Travelling the Gibb River Road

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HI Guys

My family are planning to tackle the Gibb River Road in the next year or so around July and was wondering if any one on here have pulled a 20f Outback Expanda.

And if so did you have any issues towing it along the road. I understand that the corrugations are a major issue and you may need to travel slow but any other issues?

Cheers

Paul

 

[Crusty181]

We towed our 20ft'er through there in 2016, as did the @Smirke's around the same time. We didnt have any issues. Its rough in spots, but certainly not all of it.

 

[jazzeddie1234]

We towed a starcraft 19' OB through in 2017. It was slow going and I dropped tyres to 22 psi. Lots of things rub and vibrate so it's a good idea to keep an eye on the screws holding drawer slides, cabinet corners, shelves, etc. Also we used tea towels to pad things like the cooktop lid, washing machine lid, bottles in cupboards, etc.
You will encounter a few speedsters, inexperienced overseas drivers, and a few naysayers but its great fun and plenty to see so no need to rush

I posted this the other day...

My repair kit from Bunnings after many kms of dirt roads:

Box of matches & tube of pva glue (for filling screw holes that pull out of cabinets)
Selection of screws about 10mm long (to replace useless/lost screws in cabinets)
Selection of plastic L corners (to replace the busted ones on cabinet corners)
Tube of silicon (reseal stuff like windows where the mastic has squeezed out)
Tube of aqua epoxy putty (to reinforce weird shapes like my shower door hinge)

 

[carco]

Mate July is way too late. Depending on the wet, you need to be up there around May.
By July, it's going to be dry and very busy.
Free camps on the way to/from will be packed out by lunchtime. Even $$$ parks like Banka Banka will be chockers.
Gibb road is all about tyre pressure, as low as you're happy with. Don't be frightened to run 20 to 25psi once you've crossed the Pentecost. (presuming you're heading from East to West)
Even driving around El Questro you'll need low tyre pressure as some of their tracks are as crook as the Gibb.
The Eastern end of the Gibb has floodways every couple of k's, you only just get rolling and you're on the brakes again. Some have concrete bottoms, others huge river rocks so you have to take it easy. There's dozens and dozens of them too.
Check under the van daily as the Jayco has a lot of so-so bits under the floor that are prone to rock/stone damage. Plastic water fittings, water level senders etc don't survive.
Watch in your mirrors and if you see someone closing, back right off and let them go. Heaps of hired 4x's on the Gibb road and we all know hire cars can take any punishment. Very few will have a UHF.
I had no mobile coverage until Derby, but we're with Telstra. Optus is all the go up there.
There's no fuel or water worries so just take it easy and enjoy the many gorges with magnificent swimming.
If you're planning any "touristy" excursions, check well ahead as most are booked out weeks in advance.
The big 4X tourist coaches are everywhere.

 

[Crusty181]

Mate July is way too late. Depending on the wet, you need to be up there around May.
By July, it's going to be dry and very busy.
Free camps on the way to/from will be packed out by lunchtime. Even $$$ parks like Banka Banka will be chockers.
Gibb road is all about tyre pressure, as low as you're happy with. Don't be frightened to run 20 to 25psi once you've crossed the Pentecost. (presuming you're heading from East to West)
Even driving around El Questro you'll need low tyre pressure as some of their tracks are as crook as the Gibb.
The Eastern end of the Gibb has floodways every couple of k's, you only just get rolling and you're on the brakes again. Some have concrete bottoms, others huge river rocks so you have to take it easy. There's dozens and dozens of them too.
Check under the van daily as the Jayco has a lot of so-so bits under the floor that are prone to rock/stone damage. Plastic water fittings, water level senders etc don't survive.
Watch in your mirrors and if you see someone closing, back right off and let them go. Heaps of hired 4x's on the Gibb road and we all know hire cars can take any punishment. Very few will have a UHF.
I had no mobile coverage until Derby, but we're with Telstra. Optus is all the go up there.
There's no fuel or water worries so just take it easy and enjoy the many gorges with magnificent swimming.
If you're planning any "touristy" excursions, check well ahead as most are booked out weeks in advance.
The big 4X tourist coaches are everywhere.

Interesting what your saying. We've only been there once and we started from the west at the end of June 2016 and had a really good run. Traffic was good, no trouble at any of the gorges, stations or camp areas. We didn't book anything, just cold called everywhere and although there were plenty of people about we had no issues, and no rejections. Maybe we were lucky, but from our once off trip would otherwise blindly just aim for the same time. Thoughts ???

 

[carco]

Think there's a few factors.
Number one would be the wet.
Last year's and this year's were tiny wets. Even though Darwin got blown to bits in the 2018 cyclone, the Kimberley scored very little rain. Derby/Broome became part of the ocean but that weather only extended inland a short distance.
Next is the exponential growth in tourism. I was amazed at the number of large off road 4X's with about 20 pax. When a few of them arrive at a site it's an instant crowd. And not just off road buses, there's conventional 55+ seater buses doing the Gibb with stop overs at the larger stations.
We struck a few "events" too.
There's the annual Larke Argyle swim which draws entrants from all over Aus, a terrific weekend for the lake and Kununurra community.
There's a mountain bike challenge from Derby to El Questro?, have to be slightly mad to tackle that one but it has a huge following and of course, multiple support vehicles.
There's also an annual postie bike charity event.
For up to date info I recommend Brigit Bradtke's Kimberley and NT News.
I've been following Brigit's updates for a few years and I think she's also astounded at the upsurge in Gibb traffic.
Any modern 4X has no trouble on the Gibb. Just let those tyres down and set your speed accordingly.

