Simpson Desert loop

[Aaron1985]

Hello

new to the forum and reasonably new to landrovers. I have a D3 TDV6 SE (a stock vehicle) and taking it to Birdsville this year for the races and proceeding onward to Mt Dare going through the Simpson Desert. What sort of fuel recommendations can anyone give me i.e. how many jerry cans have people taken with them with the standard 87L fuel tank? any other advice you could give me would be appreciated as well.

Thanks

Aaron

[87County]

welcome to the forum, I don't have a D3 but I may get one so I'm looking forward to reading the informed posts that will follow

[l00kin4]

Excellent thread and write up here on Simpson crossing in a D3: https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-discovery-3-and-4-a/203846-simpson-desert-d3.html?203846=#post2205222

Edit: this one too: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/multi-state-reports/155953-simpson-desert-trip-australia-geographical-centre-july12.html

David

[Ferret]

... What sort of fuel recommendations can anyone give me i.e. how many jerry cans have people taken with them with the standard 87L fuel tank? any other advice you could give me would be appreciated as well.

Depends a bit on which way you go. I carried 4 jerry cans. Only really needed to carry 3 jerry cans leaving ex Birdsville and going along the French line, refuelling at Oodnadatta rather than Mt Dare. Work on 16.5l/100k you won't be far wrong. Mate travelling in 2.7l D4 returned substantially the same fuel consumption on the same trip.

We found it was actually not a difficult trip. Only other advice I would give is don't over load it. Weigh it before you leave with everybody in it and all fluids on board. If your over GVM, have a think about it.

[rhinosm]

Momentum Momentum Momentum

[weeds]

Momentum Momentum Momentum

Have you crossed the Simpson??

Although not in a Disco we just cruised across mostly in 2nd high in a defer

[rhinosm]

Both directions in D4 towing trailer.
2016 Birdsville to Poeppel Corner than north along Hay River Track.
2017 Oodnadatta to Birdsville along Rig Rd.

[rhinosm]

2017 I took 5 Jerry Cans, towing is heavy on juice. I probably used 4.
I now have LR tank.

[weeds]

Both directions in D4 towing trailer.
2016 Birdsville to Poeppel Corner than north along Hay River Track.
2017 Oodnadatta to Birdsville along Rig Rd.

Oh, trailer, probably needs some momentum.

[Mike57]

Did the Simpson East to West in 2015 with a 2.7L and 3.0L D4. I had the 3.0 litre and did it on one tank plus one Jerry Can. My mate used one tank and just over 1.5 Jerry Cans. We drove in high range pretty much the whole way. Did not use sand mode much as it consumes more fuel. We refueled at Birdsville and Mt Dare. I think my mate used sand mode more than I did and that may have accounted for his extra fuel.

In retrospect we should have made more use of low range on a few of the dunes. The sand was very dry and soft the year we did it. We took the shortest route across.

Remember to switch off the DSC every time you start the car or change any terrain response selection.

I carried two x 20 litre cans on the roof and that was a comfortable amount for me.

[Colmoore]

Gday Aaron.
Mostly I agree with Weeds, it was a snack in the Defender and hardly went into low range, just left the diff lock in.
We were loaded quite heavy too.
Fuel usage was low, as I didn't use much throttle, except to get up a few of the longer curving soft dunes and mostly trundled along at around 40km/hr.
I allowed for average dirt rd consumption plus 20% and 20% safety margin. We did an extra 80km than planned, following our noses down side tracks (real tracks - not making our own) and back tracking a few times to follow camel herds or to 'ideal'camp spots; there are loads!
Ended up with around 30% spare, which helped soften the blow of filling up at Mt Dare for $2.65/l. Not that I mind really, I respect the guys that live, work and run businesses out there.
Do yourself a favour and use both the French Line and Rig Rd, they connect by a track/s that run between dunes ( I forget the names but consult Hema's Simpson map and it will all be clear)
It's fun climbing dunes, but it does wear off after awhile, so the Rig Rd route takes you along some dunes and over others. Driving between dunes is easy and you get to soak in the incredible beauty of the unique country you're travelling through and spot wildlife etc.
Make sure you get a sand flag or mount one on a big whip antenna so you can be seen cresting those numberless peaks!
Sleeping under the stars out there was mind blowing.

