Tanami Track

Rusty,

My first thought was why have the 200 series and off-road 'van, if you don't plan to use their well documented credentials?

Tanami road conditions can vary from week to week, and can be as varied as peoples' comments. If you didn't want to try that route, the Buchanan H'way from Dunmarra, Top Springs to Timber Creek would be an interesting alternative. I've travelled that way in a Holden ute.

Enjoy the trip,
Bob.

Ignore what you hear to a large extent. What one person considers rough another doesn't. We've always checked things out for ourselves and would have missed out on some great stuff if we'd heeded what others said. We always listen politely but then make up our own minds.

In any event - a big downpour half hour after someone has come though could severely wash out a previously "good" track/road.

So go see for yourself - you have a capable setup. Drive to conditions, adjust tyre pressures, take it easy, enjoy it.

You have invested in the gear for such roads, as others have said..go for it. I have
travelled it twice & don't rate it any worse than the Plenty or GCR, or indeed the Gibb.
It is a great drive, easily done in two days. Take it easy & enjoy. You will need to calculate your fuel needs & pack your car & van carefully.
Many denigrate the Tanami, & you will no doubt hear from them as well. The choice
is yours...my advice...don't miss it..:))))..cheers.....oldbaz.

Rusty,

have you checked out the EO Trek notes for the Tanami?

EO Trek Notes - Tanami Track

A good place to start.

Cheers Mick

Sounds like you are well prepared for rougher roads. We are likewise and if the roads are open, then we taste and see so to speak.
Took 4 days and camped 3 nights to "do" the Tanami 7 years ago and wished we had taken more time (possibly use up to a whole week) in the desert as the wildlife and flowers were superb. Just drive to suit the conditions and be well prepared for any delaying incidents.
Cheers

considering the amount of rain they have had out that way i can see several options

many road s may be damaged and not repaired and another option is they have got the graders out and fixed the roads

only some one from the local area can say which option

but they had a lot of trucks stuck all over the northern part of WA so I imagine that they have used graders to get them home

good luck enjoy the trip

so if they have put some extra effort to fix the road s it might just be the best time to go out that way

Thanks
I guess it's really a suck and see job and assess when we get there

Just go for it. Don't necessarily believe what you hear.... e.g. Tanami is the worst road etc etc - it gets graded every year! The Len Beadell's Gunbarrel Highway last saw a grader in 1986. When I did the latter towing a 19' Bushtracker I was running tyres at 22psi and suffered no problems.

John

Rusty

You could also head towards Katherine and turn off on the Buchanan Hwy, I did it last year towing a camper and enjoyed the trip. Road was in pretty good condition most of the way, less heavy traffic on it just watch for the odd cattle truck.
Cheers