Chris

We fully expect to see you here on your way through, or at Minbrie. We may leave earlier than your arrival which would stuff up these plans but we will see.....

It is funny you mention that WW!! airbase as I was only looking at it yesterday. That would be worth seeing. Yes, last year the bulls at Carawine were certainly present but none were fighting...

Elsewhere on the forum I promised to provide a copy of the planning document I have prepared for both a previous trip across the Gary Junction Road as well as the forthcoming trip in June this year. The attached document has contact details for the communities which provide fuel and (usually limited) groceries at the community stores. I have detailed the camp sites we stayed at last time and will probably stay at again this time around. The co-ordinates are provided but I offer them without any claim they are accurate... I believe they are but use your own mapping facilities as well! It will be noted that I have included details of Carawine Gorge as it is a lovely rest stop either before or after completing the GJR. GARY JUNCTION ROAD FORUM.pdf

I will put the planning document up shortly, in a new thread.

I will make sure you know where we are!

Will do Sandra!

We will be launching off from Carawine Gorge on 29 June so we may catch up! You say you are starting off from Watarrka...do,you live there? chris

Welcome Cargo5 to the Kedron forum. all the brands you mention are good and capable units, but obviously we love the Kedron brand. In our case we are onto our second van from the Kedron factory. The vans are not only well made but dealing with the factory is a major plus. go and do a tour of the factory and see what is on offer. They also have a used van sales yard on Gympie Rd so you can get a good idea of the appearance and set ups. good luck with the research- it is an exciting journey! Feel free to,ask specific questions here. chris

Sue and Rod, I look forward to meeting up with you guys. I will do regular trip reports so will keep abreast of each other's movements.

We are in the process of finalising our travel plans this year. Well, they are the plans at this stage but as everyone knows they can change rapidly! We will cross the Nullabor from here in SA and head up North through the WA Wheatfields, up to first Cape Range NP, maybe Karijini NP, Marble Bar, and Carawine Gorge, then re-doing the Gary Junction Road crossing back to Alice Springs. We will go down through the Haasts Bluff Road rather than out to the Stuart Highway. After Alice Springs we think we may travel over to QLD on the Plenty to Winton. After that, perhaps down through the middle back home. If the weather is fine we may travel down to Esperance first but that is probably not on the cards, as it is a long way out of our way. I think we will leave here the first week of May and then take it as it comes. The permits have been organised and the start date from Marble Bar or Carawine Gorge is 29 June So unless I change the permits that bit is set in concrete! Interestingly, the permits (applied for online) were issued immediately (by the NT) and within 24 hours (by WA). They are very efficient these days. I have a good planning document now for the Gary Junction Road which I can share on the forum if there is any interest .

Interesting....Glen and Deb (see their posts above) have just removed their gas heater and installed a diesel heater in their van. They may wish to comment further.

I am posting this as a Kedron owner and as someone who knows both CV Tripper and Russ. I have personally benefitted from advice and assistance from both of them over the years, and have valued their respective inputs to this forum. I can see that there has been a degree of miscommunication in this discussion and appeal for some calm reflection on the topic. Russ, please reconsider and continue your presence here as we value your input.

We are now at Streaky Bay in SA, and heading toward Coffin Bay and Lincoln National Parks. We are now getting closer to home, after nearly four months away. I am attaching our latest trip report which covers our travel up until the Porongurup region in WA, and details some interesting travel through WA's wheatbelt. Stage 5 July 2015.pdf

We are now in the South West of WA...at Bridgetown, to be precise. A nice neat little caravan park just around the corner from the main street, and only charging $20 a night for a powered site. We are finding travelling in Winter is quieter without the crowds you see in Summer months and everything is fresh and green.

We are now far south of Marble Bar, which is where we turned South to head progressively closer to home in SA. Right now we are camped at a lovely freecamp called Kwolyin, South of Merredin and North East of Perth. The camp has flushing toilets, a camp kitchen (with gas stovetop), a covered barbeque area with free gas barbeques, and a nice bush setting. Tomorrow we head down to Margaret River for a few days before heading to Bridgetown.

John, the Mereenie Loop is pretty much the way we approached the Great Central Road two years ago. What you would do in essence is follow the Mereenie Loop from Watarrka (Kings Canyon) to the start of the GJR, South East of Papunya, then head up to that community and onwards. Stay a night or three at Redbank Gorge which is very near the start of the GJR proper, as the ridgetop camp is breathtaking. The Running Waters (or Eel Poolw as not possible on this trip for us as the road was so badly washed out you couldn't get all the way there in a vehicle. The last cyclone did real damage. But the road South from Carrawine on the Skull Springs Road was breathtakingly beautiful. It took five hours to get the 170 kms from Carrawine to Nullagine but so very pretty. Just lots of dips that required slowing down, otherwise in OK condition, and nothing a Kedron can't handle.

Great John. Someone else also wanted a copy somI have put it in both sections of the forum. What we had planned originally back in 2013 was to travel from Alice to Leonora, WA on the Great Central Road, and then head north to Marble Bar and back East on the Gary Junction Road. That return route didn't eventuate and so we did it this time instead. What will your route be?

I am putting the document here, and then others can use it if they wish. The document contains phone numbers for communities, where fuel is available and suggested camp sites. GARY JUNCTION ROAD FINALdoc.pdf

John and Tina, if you want, Incan send you my planning document. It details phone nos of communities, distances between them and suggested camping spots. It was prepared for each of us travelling together to plan better for the trip. Tell me how you want me to email it to you, if you think it will be useful.

Thanks Colin. It is always good to have feedback on reports.... I thought it was more scenic than the GCR but Lesley says she found that track the more scenic and interesting. I particularly liked the access to water at Jupiter Well and Well 33 and of course Carawine Gorge at the Western end was icing on the cake.

Hi John and Tina. We did indeed travel the GJR as discussed above on this topic. I had forgotten that I had put a request for information on this section of the forum.... I had put a trip report over in the Owners private section and normally do not place trip reports in the more public section. But I absolutely should place the report here in recognition that this is where I asked for advice! So thank you for the timely reminder. We travelled on the track from 3 to 9 June. Stage 2 June 2015.pdf

How have things gone with the new batteries, Brian? It does sound like worn out batteries. Interesting no one has commented on 120AH batteries v 130AH batteries. So I assume they are the same except for the higher amperage. (Is 'amperage' a proper word? It should be...) We too had battery problems when the van sat for a long time unused, although on trickle charge.

This advice comes from Val and not me, you understand... There is a third screw on the inside part of the lock, behind the lock latch. You need to lock the door from inside, and then you can see the screw. Then things should come apart.