Simpson desert stuff

[Siggers]

Hi guys,

Going to the Simpson next year. Yeps.

What to take in terms of stuff, prob be taking the missus and the little guy (will be 5 when we take the trip).

What to sleep in? Been told camper trailer is a no no...

Food to take? How many days before a restock can be done out and about?

And just some general advice, biggest trip we have done is Fraser.

Cheers guys.

[NTRubicon]

Try not to take a trailer, one of the several hundred (thousand) sand dunes will catch you out. Best done in a group and try to sleep in something that is quick to pack away, swags are good if you have a roof rack. It's better to get moving early when the sand is cooler, once it warms up its harder driving.

[Tyvokka]

Get a PLB of some sort to get help asap. I have been using SPOT GPS for a while now.

Go out with a group for sure.

[Siggers]

Yes, we are going with a few other vehicles. I believe one of them has some very good location devices.

[Cornelius]

Hire a Satphone from Birdsville hand it back at Mt Dare. A tent is fine with a warm sleeping bag and some thermal undies keeps you nice and warm. How many days before a re-stock ? You can do the Simmo in three days or three weeks ........basic supplies both in Birdsville and Mt Dare. What food to take ....... the kind of food you love and can easily make out there. Camper trailers are just a pain in the neck out there but if you have to you can take it. Make sure you know your vehicle's fuel consumption on sand ........and make sure you have enough to cover the distance between fuel locations ? What is that distance ? All depends on what route you are wanting to take. Vehicle spares .......belts and hoses .....a good set of tools .....if you can a spare front and spare rear shock, zip ties and fix all tape. Multiple water containers ....... Try and be very practical about what you take .........take only what you need and will use on the trip. The Simpson crossing is not hard at all .......but the dunes and ruts can be hard on the suspension ..........make sure your suspension is in good nic and you have a set of good all terrain tyres ........ Drive slow , take it all in because if you rush, it will be all over too quick. The flies come out around 9am .....be ready to depart camp before they decide to be out and about ..........unless you like swatting flies for hours keep going till around 3:30-4pm , the flies are generally gone by sunset .......... Get some of those fly screen hats for mum and the kids Have the usual sand recovery equipment. If you have done Fraser for a week or so without much re-stocking of food and the like then you have had good practice for the Simmo ............ Hope you have a good trip PS: We did the crossing from East to West ...........and it was fine .......in fact I would probably have turned around if we did it the other way as the western sides of the dunes were rutted to hell by camper trailers being towed ..........driving down that side was shitty enough ........so don't be scared to do East to West ..........swimming in Dalhousie hot spring after days in the desert was the cherry on top

[Siggers]

Thanks cornelius, good info there. We are still planning the trip so once I know routes and stuff that will make it easier. Traveling in a convoy so I think it would be best if we share the load in things like cooking equipment and things of that nature that can be a communal thing???

[seb'sjeep]

It's a great trip through the Simpson, just remember to take your time going through the the desert. It's all about the driving technique with the dunes, its a pretty fine line between failing to make it up and launching right over the top so watch out for that. And watch out as many of the dunes are staged on the way up so it looks like the top from the drivers seat but in actual fact there is more.
As for the camping, best thing for it is a dome tent if you ask me. Heaps of space when set up and bugger all when taken down.
And definitely take your camera!