Simpson Desert trip

G'day Martin, the Simpson is a wonderful trip, although a couple of days for the crossing is probably a bit quick. Our group has made several trips through that area, crossing both ways and have quite a bit of experience in desert driving. For our last trip, we followed the Hay River to Poeppel Corner and then to Birdsville via the QAA line. This time a couple of us took camper trailers. I know others will say its easy to take a trailer, our experience is that we wouldn't do so again. I love going away in my camper, but it didn't add to the trip this time. One of our group had to have more than one go on a few dunes along the QAA - it was fortunate he was able to reverse correctly back down the hill with his trailer to have another go. The potential for damage to the track along with the unnecessary strain on the vehicle makes travelling light a good idea.

If you have to take your trailer, the Rig Road is probably the best - although it was fairly rough last time for us - you still have to negotiate the QAA line though as Warburton Crossing will be out for a while. We haven't towed over the French Line or WAA line, but some of these dunes can be quite difficult, more so with a trailer.

It sounds as if you might be travelling alone too - hopefully you can get some others to accompany you across, particularly if you get stuck with the trailer.

But if you are well set up, have a good vehicle and experienced in driving in that environment - go for it. The Simpson is a fantastic place to visit - as we do often. Have a great trip whatever you decide.

John

Martin

You asked for suggestions.

Go to a camping gear type shop that caters to the mountaineer type. Get some good compact light weight gear. Practise packing it in the vehicle with the essentials like recovery gear, water, food. Allow four or five days for the crossing.

Depending on vehicle there may be no need for extra fuel. Twin tank diesel Landcruisers for example do not need extra fuel for the Simpson.

You should find you have no "need" of a camping trailer on the Simpson.

Unless you have already crossed the Simpson several times under different conditions of dry and wet you should not even consider taking a camper trailer across. Some very experienced people can and have taken them across successfully but there are very few of them and they know who they are.

For the rest of us taking a camper trailer across is a recipe for disaster. The crossing can be relatively easy or incredibly hard depending on conditions. Camper trailers are better left behind for other trips.

Flynnie

Hello mzo,

The first time I crossed the Simpson I went with 2 other families and we all towed camper trailers.

We took 3 days to cross went from East to West took the Rig road and had no problems it was a fantastic trip.

We all thought to ourselves what was so hard about that, after reading so much negative stuff. We never once got stuck and all our vehicles were standard 4wd's. Our campers are off-road campers not garden trailers so built for the trip.

Make sure you have a UHF , sand flag and drop your tyre pressures in both vehicle and trailer and have a great trip.

Cheers Scioof . :-)

Year to year and week to week, the conditions can change. One year we did it in a non turbo 3l hilux, high range all the way with 28psi.

Then we did it with the current model TD Auto hilux and struggled on many dunes running 12-15psi and saw many trailers broken. We did not tow on both trips.

So depending on the conditions the trip can be done with ease or can be a very challenging we have found.

Christian

Hi Martin,
We crossed the Simpson west-east in late July. Our trailer is a Tvan, and our travelling partners towed an older style Jayco Flipper. Our route was down the Rig Road, up the Erabena Track, the French Line to Poepell Cnr, then QAA to Birdsville. (our advice was the Rig Rd was impassable on the east side.)

The Jayco lost a suspension leaf set day one, we bush mechanic-ed it and made it to Birdsville OK. I can tell you honestly that I would be very careful about towing in the desert. Personally, there are maybe three trailers that I would tow.... our Tvan handled it well, the other two are just opinion based on things I have heard/read etc, so I won't mention them here. Extremely well built trailers with good suspension are a must.

Our journey took 4 nights, leaving Purnie Bore Monday and arriving Birdsville Friday. A couple of days isn't enough, unless you want to drive long days and not take the time to really "see" the desert. It's a long way to go, just to be "in a hurry". I realize that people have itinerary's etc, but take your time and soak it in!

Our rig is a GQ Patrol 4.2 diesel fitted with an after market turbo, and as mentioned towing the Tvan. We used approximately 140-160 litres, a full 92 litre main tank & 40 litre aux, plus two 20 litre jerry cans. I can't remember how many litres we filled with in Birdsville. For water we have a 70 litre tank on the Tvan plus 3 20 litre jerry's, and a "back up" of 20 litres drinking water.

The key to sand driving is tyre pressures and momentum. I ran 16 psi all round, including the trailer, for the crossing. The momentum is something that can't be taught IMHO, you will need to work that out yourself. West to east was easier for our crossing as the dunes aren't as steep that direction. I had to have second goes at about 6 dunes all up, and 3 goes at one particularly soft crest.

In my opinion, the outback has the most magical scenery, and the Simpson is a place of awesome beauty, and if you're not well prepared, a place of danger as well. Prepare well, and you'll be fine!


Hope this helps somehow Martin, keep us posted on your preparations etc, and the trip itself.

Cheers

Brian

We did it this year with a trailer, late July, it was a lake, not a desert.

conditions, conditions, conditions...
take any advice based on this recent season with a big pinch of salt.
I've made a a dozen or so trips across the simpson and this last season was much easier than all the rest due to the rain. got nearly every dune first go in an old non-turbo hilux, doddled up big red both sides first shot. the damp and compacted sand made it feel like a different place - very easy driving.
we sat on top of big red as you do and were amazed to see soft roaders and all sorts of low clearance 4WDs tootling up the west side of big red making it look easy - amazing.
i've never towed a trailer but i've seen a few people have epics with them - mainly jackknifing while reversing and being unable to drive forwards again uphill in the sand. I just can't see the need. you'll have much more fun without one and you won't have the worry of "will i be able to back down that dune if i get stuck". as a previous poster wrote you'll pick up an adequate lightweight tent for a few hundred dollars.
not sure why you "need" to help others in your group with extra fuel and water? are you going with dirt bikes? if it's just 4WDs everyone should be able to carry an extra gerry can or whatever they need.
whatever way you end up doing it - it's a beautiful place - enjoy!

Martin to start with I wouldn't recommend a 1st timer tow a trailer across the Simpson solo. It can be very difficult at times.
You could wait in Birdsville & hope to find someone in a similar position as you who is after company to cross. There will be alot of people at that time but I wouldn't hold my breath. It can be a big commitment to escort someone towing a trailer & my experience travelling with total strangers in remote areas has been somewhat chequered :-)
You could look at joining a 4x4 club or internet forum trip & crossing with them.
You could forget the trailer & have a rethink on what gear you actually need & how it could be packed. Have travelled for 10 years with a family of 5 & managed to fit it all in.
Get some adventurous friends. I would have at least 4 invites per year to cross the desert.
Good luck, Craig..................