Happy trails.
Col

[scarry]

Hello

new to the forum and reasonably new to landrovers. I have a D3 TDV6 SE (a stock vehicle) and taking it to Birdsville this year for the races and proceeding onward to Mt Dare going through the Simpson Desert. What sort of fuel recommendations can anyone give me i.e. how many jerry cans have people taken with them with the standard 87L fuel tank? any other advice you could give me would be appreciated as well.

Thanks

Aaron

Took three jerry cans,put two in.
Just remember,you probably won't get much more than 76 to 79litres usable out of a tank.
Set of LT tyres,lower pressures,and you will do it easy.
Pack as lightly as possible.

Have fun,

Have a good trip.

[weeds]

Knolls Track......

I agree and reckon i jagged it with spending minimal time of the French mainly because we were limited to school holidays.

QAA > French > down Knolls > onto The Rig Rd




Gday Aaron.
Mostly I agree with Weeds, it was a snack in the Defender and hardly went into low range, just left the diff lock in.
We were loaded quite heavy too.
Fuel usage was low, as I didn't use much throttle, except to get up a few of the longer curving soft dunes and mostly trundled along at around 40km/hr.
I allowed for average dirt rd consumption plus 20% and 20% safety margin. We did an extra 80km than planned, following our noses down side tracks (real tracks - not making our own) and back tracking a few times to follow camel herds or to 'ideal'camp spots; there are loads!
Ended up with around 30% spare, which helped soften the blow of filling up at Mt Dare for $2.65/l. Not that I mind really, I respect the guys that live, work and run businesses out there.
Do yourself a favour and use both the French Line and Rig Rd, they connect by a track/s that run between dunes ( I forget the names but consult Hema's Simpson map and it will all be clear)
It's fun climbing dunes, but it does wear off after awhile, so the Rig Rd route takes you along some dunes and over others. Driving between dunes is easy and you get to soak in the incredible beauty of the unique country you're travelling through and spot wildlife etc.
Make sure you get a sand flag or mount one on a big whip antenna so you can be seen cresting those numberless peaks!
Sleeping under the stars out there was mind blowing.

Happy trails.
Col

[Aaron1985]

Gday Aaron.
Mostly I agree with Weeds, it was a snack in the Defender and hardly went into low range, just left the diff lock in.
We were loaded quite heavy too.
Fuel usage was low, as I didn't use much throttle, except to get up a few of the longer curving soft dunes and mostly trundled along at around 40km/hr.
I allowed for average dirt rd consumption plus 20% and 20% safety margin. We did an extra 80km than planned, following our noses down side tracks (real tracks - not making our own) and back tracking a few times to follow camel herds or to 'ideal'camp spots; there are loads!
Ended up with around 30% spare, which helped soften the blow of filling up at Mt Dare for $2.65/l. Not that I mind really, I respect the guys that live, work and run businesses out there.
Do yourself a favour and use both the French Line and Rig Rd, they connect by a track/s that run between dunes ( I forget the names but consult Hema's Simpson map and it will all be clear)
It's fun climbing dunes, but it does wear off after awhile, so the Rig Rd route takes you along some dunes and over others. Driving between dunes is easy and you get to soak in the incredible beauty of the unique country you're travelling through and spot wildlife etc.
Make sure you get a sand flag or mount one on a big whip antenna so you can be seen cresting those numberless peaks!
Sleeping under the stars out there was mind blowing.

Happy trails.
Col

$2.65/l - when did you do this? We did Victoria to Birdsville back in 2015 at it was $2.10/L when we did that.
This time we are heading East to West across the Simpson Desert, as want to be at the races in Birdsville then go across to Mt Dare (up to Finke and then back down to Oodnadatta via the Old Ghan track).
Looking at Rig Road on Hema, it looks like Rig Road is taking a large detour - where do you get onto Rig Road - do you use the K1, Knolls Track or Erabena Track which crosses over the WAA line? how much longer distance is it?
Thanks for helping out

Aaron

[Colmoore]

Sounds like a good plan mate.
Last time I was in the Simpson was in early 2016, between the 2 floods Mt Dare Hotel suffered!
We followed the OGT alongside the soon to begin Finke Desert Race - watch out for railway spikes in your Disco! I collected a couple, but not in my tyres thankfully!
Yes, it definitely adds some miles to your trip using Knolls/ and the AA line, Rig Rd (as Weeds said) but most of the miles are put in getting there in the first place aren't they?!
If time is an issue you may just make a beeline, but I spent a fair bit of time out there and still didn't get enough of it!
I'm going to go back and just spend 3 weeks in the Simpson and Finke Deserts alone.
Beautiful country, the 'Dead Heart'.