Simpson desert in a jimny frenchline etc

Submitted: Sunday, Jul 07, 2024 at 21:59
ThreadID: 147983 Views:2196 Replies:11 FollowUps:19
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Hi everyone I have a jimny yr22 model long range 80litre tank 40mm lift Oldman emu bf Goodrich all terrain tyres auto
Is it possible to traverse Simpson desert via frenchline and QAA from west to east in September
Thanks all for your replies
Sean
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Reply By: Bill P - Sunday, Jul 07, 2024 at 23:36

Sunday, Jul 07, 2024 at 23:36
Careful mate you’ll upset people have spent $200k on their vehicles to “do it the right way”
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Follow Up By: Member - Bigfish - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 07:26

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 07:26
Dont do it mate!!! You need at least 35 inch tyres, 3 spares, colour coded arb bull bar, 8 foot aerial, 6 driving lights, 4 sets of maxtrax, 12 inch map screen, mandatory Akubra hat, large ego and a massive v8 engine.....otherwise its not possible..

Dont ask me how the Aboriginal communities got their holdens and ford sedans out there!!!
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 11:01

Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 11:01
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OK, OK, I'll dump the Akubra.

Cheers
Allan

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Reply By: AlbyNSW - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 07:15

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 07:15
No reason you can’t as long as you have the fuel capacity
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Follow Up By: Richard M29 - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 11:03

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 11:03
I did it with an 2001 V6 Vitara Automatic, it was almost new then, extra jerries, took it slow and steady, luckily it had rained somewhat 5 days before, wasn't boggy, but the sand was firm somewhat. I had raised rear suspension but normal up front, took our time, took us 7 days, did a lot of photography. You will have no problems, but take an extra jerry or two. Don't put them on your roof, have them in the back. Take a Garmin inreach or a sat phone.
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Reply By: Member - Rockvegaspowers - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 07:16

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 07:16
If you go early, Birdsville Races are on 6 & 7th September.
Rockvegaspowers

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Follow Up By: b1b - Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 12:03

Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 12:03
That weekend is a good time to avoid.
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Reply By: Mikee5 - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 07:42

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 07:42
A Simpson Desert crossing could be about 600kms (off the top of my head). You will probably use 15 litres per 100 kms. Minimum fuel with no reserve works out to 90 litres assuming no detours and reasonable track conditions.
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Reply By: Member - Jim S1 - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 07:47

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 07:47
Hi Sean

You'll do it much easier than most . Just let your tyres down and take plenty of water and fuel.
Probably warm in September , but quite OK.
Have fun.

Cheers
Jim
ps give yourself a day or two to enjoy the Dalhousie hot springs.
"Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." A fisherman.

"No road is long with good company." Traditional

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Reply By: Member - McLaren3030 - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 08:37

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 08:37
Hi Sean,

Despite the comments from those who obviously do not have a well prepared Touring Rig, you can cross the Simpson Desert in pretty much any well prepared stock high ground clearance 4WD. My son crossed in a stock standard 4WD Hilux, no lift, no Bullbar, no winch and no Maxtrax. Whilst we carried these, he did not and did not need them. However, I would not recommend crossing without at least a set of 4 Maxtrax and a shovel, if you are travelling solo.

The secret is high ground clearance, correct tyre pressures, not being too heavy, and being able to carry enough fuel and supplies to last 4 to 5 days. Whilst it should not take you 5 days to cross, you need enough supplies, particularly water, to last until assistance arrives if you get stuck or breakdown. You should not rely on others for emergency food or water. If you know what your fuel consumption is like normally, you will need to make allowances for the extra you will use being in sand.

You will need a South Australian Desert Parks Pass, (obtainable online), a UHF Radio tuned to Channel 10, and an approved Sand Flag at the appropriate height and position on your vehicle, all are mandatory. A 5 Watt handheld radio will suffice, as long as you have a means of charging it along the way. A Satellite Phone whilst not mandatory would be good to have as well, you can hire one for the time it takes for the crossing. A PLB or EPIRB would also be a good addition in case the worst was to happen.

I would also recommend you contact The Birdsville Hotel and enquire about their Recovery Insurance. $499:00 I think. If you do not need it, you do not get your money back, but it is better than $10,000:00 minimum if you did need recovering and you did not have it, particularly if you are travelling solo.

I would recommend that you check the track conditions and the weather just before making the crossing. The track is likely to be cut up at that time of year, as both the Finke Desert Races, and the Birdsville Bash which were held in the last couple of weeks will have undoubtedly left the track in pretty bad shape.

Good luck, it is a great trip. Plan a stop at Dalhousie Springs for a dip. I have crossed three times, twice from West to East, and once from East to West, all on the QAA & French Lines.

Macca.

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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 15:50

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 15:50
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Maxtrax ??? …….Nah Macca. If a Jimny gets bogged you just pick it up and move it. lol
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 08:05

Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 08:05
Alan years ago I did some work up in the PNG highlands and the little Suzuki’s were the way to go as the strong locals just picked them up carried them through the bogholes if they got stuck
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 08:44

Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 08:44
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I can well believe that Alby. I have great respect for those little Suzi's.

