Gibb River Road

I haven't been on the Gibb yet but I've heard towing a trailer of any sort is not recommended.

oznnz,

Will be travelling through this area in August and September. Would recommend Ron & Viv Moons book on the Kimberleys (can purchase through this sight I believe) for information on the area, treck notes, sites to see, contact numbers, services, history and fishing. I think you will have to pick up some local knowledge when you get there for absolute best spots though.

As to trailers not recommended, we will be travelling through with three off road campers.Mine is an All Terrain trailer from Sydney and will not be a problem. Good off road trailers are designed for this type of area as heavy suspension and full chassis etc. Can't say I know the Jayco camper but its a caravan style of thing it will get damaged. Friends of mine went two years ago and did not get the pop top van past Kunnannura (via alice to Darwin) as all the cupboards fell apart and away from the walls. Just could not handle the rough roads.

You'll just have to wait to hear from someone who knows you type of camper but definately buy the book if not done so already.

I recommend another book - Lonly Planet Guide to Outback Aust. Covers lots of other areas in detail also. The Moon's book is good but specific to Kimberly. Also look at the Trek Notes by the ExOz team on this site. get the Hema map of the region and you'll be cook'n. Check the Shop on this site also and support the poor buggers who run it.
Trailers are OK but make sure every thing is strong & secure & take spares. Take it easy and watch tyre pressures. There's heaps to see. Excellent fishing at the coastal & river systems if you know what you are doing. Depending on your time available if you want to fish off shore check local boat hires with guides. Contact Info offices in each town via Google search.Carpe Diem

Oznnz,
If your Jayco is a general purpose camper trailer tricked up a bit s "Outback ready" I would not recommend the GRR and the road north to Kalumburu and Mitchell plateau. If your trailer does not have matching wheels and tyres to you Prado I would say that is the first negative indicator. You need to take a hard look at your trailer or take it to a 4WD tag along specialist or similar experienced people and get an opinion. It may either fall apart, break springs, gash tyres on sharp rocks, or roll over (or all of the above). The prado is well capable of towing a real off road camper in the Kimberley provided the trailer has a strong frame & suspension, larger tyres (matches your Prado) and insides that don't shake apart.

I see plenty of the off road camper trailers on the GRR and most survive when driven quietly. Excess speed and overloading are the two main culprits for damaged vehicles & trailers on the GRR. There are many other accessible camping and fishing spots around the Kimberley without doing the entire length of the GRR.

I live in Derby opposite the jetty end of the caravan park, so you can find me easy enough and I can point you to local experts when you get here (via the Grt Nthn Hwy if need be!).

Have a great trip.

Recommend El Questro, Emma Gorge, Old Mornington Station (a bit out of the road but worth it), Bell Gorge (an absolute must), day trip from Bell Gorge camp to Lennard Gorge (if you're fit enough to climb back up),
Windjana Gorge & Tunnel Creek. Other spots would be a bonus but if you saw these you'd be happy.
Ron & Viv Moons book is the best guide you can get.
If you like you can contact me through Exploroz and I can send you some electronic info on GRR.

Hi, we hire camper trailers that reguarly go up the GRR from Karratha and being purpose built they are fine with it, the last one came back only a couple of weeks ago and they said that there was only 1 george open in the middle so they did the top to El Questro, approx 60kms {well worth it} then drove around and came in through the road between Fitzroy Crossing and Derby to get to Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge, though they got 2 flat tyres, one on the vehicle and one on the trailer.
This way you can still get to see most of the GRR with your setup and just do day trips, without towing over the worst of the road.
Feel free to contact me for any more up to date info as people come back any part of your northern W.A. trip.

Chris
Karratha W.A.

All of the spots Allyn suggested are a must, take your time as this is one of the most remote and beautiful areas we visited on a 5 month trip. We did the G.R.R. with an early v6 pathfinder and a Golf Camper similar to your jayco. Common sense (right speed, right tyre pressure etc) will get you through without too much trauma. We had no damage - okay I lied - we had one puncture (rear vehicle tyre at night) but this was predictable considering the speed I was doing at the time. It was an expensive lesson. On the jayco ensure that your water lines from your tank are better protected than I have seen them leave the factory. A bit of flexible conduit will probably be enough. Make sure your cupboard doors and fridge stay closed (don't take beetroot!). I have never seen coffee and milo compacted so tightly with the corrugations. It is well worth it though. You'll never never know.....