption was 14 litres / 100 km Mt Dare to Birdsville.
Difficulty. There were no realtechnical 4WD challenges. I crossed most of the dunes in high range 1stor 2nd, only using low range on the last day as the dunes got bigger nearBirdsville. Tyres were down to about 18 psi, probably should have beenlower. I would like to have a story about how only a Defender could doit, but sadly that's not so. Any half capable 4WD would be fine.
Safety. Pretty keen onthis. We don't have a proper cargo barrier, so had a Safeguard brand rated cargo netover all the gear in the back. It was attached to some robust tie downpoints. Pulling the net tight keepseverything in place on the rough stuff.
What went wrong. Verylittle. Rear mud flaps fell off, they were cracked before we left. Door over the fuel filter also fell off. Projecta brand low voltage relayfailed.
Other Defenders out there? Sawabout one each day, mostly Puma powered. Everybody was going well.
Do it again? Absolutely, theDefender is great in those conditions, all the stuff that is annoying on thebitumen fades, the virtues come out and now you know why you own it.
There is plenty of information onSimpson Desert crossings in books and internet pages but as an inexperienced4WD’er there were still lots of things I was unsure of. Hereare some Defender specific learnings - it may assist someone else planning thetrip in a Defender.
Vehicle load. We had a 2ndhand aluminium TJM roof rack. Being mindful of weight, I limited its loadto an Oz tent, spare wheel, tool and spares box, 2 max tracks and otherrecovery gear, two camp chairs and a gas bottle in a bracket. Fridge, battery, food, water, bedding and clothes were inside.
Vehicle mods. None, although Ihad removed the rear seats to carry fuel and water jerry cans. Additionalbattery in the back.
Fuel. I have a standard fuelsystem so carried an additional 4 jerry cans in the rear seat footwell. These were strapped to ring nuts inserted into the rear seat mount holes.
So my total fuel was 75 litres inthe main tank and 80 in the jerry cans. This was way more than needed, we used about half of it. We probably could have returned to MtDare without refuelling. Consumption was 14 litres / 100 km Mt Dare to Birdsville.
Difficulty. There were no realtechnical 4WD challenges. I crossed most of the dunes in high range 1stor 2nd, only using low range on the last day as the dunes got bigger nearBirdsville. Tyres were down to about 18 psi, probably should have beenlower. I would like to have a story about how only a Defender could doit, but sadly that's not so. Any half capable 4WD would be fine.
Safety. Pretty keen onthis. We don't have a proper cargo barrier, so had a Safeguard brand rated cargo netover all the gear in the back. It was attached to some robust tie downpoints. Pulling the net tight keepseverything in place on the rough stuff.
What went wrong. Verylittle. Rear mud flaps fell off, they were cracked before we left. Door over the fuel filter also fell off. Projecta brand low voltage relayfailed.
Other Defenders out there? Sawabout one each day, mostly Puma powered. Everybody was going well.
Do it again? Absolutely, theDefender is great in those conditions, all the stuff that is annoying on thebitumen fades, the virtues come out and now you know why you own it.