I am planning a trip to the Kimberley next year (May-June) and am thinking of going across the Gibb River road towing a 19ft Lotus caravan with simplicity suspension. Tug is a 3ltr patrol. I hope to take our blue heeler cattle dog with us. Would be interested in your comments re the Gibb River road, taking the van across the Gibb River road and also taking the dog.
We have done the Gibb a few times and would not take a caravan along the Gibb unless it was an off road van, we use a ShipShapp rooftop tent, leave our van at Kunna.
I hope your suspension is VERY strong- I destroyed a shocky on my Hilux, and I wasn,t towing any thing!Don,t take a van unless its an off road version.Bill
We have been accross the Gib twice, First in just the tug, 2nd time we towed a off road camper with no problems at all, including Mitchell falls.
However, on the second trip which was in 6/08 we joined by a old school mate of mine, they are driving a Ford F250 & towing a 23ft bushtrac]ka. This was their first dirt/off road adventure in this rig.
Him being a exfarmer & truck driver like myself , followed my footsteps all the way .
We went into many of the gorges with the big rig, they did leave the van at Drysdale River station & just took the 250 to mitchell , we took the trailer all the way.
They experienced no problems at all, never even backed up once throughout the smaller trackes to the gorges. There had been some rain while we were at kununurra so we gave it a couple of days to dry out & had a perfect run.
There was a major road rebuild taking place from Derby back to about Windjana NP turn off, this was being built beside the existing road & was about ready for seal.
We were told the new road was to serve a new diamond mine & a oil discovery down there.
I have had a look at the lotus van with simplicity suspension[ which is the same as the bushtracka, we liked the van & still dreaming LOL ] & I beleive you will have no problems with that set up for the trip.
As said, just watch for that rain & allow time to dry out, They do close the road if extremily wet.
Hope you enjoy the trip.
Cheers Jim.
PS there were about ten bushtracka;s at Mitchell Falls.
-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Saturday 20th of August 2011 09:25:30 PM
__________________
Be your self; there's no body better qualified ! "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"
Hi Redsox, we were up there this year, and didnt do the whole of the GRR, just the bit from Kunnunara to the Pentacost river, and El Questro, and no dogs in there. We did the western end from Derby to Windjana/Tunnel Ck, and thats a national park so definitely no dogs were allowed there. I think there'd be no problem with taking your dog along the GRR itself, but you might miss some of the attractions where he's not allowed in.
The road varies over a short time, when graded its ok but only takes a few weeks to be corrugated again, and the water crossings vary too.... thats with dry weather.
Another thing I feel I should tell you is dont expect any solitude!! Theres a LOT of traffic going in both directions this year, probably the same next year.
I also have done the Gibb River road towing a van and had no trouble at all.
My solution was to lower tyre pressures from 40psi on the van to 30psi and I also lowered the tyre pressures on the Patrol from 40psi in rear to 30psi and 35 in front to 30also.
We traveled at around 60/70kph on the good surfaces and slower on the rough stuff varying the speed as required.
There is much to see so our trip took 2 weeks to cross it.
We left the van at Drysdale station and tented it to Mitchell Falls & Kalumburu.
Our biggest problem was tour operators who passed us in both directions going very fast.
My advise would be to inquire re road conditions before starting out on the GRR as it changes dramatically at times. Plus if you do decide to traverse it with the van simply take it easy and you will see / experience more.
__________________
I was tired yesterday and I'm tired today betcha I'm retired tomorrow. he he.
redsox
