If you are travelling in the East Kimberley, please PLEASE check everything before you take off from camp. Fuel, tyres, hitches. Everything.
In the past month, we have had multiple instances of vans not hitched up correctly, including one that came unhitched on the highway through town. We get a lot of 4 deck road trains through here and not all of them follow speed rules - it gets hairy sometimes, even for the locals. Those people got lucky, locals pitched in and stopped/redirected traffic, but that's not always going to be the case - the businesses here cover a vast territory, and the people who will happily pitch in to help regardless aren't always about. Not to mention, the occasional speeding 4 decker.
Be realistic about your vehicle's capabilities. I'm not being snarky, I'm really not. But the number of busted vans and tugs that come back into town on the back of trucks from the Duncan Hwy, the Bungles and the Tanami is phenomenal. I stopped a sedan the other day heading out the Duncan (serious corrugations and thick bulldust as well as horrific bedrock patches). The Community folks often drive sedans, but those usually last less than 6 months before they fall apart. There is no phone coverage in most of these places, and it can take many hours for someone to come past, let alone get to town, find the tow truck and for them to then have the truck and a driver available.
It's a stunning place, the East Kimberley, it truly is. There are free camps all along the Great Northern Hwy, the Duncan Hwy, the Tanami Rd and the Gibb River Rd - they are often a bit primitive, but the views, the power of the place make it worth while. The Bungles are amazing, Lake Argyle is spectacular. But the apps and books aren't always accurate in their descriptions of roads and conditions (even the road signs aren't always good - corrugations can mean anything from 'a bit bouncy' to 'you could lose a road train in there'. Talk to locals as well as other travellers, get your vehicles checked. Have fun, but stay safe.
Moose2 said
12:40 PM Jun 5, 2021
Are the vans not hitched properly as a result of human interference? If they got that far without issues then it's a bit suspicious.
Also your comment about talking to other travellers...I have found that to be hit and miss. What I call rough and what others call rough can be vastly different. I tend to just go and find out for myself.
2_Paws_Up said
12:55 PM Jun 5, 2021
Moose2 wrote:
Are the vans not hitched properly as a result of human interference? If they got that far without issues then it's a bit suspicious.
Also your comment about talking to other travellers...I have found that to be hit and miss. What I call rough and what others call rough can be vastly different. I tend to just go and find out for myself.
Could be human interference. Especially if you camp in town (don't do it!), but having spent most of 9 years rattling around and towing, I have a rule - check the fecking thing when you are getting sorted first thing, then again right before you pull out. I have been known to miss the first thing check due to distractions (dogs brawling was a classic one).
I hear you on differences of opinion - I drive roads that friends wouldn't. Never hurts to get a bit of info though - the Tanami is better than the Duncan for quite a ways in, but gets rough further down. You can get to Ringer Soak with standard tyre pressure but not Balgo (make sure your compressor is working). Local info is best - the locals can usually tell you where the floods did damage, when the grader went down there last and how many trucks have run down that road and done damage in recent weeks.
Gravy73 said
05:12 PM Jun 6, 2021
This is where the "Pre Flight Check List" is more vitally important, tick it off and have "she that must be obeyed" check it as distractions are your worst enemy.
Dhutime said
12:17 AM Jun 7, 2021
Good advice 2 Paws up . Local knowledge is always valuable advice and yea check and double check.
Dhutime
If you are travelling in the East Kimberley, please PLEASE check everything before you take off from camp. Fuel, tyres, hitches. Everything.
In the past month, we have had multiple instances of vans not hitched up correctly, including one that came unhitched on the highway through town. We get a lot of 4 deck road trains through here and not all of them follow speed rules - it gets hairy sometimes, even for the locals. Those people got lucky, locals pitched in and stopped/redirected traffic, but that's not always going to be the case - the businesses here cover a vast territory, and the people who will happily pitch in to help regardless aren't always about. Not to mention, the occasional speeding 4 decker.
Be realistic about your vehicle's capabilities. I'm not being snarky, I'm really not. But the number of busted vans and tugs that come back into town on the back of trucks from the Duncan Hwy, the Bungles and the Tanami is phenomenal. I stopped a sedan the other day heading out the Duncan (serious corrugations and thick bulldust as well as horrific bedrock patches). The Community folks often drive sedans, but those usually last less than 6 months before they fall apart. There is no phone coverage in most of these places, and it can take many hours for someone to come past, let alone get to town, find the tow truck and for them to then have the truck and a driver available.
It's a stunning place, the East Kimberley, it truly is. There are free camps all along the Great Northern Hwy, the Duncan Hwy, the Tanami Rd and the Gibb River Rd - they are often a bit primitive, but the views, the power of the place make it worth while. The Bungles are amazing, Lake Argyle is spectacular. But the apps and books aren't always accurate in their descriptions of roads and conditions (even the road signs aren't always good - corrugations can mean anything from 'a bit bouncy' to 'you could lose a road train in there'. Talk to locals as well as other travellers, get your vehicles checked. Have fun, but stay safe.
Are the vans not hitched properly as a result of human interference? If they got that far without issues then it's a bit suspicious.
Also your comment about talking to other travellers...I have found that to be hit and miss. What I call rough and what others call rough can be vastly different. I tend to just go and find out for myself.
Could be human interference. Especially if you camp in town (don't do it!), but having spent most of 9 years rattling around and towing, I have a rule - check the fecking thing when you are getting sorted first thing, then again right before you pull out. I have been known to miss the first thing check due to distractions (dogs brawling was a classic one).
I hear you on differences of opinion - I drive roads that friends wouldn't. Never hurts to get a bit of info though - the Tanami is better than the Duncan for quite a ways in, but gets rough further down. You can get to Ringer Soak with standard tyre pressure but not Balgo (make sure your compressor is working). Local info is best - the locals can usually tell you where the floods did damage, when the grader went down there last and how many trucks have run down that road and done damage in recent weeks.
Dhutime