Boat fuel tank on roof .

Eric,

I am not sure if your vehicle is petrol or diesel.

If you are going from Birdsville to Oodonadatta or the other way west to east 200lt would be more than enough if you are running a petrol and 140lt if it is a diesel.

I think I used 100lt on the last crossing, west to east.

One jerry can will get you through plus what is in your tanks.

I would put as little as possible on the roof rack.

What time of year are you planning to do the crossing and in what direction?

Wayne

Eric,
Cheap option? Use the boat tank, fill it at the last moment and then empty it into your tank as soon as there is enough room. Don't wait till the tank is empty before filling. I assume the tank is vented? Don't want any nasty surprises in the middle of nowhere. TUFF 80 should be fine without a long range tank
Roland

I was going to ask the same question, the boat fuel tank sits lower thank some jerry cans on the roof.

Hi Eric,

Just one thing, I run a Deisel vehicle now but about 6 years ago we done the SD with my vehicle and another running petrol/LPG. Word of warning don't run you LPG tank down to nothing. If you travel over rough roads with an empty Gas tank they have a tendancy to shake the bolts loose in the sender unit. I still remember laying under my rig with an allan key slowly creeping these bolts up with gas whisling past me, not a great feeling. We didn't hear the leak until the 70ltrs of gas was in the tank. Had a freind have the same problem at Kulgera after going out to Chambers Pillar. Leave in about 10ltrs and you will have no probs, with the pressure against the sender.

Hi Eric,

Just one thing, I run a Diesel vehicle now but about 6 years ago we done the SD with my vehicle and another running petrol/LPG. Word of warning don't run you LPG tank down to nothing. If you travel over rough roads with an empty Gas tank they have a tendancy to shake the bolts loose in the sender unit. I still remember laying under my rig with an allan key slowly creeping these bolts up with gas whisling past me, not a great feeling. We didn't hear the leak until the 70ltrs of gas was in the tank. Had a freind have the same problem at Kulgera after going out to Chambers Pillar. Leave in about 10ltrs and you will have no probs, with the pressure against the sender.

eric
agree with above-tank should be fine on roof for the 2-4 days across desert
personally wouldnt fill til either oodandatta or mt dare depending on where you go as last fuel stop and like above empty in as you go.
other people have more weight than that up top.
just make sure it is tied down really,really,really well(and make sure everything else in car is secure) and maybe carpet or something under it to stop rubbing.
have a great trip.

Eric,

Just as a guide we did the Simpson in Oct 03. I have a GU 4.2TD was towing a camper and used 130l between MT Dare and Birdsville.

We travelled via French Line then down Colson Track to Rig Rd back up to the QAA anf then back to the French and across Big Red into Birdsville. Total of 600km betwen Mt Dare & Birdsville.

I think the boat tank should be OK but do you need it?

Duncs

I'd be cautios about the plastic tank holing, or rubbin thru, or even splitting... Then your dekcuf...

Go the LRT.. If you dont use the fuel, BIG DEAL, but if you DO happen to use that amount, You will be happy.
You will hate the world if you ran out of fuel. remembering things happen with tanks, EG few on a club trip yrs back 2 cars split tanks within 200klms of each other..

TMNHTY,BIM...

Eric

I did the Simpson two years ago in a duel fuel 60 series. I carried 60 lites extra petrol and used it before I tapped into the gas. I reserved the gas to last as it was the only thing I couldnt re-fuel on.

On our way up to Dalhousie I stopped into a servo and picked up a map produced by the SA equivalent of the RACV which showed all the fuel locations and where were the places you could get LPG. This was very handing for fuel management planning. We were surprise however that quite a few places must have recently started keeping LPG as they were shown on the map as not having some.

I wasnt too concerned about running out of petrol however. I was travelling with 3 diesel vehicles and reassured by the fact that if I ran out one of them would have to go get me some! Would have been a nice couple of days in the desert!

Cheers

Angus

Would be great to hear from people who have done the the French and QAA Line in the following vehicles to get there fuel stats .

80 series 4.5 petrol
4.0 l Dico petrol
Prado 3.4 petrol
V6 Petrol Jack