Grant and Tamara | Family Travel Australia

Would you tow your van through this?!

Did anyone actually keep count of how many water crossings are on the Gibb? We stopped after about 20. Between the endless corrugations, red dust, and deep crossings, this track isn’t just tough on us, it’s tough on the car and van too.

Regular checks are a must out here:
🔧 Tighten bolts & check suspension.
💡 Keep an eye on wiring and lights.
🛞 Inspect tyres after every long stretch.
🚰 Watch for water getting into seals.

Hot tip: we keep a thermal heat gun on hand to quickly check brakes, bearings/axles, and shock absorbers. Here’s what to look out for:

Brakes - after driving, all brake drums/discs should be a similar temperature side to side. If one is much hotter, it could mean that brake is dragging or sticking.

Wheel Bearings / Axles - A healthy bearing will usually sit around the ambient + 20–40°C (so on a 25°C day, expect ~45–65°C). If one hub is significantly hotter than the others, it’s a warning sign the bearing may be failing or too tight.

Shock Absorbers - Shocks will warm up on corrugations. That’s normal. What you’re looking for is consistency, if one shock is much hotter than the rest, it may be overworking (or the others aren’t working at all).

Quick Rule of Thumb - Consistency is key → all four wheels/brakes/bearings should be in the same ballpark. Anything that feels “out of line” = investigate. If it’s too hot to touch with your hand, that’s already a sign something’s wrong.

Join us on more adventures, and reach out if you want a quote for your own off-road caravan!

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