5 days on the Gibb River Highway

[Ean Austral]

Gday All,

Just came off the GRR and was blown away by the amount of traffic and the idiots driving.

Yep know its school holidays and now the eastern end from el questro to the highway is bitumen , but everywhere we stopped was packed. We only went as far as the kalumbaru turn off but nearly got wiped out half a dozen times by idiots overtaking people towing caravans and appearing from a dust cloud on the wrong side of the road. Heard idiots on the radio complaining that people weren't doing 100 and were slowing them down.

A idiot in a Prado ensured I will need to replace my windscreen when he passed us going up a hill only to have to swerve infront of me when a car came the other way and showered the D3 with rocks putting a nice crack in the windscreen. When I caught up with him later he refused to talk and was going to report me to the cops for threatening him if I didn't leave him alone, all from the locked doors and windows of his Prado.

Anyway , seen 2 cars on flat tops coming from Kalumbaru direction so that don't seem like its changed since our last trip up that way.

Atleast it was good to have a week off work.

Cheers Ean

[ATH]

Hopefully most of the idiots will have disappeared in the next couple of weeks when we get there.
Then we'll only have to put up with Fritz in Britz with their foot flat to the floor.
AlanH.

[Yorkie]

Head out next week from derby, fitzroy, then back up the leopold rd. Should be fun. :/

[Ean Austral]

Hopefully most of the idiots will have disappeared in the next couple of weeks when we get there.
Then we'll only have to put up with Fritz in Britz with their foot flat to the floor.
AlanH.

Yep plenty of them too. I heard the western end had just finished being graded so that may explain the highway driving attitude.

Enjoy your trip.

Cheers Ean.

[PhilipA]

When I was at Thrifty Kununurra a few weeks ago ,there was a rolled Thrifty troopy in the corner of the workshop at the request of the police.
The driver is in a world of trouble as told to me by the Manager of the Thrifty Franchise.
He is under 25 and driving on the Kulumburu road which both cancel his insurance which does not allow departure form The GRR.
His female companion was bounced around the cabin, and there was blood all over the passenger window and roof. She was not expected to live .

Why do people ignore common sense and take risks like that?

When I was at Drysdale 4 years ago there was an ironic story going round that a German couple had rolled their hired Hilux slide on on the Mitchell Falls road and she was desperately trying to hitch a ride to Drysdale that day to cancel her credit card, so the Hire company could not charge them the full write off cost .
I must say that except for one guy in a cruiser who came out of my dust cloud at warp speed when I thought I was going well on soft tyres at 90Kmh I had a pretty good run. That was about 3 June when the WAs from Esperence etc had not yet got there. The Derby council were then completely reforming the road in the King Leopold ranges after the wet.
No damage to the screen luckily.

Regards Philip A

[disco gazza]

That traffic sounds like its come straight from Sydney's atrocious traffic chaos.

cheers

[C00P]

We had similar experience, but thankfully avoided the school holidays. We sat between 70 and 90kph but backed off as people came towards us or from behind and moved well over to the side. No broken windscreens. We passed a few people further up the track who had overtaken us. They were changing wheels. Met one at El Questro and he said he'd buggered a nearly new tyre. I didn't say anything, but the thought that went through my head was "Serves you right!"
Some people don't seem to make the connection between spiked tyres, broken windscreens, and speed on dirt roads.

Coop

[TwoUp]

"he refused to talk and was going to report me to the cops for threatening him if I didn't leave him alone, all from the locked doors and windows of his Prado."


I think this would have been a good occasion to push the point! I am not saying get a ball-pein hammer and alter the aerodynamics of his vehicle, nor would I suggest the smallest of nudges into the drivers door ("by accident Officer"), just to engage in continued, if not somewhat direct, dialogue with said Rabbit.


I would like to thank AULRO for providing a place to vent, thanks.


Anyway how often do you get to use your ball-pein hammer?


Cheers,
PeterW

[Ean Austral]

"he refused to talk and was going to report me to the cops for threatening him if I didn't leave him alone, all from the locked doors and windows of his Prado."


I think this would have been a good occasion to push the point! I am not saying get a ball-pein hammer and alter the aerodynamics of his vehicle, nor would I suggest the smallest of nudges into the drivers door ("by accident Officer"), just to engage in continued, if not somewhat direct, dialogue with said Rabbit.


I would like to thank AULRO for providing a place to vent, thanks.


Anyway how often do you get to use your ball-pein hammer?


Cheers,
PeterW

Maybe the fact I had a rock in my hand and pointing to his windscreen may have had something to do with his reaction.

Not that I would have used it, but was just trying to illustrate the issue.

Cheers Ean.

