Simpson Desert - how much fuel
Submitted: Monday, Oct 06, 2003 at 12:48
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Gordon
I am planning to cross the Simpson in my 80 Series manual TD. It has the original standard fuel tanks 90L + 45L. Typically I average 13.5 L/100k for a mix of highway and track driving - fully loaded, roof-rack (no trailer). I'd like to hear from anyone who has crossed the
Simpson Desert with similar truck/set-up to advise what fuel economy they got, how much fuel they took, which way they went and how long it took.
Reply By: Member - Al Symers (SA) - Monday, Oct 06, 2003 at 21:57
Monday, Oct 06, 2003 at 21:57
G,day
Gordon, The fuel usage is about what the other have said but you need to allow for the prevailing conditions, your driving style etc. Don't drive straight across the French Line but take a number of the tracks. You'll find it more interesting anyway. As for the time it takes, plan on spending as long as you can to do the crossing. I planned on a 3 night camping crossing and spent five nights and could of taken longer. The slower you go, the more you will see and it is surprising how much there is to see. Go for walks along the dunes and it is surprising to see the variety of plants and animals out there. There is even a resident koala at the
lone gum tree.
Enjoy your trip.Nil Taurus Excretus
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Larry (Blue Mtns) - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 10:10
Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 10:10
Most of the experts recommend taking 200l. However this allows for emrgency detours etc.
We have just completed the west-east crossing. Unfortunately it was during the recent heatwave (about 50C at Poeppels) & ended up with horrendous winds & a sandstorm. We didn't stop very much & took 2.5 days.
Surprisingly (to me anyway) we did most of it in 2WD (you could do even more but I'm a bit of a novice) & no aircon. We were in a loaded Pajero 3.5 with 3 adults. We were on a tagalong & our leader was a conservative driver. His advice was to gun it up the dunes in 2WD unless there was bad sand at the top (sometimes he forgot to warn us). Since returning somebody else told me they used 4WD & walked it up the dunes. No idea which is correct - as I said, I'm a novice.
From Mt Dare to
Birdsville we travelled just under 600kms & used 125l.
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Follow Up By: Member - Mal - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 11:15
Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 11:15
Larry,
Your leader was a conservative "bleep". When traversing sand dunes the correct method is to have deflated tyres, (about 15 to 20psi) select 4WD and travel moderately slowly up the dune in full control. As you approach the top be looking for an escape route as there maybe one of yourbleepleaders mates
gunning up the other side not in full control or worse a trail bike airborne. This way you don't bugger up the track, stay safe, conserve your vehicle and fuel and get to appreciate
the desert.
Those soap boxes seem to be gettimg higher all the time.
Regards,
Mal T.
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Follow Up By: Member - Larry (Blue Mtns) - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 16:31
Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 16:31
Mal
My choice of words was unfortunate.
Gunning was not what he suggested. In fact his advice was to always keep the revs below 2000.
We did deflate to about 20 when we got to
Lone Gum Tree (just before actually as that's where we camped the first night). A big problem reinflating them in those temperatures & those winds!!
As he was always at the front a collision on the top of a
sand dune, for the rest of us, was quite remote.
Regards
Larry
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Reply By: Member - Stephen (Broken Hill) - Saturday, Oct 11, 2003 at 23:49
Saturday, Oct 11, 2003 at 23:49
Earlier this week - we crossed the Simpson by the French, WAA, Rig and QAA tracks, 650km from Mt Dare to
Birdsville - used 113 litres of diesel in a 100 series manual (with aftermarket turbo).
Realised at
Birdsville that I had enough for a return journey to Mt Dare without filling up (was tempted - but had other things to do).
Cheers
Stephen J.Simpson in September.......
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33452