Hilux or Navara

Sorry mate, budget is circa $30k and looking for a turbo diesel. So i guess the options are a newish Navara or 06/07 Hilux.

Geez, too kind, no need to apologise, was just trying to short circuit you to the best advice.

We are heading to Gibb, Drysdale, Mitchell and Kununurra. The tyres and suspension haven't even been considered yet, we are still just looking for a vehicle first. Any suggestions or recommendations re tyres and suspension?

I would go the Hilux myself, i have lived in the Kimberleys my whole life and they are a great car to have up here. I personally own a Cruiser trayback though, bit tougher the the old Lux. But i would probably just narrow the decision down to a vehicle that has the best service history, lowest k's, and in top all round condition. Both vehicles are more then adequate for your trip, i would probably test drive both models and see which car feels the best to drive and which has the most space.

As for suspension and tyres, im a Bridgestone Dueler 693LT man but any tyre that is Light Truck construction will be fine as long as your pressures suit the road conditions. On the Gibb and other graded roads i have mine at 34psi all round, and drop them down to around 30psi for rocky country, but also your speed needs to suit aswell. As for suspension, i have Ironman and am very happy with it, very nice ride and cheaper then all the rest. But again any of the big brand 4wd suspension kits will make a big difference in the ride and handling of the car over standard. Try get one with a 2'' lift. Also consider that you might wanna take 2 spare tyres, or gear to repair a tyre if you have to. But if tyres are fairly new and you adjust pressures and speed to suit conditions then you could be right with one, but i always carry an extra. Though i have never had to use my 1st spare never mine the 2nd. It is a huge debate on here which tyre and suspension brand is the best so its really just personal favourites. For tyres my top 3 would be BF Goodrich A/T, Bridgestone Dueler A/T and Dick Cepek FC 11 i think they are. For suspension top 3 would be Old Man Emu, Tough Dog and because they are cheap and work well Ironman. Dont let the price fool you, i ahve done the Gibb twice this year and also the Cape Leveque road and various tracks in the East Kimberley and they have proved themselves over and over agian.

Thanks Kroozer, much appreciated

Have just returned to Cairns from a trip to the Kimberly area and N.T. and MacDonnell Ranges in my Nissen Navara D22 diesel. No trouble on 4WD roads or highways. Gibb River road no problem. Diesel around $2 a litre over there. The Nav tended to chew the fuel up a bit over 100K's/p/h but on the roads in the N.T. (speed limit 130 k/p/h) hard to keep to 100k/p/h. I had fitted before I went - heavy duty torsion bars- heavy duty shocks and rear air springs which gave me an extra 3 inches of clearance. Also have Cooper ATR tyres on the Nav and though they were o k on the bitumen they were hopeless on the dirt with great chunks of rubber falling off the treads and cracking in between the treads. I used correct tyre pressure on the dirt; 32 psi.