[LandyAndy]

Ean I once got a stern chat from a law man because I tried speaking to somebody in a car with a rock in my hand.
The person in the car had been charged with breaking into my house and stealing my CD player and CDs,the rock was much bigger than a footy;);););)
The law man asked me did I threaten to kill the bloke,then he said think about your answer as it may be a serious charge.
NOPE sir,I was asking him was the rock his as it wasnt mine.
Good answer sir,dont do it again was the reply;););););)
Andrew

[cjc_td5]

We are in Kununurra tonight after just spending 10 nights on the GRR.

Things we noticed since we were last there 12 years ago was the large increase in traffic volumes and also the size of the caravans now being towed along the GRR. Some of the rigs were huge and both vehicle and caravan must take a huge pounding on a road like that.

Funny your comment about Prado drivers, I made the same observation a few days ago. It seems that if a car approached at speed it invariably was a Prado, and they wouldn't move over either.

The eastern end was quite rocky and we damaged the tread blocks on the rear BFG ATs along there, though we were pushing along a bit to get to HV station before dark.

Kalumburu Road was pretty rough in parts, though the grader is working its way up the road at present. We broke a main leaf spring on our trailer coming out of Mitchell Falls, which we were able to nurse through to Drysdale Station. We then did a 400km return dash to a mechanic south of Mt Barnett to pick up a replacement.

We saw tilt tray trucks several times, including carrying a Patrol out of Mitchell Falls. They must do a roaring trade up there at this time of year.

The D2a performed beautifully. Only a couple of bits fell off, all repairable.:D

Saw a few other AULROians up there, can't wait to hear of their experiences also.

Cheers,

[GregMilner]

We'll this is my experience up there last month (June) - all hail to LR for pulling us out. And you're right about a lot of Prado driver, and Britz van drivers!

Gibb River Rd: A Range Rover in the Kimberley (http://gibbadventure.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/a-range-rover-in-kimberley.html)

[RHS58]

We drove the GRR in 2009 and made the journey to Mitchell plateau.
In a Prado (with aftermarket suspension), and our travel companions in a Suzuki Grand Vitara (absolutely bog standard!) no less.
Rough corrugated and dusty. Slow.
Bone rattling, fillings loosened. The ladies found it emotionally distressing.
But the vehicles held up better than the occupants - no mechanical issues whatsoever.
Was it worth it - absolutely!
Drive it again- absolutely not. Once is enough.
Lower the tyre pressures, go steady. Stop occasionally and check the vehicle - bloody hell the shock absorbers get hot on corrugations.
And watch out for those Britz campers.
And Patrols towing trailers at speed - eye opening and bum clenching having these idiots coming at you sideways at speed on a corrugated bend in the road.
Only recall seeing one LR on the GRR - towing a big off road van. He was going steady and seemed to be doing it ok.

[Pam W]

I think we got our timing pretty good for our GRR crossing earlier this year. We headed out last week of April from Derby end - had only been open about a week and the grader had just finished the first full length grade after the wet. Very few rough sections (rocky, rather than corrugations). Very little other traffic.

Was awesome scenery and so wonderfully green. Only downside was most of the side routes hadn't opened and our time was limited so we did Windjana and Bell Gorge and camped at both, then drove straight through, via a night at Ellenbrae (scones to die for!). The Pentecost river crossing was great as it was still fairly high!

More on our blog - Landy Travels | Up on the roof (http://www.landytravels.com)

[Tombie]

A idiot in a Prado ensured I will need to replace my windscreen when he passed us going up a hill only to have to swerve infront of me when a car came the other way and showered the D3 with rocks putting a nice crack in the windscreen. When I caught up with him later he refused to talk and was going to report me to the cops for threatening him if I didn't leave him alone, all from the locked doors and windows of his Prado.


Ean

In car cameras are great for this, and, as I have recently seen, are considered evidence enough for insurance companies to go after the driver of the vehicle who damaged your vehicles windscreen...


And a tip: Dont remodel a vehicles door with your knee... I've *heard* the side intrusion bars can hurt.... :angel:


Once had a similar discussion with another gentleman who had clipped me back when I was riding a pushy... Through his wound up window he was very brave. Still have a couple of scars where my closed hand and arm went through the glass. ;)

[bob10]

To tell you the truth, I think the Gibb road, the Simpson, the cape York thing, are highly over rated. Give me a quiet road, in the real bush, no *******, that'll do me. Bob

[Bearman]

To tell you the truth, I think the Gibb road, the Simpson, the cape York thing, are highly over rated. Give me a quiet road, in the real bush, no *******, that'll do me. Bob

I agree Bob, something like Winton to Jundah to Windorah springs to my mind. Only came across 2 other vehicles in 2 days on my last trip and they were both station vehicles. Camped about 200 metres off the road on a waterhole and no vehicles at all passed during the night. That's the sort of bush driving I like!

[Carzee]

To tell you the truth, I think the Gibb road, the Simpson, the cape York thing, are highly over rated. Give me a quiet road, in the real bush, no *******, that'll do me. Bob

Agreed + +

Why would anyone spends thousands to leave town/crowds and go spend rec time with other crowds?

