Gibb River Rd vs Oodanatta Track

There was bleep e loads of them up there last year.

The Gibb won't be your problem, but it will depend upon the tracks that lead off the GRR. Have you chosen where you'll be visiting to help answer your question?

Of the major outback roads, it seems the Oodnadatta 'track' is deservedly regarded as one of the 'softies' (mainly due to a good maintenance program). Ninety percent of that road is quite smooth and the rest can be mildly stony. We took our van along the full length last year..... with reduced tyre pressures and modest speed, it was a snack. As for the Gibb (I haven't had my van there yet).... I think its fair to say that most years* the western half is mainly smooth, the middle region can have a few modest corrugations and the eastern half can have some quite stony sections. Once again, reduced pressures, modest speed and keeping an eye on your hardware should produce a happy run up there too. Many contributors here over the years rate the Gibb as a snack too, but only for sensible drivers !
*weather and other factors can of course upset expectations.

Agree with others - both these tracks are pretty straightforward if driven sensibly, and you see plenty of well set up vans on them.

Only issue that really arises is when you go off the main tracks to side destinations such as Dalhousie from Oodnadatta or the various fantastic falls and pools along the Gibb. But if you have your roof-top tent for a few side trips, no problem.

Even the run into Drysdale can depend on what time of the year and whether the grader has been up recently. After a lot of use since the last grade it can get very corrugated and "rough".

Depends on the timing really.

We have driven the Oodnadatta Tk many times the first time was 1986 in a Sigma Sedan towing a Jayco Finch it was no problem then . Compared to the GRR the Oodnadatta Tk is a Major Highway .

Plenty tow Vans on the Gibb and if you take care you should be ok but I have seen plenty that have had problems on the Gibb

Hi Rustynails59,
We have had our van on both, and the side tracks, drive to the conditions and you won't have a problem.
Cheers.
baz

We did both tracks 2 years ago, including Dalhousie, Mt Dare, Chambers pillar and the old Ghan railway with no trouble.
We then did the Gibb river road with many of the side tracks.
We towed an Elite Goulburn 17' off road van, this had control rider suspension.
We lowered the tyre pressure and drove to the conditions. We had no trouble.
A mate travelled the Oodnadatta track with us, he didn't lower his tyre pressure and travelled a bit slower than us and his fridge came adrift in his van. He said "what a terrible drive".. I lowered his tyre pressure and convinced him to drive a bit quicker than 30 kms and he was a lot happier with the ride.
Make sure that you lower the van tyres as well.
enjoy your trip, Hugh