Today we travelled over about 100 k's of dirt road, mostly corrugated, several dips, (one with lotsa water, which I diligently walked through), and I never want to feel so shaken and rattled again! My arthritis hates all the vibrations, so I'm on the pain-killers this evening. Yes, Mr D had lowered the tyre pressure, which helped.
While we were at Windjana Gorge campground most of the other campers were doing the GRR, or the one over which we travelled (from GRR to Great Northern Highway) and nobody else complained about corrugations.
How do others feel, are there any others out there who really don't like all those "speed-bumps".
Hey Gerty, we did the Gibb in all its entirety. Speed bumps, river crossings and all. The portion between GRR and Windjana (and on to Tunnell Creek) was probably worst than the GRR.
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DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
Thanks Dunmowin, that makes me feel a bit better! The road actually got worse further south of Tunnel Creek. Some wag had erected a sign that said "Speed Humps Next 2 kms", and he was right, it was basically continual speed-humps!
Today we travelled over about 100 k's of dirt road, mostly corrugated, several dips, (one with lotsa water, which I diligently walked through), and I never want to feel so shaken and rattled again! My arthritis hates all the vibrations, so I'm on the pain-killers this evening. Yes, Mr D had lowered the tyre pressure, which helped.
While we were at Windjana Gorge campground most of the other campers were doing the GRR, or the one over which we travelled (from GRR to Great Northern Highway) and nobody else complained about corrugations.
How do others feel, are there any others out there who really don't like all those "speed-bumps".
Thanks for the feedback Gerty. It's been awhile since I went to Winjana and Tunnel Creek via Derby and then continuing on the road through to the highway. I do remember lots of little "V" shaped dips with riverlets running through them and although I went in a Toyota Coaster over them wondered if a caravan might breach crossing over them.
Did you take your caravan or leave it at Derby or Fitzroy Crossing? Glad you made it ok, well worth the agony. I can't remember the corrugations but maybe it wasn't so busy or had been graded recently when I went over it. Is it suitable for a road caravan (ie; not an off roader)?
-- Edited by Vic41 on Monday 23rd of June 2014 11:04:20 PM
Hi Gerty
I feel the same as you re corrugations my old body no long enjoys being shaken about and I pays dearly for it that night, it certainly wasn't the same 50 years back, I could sleep on the bare ground then, in just a sleeping bag, wouldn't it be great to not have the aches and pains we have now, but then again I wouldn't be dead for quids, life continues to be great.
Cheers
David
I never travel over corrugated roads. It loosens up fixings for cupboards in your MH or caravan apart from the discomfort of traveling over it. The road into Green Lake is corrugated for the last ilometer, but I travel at 10KPH and keep well to the side off the corrugations.
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I used to slam around in an old Sigma Wagon over dirt roads around Mildura, Menindee, Broken hill and hope to never have to do it agin. Killed the car.
We learnt to drive on corrugated roads so not a problem. Drive to conditions etc etc. After the trip just check screws etc but if you wish to see the real Australia this is where the roads take you. I can remember a comment from our then 8 year old son when we were heading up to 1770 (now all sealed). He said "Mum the ants must get tired on all these hills!" Meaning all the corrugations they have to climb up & over. LOL
I remember as a youngster in Kenya, having just qualified for my drivers licence, I drove 275 Miles (must be about 450km) of corrugated dirt road between Nairobi to Mombasa to go fishing for a 4 day weekend. Most of the road had no game fencing and elephants, giraffes and buffaloes thought they had the right of way. Only the Zebras and Impalas got off the road quickly. The buffaloes ignored you and sometimes you had to do a 3 point turn pretty quickly when the elephants got annoyed with the noise you were making and started flapping their ears.
The car was one of those cut back Anglias. Memories.....
Yes Vic, towed the caravan. Don't mind cleaning up dust from places you wouldn't expect, but not happy about a couple of screws giving way under the microwave. The movement enlarged the screw-holes in the underside of the microwave, now Mr D is trying to find a way to fix it.
Otherwise the only casualty was my back. (oh to be young again!)
Its a scenic drive along past Tunnel Creek , you follow the Napier range a lot of the way.
Thanks Gerty, appreciated, if the screw holes are in wood, tell Mr D to try sticking in a couple of matchsticks or a stick of wood into the hole and the re-screw....
Thanks Gerty, appreciated, if the screw holes are in wood, tell Mr D to try sticking in a couple of matchsticks or a stick of wood into the hole and the re-screw....
No Vic, they are in metal... he's not sure if its soft steel or aluminium. Wood is his preferred medium.
Did lots & lots of them when I was a youth out in SEQ chasing wild pigs & roos in old holdens & the like.
My last attempt was in the Patrol (no Van) on the road off the highway between Borroloola & King Ash Bay. I got down about 10km (half way) & couldn't take any more. The tops of the ruts were about 300mm apart & the hollows were a similar depth. There was a set of tracks thru the bush alongside the road but they were almost as bad. Pulled up, put the billy on, had a cuppa then turned round & went back.
I get absolutely no joy from bad dirt roads these days.
Don't mind cleaning up dust from places you wouldn't expect, but not happy about a couple of screws giving way under the microwave. The movement enlarged the screw-holes in the underside of the microwave, now Mr D is trying to find a way to fix it. 
