Member - Melissa replied:

RD,

Can't comment on the signs but I was very recently sent a copy of the 2003 Gibb River & Kalumburu Roads Travellers Guide prepared and published by the Derby Visitors Centre. To quote..." Conventional vehicles, lightweight 4WD and the towing of trailers and caravans is NOT RECOMMENDED." Also in the last couple of weeks I have been exchanging emails and telephone calls with the very helpful staff at Fitzroy Crossing Visitors Centre to whom I made aware of our plans to tow an offroad campertrailer along the GRR in 2004. They have given me no indication at all that trailers are prohibited.

I can understand signs advising against towing trailers or caravans along here (the authorities have to cover their butt against those minority of travellers who don't do their homework properly and then need someone to blame when they get into trouble!) but to "prohibit" them would seem very extreme. Let's hope it is the former and not the latter or our planned 8 week trip and not small contribution to the Kimberley economy will be spent elsewhere.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper
http://members.westnet.com.au/flatdog

Member - Raymond replied:

Hi RD
We travelled the Gibb River Road earlier this year and there were plenty of Off-road campers and caravans on the Road. Certainly would not recommend it for a normal caravan or trailer.
Regards Raywanderin' in retirement. victor 2010

Member - Alan replied:

RD

We did the GRR in May/June of this year with an o/road camper trailer, my recollection (from publications/brochures) was that it was strongly recommended(and I agree ) that standard caravans and trailers were not taken over the road . We found the corrugations & dust the main things you had to contend with.

Regards

Alan

RD replied:

Many thanks everyone for the replies. Pretty much confirms what I had expected. Looking forward to doing the trip in about twelve months or so when I have the trailer and Jeep set up and enough time to do it at our leisure.

Maybe we'll meet some of you on the trip!

Member - John replied:

Off road camper trailers and heavy duty box trailers are fine for the GRR, anything lighter(or heavier) would certainly not be recommended.

The traytop recovery guys in Derby and Kununurra do a nice line of business in recovering trailers and campers with busted springs and axles. Busted springs on overloaded fourbies and trailers is very common, usually from overloading or speeding or both.

The GRR is a bit of an urban myth these days and does not present much of a challenge for a carefully driven Holden ute. The Pentacost River is rough and rocky and there are hundreds of sharp ditches where creeks cross and if you hit them too fast you will eventually bust something.

The Cape Levique Rd north of Broome is a far more challenging drive and is definitely 4wd as you can be forced to pass other vehicles by driving up into the deep sand windrows at the road edge. It combines corrugations, sand windrows, spoon drains and big pot holes all together and is as rough as hell.

GRR is fine for robust, carefully driven fourbies/trailer combinations.

Have fun

JohnS
Derby, WA