2009 PradoPoint Simpson Desert Crossing Poll

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

Thanks for the reassurance Mav.

My issue is that I need some people to say that they will do it. We don't want to get all the way around to Alice and then find that we are alone for the crossing back. If this is the case we would not be able to go as a lone trip across the desert is an extra amount of risk that we would not be able to carry.

If there are some out there who could give an indication that they would like to return in this way, I would very much appreciate it.

Martin

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

The good thing about planning this far out is that we could accommodate most.

I can go either way, but would prefer the Madigan Line. Perhaps we can discuss this as a return a trip.

Just a thought.

-Ben

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re:

Thanks for the reassurance Mav.

My issue is that I need some people to say that they will do it. We don't want to get all the way around to Alice and then find that we are alone for the crossing back. If this is the case we would not be able to go as a lone trip across the desert is an extra amount of risk that we would not be able to carry.

If there are some out there who could give an indication that they would like to return in this way, I would very much appreciate it.

Martin

Hi Martin,

just posted in the Simpson Crossing thread. I'm keen and would have my father in law tag along as well. I've also seen LFaR express interest (I think) so there should be at least four vehciles (including your self0 interested in a return trip, West to East, after the GTG.

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

Re: 2009 PradoPoint Simpson Desert Crossing Poll

Good to hear from you Nick. Perhaps we will get some more interest now.
Martin

[STRINCO Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close STRINCO]

Re: 2009 PradoPoint Simpson Desert Crossing Poll

dont know if this info is of any use to you but i did the west to east crossing last year along the french line
we left oodnadatta & camped at mount dare 1st night filled up with fuel thenset off stopped at dalhousie for a look too windy so went on & camped at purnie boar good spot hot showers next day camped helf way between purnie & poppels slow going 12 to 15 km. per hour then poppels to birdsville over big red about 5 hours driving.
to get over big red you need to be doing about 90km per hour at the bottom to make it over the top use your auto box as a manuel change down manuelly as revs drop below 2500
autos are easier the mans. bogged down in changes and diesels usually took 3 or 4 attempts
fuel to birdsville from mount dare
4000 V6 116 LITRES
3400 V6 112 LITRES
4700 V8 100SERIES 125 LITRES
4500 NISSAN 125 LITRES
P.S ALL 4 WOEMEN HATED EVERY PART OF THE TRIP ACCROSS THE MEN LOVDE THE EXPERIANCE
HAVE FUN

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

Re: 2009 PradoPoint Simpson Desert Crossing Poll

Thanks STRINCO,
It is always good to hear from someone who has had the experience. Your trip seems very quick. I hope that we dont do it quite so quickily and get to experience the desert a little more. I have done big red Oct last year. I had no trouble going east to west even though it had a one metre lip at the top. I had two goes on the west to east as I took my foot off the avoid the drop off at the top. Second time I let the sand slow me at the very top.

I have a diesel and was doing about 60 kph on the approach. The auto looks after itself. I think it will depend on the conditions on the day. I have seen utube footage of people having heaps of trouble getting up at a great rate of knots!

Martin

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

Re: 2009 PradoPoint Simpson Desert Crossing Poll

I've also seen LFaR express interest (I think) so there should be at least four vehciles (including your self0 interested in a return trip, West to East, after the GTG.

G'day Shaffer,

Yes mate, I am still planning on doing this crossing. I was discussing it with my wife just yesterday. She's thinking of swapping her seat with my brother as she will have recently returned from the Kokoda Trail and not sure if she'll be up to another adventure so soon after.

Cheers,
LFaR.

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

Re: Re:

I've also seen LFaR express interest (I think) so there should be at least four vehciles (including your self0 interested in a return trip, West to East, after the GTG.

G'day Shaffer,

Yes mate, I am still planning on doing this crossing. I was discussing it with my wife just yesterday. She's thinking of swapping her seat with my brother as she will have recently returned from the Kokoda Trail and not sure if she'll be up to another adventure so soon after.

Cheers,
LFaR.

Matt,

If your brother can't make it I can use a ride.

-Ben

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

Re: 2009 PradoPoint Simpson Desert Crossing Poll

I've also seen LFaR express interest (I think) so there should be at least four vehciles (including your self0 interested in a return trip, West to East, after the GTG.

G'day Shaffer,

Yes mate, I am still planning on doing this crossing. I was discussing it with my wife just yesterday. She's thinking of swapping her seat with my brother as she will have recently returned from the Kokoda Trail and not sure if she'll be up to another adventure so soon after.

Cheers,
LFaR.

Matt,

If your brother can't make it I can use a ride.

-Ben

Fantastic, we'll still get to see you down-under. Bewdy!

Mate, I'll be very happy to have you riding with me across the Simpson. So count on a ride and I'll figure out how to move things around in the cabin if need be.

LFaR.

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

Re: 2009 PradoPoint Simpson Desert Crossing Poll

I will keep a watch on this post over the next couple months. I cannot commit at the moment but this trip sounds good. The missus and I are maybes.

Just for info - I did it west/east back in the mid nineties in a stock standard Jeep Cherokee. Only thing changed on the car were to put Goodrich A/T's on. That was more for the rock tracks either side of the desert. We did the Rig Road. It was an easy 3 day drive. Didn't stay at Dalhousie. Too busy and too organised. Purnie was much more relaxing. The only thing I would do different would be to spend 2 nights there.

We avoided the French Line as it was described as straight and boring with heaps and heaps of dunes. Put yourself into the tyre ruts and just go straight ahead for 3 days.

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

Re: Re:

Fantastic, we'll still get to see you down-under. Bewdy!

Mate, I'll be very happy to have you riding with me across the Simpson. So count on a ride and I'll figure out how to move things around in the cabin if need be.

LFaR.

I'm definitely still wanting to make it, however the FJ can't. I need to list all the problems I'm coming up with. Everything was all good when the markets were still over 1200, however My insurance company is going belly up, Toyota thinks I'm shipping out the vehicle to skip out on the loan, and the shipping carriers insurance is not adequate for Toyota financial. I was thinking of paying off the vehicle with a second mortgage, but no one is getting loans because of fears that the value of houses will fall below the loan amount.

I need to come up with a network of Pointers who would want to share passenger seats and campsites.

Julie is thinking of staying stateside because she wants to spend time with her family and Kennedy before she grows up too much.

-Ben

[Auto-Craft Inactive Find all posts View Profile Close Auto-Craft]

Re: 2009 PradoPoint Simpson Desert Crossing Poll

Where are you flying into when you get here dates etc ?

DMc

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

Re: 2009 PradoPoint Simpson Desert Crossing Poll

Where are you flying into when you get here dates etc ?

DMc

I will more than likely arrive in Sydney (date undetermined, but around the 25th of June), travel up to the Gold Coast to meet up with Matt and cross the Simpson with him. After the GTG I have no idea where I will go from there, but would like to see Kakadu or the Barrier Reef.

What did you have in mind Darren?

[Auto-Craft Inactive Find all posts View Profile Close Auto-Craft]

Re: 2009 PradoPoint Simpson Desert Crossing Poll

Just getting the details, so a plan could be formulated :wink:

Kakadu is a long way, and is a nice place to drive by, and I really prefer Litchfield on the other side of the Hwy, some great swimming holes, lost city etc.

If you arrive Syd and head to Bris, and No of barrier reef trips could easily be fitted into a day or 2 then, and that would be plenty of time to see what you need to see there.