GU Patrol standard suspension
Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 29, 2003 at 22:07
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Marty and Sam
My wife and our 4month old son are planning a trip to Alice then on to the top end in June we are also hoping to do the
Gibb River road,we have a 2002 GU Patrol 3litreTD. My questions are:
1/ The standard Patrol
suspension seems all right with the majority of trips that we have done but we have never really been on a heavily corrugated road for extended periods of time,we have been told that after a few hours the
suspension softens off really bad and that we should be looking at aftermarket
suspension before we go. TRUE/FALSE.
2/ How bad is the
Gibb River road at that time of year, some people that i have spoken to reckon it is allright others are saying to avoid it unless i have a good supply of tyres,i just reckon some people have no sense of adventure.
3/ If we do the
Gibb River road how long would it take us to go from
Kununurra to
Derby and if we do stop over night where is the best place to stay,we would need a room as we are not taking a tent or towing a van.
Any info would be greately appreciated.
Reply By: Member - Kevin - Wednesday, Jan 29, 2003 at 23:32
Wednesday, Jan 29, 2003 at 23:32
Marty and Sam
2/ It depends on the previous wet season.
Check actual conditions just prior to leaving
home and be prepared for that advice to be wrong because of changed conditions. I travelled the GRR last July and bits were okay, bits were bad, and bits were excellent where the
grader had been. BE PREPARED FOR VARIABLE CONDITIONS AND HAVE PLENTY OF SPARES - JUST IN CASE.
3/ We travelled from
Kununurra almost to
Derby in three weeks and that was too quick in my opinion. The GRR could be travelled in one long day I suppose given perfect conditions. I guess I have no sense of adventure as trying to do the GRR in one day with wife and very
young infant seems just plain irresponsible to me. If you have no tent or caravan do you carry food, water, tarpaulin for shelter while you wait on the side of the road for help.
1/ Depends on 3. Take the time to enjoy what the GRR has to offer and you won't be pounding on corrugations for hours.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: lindsay - Thursday, Jan 30, 2003 at 08:09
Thursday, Jan 30, 2003 at 08:09
Marty, The road conditions will always vary in the outback. the problem is that each person will have a different interpretation of road conditions and time taken to travel a particular section do your research ,ask questions and come to your own conclusions. that is the way i do it. To do the G.R.R. if you want to look at some of the more accessable gorges say Leanards ,Galvins,Manning (not go to Drysdale) Jacks you would probable need a min of 4 days if you want to have a bit of a look.However you could spend heaps more time there hiking around. depends on you enthusiam to walk. Don't rely on accomadation as it can be expencive ,you will probably need to book in advance and this limits your ability to do your own thing.
Camp in your swag and work something out for the little one ,maybe in the vehicle or a small tent. A small tent is worth its weight in gold and won' take many $ or much room. one bit of advce after 30 years up that way is DON'T TEAR ALONG TAKE YOUR TIME. Most of the problems I have seen over the years have occured due to overloading and excessive speed. Hope this helps
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Tony - Thursday, Jan 30, 2003 at 08:14
Thursday, Jan 30, 2003 at 08:14
I think your main question was about the standard
suspension.
I still run the standard springs and shocks on my GU 4.2T (100,000) but have put Poly Air in the rear, gives a bit of a lift and carries the load
well.
Replacement
suspension is on the way and I will be putting the Poly Air back in.
As for road conditions just drive to suit, and let the good ride of the Patrol give you and your family a plesant trip.
Regards Tony.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Chris - Thursday, Jan 30, 2003 at 08:37
Thursday, Jan 30, 2003 at 08:37
Marty,
Although I have a troopy, I did the GRR with standard OEM
suspension and found that the rough road did shorten the life of the gear. I wouldn't change it just for stamps vefore you go though. As stated before, the roughness of the trip depends upon where the
grader has been and how many trucks have been over it before you get there. As with other comments, for us parts were 80-90Kph smooth and others were 20kph rough.
I came across a vehicle who were on their third spare, and patching the most recent
puncture, so I would advise to take at least two. If you're not a dab hand at changing the cases, then the rim and everything. Most of the stations on the eastern end of the road can change tyres on splits no problem for you.
Where to stay:
Lakeside CP in Kunanurra, spend the time and cash to take the sunset boat tour on
Lake Argyle;
Elquestro;
Nearly everywhere else you can on the way across.
I'd allow at least 3 weeks, unless you're planning to go up to
Mitchell Falls - I haven't yet but plan to.
Good luck
AnswerID:
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