gibson desert crossing

just to add to above we will be doing this in august

G'day Steve

Back home again for a few days.

I take it you mean the Simpson Desert?

I ran my pressures at 15 psi in the dune country. Once out of the sand towards Oodnadatta you could go back up to 25/28psi. What are you driving?

G'day Steve,

It looks more like the Simpson for what you are suggesting by geographic references. The sand of the Simpson influences the pressures you would run and low as Willie suggests. If it does get wet while you are there, but unlikely in August you would like to think you have some tread digging cabability otherwise a close tread seems fine in sand. Low tyre pressure on sand minimises damage to the environment even on the tracks as it digs it up less for the next driver.

One the stony tracks the deeper tread the better I think but running once again Willies' reccommended pressures in the 30-35 psi range. With our weights more like the 35psi, in your wagon 30 should be good, minimal bagging of the sidewalls for damage.

We pitched for the cheapest tyres last winter Steve, Chinese made American branded Hercules at $172 plus GST. I understand from others that many of the outback dealers tend to stock up on these too. Good and chunky but can get muddies too if you want them. They kept clean actually even on the wetter sections. Have done 15k on them so far and looking good. You can even get higher ply ratings too. I reckon the deeper the tread the further away the piercing stones are from the air in your tyres.

Willie has made comment in other places about his Coopers and chipping.

I can send you a pic if you like Steve. Hope Denny is well too mate.

Just reading your post-this will interest you.
A friend and I, in two vehicles ,crossed from Birdsville to Mt Dare and up the Old Ghan 2 years ago in Sept
1 vehicle was a 4.2 turbo nissan
The vehicle (near new ) had fuel problems and was eventually tracked down as a blocked fuel filter which is installed inside the Banjo Fitting above the fuel pump,
not the main filter.
recommend you go to your service man and get hin to demonstrate this little thumb shaped gauze filter and how to remove it.It caused all a lot of heart ache out in th desert.I think all the dunes and corrugations shook small particles up and eventually they built up in the fuel filter. we ran on 18PSI all day and had no tyre problems.