4wd or not?

Woops, the pic links were supposed to read Section 1, Section 2 and Section 3! My editing fail!

Be aware that the Bungles can get cold mornings in July. We encountered around 6°C on Sunday 8th July last year. It was darned cold for the Kimberlys!

If your Colorado 2WD has the same clearance as a Colorado 4WD, then what the others are saying are that it will be okay.

It's a clearance issue, not a traction issue.

Tim

Yes it has the same clearance as a 4wd,but as earlier mentioned 2wds are almost always refused entry.

I think you've already decided to give it a go, which I have no argument with.

But the whole 2WD / 4WD division is no where near as clear as it used to be. It's a can of worms really.

There is a good argument that your 2WD Colorado will be equally as capable of making it on a track such as this as any 4WD on the market.

The tyres are the same as the 4WD version.
The springs are the same as the 4WD version.
The chassis is the same as the 4WD version.
The clearance is the same as the 4WD version.
The drivetrain, apart from missing a low range gearbox and front diff, is the same as a 4WD version. i.e. same strength.
It's fording depth is the same as the 4WD.

It is likely to be lighter than the 4WD version due the lack of a transfer case and a front diff. This is a good thing.

It does lack the stability on gravel at speed, the confidence on slippery concrete river crossings, and the smoother ride that a 4WD gives over corrugations. With the benefit of a part time 4WD such as my old 60 series Landcruiser, I know the ride is smoother if I engage 4WD and it pulls over the corrugations instead of being pushed into them all the time. Will this make a difference to your vehicle breaking down or not? Not likely. Just drive a bit slower. Lower your tyre pressures, and take it easy.

It also lacks the off road ability that a low range gear box gives you, and the clambering ability of drive to the front axle. So low speed driving over slippery, sandy, muddy, shaley ground and steep climbs are out for you. But you can drive the vast majority of designated roads in Australia without these attributes.

I 'suspect' what the writers of the sign had in mind was to not allow regular sedans, such as Camry's, and so defined them as 2WD. But things have changed and to include your Colorado in with a Camry is a bit of a stretch really.

Tim

Ok, that settles it then. Im giving it a crack in the 2wd. Whats the worst that can happen, we get stuck or break something. Work pays for recovery and breaks anyway no matter where i am in this beautiful country.Maybe ill get a 4wd from work after all lol.

Hullo Gary
Maybe a good idea to ask at the camp ground just inside the gate what conditions are like when you get there. Then you can make an informed choice.
We were there 3rd week of June this year - the WA Govt were spending a heap of money before the end of the financial year doing the road up and it was in reasonable condition.
However, a bit later Outbackjack reported in his blog of July 26 and I quote "Now headed for the Bungle Bungles, Stayed at the Safari Park just inside the gate, starting to take shape, good facilities, hot showers and toilets very clean. plenty of camping also safari style tents on stilts with amenities and big veranda's, helicopter flights also available at the grounds ..... Drove in to the see the sights $5.00 entry approx. 50km in, much to see spent most of the day in there, great place to see. .......at the main gate was the coffee truck at the gate, with great coffee and some snacks. I needed two coffee's and I brought one for the ranger as well, we both needed it after driving in and out of the Bungles. Why you ask? 100km of road 50K speed limit and all DH's thought it was a race track, taking bends you couldn't see round and run you off the road. Camper trailers were the worst, no idea how to drive the road's; one came round the corner and his Kimberly camper was on two (one?) wheels and, nearly rolled it. After talking to the ranger he say much the same thing and caught up with a few and gave them a warning. He also said next season 2014 if any see this type of driving to take there number and they will be asked to leave and could be given a fine as well. The ranger said they would like to see all vans out of the park or pay a bigger fee with restrictions, as they do with certain types of caravans, and lets face it they do bugger up the tracks, by not letting there tyre pressures down and driving accordingly to the conditions"
The bus driver had similar comments about the incompetence and selfish attitude of many 4WDrivers - bogged in creek crossings, some vehicles with broken chassis, too fast for the conditions, rude, etc
Cheers
Andrew

Bus driver complaining about too fast and selfish and rude attitudes? Really?