Category Archives: Simpson Desert

Vehicle performance across the Simson Desert

Australia, desert, Nissan Patrol, SA, Simpson Desert, Uncategorised

There was a variety of vehicles crossing the Simpson Desert with The Doc including a Toyota Landcruiser 100 series, Landcruiser 200 series (a brand-new diesel V8), Land Rover Defender, 2 Toyota Prados, Mitsubishi Challenger, Nissan Navarra, Toyota  Hilux and The Doc’s Nissan Patrol.

Early on in the trip one of the Prado owners was telling someone how his Prado was better than The Doc’s Patrol. The Doc enjoyed recovering that Prado two days later when it got bogged. In fact, both recoveries were by Nissans on Toyota Prados. Prados may have the LandCruiser name, but they certainly not LandCruisers. The Doc is glad he never bought a Prado. They may handle better on road than a Patrol, but they’re certainly not better off road. They are a long way behind the LandCrusier, Defender and Patrol.

In the steeper dunes and rougher parts of the desert, the leafspring suspension of the Nission Navarra and the Toyota Hilux meant they were struggling.

The Doc thought the performance of the LandCruisers (not Prados), the Land Rover and the Patrol were very good.   Although the LandCrusier 100 V8 Petrol used a lot of fuel. The 200 series V8 Diesel used just a little more than the Patrol – impressive. But they cost a great deal more money than a Patrol, so they should impress.

The Challenger was well driven and did a reasonable job, but it is a bit small for the The Doc’s needs.

The Doc’s Road Trip

Australia, AWC, Lake Eyre, NSW, SA, Scotia Sanctuary, Simpson Desert, Warrumbungles NP

Here is a map of the last road trip, just under 8,000km (excluding the flight which was 390km). The plane flight over Lake Eyre and Anna Creek Station are the “wings” you can see in South Australia.

NSW&SA May 2014sml
Odometer milestones were:

  • 25,000km at Warrumbungles, NSW
  • 26,000km between Cobar and Wilcannia, NSW
  • 27,000km AWC’s Scotia Sanctuary, NSW
  • 29,000km Simpson Desert, SA
  • 30,000km Innamincka, SA
  • 31,000km near Cobar, NSW

Next week The Doc flies to AWC’s Mornington Sanctuary in the Kimberlies, Western Australia.

The Mighty Simpson Desert has been crossed

Australia, desert, Nissan Patrol, Qld, SA, Simpson Desert

51 years ago a G60 Patrol completed the first motorised crossing of the Mighty Simpson Desert. Today The Doc completed his crossing in the GU Patrol, as part of a larger group. We at least had a track, the original party did not. That is an achievement.

The Simpson is Patrol country.

A map of the trip do far, from Broken Hill, NSW to Birdsville, Qld. The “diversions” around Lake Eyre was the plane flight. Some cracker images from that flight.

SimpsonTrip