Simpson Desert - French Line

Hi Will, in Aug definitely allow for 3 days as the track will be cut up a lot more, already the west faces to the dunes were rutted (that's was our down side) The East faces were still excellent.
I used 75 lt diesel in an 07 landrover disco 3, my mate used 80lt in 2010 Pajero, make sure you carry extra fuel and spares. You need to get a SA parks pass, Dalhousie is great camp ground but no fires now spoils the fun but you can still have fires at Mt Dare.
David

Sorry Will, rest of your questioned answers, I ran 14 in front and 16 rear hot. I believe a first time permit purchase is $120+ but not sur as I renew mine which is cheape, only fuel is at Birdsville and Mt Dare but make sure you call ahead as Mt Dare ran out last Aug for a couple of days.

Will

The SA deserts pass is $150. I did notice a reference to a single park pass. At a quick glance it does not cover the Simpson. Worth asking David16 about his though again.

This is the SA link SA Desert Parks Pass

Enjoy the drive. It was amass with flowers when we went through.

Phil

Things must have changed we had a fire at Dalhousie when we were there in 2011, bit sad as that's half the fun.

It's funny how different conditions can speed you up or slow you down, we didn't take it too hard in 2011 but went across after a bunch of T-Van owners (21 of them)....the dunes were terribly chopped up and scalloped and we in fact took 5 days, 4 nights to get over....although we did depart about 8.00am and pulled up between 3.30pm and 4.00pm each day.

The two days after Purni Bore we managed just 50 kms a day VERY VERY hard going.

But great fun

After the polite request and explanation not to take them in the SA Desert Pass Documentation pack, anyone I see towing in the Simpson I would consider them either selfish or don't care about the environment or anyone else.

Phil

BUT PJR (Phil) they still do, I bet hundreds of trailers go over this year.

I am doing the CSR in July-August they forbid them BUT I bet we see some on the way.

I don't have a worry with people who have them, just take them where appropriate and leave them at home when not.

May their clutches burn out or their autos fry. Am I being too harsh?

Yes they stopped fires and wood collection this year.
For the record it's not only trailers that potentially damage the tracks, when we got to Mt Dare there was a group that took 6 days as they had to winch their mate in a poorly prepped vehicle over ever large dune, they were a party of 7 and thought it funny! Should have seen the mess they left behind them!!
I would have sent him back at Big Red!

There is only one comment:

"I am doing the CSR in July-August they forbid them BUT I bet we see some on the way."

Slight correction, you cannot take trailers on Cunyu Land (Well 1 - 9 I think ) you have to go in via Granite Downs or Glen-Ayle Stations and both charge a $20 fee for using their track.

The thing is that these are some really nice areas so if you tow a trailer then you miss out.

We witnessed a group going through and they were having real trouble, tyre pressures were high and they were tearing up the dunes - we were behind them and it did get better when we past them.

We heard them from far away over the radios and they were getting louder & clearer when we got closer.

Cheers

Cookie

Will, you can still have fires in Simpson just not Witijirri park, plenty of wood out in Simpson for you!

Nothing beats a cool evening in the desert after dinner with a nice cuppa. And a fire to keep the chill out of the bones.

This was our first night and morning in the desert. Headed in from Purnie Bore and along the WAA line. Nice open spot to enjoy our first evening. Just a solo drive. Desert flowers everywhere.

Location: 26°19'14.00"S 136°44'16.00"E

Wood came from home - white bags in the profile photo. Only used two. Small price for purchase and diesel usge to take our own.

Phil

Yes not only trailers....hard to imagine this but we came upon a group of three going across, one if them was a Subaru Forrester.

They were literally towing it up and over each Dune!!

They also thought it was "great fun".

On our first visit to Big Red we had to use that detour down to near the wire fence. We followed a Forrester on the detour and after getting stuck several times he finally got the message and turned back. Minus some underbody plastic protection as well.

Even with a small lift and larger tyres we were scraping the bottom of the 100 series along the center "hump".

AAAAAGGGGGHHHHH.

I admit that some people and SUV/AWD combinations go everywhere. But not ALL. That's what people forget. Too much ego and not enough humble pie to realise that they are not the worlds best drivers after all.

Phil

The worst thing about these people is that they can really stuff it up for those that are following, either immediatley (as in having to wait) or the damage they make to a track.

Yes I have to laugh at the little 4x4 sign at the back of an X-Trail....yes it's a "all wheel drive" but it certainly isn't a fourby.

I was on Fraser Island at Easter and saw a little Nissan stuck on some rocks.....I cant't imagine the damage they would have done getting it off.

Oh well, all sorts of people make the world go round they say!!

Hi PJR & Mark,

I crossed The Simpson last year with my 4WD Club where we went across in convoy from Mt Dare to Birdsville in 4 days.

Every car in the convoy was self sufficent, carried their own fuel, spares (including 2 spare tyres per vehicle) & recovery gear. Prior to the trip there was a great deal of planning, communication and trip meetings between members to ensure everyone was aware of the challenges of the trip and what was required for each vehicle.

Our 4WD Club takes the "Tread Lightly" motto seriously, camper trailers were forbidden amongst our group and the main aim was to cross the Simpson in the safety with minimum impact to the environment. Every vehicle in our convoy crossed the Simpson with not one mechanical issue, including a flat a tyre, and every vehicle traversed Big Red with no problems. Not once was any recovery equipment in our convoy used. We had a diverse mix of vehciles & drivers in our convoy.

On approaching Big Red, our convoy got all vehicles to the top with minimum fuss, not necesaarily by the most challenging track up, but we all got to the top nonetheless. I can safely say that the group that was there before us & were trying endless times to get their vehicles up the dune via the hardest route were far from "Treading Lightly"!

As a side note, the 4WD Club was the Subaru & Recreational 4WD Club and 2 of those cars in our convoy were Subaru Foresters.

Cheers,

Go Jo! :-) Cape York next...