Hi RB30 crew. A quick trip report - just got back from the Simpson with the RB, Oodnadatta to Birdsville via the French Line and QAA Line. Despite the Bash being on (13,000 camped at Big Red apparently), it was pretty quiet in the desert and we basically saw 1 other convoy each day (probably because the Birdsville Track was closed due to rain).
Fuel - took 130L in the long range tank, plus 80L in plastic jerries on the roof, so plenty spare.
RB30 sipped - got 21L/100kms from Oodnadatta to Birdsville, 698kms total mostly in 4H. Tracks were fairly slippery from recent rain, but the French Line seemed pretty good condition. Speeds 70-90km/hr on the gravel, 15-40km/hr in the desert. Tires 22psi rear, 18psi front. Had the second spare behind the front seats, and tried to keep all the weight between the axles (total load ~350kg, probably 25kg spare tire, 90kg water, 25kg food, 20kg luggage, 30kg camping gear, 100kg fuel + firewood up top, 30kg drawers, 30kg spares + tools etc.) plus 2 people.
Fuel economy Adelaide > Oodnadatta and Birdsville > Home was 15-16L/100kms doing 100km/hr in 4th, 5th with some headwind at times, tires at highway pressure.
No real mechanical casualties apart from both inner mud guards coming *close* to falling off with the weight of all the mud from the Oodnadatta track (cable tie fix), plus the carby losing rev power when cold (likely the second stage butterfly sticking as described by Mudnut and others, I still need to wet/dry the barrels and fix this). A crack which I'd previously had welded at the base of the driver's A-pillar/windscreen must have opened up again, because we had a constant 'clicking' soundtrack on the drive home.
Had a great time and no trouble getting up any of the sand dunes.
... did have some trouble getting through ponded water at the base of Big Red...
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