 

[jazzeddie1234]

For up to date info I recommend Brigit Bradtke's Kimberley and NT News.

Agree, it is a great source for accurate information

 

[Eddii]

Might be a dumb question, do I need air snorkels for my rig? We're planning this trip this time next year and will be coming from west coast. I have prolonged on doing this mod to my ute because I don't intend on crossing any deep waters like the ones you see on the telly. I would prefer not to cross any deep creeks, is this possible? Or do I just bite the bullet and get a snorkel?

 

[carco]

At this time of year there’s no water worth mentioning. Certainly not snorkel height.
You might consider extending diffs, transfer case and gearbox breathers as they’re way down in the water.

 

[jazzeddie1234]

I carry a few spare air filters in case I have to drive through a deep (well up to a metre is my limit) crossing. A quick check on the other side to see if any water is in the air box and the condition of the filter. Ok so far but never been stuck in deep water...

 

[Smirke]

As @Crusty181 said, we took our 21-64 along the gibb. All was fine. People made it out to be worse than what it was. Tyres were all down to 23psi and we had no problems. Just remember that the 'dips' for the river/creek crossings arent like normal dips. Go slow thru them (I did 20 - 30km/h). Saw heaps of people with broken cars and trailers as they didnt slow down for them (they tend to land hard).
We also started our trip in July holidays. It was fine. There was plenty of water still around, and we had the driest wet on record I think. (was in 2016). There were quite a few people in the camping spots by late afternoon, but on the road it was fine, almost empty.
You will have an awesome time!

 

[coled1970]

Will be watching this with enthusiasm as we were doing Sep/Oct this year but doesn't look like this will be happening so probably next year also.

 

[carco]

One thing i’d Forgotten when driving up there was the dry atmosphere.
Hands, fingers all cracked up. Had to use heaps of wool fat lanolin.

 

[Andre307]

Just completed the trip today with my Starcraft 17.58-1
Issues I had were:
Dust - even after blocking the door and wall vent still got into the van. Most via the roof hatch, pipes through floor, window drain holes and fridge. Not really bad but still annoying.
Microwave- came loose early on due to mounting using self tappers which pulled through from the corragations.
Some drawer latches failed to hold and I had to duct tape the drawer.
Car - front shocker failed

Corragations were bad, but all in all was fairly easy trip. I did stone protect everything underneath prior, had a stone guard, taped corflute to rear car window, deflate tyres to 25 psi on tug and van and drive carefully.
Carried some spares/tools and second spare tyres but didn’t need them.
Had a fantastic time and would do it again

 

[Crusty181]

Just completed the trip today with my Starcraft 17.58-1
Issues I had were:
Dust - even after blocking the door and wall vent still got into the van. Most via the roof hatch, pipes through floor, window drain holes and fridge. Not really bad but still annoying.
Microwave- came loose early on due to mounting using self tappers which pulled through from the corragations.
Some drawer latches failed to hold and I had to duct tape the drawer.
Car - front shocker failed

Corragations were bad, but all in all was fairly easy trip. I did stone protect everything underneath prior, had a stone guard, taped corflute to rear car window, deflate tyres to 25 psi on tug and van and drive carefully.
Carried some spares/tools and second spare tyres but didn’t need them.
Had a fantastic time and would do it again

Where did you go?? Interesting getting dust through the areas you mentioned, particularly the roof hatches and window drains. Jayco's micro mount is a little like Landrovers leaking oil ..... if it doesnt fall out (or leak in the case of a Landrover) somethings wrong

 

[Andre307]

Where did you go?? Interesting getting dust through the areas you mentioned, particularly the roof hatches and window drains. Jayco's micro mount is a little like Landrovers leaking oil ..... if it doesnt fall out (or leak in the case of a Landrover) somethings wrong

We did ElQuestro, Ellenbrae, Bell Gorge, Windjana etc on the main road, skipped Kalumburu due to Mitchell Falls being almost dry.

Road was in shocking condition apparently, no graders in sight. Microwave is only held down by self tappers which pulled through.

 

[carco]

Reading Brigit's latest letter where she said the Pentecost crossing was so dry that the maintenance crew were able to grade it.
Gibb visitor numbers are down too.
So happy to have seen it in wetter times.

 

[JoM]

we are looking to go too, in count down 5 days. Was gonna skip it originally by going via Halls Creek, but that burning desire says.... go for it. But other half is concerned about water levels and water in van on some crossings. We tow a 20.64 outback. 14 wks of LS leave... WOOHOO bring it on! Any advice for us novices.

 

[carco]

You can do Halls creek on the way back on the great northern, see Bungle Bungles etc.

 

[jazzeddie1234]

your OB will have plenty of clearance and the talk is there is little water anywhere except for el questro. Dust will be hard to keep out. Run low tyre pressures (we did 22 psi all round except 26 for the tug rear) based on the 4 psi rule, thats measure cold, drive for 30 mins and measure hot.
Its an iconic right of passage and well worth the effort. We preferred staying at Home Valley with day trips to el questro but both are great to recover at (if going west to east) for a few days.