Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Experience crossing the Simpson with standard suspension?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Experience crossing the Simpson with standard suspension?

    I wondered if anyone can comment on crossing the Simpson with standard suspension. I have done lots of desert highways (GRR, Great Central, Savannah Way, Plenty, Donahue, Cape Leveque) with a laden offroad trailer no problem/discomfort. I am not intending to tow trailer through the desert.

    If it is not advisable to do so, what is the basic set up I should go for. I don't know much about this. Is there any advantage of raising the car without raising the axles - I presume the only way to do that is to have higher tyres and a lift kit.

    Car is 4.0L GXL Petrol 2003 with a bullbar, no dual battery. 2 adults, 2kids. Pop-up tents. Extra spare tyre on roof rack. I don't wish to embark on a career of hardcore 4W driving, and I don't need to drive fast either, but I do need to not use all my fuel ploughing sand. I want to keep it safe and legal as well.

    Would appreciate advice. Especially if people have gone on the standard kit (never again?, got bogged heaps?, it was a bit slow? Had to do a few recoveries?) I understand conditions can change due to prior seasons rainfall etc. I am aiming for July this year.

    Thanks
    BarneyMaroon
    Junior Member
    Last edited by BarneyMaroon; 08-04-2016, 06:22 AM.

  • #2
    Hi Barney, I am unable to advise on the Simpson but as a new Prado owner, the standard suspension springs on my 4 year old and <40K km were well out of specifications, they had all dropped many cm (unloaded). This then has resulted in the previous owners damage to ALL the protection plates, anything hanging low including the fuel tank ones and managed to pack outback debris in every nook and cranny of the chassis and radiators (due to lower body height of "sagged" springs). I know since I removed it all. Seems Mr Toyota's springs do not stand up to the Australian dirt roads for long, I installed king springs to match my fit out and also was surprised how cheep quality springs were, the shocks were a different matter, but then again you usually get what you pay for.

    Cheers

    Comment


    • #3
      I've only croossed twice but both times with after market suspension, for the Simpson more clearance is handy but what's most important
      is a decent after market suspension will make the numerous sand dunes much more pleasant i.e more control less rebounding etc. Last trip my mate did
      it with a stock hilux, he had issues with clearance ie on many sand hills hitting the sand on bash plates. This in turn forced him to drive faster
      making the climbs very bouncy and uncontrolled. I've had OME and Koni both much better thank stock by a mile.

      Rob
      Rob

      Silver 2010 Prado 150 TD Manual, BFG AT 256/65's, ARB Deluxe bar, Tradesman Roof Rack, Warn XP9500 winch.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Ecogeek View Post
        Hi Barney, I am unable to advise on the Simpson but as a new Prado owner, the standard suspension springs on my 4 year old and <40K km were well out of specifications, they had all dropped many cm (unloaded). This then has resulted in the previous owners damage to ALL the protection plates, anything hanging low including the fuel tank ones and managed to pack outback debris in every nook and cranny of the chassis and radiators (due to lower body height of "sagged" springs). I know since I removed it all. Seems Mr Toyota's springs do not stand up to the Australian dirt roads for long, I installed king springs to match my fit out and also was surprised how cheep quality springs were, the shocks were a different matter, but then again you usually get what you pay for.

        Cheers
        When I bought my Prado with 150K for 20K trip my mechanic said all the shocks had been replaced and were good - we certainly have not any problems whatsoever. So no sagging, or bottoming out (except for a bloody ridiculous rocky road a farmer sent us down "No worries in a Prado mate" to see a Gorge on Mt Elizabeth Station on the Gibb River Road). Nearly cost me my marriage.

        Comment


        • #5
          Thanks for the tip. Does after-market suspension mean "better springs and/or shocks", or does it mean a kit with better springs/shocks and a lift. (If so what lift did you use?)

          I will check what brand my shocks are - but don't think the car did hard stuff by prior owner so doubt they are high quality.

          Comment


          • #6
            we crossed in 1993 in a 2WD Hilux with trailer and a TJ magna!!!

            We had to drag the magna through a couple places but honestly the country wasn't opened up in 4x4's half done up as monster trucks!!

            done coongee lakes etc - hilux got 85% up big red without dropping tyres right down and would have gone over easy if we emptied the tonnage out of the tray- we didnt try that in the magna :-)

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by GEEEXL View Post
              we crossed in 1993 in a 2WD Hilux with trailer and a TJ magna!!!
              We had to drag the magna through a couple places but honestly the country wasn't opened up in 4x4's half done up as monster trucks!!
              Ha! I take it this means that the extra traffic has made it harder to cross now than then.

              Comment


              • #8
                Your shocks will work pretty hard, the bottom of the dunes are scalloped and will cause you to 'bounce' quite a bit. One vehicle in our group had standard shocks which failed on the first day and made the rest of the trip rather uncomfortable for him and his passengers. The biggest concern though was the unrestrained rear end bouncing like a basketball up the dunes. Plenty of dunes needed multiple attempts to get up because he had to reduce his approach speed so much. He really did not enjoy the trip at all. I was convinced the spring mounts would break or his chassis would snap.

