Thread: Who is planning a Simpson trip this season?

I just came back from a Desert Trip... The planned trip didn't go to plan (it was not my trip - i was invited). It was a group of 6 vehicles (2x Disco-4; 1x Disco-3; 1x 2012RangeRover; 1x Ford Ranger; 1x '10 Defender) and We suppose to come down the Hay River then go cross country to a secret spot then continue south and exit via BV. On the road from Jervios to Batton Hill, the 75km stretch of road had some brutal corrugations that took their toll on one of the D4's (blew a front Airbag - had to wait for 3 days until one could be flown from Adelaide & collected from Alice) and the D3 (continuous Fault Codes).


Once both were semi fixed we continued but our planned course had to change due to sickness within the group & we continued down the Hay River & towards BV. Along the way we again had to stop and remove the new Airbag to fix a air leak from one of the connections.
We stopped for lunch at the turnoff to Kilpatha Well & we heard this horrible noise coming from the second D4 as he pulled up. Upon inspection it was found that he had done a Front LHS Inner CV (no sure how this happened as there wasn't any really big sand dunes & just the usual corrugations). Anyway, it was determined that nothing could really be done and that he would just have to continue slowly under his own steam... but this was not the case as the electronics within the driveline ended up preventing any drive to the rear or front wheels. This is where he had to get towed down to the QAA line & just across the QLD/NT border where we set up camp. Upon numerous calls (starlink saved the day) it was determined that his only option was to call the BV Recovery vehicle to come out and recover his vehicle...


Some 24hrs later and $14000 less in his pocket (well, actually only $7000 as RACQ Ultimate paid for $7000) his vehicle was back BV at the garage waiting for repairs. He then had to source a flight home, then source parts and then fly back with the parts so the mechanic could carry out repairs (this part is still ongoing).


The other vehicles (Ford Ranger; Range Rover & my Defender) had no issue. The Range Rover couldn't keep up with us on the sections of the track where u could travel over 40kph. Anything over 40kph and his suspension would lower causing him clearance issues.


Lessons learned from the trip - Never own a vehicle that relies on a high degree of electronics, etc & take it to really remote places without having some really good insurance cover. Personally, I would never own a D3/D4 or later model vehicle - it's just too stressful and if u do not know your way around the electronics & Mechanics (these guys did though) of the vehicle, it can ruin your holidays.


On a better note... myself, the Range Rover & Ford Ranger did manage to see some lesser travelled parts of the Desert which turned out to be absolutely beautiful from the recent wet out there.

Originally Posted by Robmacca

I just came back from a Desert Trip... The planned trip didn't go to plan (it was not my trip - i was invited). It was a group of 6 vehicles (2x Disco-4; 1x Disco-3; 1x 2012RangeRover; 1x Ford Ranger; 1x '10 Defender) and We suppose to come down the Hay River then go cross country to a secret spot then continue south and exit via BV. On the road from Jervios to Batton Hill, the 75km stretch of road had some brutal corrugations that took their toll on one of the D4's (blew a front Airbag - had to wait for 3 days until one could be flown from Adelaide & collected from Alice) and the D3 (continuous Fault Codes).


Once both were semi fixed we continued but our planned course had to change due to sickness within the group & we continued down the Hay River & towards BV. Along the way we again had to stop and remove the new Airbag to fix a air leak from one of the connections.
We stopped for lunch at the turnoff to Kilpatha Well & we heard this horrible noise coming from the second D4 as he pulled up. Upon inspection it was found that he had done a Front LHS Inner CV (no sure how this happened as there wasn't any really big sand dunes & just the usual corrugations). Anyway, it was determined that nothing could really be done and that he would just have to continue slowly under his own steam... but this was not the case as the electronics within the driveline ended up preventing any drive to the rear or front wheels. This is where he had to get towed down to the QAA line & just across the QLD/NT border where we set up camp. Upon numerous calls (starlink saved the day) it was determined that his only option was to call the BV Recovery vehicle to come out and recover his vehicle...


Some 24hrs later and $14000 less in his pocket (well, actually only $7000 as RACQ Ultimate paid for $7000) his vehicle was back BV at the garage waiting for repairs. He then had to source a flight home, then source parts and then fly back with the parts so the mechanic could carry out repairs (this part is still ongoing).


