Thread: Simpson Desert Crossing in the D4

Originally Posted by Konradical

Would be keen on getting a copy of your map or notes on where you went.

Links to trip report (including map):
Simpson Desert by D4 .... or
https://scotthumphris4.wixsite.com/trips/single-post/2018/09/03/SIMPSON-DESERT-Aug-2018-Part-1

Originally Posted by Konradical

Also wouldn't mind finding out more about the tyre carrier.

It is a Tyre Trek, made in Toowoomba
Tyre Trek, 4WD, Rear Bar, Tyre Carrier, Jerry Can Holder, Tow Bar Mounted Tyre Carrier, Swing Away Mounted Tyre Carrier, 4WD Accessories, Australian Made

Cheers,
Scott

Hi Scott. Really great write up and equally impressive photography (what Drone?). That takes time and effort so thanks for sharing. Planning on the same trip in late July so will use your west / east track for our crossing as we are looping from nth Qld via Mt Isa way. Looks like the discovery did well.
Question, we plan to tow a 1.2t camper (serious off road similar to patriot) so do you anticipate and dramas. We are pretty well set up and have a winch, ko2 on compos etc and some practise by doing the cape this year. All other issues were pretty well covered by you. Will get into shield and peel too!
Lastly what’s next for you? Got a few trips under your belt already! Canning stock route perhaps?
Regards
Steve

Originally Posted by Turtle60

Hi Scott. Really great write up and equally impressive photography (what Drone?). That takes time and effort so thanks for sharing. Planning on the same trip in late July so will use your west / east track for our crossing as we are looping from nth Qld via Mt Isa way. Looks like the discovery did well.
Question, we plan to tow a 1.2t camper (serious off road similar to patriot) so do you anticipate and dramas. We are pretty well set up and have a winch, ko2 on compos etc and some practise by doing the cape this year. All other issues were pretty well covered by you. Will get into shield and peel too!
Lastly what’s next for you? Got a few trips under your belt already! Canning stock route perhaps?
Regards
Steve

Can I just comment, as someone who has done The Simpson, that I wouldn't ever attempt to tow anything over those dunes.
I know it has been done, and I have towed campers on beaches, but tall, soft sand dunes are another thing altogether.
Towing a camper would result in repeatedly getting bogged, having to be towed repeatedly and tearing up the tracks, I think.
My preference on routes such as The Simpson is to keep it as light as possible with swags on stretchers under an awning. Hope that is helpful.

Originally Posted by Turtle60

Hi Scott. Really great write up and equally impressive photography (what Drone?). That takes time and effort so thanks for sharing. Planning on the same trip in late July so will use your west / east track for our crossing as we are looping from nth Qld via Mt Isa way. Looks like the discovery did well.
Question, we plan to tow a 1.2t camper (serious off road similar to patriot) so do you anticipate and dramas. We are pretty well set up and have a winch, ko2 on compos etc and some practise by doing the cape this year. All other issues were pretty well covered by you. Will get into shield and peel too!
Lastly what’s next for you? Got a few trips under your belt already! Canning stock route perhaps?
Regards
Steve

Have had five trips (no tow) across the Simpson Desert/Hay River (solo and in convoy).
To quote someone a touch more experienced than me "You can tow a trailer across the desert, but it'll take all the fun out of it" Dave Cox 2015, final week before he left Mt Dare.

Cheers Peter

Steve, I personally wouldn’t tow for a crossing like what we did. It will be a struggle over many of the dunes but obviously not impossible. Tyre pressure down very low will be needed. I saw a few numptys churning up the existing holes in the dunes even worse thanks to high tyre pressure and they weren’t towing, so I don’t think it’s fair to solely blame those towing for the damage. But there’s no doubt towing makes it significantly harder. If towing is the only option, get serious about weight minimisation would be my advice.

Cheers,
Scott

My experience of the Simpson goes back nearly sixty years, but I would add my voice to the above; towing is possible, but it will make the whole trip a lot harder and more likely to have trouble, and is something to avoid if at all possible.

Same advice I gave to the Leyland Brothers when I met them on the edge of the Simpson in 1963. It was ignored, and they made extensive use of our workshop facilities in the middle of the Desert.

Originally Posted by Turtle60

Hi Scott. Really great write up and equally impressive photography (what Drone?). That takes time and effort so thanks for sharing. Planning on the same trip in late July so will use your west / east track for our crossing as we are looping from nth Qld via Mt Isa way. Looks like the discovery did well.
Question, we plan to tow a 1.2t camper (serious off road similar to patriot) so do you anticipate and dramas. We are pretty well set up and have a winch, ko2 on compos etc and some practise by doing the cape this year. All other issues were pretty well covered by you. Will get into shield and peel too!
Lastly what’s next for you? Got a few trips under your belt already! Canning stock route perhaps?
Regards
Steve

If you’re set on towing across the Simpson than I wouldn’t follow the sheep on the French line.....depending on which way you cross I’d go Rig Rd and Knolls Track and QAA.

10 years ago I avoided the French line many to keep away from the masses.

Back than the WAA was the choice for those towing.

I come across a patrol towing on Knolls and they said it was a cruise

You have a light weight trailer so that a good start.

Originally Posted by weeds

If you’re set on towing across the Simpson than I wouldn’t follow the sheep on the French line.....depending on which way you cross I’d go Rig Rd and Knolls Track and QAA.

19 years ago I avoided the French line many to keep away from the masses.

Back than the WAA was the choice for those towing.

I come across a patrol towing on Knolls and they said it was a cruise

You have a light weight trailer so that a good start.

Thanks for the imput and have researched this topic to the Nenth degree. Thats the track for sure and Thats why we have the lightest off road trailer we can get which removes what I think is probably 300 kgs of the back axle but accept we are towing 1.2 tons in total. A mate has just done this trip with an D4 towing a Kimberley van (2T) and had no issue but I accept conditions and tracks can change quickly. But the deal breaker is no camper the wife won’t entertain going. Mmmmm. Nah. I totally agree with the ease of single car camping for travel but everything is a trade off. I think Scott you had a great set up and would do that in a heart beat so all’s not lost yet. Thanks to all for your learned, been there done that, knowledge. Apologies to you Scott if my question derailed what was an excellent post of your adventures. Cheers