First timer across the Simpson

[K & M McF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close K & M McF]

In 2003 when crossing via the Rig Road I averaged 14.5 l/100 km. I did not deflate my tyres at all. I expect your route will use more fuel per km but it is a shorter distance. I used 3/4 of each tank from Birdsville to Mt Dare.

[hux22 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hux22]

Thanks to all those who read my post and a big thank you for the advice. I appreciate the sharing of wisdom that the Forum makes available to all of us.

The major service on my Prado included a new clutch, several new oil seals, a new brake master cylinder,new belts all round (with the old ones kept as spares), new radiator and turbo hoses, radiator flush, new coolant, new brake fluid, new brake pads, a thorough check over by an experienced 4wd mechanic and the mandatory service.

Before I get too excited does anyone have any advice about lighting as we will have to travel at night to keep up taking videos and photos of the runner....

Peter

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Before I get too excited does anyone have any advice about lighting as we will have to travel at night to keep up taking videos and photos of the runner....

Peter

Buy quality lights, dont get cheap rubbish, the cheap ones are just ok for the burbs, but go outback and you will fall well short, If you go for HID, get the genuine fitted ones, dont go for retro fit HID, if you go for Halogen, only go for Fyrlyt, they are the best on the market and are not much more expensive than other brands on the market, I can not understand why people buy more than one set of cheapish lights for their rig, it is actually costing them more and giving them less light than if you bought one set of high quality lights, if you have a roof rack, put a set of LED work lights on the back and hook them up to your reversing lights as well, or if you dont, make up a light pole and put one light on it.

[hux22 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hux22]

Thanks again to all for your answers to my many questions and for the advice from "seasoned" travellers.

Does anyone have experience with those blow moulded water tanks that can fit behind the rear seats?

What capacity are they and where do you get them form if they are any good?

[SOL Find all posts View Profile Close SOL]

Thanks again to all for your answers to my many questions and for the advice from "seasoned" travellers.

Does anyone have experience with those blow moulded water tanks that can fit behind the rear seats?

What capacity are they and where do you get them form if they are any good?

Hux22, Mate here is a link for stainless steel one. They are not to far from where you are. I am looking at getting a couple made for myself.

http://www.offroadsystems.com.au/water_tanks.html

SOL.

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

Does anyone have experience with those blow moulded water tanks that can fit behind the rear seats?

What capacity are they and where do you get them form if they are any good?

You can go that way. We just used the 600mL and 1.5L bottles from Aldi. They're cheap and fit into all those places nothing else much will fit into. We lost one bottle that wore a hole on our trip across the Simpson a couple of months ago. It only dribbled a bit. The other bottles were fine. We took 80L across. The big advantage of bottles is that the volume reduces as the water is used up. We were very happy with the setup, and it is very cheap! I quite liked the taste too.

[Chris_M Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chris_M]

Have a look at the Mt Dare web-site http://www.mtdare.com.au some good tips on travelling in that area including expected fuel and water consumption.

[Palmer Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Palmer]

Thanks for the link Chris_M