Thursday, Mar 14, 2013 at 21:34
Hi Idler Chris
There still a few things that I can not comprehend from your above statement. I do not know what way you have been across the Simpson, even though there is only one through Queensland and 3 for South Australia, but the one that we are referring to if the French Line.
I still believe that I have given very sound and accurate advise for the following reasons, and cant not see why you still insist on :-
"but for the 100's of k's across the Simpson I would suggest is asking for trouble. Of course you may have to go down to these pressures to get over some of the more difficult dunes, but be very careful as there is usually a turn at the top making it very easy to pull the tyre off the rim. I have seen tyres staked on a Simpson crossing so I still say it is something to consider"
As you would be aware, we are talking about an East to West crossing along the French Line coming in from
Birdsville and heading out on the QAA - the only way across on the public gazetted track.
Just before reaching
Little Red on the LHS of the track heading west, there is the small little
sign board, with information about crossing the Simpson. It is at this point that I would suggest that every traveller consider the impact on the dunes that they are about to encounter and that tyre pressures should be dropped.
One of the times when we were out in the Simpson (when travelling solo) and the talk on the UHF from one group was an absolute joke, considering that the group of 8 vehicles (we later found out) had paid very good money for a Tag a Long Tour, all being first time
Simpson Desert drivers. The talk over the radio was how much harder are the dunes going to get, I have just had my third try and still can not get over. (this is between Big Red and Eyre Creek) At this point the person that had taken their good money and was their tour leader then said, perhaps you should try dropping your tyres down to 35psi.
Hearing this made my blood boil and to think they this so called leader was someone that should have never been let past the
Birdsville Hotel, showing that he had no idea what so ever on how to drive in soft sand.
As you will be aware, your speeds crossing the Simpson will be between 20 - 40 kph, and those that respect their vehicles and always just idle up a dune, and not be a mad man and go like a cut snake, and in the process cut up and damage the dune face.
The swales in this part on the Simpson are
well spaced, but no need to increase tyre pressures, as you will be doing this every 5 minutes and would be a complete waste of time. Ask yourself only 1 question???
Why are the dunes cut up all the way across the Simpson...
Answer....people with fare too high tyre pressures and not really knowing what they are doing and how to drive in soft sand.
There are a couple of gypsum outcrops before reaching the K1 Line but again you are only going slow, and there should be no reason to damage a tyre, the same as a few sections on the French Line near the Knolls area.
Once on the K1 Line, it is a good hard packed run down to the
sign that indicates the way to Dalhousie and Peoppel Corner. From this point on, the dunes are quite close together and sand all the way, so there is no need what so ever to increase tyre pressure. After a good few days of sand driving, you will arrive at Wonga
Junction and it is at this point that it is safe to increase tyre pressure, as you have now left all the main dunes behind and shortly past Purnie
Bore, back into gibber country.
Even at 12 psi, providing that you are taking your time, you are still going slow enough to take the correct turn at the top of a dune, and no way of running the tyre from the rim,so if you are going to run a tyre from its rim, that tells me one thing, going way too fast and making a very sudden sharp turn of the wheel, which in turn is cutting up the top of the dunes even more damage to the soft sand.
How have those that you know of staked a tyre across the Simpson?
With very soft sand and no hidden sticks etc on the French Line, I do not know what would have caused a tyre to be damaged.
I still am a firm believer that with low tyre pressures and taking your time, the Simpson is a good easy drive in dry normal conditions. But then on the other hand if it is wet, it will be one trip that will haunt you for years to come.
Like you say, it is good to hear what others have to same about crossing the Simpson, and the experiences that they can share and these are my thoughts. I feel that if everyone would drop their tyres down and drive slower, that it would cause far less damage to the dunes and stress to you vehicle.
Cheers
Sep[hen
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