Simpson Dessert

Huggy,

We may just happen to cross paths, depending on which tracks you decide to take.
We are departing Birdsville around the 27th to head west.
Our crew are going to spend about 6 nights in the desert zig-zagging our way across.

Geoff.

Hey Mate...

Do it all... we did west to east...

French/Rig/QAA/Knolls/WAA and more

Best way to do it...

If you just do the French, you will be bored outta your mind by the time you finish... up... down... bounce bounce bounce, up, down, bounce bounce bounce...

Cheers Mate

Some say the Rig Road is the shortest but hardest.
The further south you go the easier the run.
However we did the WAA last September and it was no smoother than the Rig Road. It is longer though but generally quieter. You will use more fuel.
On the rig road diesel, which yours is, usually uses around the 100 litres from mt dare to birsdville so if you take the WAA Line you will use a little more, depending on what vehicle you have. My Prado used around the 124 litres doing Rig Rd, WAA to lone gum then WAA then Knolls track then QAA. Air con on all the way and loaded to the gunnels.
This site has some great links on fuel consumption accross the desert so have a browse through there.
The WAA line you will average around 16-18 km per hour. You don't want to go any faster as you want to enjoy the scenery. Watch the mozzies at Dalhousie.
In answer to your question I would top up with supplies at Leigh Ck as Oodnadatta has bugger all and so does Mt Dare. These towns are for fuel and essentials. If you need them by all means go there as I love to support our outback suppliers. It is a great few hours at Mt Dare, a good chat a good stop for lunch. We stopped there for lunch and fuel. It is good to put a little income towards these people. If everybody did that these people will be around for all of us for along time.
In answer to your second question the most challenging route would be straight across but be careful of on coming vehicles. The amount we passed with out even UHF radios or the ones that did never had them on channel 10 were amazing. The WAA line I idled up in first gear most dunes. Only a couple I had to give it a little bit and these were as we were getting towards the eastern side of the trip.

Remember plenty of drinking water and tyre pressures. We ran 18 cold and had no trouble. You will have to go down to about 14 for big red. Have fun.
Hope this answers your queries.

120scruiser

Huggy,
From Oodnadatta to Birdsville in a diesel I have been with vehicle that have used between 90lt and 120lt. Petrols I have seen that figure doubled. Going to Mt Dare just to get fuel is not worth it.

No matter what track you take it is going to be a challenge.
The French Line would have the most traffic on it as it is the shortest way across
The WAA Line, the way I go, has a little less traffic and will still allow a run down to the Lone Gum Tree.
The Rig Road, of which I have not been on is a good one if you are taking a trailer because some of the dunes are still capped. I might be wrong with this as I am only going on hear say.
Allow 3 nights in the Desert. We go from Dalhousie Springs after lunch and camp just on the WAA line.
Eyre Creek is our last camp and from there it is not a big day to Birdsville with time to go over Big Red.
Tyre pressure will vary from trip to trip but around to low 20 psi for the main part of the trip and down to 15psi to get over Big Red. This will vary so don't be afraid to adjust the tyre pressure as you travel.
Have fun, don't forget the red flag and don't rush.

Wayne

I also may be going up that way about then but have no firm dates yet. As I will prob rent a 100 series could someone sugest how I can best make and fit a dune flag that I can put together in Alice Springs before we set out.
Thanks.

Huggy,
Did this trip West to East last July. Fuel used from Mount Dare to Birdsville was 125 Litres in a 2004 GU 4.2 fully loaded and this included some very wet/tough sections between Mt Dare and Dalhousie springs.
Mate & I did the french line as it was just after the rains & the WAA line was still extremly hard/impassable. Ran the majority of dunes in 2nd & 3rd low at an easy lope. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip
Spent 3 nights in the desert. Due to the earlier rains we ran our tyres at 25 psi and dropped them to 18 for Big Red [Photo at end is my rig on top of Big Red]
Have fun as it is a great trip

Go from Oudnadatta to dailhousie , have a swim , then do a trip to Mt dare and back to dailhousie for another swim before heading off into the desert , well worth the 38 d water .