pathy across the simpson

I'd be taking a hell of a lot more fuel than that for the Pathy - they are very thirsty - especially in sand.

Maybe ask in the Pathfinder club forum - I am sure you will get the right help there. Just go to www.pcoa.org.au and follow the links to the forum.

40L of water is fine if you don't have breakdowns and you're not going at Frying Time. Should you be unlucky enough to be broken down by yourselves in the heat you have enough water for 4 days for the entire trip. Say the breakdown occured on day 2 or 3 and you had to wait a while, you may find it uncomfortable.

We have just been across. I'd be taking more water than that. The month is important. Sep/October and you can get 40 degrees shade temp and windstorms that dry you to a crisp. We got just this. Any later and it starts to heat up for real. How many days do you want to spend crossing? If you want to look around a bit, you will want more days and more water. Do you intend washing? How much are you allowing for cooking? We had a team of doctors with us as we were supporting a pushbike race. Their advice was to check your urine regularly. It needed to be "copious and clear". In the conditions we had, that required a good 8 litres of water a day per person. And if you drink a few beers you need extra water on top of this! In my opinion you need double the water you have allowed. If you finish the crossing with 20 litres to spare, that's good organization. Check how you intend storing the water. It is all too easy to damage taps/containers while bouncing through the rough stuff and find you have lost 20 litres that you were counting on.

Hi, Just a mention of the fuel for the Pathy, My mate and I ( My 3ltr Man Pajero 89 NF.) We have done several trips together and we just got back from 5.000 ks in Outback Sa & QLD and he managed 7.7ks plt and I got 7.3. But last year we went thru the Vic deserts 2.500ks ( a lot of heavy going ) and I got 6.9kpl and he only got 4.9kpl. It seemed that being auto it was hunting up and down all the time and he nearly ran out before we got Redcliffe.
WE both have vans and it is the same story , his consumption is increased about 1/3 when towing.
Better to be sure than Sorry Cheers Des.

Hi Ingo57

Firstly I would carry both more water and more fuel. I have a 3.5 V6 Jack and we used about 130L to get across, We had a pretty easy trip, but it could have eassily been alot harder if we got caught in the rain and we would have chewed more fuel. The pathy wont have a problem doing the trip, but make sure you have it planned. It takes longer than you think to do the kms.

Enjoy the Trip, it is awesome, Take more Fuel (About 180L), Sand flag, Eprib, UHF and water. Stop in and see ruth at birdsville caravan park and see hi for me.

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Rather than spending $1400 on a long range tank, what are the thoughts of strapping and securing 5 x 20 litre plastic jerrys to the front of the roof cage lying down wrapped in a piece of carpet. I know its been done on the larger 4wds but on a a pathy would you think it would make it too top heavy on the simpson dunes? Ive measured up in the cargo area with all my gear in, and I can achieve squeezing in,another 30 litres of water. If I was to take any more It would have to go in front of the cargo barrier where I dont want any heavy objects that can get thrown around the cabin.

Ingo 57. You haven't mentioned sparewheels. It is good policy to have two spares across the Simpson, so unless you have a carrier, you might be carrying a wheel as well up top. I'd consider carrying the fuel cans inside, behind the barrier and put lighter but bulkier gear on top, but I understand the reluctance to have petrol inside. (Score 1 for diesels) If using jerry cans, have look at a Tanami pump (small and light) and enough fuel line so you can transfer fuel without having to move your jerry cans too much and tipping and spilling contents while trying to use them. You will be carrying a decent air compressor for the tyres anyway, so just connect it to the Tanami to transfer fuel. Rather than wrapping jerries in carpet, vist you local truck tyre dealer and get some BIG (tractor) tubes that are about to be thrown out, cut them to appropriate length and pull them like socks over the jerries.
After my first Simpson experience I decided my trusty 4runner just couldn't take the gear that I thought was really required for a family doing this sort of trip and changed to a 60 series Cruiser.
If you aren't happy with the fuel/water/gear/weight distribution issues, consider advertising on this network to team up with another vehicle(s) crossing around the same time and share some items around.

Sorry ngo, I didn't mean to imply that you should sell the car, I was just sympathizing with the difficulty of planning this trip having tried the same exercise in something of the same dimensions. Suggest trying to team up with someone rather than cut down on water, fuel and spare wheels.
Cheers