Thread: *Appropriate* preparation for a 1 month trip

Take lots of money and be prepared to be fleeced at the tourists traps.

As below in red

Originally Posted by Samblers

Thanks folks - great comments and some really useful suggestions... too much to comment on everything in detail, but so far I have:

- fully serviced vehicle, paying attention to wear parts, tyres, shock bushes, hoses - Definitely Shocky Bushes as these take a pounding on corrugated roads
- top level RAC cover -- Definitely - we have used this once up the The Cape when our Alternator failed on our Prado
- sat phone or EPIRB if going remote solo -- Minimum is a PLB
- a jacking plate for the jack
- tyre repair kit
- jury is still out on need for winching -- Electric Winches these days are not that expensive and to me is a worthy piece of mind sort of thing
- i'm going to go for jerry cans - diesel on roof and water in car. Am working on modifications to my rear setup which allow me strong tie-down points for everything (tie-down hasnt been necessary until now) -- When we crossed the Madigan a few years ago, we had 2x 25ltr Plastic Fuel containers on the Frontrunner Roofrack. I made up a Plywood box that bolted to the roofrack that the 2 fuel containers were then strapped into. This was very secure as the plastic fuel containers have a boarder base which helped in the rough rocking conditions - cost of making box was minimal - photo attached

Q's:

- the 'standard' defender jack is the bottle jack, right?
- whats 'PTO' in relation to winch?
- 'MAF' filter?

Happy to keep listening!

Cheers, Sam

Originally Posted by Samblers

a 1 month Broome to Darwin camping trip with the family, incl. the Gibb River Road, and all the regions sights.

The main thin you will need to accomplish that is an extra few months.

That being said, I can share some of our experience with several extended Kimberley trips including the trans-continental trip from country Vic. A few random thoughts in no particular order:

The Gibb River Road is not an extreme challenge or adventure in itself; it gives access to some fabulous country but it is also a very busy route. You will not die of thirst if you break down on the Gibb but you will incur some heavy expenses and most likely ruin your holiday. Your top cover will mitigate the first bit.

Someone has said that it is all the 'bolt-ons' that give trouble. This is 100% correct. Make sure anything added to your vehicle is done to a very high standard. Wiring to accessories that is not properly routed, insulated, protected and secured is a major source of trouble. I had to drop the fuel tank out of one of my Rangies on the Tanami Track due to an unprotected wire that was part of the LPG conversion rubbing through. On our last expedition, I assisted many other people with these kinds of problems including a brand new Land Cruiser with a dealer-installed electrical accessory system that was shorting out.
Another guy on the Kalumburu road had applied loctite to the clamp bracket screws on his roof rack. Trouble was, the thing had not come loose by the screws unscrewing but by the settling action of a billion corrugations- then he could not tighten the loctited screws with the little tool gizmo.

Be prepared to give your vehicle a thorough going-over every few days in camp. It's amazing how few people do this; when I lifted the bonnet of the Landy and rotated tyres in the Mount Elizabeth campground, people assumed something was wrong. They seem to think it normal to do a 10,000km expedition without lifting the bonnet from one end to the other.

I have had a winch on every 4wd I have owned in the last 20+ years- my current 130 has one at each end- but I have never needed to winch on an outback trip. Nice to know it's there though, we get pretty game with where we are prepared to go.

Max Trax have taken the place of high-lift jacks as an essential item to have bolted to your vehicle in some prominent location.

You don't need 2 spare wheels unless you get 2 flats. Then you also need tyre-changing tools as you no longer have a spare. I consider both essential.

Brake pads never wear out all at the same time. I keep the one with the most meat from a worn-out set (front and rear) as a spare. If one goes to metal unexpectedly on a trip you can swap it out.

Shocker rubbers. Carry spares.

Hoses- have them changed and carry the old ones. Belts likewise.

Silicon, knead-it, repair tape, wire and solder, a nanocom or similar to reset fault codes or limp mode. An assortment of screws and bolts relevant to the vehicle. A hub bearing set in a tin of grease. Cash. We carried very little cash on our first trip through there and it was all cleaned out when the EFTPOS was down at Mt Barnett. Limited our options further on.

sat phone...who you gonna call?? I have HF radio and VKS-737 subscription, base operators will move heaven and earth to assist you if there is a problem and it's likely another subscriber nearby might be able to help you out. I struggle to see how a satphone will get you anything other than a tow truck from Broome or Kununurra for a mechanical problem.

Enjoy your trip, wish I was doing it again this year. A month through there is a virtual flypast but it will give you a taste for where you want to spend more time exploring next time.

The things I would add(if they haven't already been noted are
A spare air filter ( I always remember someone with a D2 approaching me at a camp ground half way along the GRR asking where he could buy a new air filter and carrying one completely choked. I answered "Perth")

You didn't mention a snorkel I don't think..I would fit one .. I also have some unifilter socks that fit inside the snorkel tube for If I am going to be on dirt for a long period say Grand Central Road, as you never know when you have to follow a cattle truck for many ks.

Maybe 2 fuel filters and a new one in before leaving. I also have a Mr Funnel which I have never had to use.

The MTs will drive you mad on the many Ks of highway but there you are. The best tyres are the ones you have with more than 50% tread. I hope they are a common size as although there are lots of tyre places including 1/2 way along the GRR you cannot expect some unusual size eg 255 75 r16 to be stocked even in say Kununurra. And you will pay, lordy you will pay.

I have a 5000lb now very old Warn portable electric winch in a steel box which I have never used except to recover someone else.

I second Maxtrax, and a spade with a long handle fitted, and a snatch strap and some shackles, which I have never used except etc.

I have an Airbag that I have etc etc etc which is much lighter than a hilift but bulkier

I also have a electric chain saw to cut firewood.

I also take a Ryobi drill with a couple of batteries and a rivetting tool for my camper trailer. Bulbs etc, fuses.

Self amalgamating Tape can be handy if you do a radiator hose.

Personal choice but I don't have a bullbar as I have done about 4 round trips with no problems by staying off the road at dawn and dusk. Had a few roos jump into the side of car though.

Good connections for your fridge, NOT Cigar plugs. I use Merit/Hella plugs for low amps like fridge and Anderson for big loads.
Regards PhilipA
Oh I carry a spare fuel pump, and FPR , fuel line for D2 TD5, a MAF, and idler pulley.

Originally Posted by Tote

Winch - You could take a hand winch if you found one at a reasonable price and were prepared to carry the weight but the reality is you probably win't use it.
Tote

I’m about to start a 12 month trip around the country and spent a long time thinking about a winch. In the end I went for a 1.6T Tirfor hand winch and a couple of snatch blocks - it’s cheaper and lighter than an electric winch and can pull me backwards if needed. Think about where you’re going - a winch isn’t going to help if stuck on a sand dune!

Originally Posted by POD

The main thing you will need to accomplish that is an extra few months.

Ha! Yeah... Nah. Been this way before... we'll just be seeing highlights this time. Great post POD.

Again, great posts all.

- Yes I have a snorkel
- Air compressor too

Appreciating the long list of potential accessories and spares - and the justifications to go with. Like I said, we don't have a 130 or a camper trailer, this is a 110 with 4 people on board and towing nothing, hence the need to be picky.

I'm reading carefully and putting it all into the mix

Originally Posted by Robmacca

As below in red

Great idea for the jerrys, I might do same. Been banging bits of wood together today for back-of-car organisation