Is the Suzuki Jimny good for the Gibb River Road trip?

Are you aware that’s the wet season and you may need a pontoon to ford some of the crossings

Jimny will be fine. Take your time , and don't go in the "wet" season.

Cheers
Jim

Most places along the Gibb will be shut for the wet season, the roads will probably be closed at least in part due to the rain. The heat will be unbearable. It isn’t a good time to visit.

Thank you all for your comments. I will have to schedule the trip in the dry season then, perhaps early October this year.

Hello - Jimny fine - it's just a gravel road (albeit remote, with some large "gravel"). You could drive a Hyundia Getz down it (driving to conditions). Some side roads a different story but Jimny great option. As others have indicated, time of year is a more important consideration. Did it in 1998 in RAV 4 easy peasy - so you will slay it.

Cheers
Greg (my real first name)

Many thanks for your invaluable advice!

Agree with what others have mentioned about your January 2025 departure..
In regards to your Jimny, it will do the trip..but with a few caveats regarding you the driver..
1/. The road in places can be very rutty and with the small wheel base of the Jimny..it would become a bit uncomfortable after a few k's of corrugations.
Just be known..you are going to get uncomfortable and tired..
So take in mind, long day driving distances will be a challenge..
2/. The Jimny has a petrol engine with a small fuel tank..about a 600km range in perfect conditions.."the Gibb ain't perfect conditions"..and you will be carrying stuff..so the vehicle will weigh higher..so that 6ltr /100 you get?...
nah..work on doubling that..
So drop that 600k range back to about 400-450km and from that work out your stopping and refuelling places..because it gives you a 100 -150km buffer to play with.
Learn and practice on how to use the vehicles trip A & B computer, combine this with using the ExploreOz Traveller App whilst travelling offline at the same time.
It's very very handy...
3/. Tyres, the standard tyres..nah..go and get some good quality AT tyres with very good sidewall protection and a compact block tread pattern..including the spare!!!!!
4/.Get a decent hand held 5watt UHF or get one inbuilt into the vehicle and a PLB..you will need these..and learn how to use them..please.
5/. First Aid kit..including a snake bite bandage...and practice how to use the kit plus the bandage..you might not need to use it, but you may come across someone who will.
6/. Fuses and circuit breakers..find out where they are located in the vehicle..then go and get some spares of BOTH, specific to the amps of your vehicle.
Some circuit breakers aren't cheap..but worth their weight in gold..
I have seen people stranded all because a circuit breaker or a fuse has shite itself, they have stopped for a break and tried to start to vehicle after a long of hours driving.
7/. Take out the highest Roadside Service plan ie NRMA / RACV have as they will be your backup.
Apart from that..have fun and enjoy yourself..

The Suzuki Jimny can be a good choice for a trip on the Gibb river road, but there are a few factors to consider:

Pros:
Compact Size: The Jimny’s small size makes it highly maneuverable, which is advantageous on narrow and rough roads.

Off-Road Capability: The Jimny is well-regarded for its off-road capabilities, including features like 4WD and high ground clearance, which are beneficial for tackling the rough terrain of the Gibb River Road.

Cons:
Limited Space: The Jimny is a small vehicle, so cargo space and comfort for long journeys can be limited. Make sure you pack efficiently.

Comfort and Amenities: The Jimny’s ride can be quite rugged and basic compared to larger, more luxury-oriented 4WDs. Be prepared for a less comfortable ride.

Fuel range may be an issue, as a guess all loaded up you'll be lucky to get 400km from a tank?
You'll want to think about a long range tank as jerry cans will eat into your limited space and a single jerry on a roof rack will put you over the roof load limit.

You can probably do it one way, but it will limit side trips and may be an issue if you need to backtrack. Some places only have diesel available too.

For crying out loud you blokes. :)
The Gibb River Road is a wide graded road. Sometimes the grader has not been for a while and it gets a bit chopped up and there are a couple of river crossings that need caution, but frankly, I have driven Minis on roads that are at least as bad.

Your biggest risk is driving too fast and avoiding others that do likewise.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

I think it doesn't good enough for long travelling.