My first car (in 1950) was a little Baby Austin Seven and I could lift one end of it on my own to drag it into a tight parking space. In later years, my ride-on mower had twice the horsepower!
Incidentally, an Austin Seven was the first car to drive unaccompanied up the peninsular to the tip of Cape York…. (Link)

Edit: Here is a Link to a re-creation of that journey in 2015 and a pic of the replica Austin at Laura.

Cheers
Allan

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Reply By: Stephen L (Clare) SA - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 08:42

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 08:42
Sean

You will do it with ease and far easier than the most will admit.
Smile like a Crocodile

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Follow Up By: Sean A2 - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 11:26

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 11:26
Thx for everyone's advice
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Reply By: Michael H9 - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 09:12

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 09:12
The car's fine. About fuel, on very odd occasions, people have gone in a long way and had to turn around and come back because they can't get through. This can considerably add to the amount of fuel you need if you want to budget for rare events. Something to think about.
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 10:32

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 10:32
The most important consideration is tyre pressure management. Have a good quality, reliable compressor.
The lower the tyre pressure, the less you will bog and the lower the engine revs will need to be, so the lower the fuel consumption will be.
Sit on the top of the sand and climb the dunes at a fast idle. If you spin the wheels you failed. Let more air out and use less power.
Too low tyre pressure will overheat the tyres if your speed is too high. Slow down. Watch the tyre temperatures carefully.
Leave the maxtracs home. You won't need them if your tyre pressure is low enough and weight needs to be saved for fuel and water. Take the shovel.
Personally, I would not choose BFG AT tyres because they are 3 ply walls and that means they will get hotter due to the flexing when run at low pressures (edit), but many use them successfully and your big advantage is low weight. Keep it as low as possible.

The Simpson is much more that a 4WD challenge track across some dunes. The slower you can go the more you can absorb of the country. Take as long as your water will allow.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 15:46

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 15:46
Peter, I felt sure you would post some pics of you crossing the Simpson in the Mini.
lol
But I agree with not carrying Maxtrax. Just a shovel. Needed for toilet anyway.

Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 16:35

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 16:35
We took Minis to many places Allan, but never crossed the Simpson in one.
We did fit one with dual 12" front wheels travelling west from Coward Springs to Billa Kalina, because I thought it would be better in sand.
It was horrible and it did not help, except when we used a couple of fence posts like railway lines to cross a wide sandy river.

Cheers,
Peter
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 17:53

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 17:53
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It looks like a Mad Max love-child Peter.
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Allan

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Reply By: Gbc.. - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 11:06

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 11:06
find room for another 30l of petrol for the crossing depending on what your normal usage is. Manuals use much less in sand than autos as a rule. I did Hay river then into QLD last Sept during the heat wave - still was doable. Zukes are a match made in heaven for sand driving apart from the wheel tracks not matching the standard 'gauge'.
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Follow Up By: Member - rocco2010 - Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 11:50

Monday, Jul 08, 2024 at 11:50
All of that.
Did some travelling in remote parts of WA a few years ago with a group that included an older lady with a Jimny. Went everywhere much bigger cars went, often more easily.
Wheel track and washouts could be a problem but like most things all that was required was a little care.

Cheers
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Reply By: Andrew L - Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 10:57

Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 10:57
You wont have any issues doing the crossing, but you will regret it....being tossed around in suzi@15 km/hr. I found it taxing in my 200, had to swap drivers every 2 hours, shoulders and neck cop it from constant movement. Consider the rig road, and drop the tyres to 12 psi.
Your looking at 560kms of sand, halve the kms you can get out of 80 litres and that will give you an idea of how much you need for the crossing

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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 11:26

Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 11:26
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You make a very good point Andrew. I cannot imagine how the Jimny's short wheelbase will cope with those track gouges on the dune faces.
We experienced a very uncomfortable experience on our first trip long ago and promptly replaced the Troopy's seats with Stratos suspension type. Softens the impacts somewhat but you are still bounced. Bit like riding a rodeo bronco. (I imagine of course!)
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 13:16

Tuesday, Jul 09, 2024 at 13:16
Get an OKA. :) :) :)
4 1/2 minutes of QAA line.
https://youtu.be/tVjhkj6Sm8Q
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 at 07:41

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 at 07:41
Plenty of articulation on the OKA’s suspension Pete.

Macca.
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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 at 09:16

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 at 09:16
More about spring length than wheelbase I reckon?
Cheers,
Peter
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 at 09:47

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 at 09:47
Peter, my concern of "wheelbase" is that the Jimny's short distance between from and back wheels would cause a greater vertical angular departure from a straight line and thus a greater rocking effect as each axle drops through the gouge.
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Michael H9 - Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 at 20:12

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2024 at 20:12
Pat C was saying in a short video how his new Ford F150 ute travelled so much better on the CSR due to the longer wheelbase bridging the whoops made by the shorter wheelbase utes. It must be true. :-)
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Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Thursday, Jul 11, 2024 at 10:14

Thursday, Jul 11, 2024 at 10:14
I think the F150 is about 3.7m wheel base (and 5.9m long). The OKA is 3.0m wheelbase (and 6.0m long).
Cheers,
Peter
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