Simpson Desert

Ben, your post begs the question, why so quick a trip?

Ben

Think you better go to another destination.

Why is it a marathon to cross the desert?

As for night driving, you have no idea on what the desert is like to drive and not just a straight forward drive.

It is bad enough at day, with many dunes having sharp turns at the top and night travel could be dangerous and regardless how good your lights are, it would be like driving blind.

Just my thoughts, but why rush a great drive.

Late May 2017, I travelled Birdsville-Mt Dare on French Line, to meet up with some mates before a trip to the Geocentre. First evening I got to the Knolls turnoff & camped, jets passing overhead for much of the night!

Second night, camped just west of FL junction with the Rig Road, the only delays being a chat to 2 blokes in a Hilux & a look at Erabena oil well. Got to Mt Dare around 4pm on 3rd day, after 30 min chat to EO member & his mate Jim, at Dalhousie. Used 80L for the trip, a well loaded V8 LC ute with alloy canopy.

Would be 2 big days to get to Dalhousie in that time frame. A bit of night driving might help you achieve your goal, but at “normal” average speeds, you’d be travelling well into the night to make any appreciable distance.

A run down the K1 & along Rig Road would be quicker, but greater distance so not sure you’d gain any advantage?

Bob

To add to Bob's comments, you also need to add in delays caused by convoys and people getting bogged on the dunes. All things that will hold you up.

Unless you have an absolute reason to be pushing it, I'd slow down somewhat as it could be hell on you and your vehicle. The dunes could be really cut up by then and if you go like a bat out of hell up the dunes all you'll do is bounce all over the shop and send you and your gear through the roof and your suspension through the floor pans.

Your winch is only as good as the anchor points available and they are few and very far apart. Take recovery boards, low tyre pressures, and a compressor, and most importantly a mate to use the shovel.

Is it any wonder people get stuck in remote areas and rely on others to risk their safety because someone didn't listen to experience. You come across as a typical suburbanite who has a fanciful idea that racing across a hwy or area is a must. Why not plan it sensibly and listen to what others have said. All gungho and no idea doesn't make for a safe trip..especially travelling at night.

I think you'd be pushing it to get across that quickly. Have you considered leaving the night before and driving for a few hours to get some km's under your belt.

How about taking a short cut across Warburton Crossing? This gets you into the middle of the Simpson more quickly and save 200kms of Birdsville Track. According to Google Maps it's 371kms from the turnoff to Birdsville and then to Poeppel Corner. If you go across Warberton Crossing it's 191kms to Poeppel Corner and the desert part is fairly quick because you're going along the swale (base of the dunes) instead of over them. You could also turn off onto the Rig Rd to make the trip across the desert quicker still.

You'd have to check the crossing is open though - it's currently closed.

Last time I did it the roads from Dalhousie to Alice weren't in great condition - the bit out from Mt Dare (from memory) was really rocky and we slashed a tyre sidewall.

Hey Ben your doing it all wrong mate IMO
if your going to Finke desert race ..
Best trip we ever did to FDR was to watch the race then after head across the desert with losts of other inc many motor.. bikes like minded people. really really good atmosphere , in the desert & at Birdsville afterwards..
Note : like other have mentioned , the french line is probably to rough on your car to do it in 2 days , i remember travelling in 2rd gear for long periods in my manual ranger ..the other problem is that your trying to locate other on the track heading towards each other & it blind !!
anyway happy travels

Keep in mind that your average speed will be 15 - 20 kms per hour if conditions are good.

So 200 kms in a day = 10 - 12 hours driving, not allowing for any stops or any hold ups like bogged cars in front of you or any necessary detours etc.

Its a great drive so take your time and enjoy the experience.

Night driving in the desert is good fun as well.

Everything is a different world in the dark but its also difficult to maintain your orientation on the track so progress will be slower.

We've been crossing the desert since the early 80's and it has got harder as time goes on due to ever deteriorating track conditions, gone are the days of liesurely 3-4 day crossings, these days allow 5-6 for a comfortable trip allowing time to actually stop and look at and experience the country, your passengers and vehicle will thank you.
The main tracks are no longer straight but wander all over the place so maintaining a steady speed is hard and driving requires lots of concentration.
The week before the Finke desert race is absolute bedlam, a few years ago we had a friend experience a vehicle breakdown on the French line and we camped beside the track for most of that week and average vehicle numbers were in the 80's every day heading west for the race, many thought they were already competing and there were lots of unregistered bikes and quaddies, many with no helmets and riding in thongs! often at stupid speeds.
Then there were the ones in their brand new V8 twin cabs with everything that opens and shuts asking to buy fuel as when chipped and fitted with big tyres they absolutely drink it in soft sand.
Also forget about the rig road being any easier/quicker as most of it is just as slow and corrugated as the rest of the tracks. Many of the eastern approaches to dunes were that scalloped out that some of the dips were over 500mm deep as people attacked the approaches with way too much right foot and overinflated tyres.
Don't get me started on people towing trailers !

Traffic on the French line? Why would you think that?
https://youtu.be/Hog4novnJRE
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Hi Ben,

A wise choice to change your strategy. However, even a 3 day 2 night crossing might be pushing it, particularly from East to West. The eastern side of the dunes is generally considered to be the more difficult approach as they are longer.

We have crossed the Simpson twice from West to East, and each time we allowed 4 days 3 nights, which was a comfortable crossing. I understand the reasons behind what you want to do, however, perhaps it would be wiser to leave the Simpson for another time when you could take more time to enjoy the actual trip.

I think someone else has suggested taking the Oodnadatta and then across Hamilton Station to Old Andado and onto Finke and then into Alice as an alternative.

Macca.

It will be a hard slog but you could do in in 2 very big days and One night .
You will sleep well when you are finished .
I have done the crossing 8 times from both directions and it’s about the same in difficulty.
It’s easily achieved in 3 days and 2 nights .


Enjoy the trip.

Gidday Ben, maybe check Thread ID 143616 for SA link to road closures. More rain forecast too.

https://www.dit.sa.gov.au/OutbackRoads


happy travels

Hey guys just wanted to give an update for future interest and a thanks for everyone that gave advice. Just completed the Simpson crossing west to east. Travelled very easy from Dalhousie springs to Boulia in 3 pretty easy going days including many stops, chatting, beers at Birdsville and getting up the hard track of big red( after a few attempts). I left the desert with the feeling that a reliable vehicle is the most important thing to consider. Even a typical suburbanite like me found the overall drive very simple. I only put the troopy in 4wd about 3 times on the whole track. Big Red was the only real challenge, but you can avoid it if you want. We found there were a lot more people coming the opposite direction and they didn’t seem too stressed. I was told at Birdsville Roadhouse that a typical 4wd tow truck recovery would cost about 8k, so again car reliability and carrying critical spares is paramount. Other than that if you have a 4wd and basic driving and camping skills, go for it!