Simpson Desert Feedback

Hi Paul
We are off in about 2 weeks times as well but from friends that have just returned last weekend, it had been a very slow wet trip trough the whole Simpson. They went the French line and were travelling solo and bogged many times, not in the sand , but mud!!. After being helped out by other travellers using their MaxTrax, he said they this is the first thing that he is going out to buy. Eyre Creek Crossing was about 450mm deep, but very firm.

To answer your question, you will have not problems at all, the most important factor is tyre pressure.

Have a great trip and be prepared for mega water stretches out there.

Cheers

Stephen

Standard jap shocks tend to go limp very quickly on hard work like this, as has been extensively reported by various magazines.
The Most recent was a test of the new model Prado in this month's 4x4Australia.
So a good set of shocks would probably help as the minimum ground clearance in sand is usually the rear diff, which doesn't change unless you put bigger diameter tyres on.
Regards Philip A

Hi Paul.

We did a trip across the Simpson in our first 90 series Prado. We had planned to spend about eight days criss-crossing various tracks, so were carrying three jerry cans of fuel, and four jerry cans of water.

During a (fully loaded) trial run in preparation for the trip we found that the rear suspension sagged, so that even getting out of our (city) driveway we bottomed-out at the rear.

A set of Polyair Springs in the rear fixed that. Other than that our Prado was stock standard.

George_M

Just got back from Simpson (French Line) and no issues at all. Vehicle with no after market lift should be OK. There are numerous 'chicken' routes over most of the larger dunes. Excellent trip.

Good luck.

G`day Paul,
We crossed the Simpson last week from West to East on the French Line and the QAA line. It rained the first night out and from then on it became very difficult in some places. We were bogged for 7 hrs trying to return to the track from our camping spot, burned out my winch on the process.
Further on we came across a Father and Son bogged in a long wet section ( say 300 to 400 mtrs ) who had been there for 28 hrs, we joined with others and eight of us managed to get them out.
Another couple and grandchild in another long boggy section blew out two tyres at once about half way across and needed help changing wheels before being rescued, all these wet and boggy sections were about half way up to the knee deep of mud.
There is a long and rough detour around the salt-pan at Poeppel Corner.
The Eyre Creek crossing was closed and the alternative crossing approximately 500 mtrs downstream was knee deep with a hard bottom but the exit up the bank on the east side was cut up badly and difficult to traverse.
The track over Big Red from the west is closed as there is a very large lake in the swale immediate before it and so a long detour is necessary here also.
The wheel ruts in some places were so deep that a lot of vehicles, including my 60 series L/C with a 50mm lift, dragged on the bottom so I am not sure how you will go. As the wet areas dry out new tracks will be made through them so you may be ok.
I would think that if any further rain falls in the near future that the track would be closed.
Regards,
Scrubby.

Hi Paul

back from the Simpson week and a half now in a lifted prado we ran down the rig road to the bottom and up the K1 to Poppels Cnr and in to birdsville.

When we hit the french line we followed a prado as i could see the fuel tank imprint on the top of the dunes. I was loaded up fairly well and tested the suspension and ripped the rear bar off on a step due down the bottom of the rig but other wise not a problem.

If you are loading up the car then yes strongly recoment a lift if you are going empty you will make it. How ever the standard suspension will need regular resting to cool the shocks and avoid shock fade.

what a great time to travel the simpson (out of holidays)

Regards

Trevor

Hi ya

As a Prado owner, I did the Simpson last year on standard suspension. I have good tyres Procomp and did not encounter any probs. Just remember to air down when required.

Wayne

Mate of mine bought a new Cruiser in 2006 and first thing he did was take it across the Simpson as a support vehicle for Desert Mums Charity walk.

NO mods no nothing Standard Grandtreks and never got stuck once.

The only problem they had was, it was too dry to tow the trailer with the fuel and water in it so they had to make buried fuel dumps and just take the car.

Would be a bit different this year with the big wet I guess but it can be done.

PS its still got red dust in it.