Vesko
Enjoying your trip report immensely. Being in Adelaide, must do something similar myself.
Did you ever get back to civilization? Is the re a final chapter in the report?

bookleaf wrote:

Did you ever get back to civilization? Is the re a final chapter in the report?

I wish the trip was never ending, but eventually I have to get back to work to pay the bills, wouldn't you agree?

I do agree.
We only work to be able to pay the bills and roam and enjoy our great country!

mikehzz wrote:

So are you on for Fraser Island or Cape York next time?

It's Fraser Island for me next, probably in September. I haven't given up Cape York just yet - I'm secretly planning a year (or two) long travel around Australia with Cape York and all, but not in the immediate future. Please don't tell my wife

Simpson Desert

http://veskopetrov.com/?p=7055

Keep it coming Vesko

I think I would be sh ng myself being alone and stuck in the sand. In fact I would probably not stray at all from a decent trail unless I was travelling in two's.

Credit to you.

Don't you worry that dropping the tyres to 12 psi could allow the drive torque to break the tyre/rim seal

Vesko wrote:

mikehzz wrote:

So are you on for Fraser Island or Cape York next time?

It's Fraser Island for me next, probably in September. I haven't given up Cape York just yet - I'm secretly planning a year (or two) long travel around Australia with Cape York and all, but not in the immediate future. Please don't tell my wife

I would love to do that. The ideal vehicle would be a dual cab ute with a little lift, nice tyres, foxwing awning and a slide out kitchen and fridge. I wouldn't like to be dragging a trailer through some of those places.

One of those guys you met on the dune was a bit jerky in his comments on the other forum. He back peddled a lot when pressed about the details from other members. Don't worry, you did the right thing in my opinion. Stuff happens doesn't it? It was more about him thinking the car was not up to it and he was wrong about that too.

Running at 12psi is ok as long as you don't want to turn a corner...

Just love your story of your adventure
Keep it coming!

EYorkshire wrote:

Don't you worry that dropping the tyres to 12 psi could allow the drive torque to break the tyre/rim seal

I never thought of that. My 18" stock tyres were already quite worn before the Simpson crossing, but they held fine even later in the horrid rocky desert around Dalhousie Springs. The sands of Simpson are very fine, especially on a hot day, I've never seen anything like it.

mikehzz wrote:

I would love to do that. The ideal vehicle would be a dual cab ute with a little lift, nice tyres, foxwing awning and a slide out kitchen and fridge. I wouldn't like to be dragging a trailer through some of those places.

The slide out kitchen and fridge are tempting, but I still don't want to give up the possibility to sleep in the car. My "fridge" and "kitchen" are in a few boxes, which I pull out the back in about 10 seconds. I put them in one of these beach shade pop ups. If it rains I would stretch a 3.6x3.6m canvas (Vesko's design ) over the back, though I haven't the chance yet to test it in rain. I also love how comfortable the Freelander is, I can drive it for 16 hours and my bum never hurts.

But I might change, at Dalhousie Springs I saw a few guys with exactly the set up you described. They didn't bother even with tents, slept on camping cots under the stars and in the morning folded the cots, threw them in the drawers and were on their way just like that.

Mate I have a cot tent now, takes a few minutes to unfold like a swag on legs and waterproof. Easy as to set up, I only put the cover on if it looks like rain and it has a full insect screen.

Also, for your future information, that horrible rocky desert, and it is total crap, is basically called the Sturt Stoney Desert on the maps. If you ever go through Walkers Crossing out of Innamincka or Corner Country near Tibboburra then you will find the same conditions. You did well to get through with your tyres intact.

once again  Sophie Alltoft

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mikehzz wrote:

I wouldn't like to be dragging a trailer through some of those places.

I hate trailers as well - you would feel burdened like you are at home with the mortgage and the bills. What’s the point setting off then?

Speaking of fridges, have you ever considered a solar panels/deep cycle battery/fridge combination with the Freelander? I am thinking about it for my future long Australian trip.

I think about it all the time. We have sun coming out our backside (yes, we are that good) so it makes sense to use it. Keeping the battery(s) charged and running all the gizmos I have is a major concern. It's not so bad with just overnighters but if you stop remote for any length of time then they drain quickly. Keeping things cool in summertime takes a lot of juice. I've seen a lot of great setups for dual batteries, fridges and solar panels but you need the space a dual cab gives you to carry it all. Plenty of $$$ to get it all too...it's never ending.