                I would at least be looking for a new set of shocks just to handle the workout they are going to get. Also remember the couple of thousand k's to get there aren't the nicest of roads either.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Pugaree View Post
                  I would at least be looking for a new set of shocks just to handle the workout they are going to get. Also remember the couple of thousand k's to get there aren't the nicest of roads either.
                  Thanks all for comments. It seems "New shocks" are the go, but a 5cm lift is not crucial. This is consistent with the advice I got from a 4WD mechanic and someone who drove across in a Land Cruiser (not sure which one). They probably have bigger wheels, and hence clearance, than a 120.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    We did the crossing in 2006 with Nifty07 when he had standard suspension in his first 120. Other than running on the rear bumps and dragging the belly a couple of times no major issues. Our 120 had a lift 50mm and did make it much easier.
                    Just let your tyres down to 20, select low range and lock out 1st gear and enjoy.

                    Rusty.
                    08 VX D4D, Lift, Safari Snorkle, Trailblazer Fridge, Custom Storeage System, BFG, ARB Safari Bar, Wife, Kids, Codan NGT HF Radio, Debt.
                    06 100 Series Sahara, Bilteins, Kings, Beaudesert 3", Diff drop, Unichip Q4, Safari Intercooler, EGR delete, 20ft Bushtracker, Codan Envoy more coming.
                    Sometimes i wake up Grumpy, most times i leave her sleep.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      We crossed last September.
                      My Prado had a 2" lift which was ample and handled all the sandhills with ease.
                      The stock Pajero we went with on the other hand ploughed his way through and did make it, but he did make comment that he would never attempt it again without suspension improvements.
                      I found the actual crossing of the Simpson was not difficult and we had a ball but we did realise that preparation was key as a breakdown out there can be very expensive and even life threatening.
                      Cheers
                      Brian

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        A lift is a really good idea for the Simpson but not essential. You will need to take it a bit slower to avoid bottoming out on your undersides, the track gets quite rutted and sometimes you will need a little head of steam to make it up the dunes and this is where damage could happen. I may be wrong but I suspect that if you can afford a Prado and can afford to run it across the Simpson then you can afford a suspension lift / upgrade.
                        2009 120 GXL D4D, TJM Bull Bar, Winch, Safari Snorkel, ARB Lift, ARB Lockers, Black Widow Drawers

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Rusty62 View Post
                          We did the crossing in 2006 with Nifty07 when he had standard suspension in his first 120. Other than running on the rear bumps and dragging the belly a couple of times no major issues. Our 120 had a lift 50mm and did make it much easier.
                          Just let your tyres down to 20, select low range and lock out 1st gear and enjoy.

                          Rusty.

                          low range! Rusty....we did the Simpson a few times and I don't think we ever engaged low range?
                          SE Qld: GX 150GD Auto, (Feb'16 build): TJM T15 steel b bar, 9,500lb TORQ winch, TJM s steps, Rhino Pioneer Platform (42102B 1928X1236mm), front recovery points, Wynnum towbar, P3 brake controller, TNN Underbody guards, UHF, TREKtable & LED striplight, Custom Fridge & Drawers, Waeco CFX50, 9inch illuminator 160W LED spots, 40mm lifted Dobinson Suspension (Zordo's), ScanguageII, 30 Sec Wing Awning

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Mule View Post
                            A lift is a really good idea for the Simpson but not essential. You will need to take it a bit slower to avoid bottoming out on your undersides, the track gets quite rutted and sometimes you will need a little head of steam to make it up the dunes and this is where damage could happen. I may be wrong but I suspect that if you can afford a Prado and can afford to run it across the Simpson then you can afford a suspension lift / upgrade.
                            LOL. I probably do, but I am tight and have just bought a Pioneer tray, cargo barrier and a new starter motor (glad that failed now, and not half -way across the Simpson).

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by brogers View Post
                              low range! Rusty....we did the Simpson a few times and I don't think we ever engaged low range?
                              Low range is not 100% needed but for inexperienced folk, having them slow down use 2nd low and remove the heat from the torque converter (if it's and auto) means safety. We met so many people coming the other way flying up the dunes as they wouldn't use low tyre pressure. The track was so chewed up by these people at time we straddled the ruts as the main tracks had the little bumps from high tyre pressure wheel spin.

                              Slow down, enjoy the view and have a good time.

                              Rusty.
                              08 VX D4D, Lift, Safari Snorkle, Trailblazer Fridge, Custom Storeage System, BFG, ARB Safari Bar, Wife, Kids, Codan NGT HF Radio, Debt.
                              06 100 Series Sahara, Bilteins, Kings, Beaudesert 3", Diff drop, Unichip Q4, Safari Intercooler, EGR delete, 20ft Bushtracker, Codan Envoy more coming.
                              Sometimes i wake up Grumpy, most times i leave her sleep.

                              Comment

                              canli bahis siteleri bahis siteleri ecebet.net
                              mencisport.com
                              antalya escort
                              tsyd.org deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              gaziantep escort
                              gaziantep escort
                              asyabahis maltcasino olabahis olabahis
                              erotik film izle Rus escort gaziantep rus escort
                              atasehir escort tuzla escort
                              sikis sex hatti
                              en iyi casino siteleri
                              deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              casibom
                              deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              betticket istanbulbahis
                              Working...
                              X