Madigan Line

Can't answer many of your questions but having done country to the west of the Madigan Line. I would say that you are pushing $hit uphill with trailers but that is your choice. There was a recent article in 4x4 Australia Mag about a similar trip. They had a major breakage with a 100 series.

Go to my website, click on 4x4 and then read The Spinifex Trail. This happened a while ago but it will give you some idea of the terrain. Once again east to west is more difficult due to the way our winds blow across the continent.

Good luck!

I'd allow at least a week, preferably more, probably take longer.
West to east would be better, lots of fuel and water, work out your worst consumption and take more. I had a 1hz troopy and we used nearly 25 l/100k, sometimes more.
Permits unobtainable for QLd section, and also Aboriginal land in NT.
ABSOLUTELY forget trailers, hard enough with vehicles.
Make sure all vehicles are in absolute perfect condition paying particular attention to suspension and cooling system.

Simon

Firstly the Madigan Line is just that. Going overland between geographic points that Madigan recorded as he travelled on foot with camels. There is no road like the French Line. Your really have to choose your own course. There are however some more travelled parts because you can take guided tousr. Also apparently very hard if not impossible to obtain permits for aboriginal land.

I was in Birdville two years ago when a couple came in with one of the best equipped OKA's I have ever seen after doing the whole of the Madigan line. The vehicle had broken splines on the left hand side front drive shaft en route. The owner had been able to jam some timber into the hub which got them into Birdsville. He said it was literally bush bashing and log jumping and would have been easier with a D9.

If its not an offence to go to the opposition check out http://www.overlander.com.au/pg/destinations.php?dest=66.

I did the Madigan Line last year with Aussie Tracks.

> We are all running turbo diesel Landcruisers, some factory, some aftermarket.

If any are the IFS 100series, I'd leave it at home. You'll break the front end on the Madigan Line. Rigid Front LandCruisers and Prados would be OK.

> How much time should we allow for the crossing.

We took 12 days from Alice to Birdsville.

> Is it OK to do it east to west.

No, you won't get up the steeper slopes. When crawling over spinifex, you can't get a run up, so the dunes although not very tall, are more difficult. From teh west is the only way.

> How much fuel and water should be carry.

300 litres minimum for 6 cyl TDs.

> Who do we need permits off

You won't get permits for camps 3,4,5 and Camps 17,18,19. Andado station need to be contacted for camps 1 and 2. The section across to Colson Track and onto camp 6 is very overgrown and difficult - you'll stake a few tyres there. Camps 6 thru to 15 is crown land. Then I'd suggest you head south to Poeppels corner, and out along the QAA line. You will have had enough of walking over spinifex at a snails pace.

> Has anybody done it with off road trailers.

Forget it. Minimalist approach with plenty of the essentials is required. Once you cross the Colson track, you are committed as theres no way out until you get to camp15. Need to be fully self sufficient - no one will come to help you out there.

Its a hard trip but well worth doing for the experienced desert traveller looking for a greater challenge. Doing it with a company like Aussie Tracks is the best way IMO - they take all the hassle and worry out of. They are the only tour company willing to do the Madigan Line, and David and Joan Owen have done it 8 times, and placed the markers for the camps. No affiliation - just a satisfied customer.

Cheers
Phil

Would just like to add that we got 8.53mpg or 33l/100km in a Suzuki 1.3litre doing the Simpson from Jervois Station to the French Line. This was around 500km of Offroad driving. Hard stuff but happy to have done it.

Simon,

I'm doing the Madigan as well this year, 3-5 vehicles

When are you going? Do you want to share some planning information?

Regards
Tom