Simpson Crossing Oct 2019

Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 09, 2019 at 18:47
ThreadID: 139173 Views:5910 Replies:6 FollowUps:12
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West to East from Dalhousie - 200 Series Cruiser - unseasonably very hot 39 degrees, just kept driving! 15 driving hours over two days - Dalhousie to Birdsville.

Sand varies - "red" sand was actually easier than the light coloured "yellow" sand particularly in the middle of the day.

Never got out of High Range, never stuck, but the track is badly "scalloped" - worse on East side but pretty bad either way. V8 doing it a lot easier than most.

Start and finish of journey 28 psi - Desert itself 18 psi - Hankook All Terrains were excellent. 20L per 100kms with two up Cruiser, BUT no pack rack. Canning - same vehicle 22L per 100km WITH pack rack
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Reply By: Gronk - Wednesday, Oct 09, 2019 at 19:10

Wednesday, Oct 09, 2019 at 19:10
Did you have a scangauge or similar to observe trans temps ?
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Follow Up By: Robgarns - Wednesday, Oct 09, 2019 at 19:23

Wednesday, Oct 09, 2019 at 19:23
Ah …. No! Never looked at a guage of any description climbing a dune - just thanked Mr Toyota!
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Reply By: Member - Boobook - Wednesday, Oct 09, 2019 at 22:08

Wednesday, Oct 09, 2019 at 22:08
Wow. 39 degrees and 15 hours of driving over 2 days.

Did you enjoy it?

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Follow Up By: Robgarns - Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 07:45

Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 07:45
Enjoyed? Maybe "Challenge completed"! Was not our plan however just hit a very hot spell 6-8 degrees hotter than usual so pragmatic choice and change of plan - coolest place was in the car and if you are in it you may as well move! July/August would have been much smarter

Plenty of other crazy people out there - motor bikes in trouble - heat stroke, fractured ribs. Cyclists pedalling sand bikes on Simpson Challenge - very dangerous in my personal view
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Reply By: chart - Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 00:35

Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 00:35
We did the same trip back in July this year in our Troopy. We took 4 days used just over 100L of diesel so i think thats 10 litres per 100ks. Loved every minute of it and found Big Red very easy. Love to go again.
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Follow Up By: RMD - Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 10:45

Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 10:45
Chart
Does that mean the Simpson is 1000km wide?
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Follow Up By: Batt's - Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 11:12

Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 11:12
10 Lph I want one of those vehicles.
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Follow Up By: Ken Rd - Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 11:41

Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 11:41
Accurate numbers for 200 series - 612kms and 127 Litres - Oodnadatta to Birdsville via French line + 20.7L per 100kms

Confirms to "rule of thumb" = normal consumption plus 50% is about right.

We used 20L collapsible fuel containers - aircraft quality via Skyshop - zero fumes, zero leaks, carried them in the back seat - once empty, take up very little space. Way better than Jerry cans in my view.

https://www.skyshop.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=1858
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Follow Up By: RMD - Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 12:45

Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 12:45
Chart
If you used 100litres, presumably from Mt Dare to Birdsville, the approx. distance is 510km and 100L used means a rate of 19.6L/H km. A tad more than 10L/H km I reckon. Ken's figures above also indicate similar economy.
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Follow Up By: chart - Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 21:41

Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 21:41
Got that wrong didn't I !
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Reply By: Ozhumvee - Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 08:07

Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 08:07
39 isn't unseasonally hot for this time of the year, we've been out there several times over the last 40 years in the Sept/Oct school hols and seen 50 on most trips at some time with most days well over 40. I'd reckon it was bit on the cool side and you were lucky.
It isn't really enjoyable when it is so hot and once the sand heats up it is very soft and it isn't unusual when trying to walk up a dune to have your feet and legs buried above the socks.
Hard on the vehicle too and there is no incentive to stop as there is no escape even in the shade.
I've also wondered at the timing of the bike race, why not run it in the cooler months?
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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Friday, Oct 11, 2019 at 15:41

Friday, Oct 11, 2019 at 15:41
Peter, probably chose this time of year as there would be less traffic, albeit warmer ambient temperature. But why ride a push bike across this type of desert, crazy in my opinion. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Not only do you have to contend with the high ambient temperature, but you also have vehicles to contend with coming over blind dunes.

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Follow Up By: rumpig - Friday, Oct 11, 2019 at 16:43

Friday, Oct 11, 2019 at 16:43
They probably did it then because as you said, less traffic to run them over
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Reply By: Frank P (NSW) - Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 08:59

Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 08:59
We got that heat in Tibooburra, Sturt NP and Innamincka. 38 to 40 deg for about 5 days.

This trip is the grandson's introduction to the Outback, and to the desert which he has wanted to see after seeing our photos over the last few years. We did a day trip into the Simpson from Birdsville, about 10 dunes into the NP. 22 degrees and easy driving.

Big Red was easy as in the cool morning, but on the way back in the evening after a day of warm sun and some traffic I couldn't do the steep Big Red tracks without reducing pressures. Couldn't be bothered for one dune just to prove a point so took the easy track, no problems.

Heavy BT50, especially the rear - typical dual cab - I had 18psi in the front and 24 in the rear and had no problems, was able to drive every dune at a steady speed, no bouncing around.

Track scalloping was not too bad between the park boundary and Big Red, only a few dunes badly affected.

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Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 10:18

Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 10:18
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The Simpson is the short route for our visits to the Western Deserts and the worst we have encountered in many crossings was several years back heading home east in the first week November. It was 42 degrees and our air conditioner had failed!!! Normally would not choose to cross after end of September but running a bit late this time.

Apart from being uncomfortably hot it was a good trip. Only encountered two other vehicles. May have been more comfort to drive at night but that would be very risky. No difficulty with traction with our usual 18psi all round. Usual cursing at track gouging caused by drivers with too much tyre pressure and too much power and too small..... well, I don't really know that do I?

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Follow Up By: Member - Warrie (NSW) - Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 20:44

Thursday, Oct 10, 2019 at 20:44
No need to go to Simpson when nearby Fraser Is has equally dry sand. Lowest rainfall on record there in last 3 months so it's like powder. Trapping the unwary driver or three. Eurong resort even watering some tracks to give better traction. LOL. On the Manta ray I couldn't help but think of your "Honey I forgot the handbrake post" This time the ramp was raised and secured as per regulations...W
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Follow Up By: rumpig - Friday, Oct 11, 2019 at 06:46

Friday, Oct 11, 2019 at 06:46
I just got back from spending 10 days on Fraser Island, the place was easy to drive around with tyres deflated appropriately. The usual spots were claiming those that obviously hadn't deflated thier tyres enough, but yeah you could see the island like most parts around SEQ is calling out for a good drenching.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Friday, Oct 11, 2019 at 10:50

Friday, Oct 11, 2019 at 10:50
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Hi Warrie,
Gee, that was nearly 3 years ago and I had almost forgotten the event.
We were on that barge again a couple of months after the roll-off incident and I tried carefully to raise the subject with a crew member but only got a terse "Don't know anything about that mate" response.
Furthermore, although I watched carefully for further media reports, there were none. Never did find out more about it. One of 'Life's Mysteries' I guess. lol

And yes, the lack of rain on Fraser in the past couple of years has allowed scouring of the main inland tracks badly. They are really rough and uncomfortable now. The busses get the main blame.
Roz doesn't want to go there anymore!
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Allan

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