How we conquered Australia's caravan killer!

The iconic Gibb River Road is on many an RV traveller’s bucket list. It’s also notoriously nicknamed the ‘caravan killer’...

Which begs the question: Are you better off doing it in a smaller rig? Or perhaps a hybrid camper, or just a roof top tent and 4WD vehicle setup?

We've just towed our 19ft 6ft dual-axle off-road caravan over the Gibb and can confidently say we didn’t kill it… in fact we didn’t break anything at all! And while much of that can be attributed to extensive pre-trip planning, on-going maintenance and also some good luck (like when the grader last went through), it also helps if you have a quality, well prepared rig.

Our Melbourne-built Wonder Roo van is set up with some key features for serious off-road and off-grid travel including:
• 750 watt rooftop solar and 2 x 200 amp hour lithium batteries (for long periods without power hookup)
• 220L of fresh water
• Quality all terrain tyres
• Air bag suspension
• Plenty of ground clearance (for the water crossings)

If you’re going to camp at any of the many free camps along the route, then you’ll also need a toilet and more importantly one that can last several days at least, as there are few if any official dump points on the Gibb. So either carry an extra cassette if you have a chemical toilet, or a composting toilet that can last several weeks...

Our LandCruiser 300 Series tow vehicle has also been modified to make it more bullet-proof for the sort of serious off-road conditions you find along the Gibb. Along with tyres equipped to handle sharp rocks hit at speed, it also has a snorkel to increase the wading depth, a two-inch lifted suspension and a compressor to alter tyre pressures as the road conditions change.

In the weeks prior to heading out, we also made some Gibb-specific preparations including adding an extra rubber flap under the caravan to minimise stone damage to the water tanks, and additional foam underbody protection to cover essential utilities.

We also had a service prior to departure and purchased other spare parts ‘just in case’, like fuel and air filters.

Additionally we were prepared with additional 'van spares, like a water pump and other plumbing bits and bobs, and had a wheel bearing and brakes service too.

Call it extensive planning, fastidious maintenance or a seriously capable car and caravan, but getting through the Gibb unscathed was certainly an achievement as well as a lot of fun along the way. The gorges, waterfalls, swimming and sheer remoteness of the area made for an epic adventure and one we recommend doing yourself.

We saw plenty of travellers doing it, in rigs of all shapes and sizes (albeit at varying degrees of risk). Just make sure you’ve done the research, you’re prepared and you’re ready for the trip of a lifetime...