Simpson Desert trip advice - tire pressures & fuel milage

[D3mike]

All - I'm off to the Simpson Desert in August in my D3 TDV6 SE.

I've just got some "new" second hand 17" LR rims to replace the 18" stock wheels. I'll be running 17" 245/70 Cooper STs on them.

Any advice about tire pressures in the desert.

Also, curious to hear about other D3ers experience with fuel consumption highway and city so I can approximate fuel consumption in the desert. Most of my driving is highway and I use just under 10.7 l/100kms. So not sure what the upper limit is. (my D3 has a bullbar, winch, foxwing, roof pod, kaymar rear bar & tyre/water carrier, long ranger tank and cargo barrier as well as recovery gear kit which lives in the back - to give some reference point to what will add to the loading of the car on a day to day basis). I've been advised in the desert to allow a factor of 1.3 for the dune driving on the upper limit of the fuel use - but given my driving on the highway not sure what the city limit would be. Your comments would be appreciated.

Also - thanks to day to Mick & Sam at Tyrepower Hawthorn (opp. Swinburne Uni) for again assisting me with my tire issues. Today they helped bail me out when I got a sidewall tear on my front left tire going over a Boroondara speedhump - still not too sure how it happened but the Gen. Grabber sidewall was torn to the sidewall reinforcing at the rim. They gave me a loaner to get back home 1 1/2 hours away. Big THANK YOU guys. See you next week.

Cheers,
D3mike

[~Rich~]

Hi Mike,
Have a read of my Simpson trip last July, ah nearly coming up to the anniversary - wish I was going again!

Simpson Desert Trip Australia / Geographical centre - July12

This has info on fuel & the best driving technique that I found.
Have a great time

[Gords]

Lucky bugger! Would love to do that trip again!

I too uploaded a trip report of my simpson crossing in the D3. Found here: Simpson Desert - SA & Vic

Plenty of details in there about tyre pressures / fuel usage through the desert / highways etc.

Looking forward to seeing your trip report along with plenty of photos upon your return!!!

All the best!
Rob

[101RRS]

Most of my driving is highway and I use just under 10.7 l/100kms.

If that is off the display on the dash then you will need to add about 10% to get the real figure.

Garry