Simpson Desert

"Have you practiced on an easier patch of sand like Stockton beach or the Vic/SA border track?"

Sorry Crackles, I agree with everything you have said except the bit about an easier patch of sand like Stockton...

I was on Stockton again just over a week ago and it is still very very soft. Much softer than anything I came across on my Simpson crossing. I did the Simpson with a fully loaded GU and CT as I said above, each time I have been to Stockton it has been on day trips with a light load on board.

But what you say iis right, if you are going to tow a trailer across the SD then you had better know what you are doing.

Duncs

Of couse you are right Duncs that there is alot harder sand driving in places at Stockton but was really only suggesting that one could have a play to test the car & hone driver skills in an area that isn't as remote & doesn't have the dire consequences should something go wrong.
I always find it difficult to recomend the Simpson to a driver with a camper trailer that has little if any desert experience particually after I've seen how hard the desert can be following heavy rain or even just a dust storm. Instead of 3 easy days I've had it turn into 4 hard days that would have been a nightmare if I was towing at that time.
Cheers Craig...............

Willem,

You old fox. You have obviously done this before.

While my pressures were harder than you suggest, but not too much, my approach tothe right foot is the same as you suggest.

Use as little throttle as you can to achieve the job.

Duncs

Hello Duncs

Cold enough in the Hill?

A bloke in Birdsville who does lots of forays into the desert reckons that 14psi in the truck and 8psi in the trailer is the go.

It is amazing how surprised people are when you get them to drop the tyre pressures low down and they drive with ease over the dunes.

In WA when entering dune areas in National Parks there are signs stating "Drop tyre pressures Now!!"

Yeah Willem it has been a tad cool over the last week or so. Pretty good at the moment though, 18 sunny and a gentle breeze.

The tyre pressure thing is something people don't seem to understand. Most of us were brought up being told about the dangers of underinflated tyres. Which is fair enough on the SS Comode or the Porche. Then we jump into a 4x4 and the placard says 36psi so we stick to it. I spent a lot of time on the end of a shovel learning my lesson.

The other thing that I have found is many don't have compressors. When people ask me what is the first accessory to put in the new 4x4 I always say a compressor. This is usually met with a stunned look and "What about a .....?"

When travelling the Oodna track a few years ago my travelling companion was stunned when I dropped pressure to about 24psi, but gee it made a difference.

Usually in the sand I drop to 20 as a starting point and go down from there depending on how it feels.

The sign at the entry point to sandy tracks should be standard. Some would still ignore it. The thing I liked in WA was the ranger at Steep Point was only charging the park entry fee to people with hard tyres. There were a lot of people dumping air that day.

Catch you around Willem

Duncs