Simpson Crossing - Diesel usage

[Desert Traveller]

I have crossed the Simpson a dozen times in my Discos. The D3 used more diesel than the D2 and the D2 used more than the D1.
Has anyone crossed using the French line in a RRS (225kW) and what was the diesel consumption. I want to carry enough spare diesel but not too much.
I am planning to travel light and do the WAA line this time (west to east).

[oka374]

As you are probably aware the actual sand conditions and traffic affect fuel usage the most.
We've also crossed the Simpson lots of times in the last forty years (last weeks trip was the 30th out there), as time has passed, traffic has increased and tracks have become more meandering and slower, the days of 2 days from Birdsville to Oodnadatta in 2wd are no longer. Where once a three to four day crossing was easy now it is probably better to allow 5-6 and take your time as it can be very rough and slow even on the rig road where most of the travel in the swales is corrugated beyond belief.
Travel after rain is always best as the sand is damp and sticks together better making it firmer, the same reason it is better to get going early and travel while it is cooler as it is also damper, the dunes get much harder late in the day as the sand warms up and traffic digs it up.
Also try to avoid crossing in school holidays and before and after the big events like the Birdsville races, Big Red concert and the Finke race.
A trip the week before the Finke a couple of years ago saw up to 80 vehicles a day heading west on the French line between Poeppels corner and the Knolls track so a true desert experience is nigh on impossible.
Currently the only eastern access is via the top crossing of Eyre creek or the Warburton crossing and up K1 so allow enough fuel for the extra distance.

[Desert Traveller]

Thanks. I only use the Rig Road if the other 2 are unusable. The last time in the desert I had to use the Rig Road as we got hit with a major sand storm where all the tracks were obliterated, we even struggled to find the Rig Road at times with the limited visibility and sand blowing over the track.
I know what you are saying about the corrugated track in the swales and all the switchbacks on the dunes.
We are looking at travelling in early August, hopefully we don't get any rain as the swales can become impassable until they dry out.

[LRD414]

My later model D4 may be a useful data point for you. I used 99L from Mt Dare to Birdsville via Rig / WAA / Knolls / QAA last year. You have more power but perhaps will be lighter overall.

Cheers,
Scott

[discojools]

We did Simpson from Birdsville to Poepel Corner and then the Hay River Track in 2015 me in my D4 and a friend in RRS SDV6. I think he carried an extra 60 litres in jerry cans in a frame bolted to the where the tie downs are in the boot. He also had a 45 litre ARB fridge plus 3 jerry cans of water in the frame.
His car was easily the most frugal and I think he had 1 jerry of fuel when got fuel at Jervois station. RRS did it easily.

[Desert Traveller]

Thanks for the info.
On my last trip in the D3 I used 116 litres, QAA and WAA lines, from Birdsville to Mt Dare. I am planning to carry 40 litres in jerry cans.

[Disco4SE]

His car was easily the most frugal and I think he had 1 jerry of fuel when got fuel at Jervois station. RRS did it easily.
That's interesting Jools.......maybe because of the RRS being lighter than the D4.

Cheers, Craig

[Desert Traveller]

Thanks for the info.
On my last trip in the D3 I used 116 litres, QAA and WAA lines, from Birdsville to Mt Dare. I am planning to carry 40 litres in jerry cans.

The RRS was so much more frugal. Used 92 litres from Mt Dare to Birdsville. Travelled 650 kms, travelled part of the WAA but backtracked and used the Rig Road. The RRS with 275/50R20 tyres travelled over the corrugations with such ease compared to the D3 on smaller tyres.
The WAA was badly rutted and there was a group of 46 vehicles on the track.
Overall, the tracks are a lot worse, really damaged by the Big Bash groups. And so many vehicles running high tyre pressures.

[LRD414]

The RRS was so much more frugal. Used 92 litres from Mt Dare to Birdsville. Travelled 650 kms, travelled part of the WAA but backtracked and used the Rig Road. The RRS with 275/50R20 tyres travelled over the corrugations with such ease compared to the D3 on smaller tyres.
The WAA was badly rutted and there was a group of 46 vehicles on the track.
Overall, the tracks are a lot worse, really damaged by the Big Bash groups. And so many vehicles running high tyre pressures.
Good figures, although the Rig did seem to be easier going generally so that would have helped. The trip we did last year I mentioned above included the WAA Line and we went 2.5 days without seeing anyone and the dunes were relatively smooth compared to French Line and QAA. This was mid August last year. That large group sounds like hell.

Scott