The other vehicles (Ford Ranger; Range Rover & my Defender) had no issue. The Range Rover couldn't keep up with us on the sections of the track where u could travel over 40kph. Anything over 40kph and his suspension would lower causing him clearance issues.


Lessons learned from the trip - Never own a vehicle that relies on a high degree of electronics, etc & take it to really remote places without having some really good insurance cover. Personally, I would never own a D3/D4 or later model vehicle - it's just too stressful and if u do not know your way around the electronics & Mechanics (these guys did though) of the vehicle, it can ruin your holidays.


On a better note... myself, the Range Rover & Ford Ranger did manage to see some lesser travelled parts of the Desert which turned out to be absolutely beautiful from the recent wet out there.

What the actual????? $14k recovery??!!!!!
Was that just his D4 or was he towing something?
Last time I was there it was $5k per vehicle for recovery out of Mt D (trailers, vans etc being vehicles, which I thought was ok considering the cost of running a heavy recovery vehicle, potential time and risk spent; but $14k? That’s a gouge! I think they run a Mog with tilt tray now?
(As a visitor, I haven’t and wouldn’t tow anything through the Simpson)

We did a run through Mt D to Birdsville using French Line, Colsons Track, ML and back along QAA, also after a good deal of rain and a few weeks before a good deal more!!


Sure is good country.

IMG_2314.jpgIMG_2179.jpgIMG_2323.jpgIMG_2341.jpgIMG_2188.jpg

See below in RED

Originally Posted by Colmoore

What the actual????? $14k recovery??!!!!!
Was that just his D4 or was he towing something? - Just the D4, no trailer
Last time I was there it was $5k per vehicle for recovery out of Mt D (trailers, vans etc being vehicles, which I thought was ok considering the cost of running a heavy recovery vehicle, potential time and risk spent; but $14k? That’s a gouge! I think they run a Mog with tilt tray now? - A new player in the game now - The Birdsville Hotel itself is now running a 4x4 Flatbed Tow Truck and they charge $450/hr once the key is turned or you can now take insurance cover for about $450 I think... but u do need to read just where they will recover u from. Since this was on the QLD side of the border, I don't think Mt Dare would come that far...

(As a visitor, I haven’t and wouldn’t tow anything through the Simpson) - Agree

We did a run through Mt D to Birdsville using French Line, Colsons Track, ML and back along QAA, also after a good deal of rain and a few weeks before a good deal more!!


Sure is good country.

IMG_2314.jpgIMG_2179.jpgIMG_2323.jpgIMG_2341.jpgIMG_2188.jpg

Gday Rob
Yeah, I seem to remember seeing that 4x4 flat bed on Insta - and the offer of insurance.
At $14k, they’re definitely scaring me into paying the $450; maybe that’s the plan?!
I’ll definitely read the fine print before heading out though.
Gee, over 30 hours in the recovery; bloke must have been sweating bullets thinking of the meter ticking over!

@Colmoore loved reading your piece I am one of those landrover blokes with air suspension and a lot of electronics... Still, I am hoping for the best and will be tackling Australia with a near new car since I rebuilt, improved or replaced just about everything (myself mostly). Good to know there is insurance because at those numbers...

Makes me wonder what kind of insurances there are down under and what I would even be eligible for.

Cheers,
-P

Originally Posted by Colmoore

Gday Rob
Yeah, I seem to remember seeing that 4x4 flat bed on Insta - and the offer of insurance.
At $14k, they’re definitely scaring me into paying the $450; maybe that’s the plan?!
I’ll definitely read the fine print before heading out though.
Gee, over 30 hours in the recovery; bloke must have been sweating bullets thinking of the meter ticking over!

He/They had to agree to the cost before hand and had to pay upfront otherwise they would not come out. It go me wondering as to how BIG people's Credit Card Limits are!!

The other option I guess was to leave it there and then get a ride back into BV, arrange for parts (not possible though due to road closures) then pay your mates to take u back out to repair on site. I'm sure it would have cost less then the $14k.... but the big factor was the age of the fella and the fact that he had time commitments elsewhere

Yeah, all remote recovery crews I know of ask for $ up front - fair enough but $14k
Do you know whether the $450 desert drive insurance policy would have covered the recovery from where you were?

Originally Posted by Robmacca

It go me wondering as to how BIG people's Credit Card Limits are!!

Guess I'd be walking...