Thread: A very short trip report

Hi Chris,

Thanks for a great trip report. I purchased an RFSV for the same type of trip but in the other direction. Work is getting in the way at the moment but I have a plan to go next year around mid year.

As far as posting pictures goes I find the best results from using a website like 'flickr'. This is an image sharing website and allows you to upload your images from a device like a computer, phone or tablet and then share them on websites like this. It is easy if you just follow the steps and the flickr website has easy to follow instructions and I am no tech wizard and managed to work it out.

Link below to make an account in flickr if you are interested. I am sure that your images from your trip will be appreciated on AULRO.

Regards Warrick.

https://www.flickr.com

Thanks for the report. Did you go through the Simpson between Birdsville and Dalhousie or via Maree? Looking at the fuel figures, I'm guessing it was via Maree? ie 14.2 looks a bit low for a Simpson crossing.
Also looking forward to pictures..

Originally Posted by mark2

Thanks for the report. Did you go through the Simpson between Birdsville and Dalhousie or via Maree? Looking at the fuel figures, I'm guessing it was via Maree? ie 14.2 looks a bit low for a Simpson crossing.
Also looking forward to pictures..

Hi Mark2, I crossed the Simpson Via the French line. The track was in poor condition, not on the eastern side of the dunes (ascent) but on the Western side. as most of the traffic crosses from West to east The West side of the dunes is the more common ascent side and petty much destroyed by heavy 4wd's with too much right foot.
crossing the Simpson from East to West is supposed to be the more difficult way to go. However due to the chewed up nature of the western side of the dunes It was the ascent that was easy and the decent that was rather painful. After the second day of the crossing heavy rain made the going even more difficult. If I could have I would have used the WAA line as much as possible but this was flooded so I was stuck with the French line all the way.
My fuel consumption figure is quite accurate as I kept a very close eye on this. Just for comparison I crossed the Simpson last year with my 09 Puma and used 11liters per 100. I guess that's what a common rail computer controlled engine can do for you.


regards, Chris

Originally Posted by mark2

Thanks for the report. Did you go through the Simpson between Birdsville and Dalhousie or via Maree? Looking at the fuel figures, I'm guessing it was via Maree? ie 14.2 looks a bit low for a Simpson crossing.
Also looking forward to pictures..

Pictures coming soon, hopefully tomorrow
Chris

Originally Posted by lightwing

Just for comparison I crossed the Simpson last year with my 09 Puma and used 11liters per 100. I guess that's what a common rail computer controlled engine can do for you.


regards, Chris

Just out of interest how did the Puma compare to the Perentie. If you did it again which vehicle would you choose to take?

Regards Warrick.

Originally Posted by lightwing

Hi Mark2, I crossed the Simpson Via the French line. The track was in poor condition, not on the eastern side of the dunes (ascent) but on the Western side. as most of the traffic crosses from West to east The West side of the dunes is the more common ascent side and petty much destroyed by heavy 4wd's with too much right foot.
crossing the Simpson from East to West is supposed to be the more difficult way to go. However due to the chewed up nature of the western side of the dunes It was the ascent that was easy and the decent that was rather painful. After the second day of the crossing heavy rain made the going even more difficult. If I could have I would have used the WAA line as much as possible but this was flooded so I was stuck with the French line all the way.
My fuel consumption figure is quite accurate as I kept a very close eye on this. Just for comparison I crossed the Simpson last year with my 09 Puma and used 11liters per 100. I guess that's what a common rail computer controlled engine can do for you.


regards, Chris

It was probably fortunate that the rain didn't fall on the first day - some of those salt pans on the eastern side would be a concern after heavy rain.


Do you think the consumption in the sand would have been higher if it had been dry and therefore softer?


How did you find the RFSV gearing at long term cruising speeds? The transfer is geared a bit lower compared to an FFR or GS (1.113 vs 0.996). Some say they rev a bit high, but I personally feel my GS is geared too tall and have often contemplated swapping in a set of RFSV gears.

Originally Posted by wpalmo

Just out of interest how did the Puma compare to the Perentie. If you did it again which vehicle would you choose to take?

Regards Warrick.

Hi warrick, I would choose the perentie for two reasons. Firstly It is such a simple vehicle that I stand a good chance of fixing anything that may go wrong.
Secondly it has heaps of torque especially after the addition of the turbo. I ma be biased but I don't think that there is anything else that can climb like a turbo'd perentie. It may be hard to believe but I have not yet had to use low range!
The Puma is a nice vehicle and I enjoyed it immensely however I usually travel alone so self sufficiency is very important to me. I can't fix computers

Originally Posted by mark2

It was probably fortunate that the rain didn't fall on the first day - some of those salt pans on the eastern side would be a concern after heavy rain.


Do you think the consumption in the sand would have been higher if it had been dry and therefore softer?


How did you find the RFSV gearing at long term cruising speeds? The transfer is geared a bit lower compared to an FFR or GS (1.113 vs 0.996). Some say they rev a bit high, but I personally feel my GS is geared too tall and have often contemplated swapping in a set of RFSV gears.

You are quite right about the salt pans being a problem after rain, I got lucky with the timing that's for sure.
As for the fuel consumption I don't think it would have been much different if it had been dry. As I moved further West especially around the Purni Bore area and towards Dalhousie I encountered a lot of flooded areas and plenty of mud, so softer sand probably would have been somewhat equivalent.
As for the RFSV gearing I can't comment on this as I changed the gear ratio to standard when I did the turbo job. This means that I have a set of RFSV gears if anyone is interested