Thread: Overloading the D2 for the Simpson

Originally Posted by discotek

Hi All

Planning to leave in 2 weeks for an east - west crossing of the Simpson Desert (first time).

Tried to do right thing and leave the trailer behind for this trip. (Very capable off road unit built by Tvan with the army rated suspension 550 Kg dry - weighed 1000 kgs last year to Birdsville - tows like a dream)

Now have a roof rack on and have removed the back seats to hold 6 jerries (3 water, 3 diesal) for the crossing.

Went down to the weigh bridge and came in at 2480 kg all up so far.

Whoh.........

(The D2 has a TJM bullbar, second battery, steel sill protectors, fridge , draws, hf, tools, roof rack, light steel rear bar, steel wheels, 245-75-16 maxxis muddies, Dobinson HD springs and shocks, No SLS or ACE)

Still to come:

2 people 145 kg
Extra spare wheel/tyre 70kg
Rooftop tent - 45 kg
Food - camping 80 kg

That's my GMV !

Still need extra diesel and water - 120 kg - could cut back to 80 kg (winter, high season , other cars)

Anyone else pushing these limits ?

Now I'm juggling with snatching the trailer a bit or breaking suspension components.

Would a set of polyairs provide some more options ?

Regards in advance.

You can't tow any trailer in the Simpson anymore, they are banned.

Unless the new rules have changed, You'll need to work something else out.

Baz.

Baz.

GVM is 2720kg?????

load it all up and see how she looks and feels while driving, i would travel with 100 - 200kg over the GVM (gods know what mine weighed in at), poly airs would help but if its sitting pretty level than go with that.

which track are you doing, if you are doing the french than you will come across quite a few other travellers

have fun, i did it solo and all was good, i crossed in three days which seemed about right, i went via the rig road, maybe four would have been better. i carried a total of 160L of fuel (used <80L) and 92L water (used bugger all no showers, just washing up water)

didn't know trailers were banned

Just did a few searches on trailers and the Simpson and found nothing saying they were banned, I could haved sworn I saw an artical on this along with the summer closing of the Simpson.

I'd call SA Parks to make sure when you get your parks pass.

If it's OK, I wouldn't worry too much, we towed a 1.3ton trailer across in 05 without any dramas.

Make sure you drop your tyre pressures.

Baz.

Hi Redback

Just checked the handbook GVM is 2750 kg (5 seater coil suspension)

The D2 with SLS is 2880 kg, so an uprated spring should support this as well, I would have thought.

My total without extra diesal and water is approx 2820. So I'm on the limit. Looks like beer will have to wait until Mt Dare.

We plan to take QAA to poeppel's and then the French line, with maybe a look along the WAA or Rig for a bit.

Regards

Hi Discotek,

I crossed the Simpson west - east in July 2007. We took it pretty easy and took 4-5 days I think, (the whole round trip from Adelaide was 9 days) and was loaded to the max complete with 4 blokes. I only carried 30L(1x20L,1x10L) of extra fuel, filled up at Oodnadatta put 20L in a few Km's before Big Red and filled up in Birdsville(85L) so only used 105L for the crossing approx 725Km. Mine is a TD5 manual and due to the rear suspension sagging had to take the dunes at speed to ride over the corregations so possibly could have used less fuel if the suspension was better. I rationed the beer to 1 can per person per night which seemed to work ok and took 120L of drinking water(10L boxes work well as you can burn them when empty). To make up for the 1 beer only policy I took along a couple of boxes of red to enjoy with dinner.
A friend had polyairs on his Patrol and they worked a treat so would reccommend them. The Simpson Desert trip would have to be the best experience I have had 4WDing you will love it.

Cheers
DaveF

Originally Posted by discotek

Hi Redback

Just checked the handbook GVM is 2750 kg (5 seater coil suspension)

The D2 with SLS is 2880 kg, so an uprated spring should support this as well, I would have thought.

My total without extra diesal and water is approx 2820. So I'm on the limit. Looks like beer will have to wait until Mt Dare.

We plan to take QAA to poeppel's and then the French line, with maybe a look along the WAA or Rig for a bit.

Regards

60kg up your sleeve, that at least a couple of carton's of beer

Simpson Desert done via SA National Parks, they recommend request you don't take trailer and or caravan or pop up camper across the desert as they have to go and remove wreckage from desert and secondly the trailers tend to sink on wrong side of sand dune and cause track damage being towed across.

Did Simpson East to West which is harder than West to East as on shorter run up dune as prevailing winds blow west to east wasn't difficult overall few sections dunes were wind blowing more soft sand across oil gas trails of 1960's and some dunes where track been cut up by less experienced drivers.

Should note wood as fuel for burnign fairly scarce and again National Parks ask you dont burn too much in bonfires as removing habitat for native animals so suggest make sure you have gas stove or coleman multi fuel stove for cooking on or pack your own bag of wood for burning or bbq coals.

Camping at night you spend in between dunes in flat areas, before you elave in morning walk to sand dune and see left behind foot prints of various insects and lizards and snakes quite interesting what passes your tent in the night whilst your alseep

I did east west last year and could have done it on one tank. (85 litres I think we used ) Birdville to Mt Dare. Drop tyres to 20psi, Keep it light is the trick.
I also made sure that nothing went on the roof. Removed back seat for extra space,( boy that sucker got some weight).