[AndyG]

Does anyone fit mesh over their windscreen or has that become illegal/ daggy?

It used to be fairly common in the bush.

[Sitec]

So, has anyone who's been up there of late seen 107Guss??? We've not heard from him in a while? :)

[Avion8]

We left Gus at Overlanders back on June 12th after a trip to Steep Point with him. The attached photo is of him airing up at Carrarrang Station on Useless Loop Road. He was doing well & looking forward to Broome & the Kimberley.

[Tombie]

Does anyone fit mesh over their windscreen or has that become illegal/ daggy?

It used to be fairly common in the bush.


Was more when tempered glass was the go..

Laminated glass cracks not fragments so no longer needed. Haven't seen one used since the 80s

[AndyG]

Umm they do exist, i think daggy is the word

Roof Rack World /Sunshade Products P/L > Products > MORE ACCESSORIES > Windscreen Stoneguards (http://www.roofrack.com.au/Products/MOREACCESSORIES/WindscreenStoneguards.aspx)

Here we us heavy mesh that would stop a bush knife, (machete) or a very large rock.

[Sitec]

We left Gus at Overlanders back on June 12th after a trip to Steep Point with him. The attached photo is of him airing up at Carrarrang Station on Useless Loop Road. He was doing well & looking forward to Broome & the Kimberley.

Ha gold!! 2 107's up there ! Gus's will have loved that! :)

[Avion8]

Ha gold!! 2 107's up there ! Gus's will have loved that! :)

He seemed to enjoy it, except for cracking a front panel mount - weight of spare + wok on the bonnet, and some pretty horrendous corrugations on the road into Steep point. He also got his wiper working with parts made up from several different wiper motors.

[BMKal]

Umm they do exist, i think daggy is the word

Roof Rack World /Sunshade Products P/L > Products > MORE ACCESSORIES > Windscreen Stoneguards (http://www.roofrack.com.au/Products/MOREACCESSORIES/WindscreenStoneguards.aspx)

Here we us heavy mesh that would stop a bush knife, (machete) or a very large rock.

Don't think you'd catch me with the full size one on any vehicle - however the small ones that sit across the bottom of the windscreen work well on some vehicles. I had one on a Toyota HiAce van (Pilot Vehicle) that I used to do a lot of rough roads in, and it saved me a windscreen more than once. At least with the small ones, you look over the top of it and not through the mesh, which I think would be annoying.

It's still hanging up in my shed in Kalgoorlie if anyone wants it .......

Don't think I'd put one on the Disco though ............. :p

[Bigbjorn]

Was more when tempered glass was the go..

Laminated glass cracks not fragments so no longer needed. Haven't seen one used since the 80s

I always thought the whole idea of laminated windscreens was to crack rather than shatter into gravel. Now we have coppers and Transport Inspectors telling us vehicles are unroadworthy if the cracks are in front of the driver or run to an edge. We wouldn't have been able to complete a mail run out in Winton without getting a couple or more new cracks in the screens.

[kelvo]

So, has anyone who's been up there of late seen 107Guss??? We've not heard from him in a while? :)

Met him at Windjana Gorge 24th June, he's loving it :)

He was planning on heading for the GRR and Mitchell Falls.

[Sitec]

wok on the bonnet......

Mmmmmm, I might get the blame for that then!! ;) Hope he's used it!! :)

[LandyAndy]

I always thought the whole idea of laminated windscreens was to crack rather than shatter into gravel. Now we have coppers and Transport Inspectors telling us vehicles are unroadworthy if the cracks are in front of the driver or run to an edge. We wouldn't have been able to complete a mail run out in Winton without getting a couple or more new cracks in the screens.

Its simple Brian.
In the old days a windscreen was only there to keep the wind out of your face.
These days the windscreen is part of the structural strength of the vehicle.
Andrew

[Avion8]

Mmmmmm, I might get the blame for that then!! ;) Hope he's used it!! :)
Yep your fault, but looked great on the bonnet & was like new underneath.

[lane]

My experience of the GRR three years back was if you did a 100 in most places you were risking waaaay too much!:D Apart from your life. I passed a guy who had done 6 tyres going over a patch too fast. That shale stuff really chews rubber! This was while they were still majorly grading parts. Pity about the idiots, its like a bloody hwy these days! But it was still worth it right!:D

Lane

[wrinklearthur]

So, has anyone who's been up there of late seen 107Guss??? We've not heard from him in a while? :)

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Gus Tonights view of the world

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Out of Mount Isa Qld
2 hours ago

Simon You've done well!!! AULRO update needed as we were wondering where u had got to!!
2 hours ago

Gus Hope to find internet in the morn, I have a bunch to update
2 hours ago

Ian Looks pretty good Gus! How's rover runnin

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