Anyone crossed the Simpson recently?

Gday Ruth, we were out your way a few years ago on our postie bikes and you did brekky for us before we took off for alice.
Was out again in march but I think you were out of towwn.
Will be out again in june (not on posties this time) and would be great to catch up,

any word on Rig Road?
seeya
Philthy Hodgens.

Hey Phil - heard you were looking for me in March, knew from the description it must have been you! We'll be here in June, for the rest of the year actually so look forward to catching up with you.
Going out to the SD next weekend or the one after so will give you a first hand account of the Rig Road, o.k.

no worries ruth, we'll be in late on sat, june 7 on big orange bikes that sound like harleys. We're coming from all corners with riders getting in at different hours but most of them know you... you are a national legend!!!!
seeya
philthy hodgens

Ok, picked a big weekend - it's the Annual Birdsville Gift weekend - (like the Stawell Gift) and on that night Graeme Connors will be performing. Look forward to hearing you arrive.

If you need a set of Maxtrax then you're doing something wrong with your shovel & tyre gauge ;-) Not neccesary on the Simpson.
Cheers Craig...........

Thanks for that Crackles,

since I actually got a space age shovel (fibreglass handle and aluminium blade) and a decent tyre gauge, I might be better off saving the money.

And now that I come to think about it, I'll also save the weight. By coindidence two of them are about 8 kilogramms and that roughly makes an extra slab of Boag's Premium. Looks like it's going to be a much more enjoyable trip. Tahnk you for that, mate.

I'll give you a ring as soon as I'm bogged.

Cheers Wolf

If you are travelling with other vehicles, I agree you probably don't need Maxtrax but if you are travelling alone they can be a life saver. An Air Bag and Maxtrax will get you out of most places. I always carry them.

Dick,

joking aside, since I'll probably be driving alone, I actually do intend to buy a pair of them for this trip. In the past, I've been using the European style aluminium boards several times with my old truck which was quite heavy compared with a Troopy. They helped me to get out of a few bogs, for instance in western Tassie where you can find a few nasty patches if quite soft sand.

Cheers Wolf

What tyre pressure would you be using in sand Wolf ?

Good question Kiwi Kia,

to be honest it is my first trip in soft sand with this vehicle. On my former truck we had 255/100R16 (that's equal to 9.00 R 16) Michelin XZL tubeless on split rims. According to the manufacturer manual you could go down to 11psi before they finally come off the rim. I never had to try less than 15psi.

With the Troopy (7.50R16 tube type split rims) I plan to travel as light as possible and only take what's necessary for a couple of weeks. But still the vehicle is quite heavy.

I thought I'd start with something like 18psi and go down to 15psi if that's seems still too much. I've noticed you drive the same car when in OZ, what are your suggestions?

Cheers Wolf

Wolf, you are on the right track with your tyre pressure for the Simpson. You should not get bogged at all - most difficult thing is discovering the feel of the crest of the dune because you have no idea on most of them which way they will go as you crest them - whether left or right - and it will only take a couple of dunes to get the feel. Biggest problem is when you back off when almost on the crest - you know the old saying he who hesitates is lost!Well that's the same for the dunes. With the very soft sand blown in is sitting on the top and can try and trick you as you crest it. Lots of fun though. The weather is absolutely beautiful - 27 now as I type. I don't go very fast and usually in high range - mostly use low range for the mud. Have a good trip - will look out for you around the town.

Hi Wolfe, Take note of Ruths comments.

I was rather heavy in my Troopy and had absolutely no bother - till I buttoned off that few metres short just as Ruth says :-))

Prevailing wind seems to have a southerly aspect to it which moves sand along the top of the dune and travelling east to west nearly every dune has a kink right then sharp left at the top.

I ran my standard Troopy tyres at about 22 psi. and was quite prepared to go down to 18 if required. As long as you make ground and the vehicle doesn't wander in the back end start off at say 22 and see how you go. It's all a good learning curve. I am used to loose gravel beaches and old rather hard dunes so soft dunes was a bit new to me at the start. After backing off a couple of dunes I soon found out where high first gear was and used it just as I got to the crest on a few dunes and had no more problems at all.

My Troopy when fully loaded with 270L of fuel is about 3,700kg. If I don't need that much fuel I don't carry it. I normally carry about 100L of water.

At 3,700kg, I set my rear pressures to 22psi and I get about 320mm footprint which will work in most sand. The front needs to be at 18psi to get the same footprint.

Hi Dick,
What is your tank arrangement to get 270 L, have you got a third 90 lt tank ?

Thanks to Ruth and all the others for the good advice. I will try hard not to hesitate too much :-)

Cheers Wolf

Kiwi Kia, the Aux Tank has been changed to a Long Ranger 180L tank made by Out of Town 4WD in Newcastle. I also have two 55L Plastic Tanks that I can carry if I need the extra range. With all that fuel and about 100L of water the Troopy is very heavy so I only do it when I need extreme range.