Thread: Simpson Desert loop

Originally Posted by Aaron1985

Hello

new to the forum and reasonably new to landrovers. I have a D3 TDV6 SE (a stock vehicle) and taking it to Birdsville this year for the races and proceeding onward to Mt Dare going through the Simpson Desert. What sort of fuel recommendations can anyone give me i.e. how many jerry cans have people taken with them with the standard 87L fuel tank? any other advice you could give me would be appreciated as well.

Thanks

Aaron

Took three jerry cans,put two in.
Just remember,you probably won't get much more than 76 to 79litres usable out of a tank.
Set of LT tyres,lower pressures,and you will do it easy.
Pack as lightly as possible.

Have fun,

Have a good trip.

Knolls Track......

I agree and reckon i jagged it with spending minimal time of the French mainly because we were limited to school holidays.

QAA > French > down Knolls > onto The Rig Rd

Originally Posted by Colmoore

Gday Aaron.
Mostly I agree with Weeds, it was a snack in the Defender and hardly went into low range, just left the diff lock in.
We were loaded quite heavy too.
Fuel usage was low, as I didn't use much throttle, except to get up a few of the longer curving soft dunes and mostly trundled along at around 40km/hr.
I allowed for average dirt rd consumption plus 20% and 20% safety margin. We did an extra 80km than planned, following our noses down side tracks (real tracks - not making our own) and back tracking a few times to follow camel herds or to 'ideal'camp spots; there are loads!
Ended up with around 30% spare, which helped soften the blow of filling up at Mt Dare for $2.65/l. Not that I mind really, I respect the guys that live, work and run businesses out there.
Do yourself a favour and use both the French Line and Rig Rd, they connect by a track/s that run between dunes ( I forget the names but consult Hema's Simpson map and it will all be clear)
It's fun climbing dunes, but it does wear off after awhile, so the Rig Rd route takes you along some dunes and over others. Driving between dunes is easy and you get to soak in the incredible beauty of the unique country you're travelling through and spot wildlife etc.
Make sure you get a sand flag or mount one on a big whip antenna so you can be seen cresting those numberless peaks!
Sleeping under the stars out there was mind blowing.

Happy trails.
Col

Originally Posted by Colmoore

Gday Aaron.
Mostly I agree with Weeds, it was a snack in the Defender and hardly went into low range, just left the diff lock in.
We were loaded quite heavy too.
Fuel usage was low, as I didn't use much throttle, except to get up a few of the longer curving soft dunes and mostly trundled along at around 40km/hr.
I allowed for average dirt rd consumption plus 20% and 20% safety margin. We did an extra 80km than planned, following our noses down side tracks (real tracks - not making our own) and back tracking a few times to follow camel herds or to 'ideal'camp spots; there are loads!
Ended up with around 30% spare, which helped soften the blow of filling up at Mt Dare for $2.65/l. Not that I mind really, I respect the guys that live, work and run businesses out there.
Do yourself a favour and use both the French Line and Rig Rd, they connect by a track/s that run between dunes ( I forget the names but consult Hema's Simpson map and it will all be clear)
It's fun climbing dunes, but it does wear off after awhile, so the Rig Rd route takes you along some dunes and over others. Driving between dunes is easy and you get to soak in the incredible beauty of the unique country you're travelling through and spot wildlife etc.
Make sure you get a sand flag or mount one on a big whip antenna so you can be seen cresting those numberless peaks!
Sleeping under the stars out there was mind blowing.

Happy trails.
Col

$2.65/l - when did you do this? We did Victoria to Birdsville back in 2015 at it was $2.10/L when we did that.
This time we are heading East to West across the Simpson Desert, as want to be at the races in Birdsville then go across to Mt Dare (up to Finke and then back down to Oodnadatta via the Old Ghan track).
Looking at Rig Road on Hema, it looks like Rig Road is taking a large detour - where do you get onto Rig Road - do you use the K1, Knolls Track or Erabena Track which crosses over the WAA line? how much longer distance is it?
Thanks for helping out

Aaron