Solo Simpson

[fatcat]

Hi all i am planning a trip to the Simpson this year. With my parents they have a wrangler. which i have tried to get bogged at Fraiser in the sand, fun fun.

But my question is what if they pull out for what ever reason would i just not go.
so i geus i am wanting to have a plan because i want it to happen.

I have a 92 defender which is well serviced. I am thinking why not go solo take a, sat phone, epirb and a HF.

in the worst case i would just be up for a tow to Birdsville ($1000)which would happen any way a jeep wrangler would not pull me over big red. i know that its better with more cars, with u. but my old man and i are not a couple of Ruthy,s

P.s when i say in the worst case i know we could die of lack of water but i would take heaps of extras say twice the food and water.

Thanks guys

[weeds]

i did it solo in 2005

i believe my fender was well prepared and for comms i had my uhf and borrowed a sat phone

i was a little nervous the night i was in birdsville but by lunch on the first i was pretty much at ease....the crossing ain't that tough

my clutch master failed on the third day but i was able to still drive without using the clutch, rebuilt it at mt dare and continued on

i had food and water for approx 10+ days

if you go anytime around school holidays there is cast a thousands out there

as nike says....just do it

[scarry]

My wife & i did it solo in 2004....how time flys:eek:

I suppose there was two of us,so it wasnt realy solo....but we werent with any others

Anyway had no probs,also went down to Innaminka,along Walkers crossing.

If you are well prepared,you will have no probs.We took a Sat phone with us,and tried to travel as light as possible.

If you are unlucky enough to have a problem,someone will come along as there is a fair bit of traffic in the area.

Good Luck

[Blknight.aus]

its doable,

Im going to back NM with.

so long as ;-

you have good coms
your prepared to foot the bill in the event of the worst happening
your vehicle is adequately prepared
you have sufficient supplies
you have a decent first aid kit.
you know what your coming up against
you know the basic mechanicing principals

theres no reason you shouldnt go anywhere on any map that you can stick a pin into.

[Boxhead63]

Fella, if you're healthy and you have the precautions you've already stated....jesus stupid question, have a go.
If i could afford it, I would do it and many more.


Good Luck
Rob

[weeds]

when i said solo i meant one 4wd, i had my dad and oldest son along for the ride

[Michael2]

You could try RACQ Gold....would they recover you in the Simpson if needed? Worth finding out....good insurance, and cheaper than a self-funded recovery if needed :D

RACV Gold told me that Ulura was a remote area and they couldn't help with a broken spring!!!! I told them it was a resort with an airport & 5 car hire companies and they said they'd call back. They came up with a pathetic offer, so we welded the spring and continued. I'd like to know what they would have said if I was in the Simpson.

Anyway, West - East is pretty easy going. From Poeppell Corner you can head south in an interdunal corridor and come out near mungerannnie with only about 3-4 dunes to cross, so no need to takle dunes east of there if you have a mechanical issue.

[scarry]

Did the Cape 2007 Solo.....just our vehicle....7900k's,no worries

At least you can do what you want,when you want(almost)

Although if you were unlucky enough to have a drama,it would be nice to have others around.

As said preperation is the key

Hope to get back up there this year :)

[Bushie]

I did it solo in 2000, across the french line. When we arrived in Dalhousie it was unseasonably warm (apparently) at 42 deg. Basically we decided that if the next day was as warm we would either head back out or wait for it to cool a bit.

Anyway next day was markedly cooler so we headed across, whilst we didn't get passed by anyone there was obvious traffic ahead and behind us, so the potential for help was not far away.

Well equipped and well prepared you should be fine.

Honestly, after listening to some of the quotes for recovery that were going across the VKS network (~$10k) while we were on our Madigan trip. I would be examining very carefully what these Gold/Premium memberships will actually provide when it comes to remote coverage.



Martyn

[McDisco]

Yeah you should be right if your well prepared. Its not that hard.

$1000 would be a cheap recovery though! Reckon you would be up for more. I knew of someone that had to get recovered from the CSR. Would have cost $15000. Obviously these are bigger differences, but I reckon it would still be at least 3-4K.

Angus

[Scallops]

Kat and I did it solo last year - it's a doddle (easy) - and there are heaps of other vehicles out there that you will see each day (at least on the French line).

Go for it I say - just take a sat phone and/or EPIRB. :)

[inside]

Isn't the motto at Mt Dare "Advice is free, recovery isn't"

[Yorkshire_Jon]

We did it solo last November - Its an easy drive. The hardest part is finding the right turn and corresponding track just after the salt pan while a sand storm was blowing!!

Preparation is the key. Make sure you tell more than one person your anticipated timescales before you set off. Have the correct numbers and frequencies at hand should you need them.

I guess the other thing to bear in mind is that i you do it mid season there is an awful good chance that you wont be on your own for long. As I understand it that road gets pretty busy at peak times!

[numpty]

As others have said plus the fact that most, if not all the major routes across the Simpson are sign posted these days. Comms is the key, along with a well prepared vehicle...........a Land Rover of course (with apologies to Iain Parmenter).:angel:

[JohnF]

Why dont you post on as many 4wd forums as you can find, and find someone else who thinks they will also be doing it solo.

[leeds]

As long as your vehicle is well maintained and you have a reasonable amount of experience then doing the Simpson as a solo vehicle should not present any major problems.

When Jon and I did it last November we experienced a sand storm which made navigation slightly more interesting and some of the dunes. Without the sandstorm it would have been extremely easy. We did not see any vehicles on our crossing which helped make the trip more 'interesting'

Regards


Brendan

[UncleHo]

G'day Folks :)

whilst on the subject of Comms, take the "NEW" EPIRB(different frequency) as they are switching off the old system sometime after may from memory, as the boaties have already been notified.

cheers

[fatcat]

Thanks for the replies. I think i will try to have some one come with us but. if all else fails we will still go for it.

any one else looking to do a solo this year after reading all the positive stuff. why keep putting it off because your mates are to busy. cheers all

[PAT303]

I've done most of Oz solo and loved every minute.You will only have trouble if you are not prepared. Pat

[Larry]

Don't know how true, but did hear that the bloke from Birdsville wouldn't leave home for a Simpson recovery for less than $5000

Same price I heard in 2004!:o

[weeds]

Same price I heard in 2004!:o

i didn't dare ask:o

[Sleepy]

As others have said, well prepared you'll be right.

Consider leaving a "ops normal" time with someone. That is - "if I don't make contact with you by time "x" something has gone wrong."
Then make regular (Once a day?) calls with that person - just to check in and report "ops normal".
There is always a chance (very slim) that you could be incapacitated and therefore unable to use the SATPHONE/EPIRB.

As also mentioned - stick to the main tracks and someone will come along, if you break down.

Oh....and a pack of cards. As Jack Abslom said - When you break down, just boil the billy and start playing patience. Before too long someone will tap you on the shoulder and say "put the red 10 on the black jack" - then you ask them for a lift :lol2: