Simpson desert

Most exciting is West to East

hey bro, if you cross by camel, then it won't matter which way you go bro

During the main touring season it makes very little difference. From the East the dunes are slightly steeper but generally smoother. From the west the approaches to the dunes are chopped up (from people with too high tyre preasures) often making run ups difficult. Either way it's a similar amount of effort to get over.
When the traffic dies down wind blows form on the crests making it far more difficult to come from the east, the main exception to this being Big Red which has always been steeper on the West side.
Then you must decide if you want to end your crossing relaxing in the Birdsville pub or soaking in the dalhousie springs.
Never seen any actual stats but I'd say far more people start at the Dalhousie end so if you go the other way you could expect more head on traffic, some thing to watch out for as you crest the top.
On the main routes accross it really doent matter which way you go, it's not until you start heading cross country on say the Madigan Line that it makes a huge difference in the power & fuel required .
Cheers Craig...............

Yep, pretty much agee with all that Craig has said.

This year I went East West with a bush trailer in tow. The dunes on the west side were very scalloped and speed had to be reduced considerably after cresting a dune. I ran the French Line to Erabena Track and then the WAA Line back to The French Line and Dalhousie. 6 dunes stopped me, two of which required alternative approaches.

Normally West to East is the preferred way. But I figure I have done my last run through the Simpson having covered all of the tracks in South Australia anyway. Still have to complete the Madigan Line and the Hay River but have done Jervois Station to the French Line some years before and drove to the Geo Centre of the Simpson last year with the trailer in tow. Trailers are a menace in the rough country and too hard on the tow vehicle. I now have to reorganise the Nissan to be able to go out there without the trailer.

Cheers

Willem (on Geroge's computer)

Just did east - west on QAA & WAA and then return west - east on Rig Rd , not much difference

Either way, make sure you carry a UHF, even a 1W unit is enough and regularly call out.

Make sure the tyre pressures are down to 12psi particularly on QAA soft tops, and about 14 -18psi for WAA or French lines.

Pajero NP Diesel used 110L French/WAA/French/QAA without any problems.

Scopping on both sides of the dunes so make sure everthing is tied down.

Seven , u related / know of the t/woomba Abbotts ?