kimberleys

The road was closed last week CCM. When are you going? There is only one Kimberley - it isn't a mountain range

do a forum search , heaps of info as Truckster said

The problem is that the state of the road changes from season to season, from year to year. The Gibb should be ok provided you are not going at a time of the year when you will have to do serious river crossings, ie after the wet. During the dry season the Gibb should be ok - I've past a daewoo on it (yes it was a hire car)!
I took the kalumbaru last year during the dry and the corrugations were quite bad so i'd make sure your suspension is in good order before heading off. Tyres also need to be good, and prepare for possible punctures if not.
All the best.
Will.

Hi,
The Gibb River Rd is still closed. Also much of the Gunbarrel and Canning Stock Route at the moment.
Suggest you contact the Shires of Hall Creek and Derby before leaving your home state if you intend to travel in the next couple of weeks.

Regard

Kim

You should be OK so long as you are careful and cautious in the rougher bits. The Pentacost River crossing is rough and rocky and hopefully below the fording depth of your Suby. Some of the bulldust stretches just north of the Kalumburu turnoff will be a bit challenging as you will have to keep up some momentum whilst flying nearly blind.

Note check in advance that you can get the ULP fuel where you need it. If you have a hot turbo engine that runs on premium unleaded, then forget it there is no such fuel in boonies.

Your biggest risk will be the std "P rated" tyres on these cars. Their side walls will be easily shredded on sharp rocks if you have pressures wrong, are overloaded and speeding. You will need two spares for sure (as do all prudent fourby drivers in the Kimberley). You will also have extreme difficulty getting replacement tyres in your size quickly but with luck somone will have stock in Kununurra or Broome.

If you can fit "AT/ LT" rated tyres that would be the smartest thing you could do, even if you put them away in the shed when you get home and save them for your next big trip.

I personally reckon you can easily do the whole GRR and Kalumburu Rd in a 1964 Holden ute during the dry season so long as you have your suspension in top notch condition and the right tyres. You would have trouble in a 2004 ute because of very poor ground clearance.

Another solution is to rent a full size 4WD when you get Kununurra, do a loop through to Kalumbaru and back and then carry on down the GNH in your Suby. Or take an off road bus tour and have nothing to worry about except getting on with all the wild young backbackers on the bus with you!

JohnS
Derby, WA