Anyone heading across the Simpson end of June?

There will almost certainly be others on the Simpson at the same time as you and you will probably meet other traffic at least a few times each day. Having long range communications means that there is always help within a few days at the most.

You should be OK on your own if you have a reliable and well equipped 4WD vehicle, including at least a 2 inch lift, extensive recovery gear including maxtrax, snatch strap, shackles etc and preferably a winch and diff lockers front and rear AND you are experienced in driving in soft sand AND you have long range communications capabilities such as HF radio and VKS737 membership or else sat phone.

Having an automatic lessens the chance of getting stuck in sand.

Good luck.

Hi Litlbalt

I would say just go for it by yourself, you will be fine.
The crossing is actually not that difficult, and contary to what some people say the most recovery gear you need to carry is a long handle shovel, although carrying a snatch strap and shackles is always a good idea. I assume you would already have a UHF radio and sand flag of some sort.
If you happen to get in trouble, which I highly doubt, another vehicle will pass at sometime to help out.
Chris

Litbalt,
We are heading over in early July also with two kids. This will be our third trip but this time we are going solo and while we have mixed emotions of what if and excitement we cant wait. The last two trips were in the school holidays and you will come across people each day.
On top of your recovery gear either a satphone or HF will give you great comfort.
Dean

Hi there- Are you aware that Qld school holidays are June23 to July8? Should be a few people around!! Cheers, Graham.

G'day Litlbalt

I've done the Simpson a dozen times - on every track and in all directions and the only recovery equipment I have ever used is Panadol and Berocca !

The only time I use the long handled shovel is for you know what !

I'm with Gossy - drop your tyre pressure, use correct driving technique and the worst case scenario is - you will use your shovel !

Have a good trip

Gazz

I appreciate the candid and reasonable responses of a number of the members. Take a shovel, tyre pump-compressor and common sense. A satphone is good value for peace of mind, but hardly imperative. Some people seem to get a bit hooked on the boy's toys and gadgets... A few extra bottles of water wherever they'll fit. Recycle your empty soft drink bottles and fill with drinking water.

think it will be quite like a hwy that time of year
we are heading accross from east to west in vic school hols , group of father and sons ,we are expecting a reasonable amount of traffic that time of year