Just Questions (!?!?!?)

[revor]

Hey All!

Just trying to put together the best of those who might have input about what sort of truck mods (aside from the obvious?) work best for your trips. I've been saving for about two years and I've finally got the chance to purchase (get this!) a '97 110 County for (are you sitting down?) $30,000 US (this is cheap here!)
That said it's going under the knife for some serious camping and overlanding mods for the families comfort!
The question is what would you guys do or have done that makes your experience top notch? Me? I need very little except some cold beer, good coffee and some fresh meat once in while! :)
Hopefully we'll be over to drive the Canning in 2010!!

Oh!! Now I look!!! http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php't=43797

If you've got more to add please do!

[Redback]

This great advise, and pretty much what i had when i did the exact same crossing in 2005, only difference i have a TD5 Disco and towed a campertrailer.
About the only thing i'd add would be an EPIRB
and Hand winch, if you don't already have a vehicle mounted one.

Not much phone coverage in the boonies here mate.


Weeds setup:BigThumb:

I did the simpson desert 2 years ago and had the following setup, each to there own but I think it was a good balance, I did the desert in three days and this is what I had on board leaving birdsville

- well serviced rig
- six brand new tyres on rims
- 2 tubes
- puncture repair kit
- uhf radio
- sat phone
- spare parts kits for a local repairer (clutch master kit was handy)
- engine oil and diff oil and brake fluid
- tool bag
- long rang fuel tank 120L (only used approx 80L)
- two jerries diesel
- one water jerry
- 72L water tank
- food for 12 days
- beer
- hi lift jack
- bull dar
- roof rack
- awaning off the side of the roof rack (real handy)if I had the $$$ a hanibal self supporting awaning wouild be the go... No poles or ropes
- long handled shovel
- compressor
- self recovery??? No winch or hand winch on boardN travelling by myself I probably should have had either one, I have twin diff locks not used bit would be handy on some situations

PM camellandy he brought his 110 over from the UK

[p38arover]

revor, in some countries, EPIRBs are not permitted to be used except in aircraft and at sea.

Here we can use them in the bush or snowfields. They can be hired which may be worthwhile for short term trips. (I've misplaced mine. :( )

They really need to be personal items that will fit in your pocket just in case you get lost in the bush. Equally, it's not much good if you are alone and you have a car fall on you and the EPIRB is in the car.

HF radio on the 4WD Radio Network VKS737 and Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) frequencies might be worthwhile. Again these can be hired as they are quite expensive. I have one but it hasn't been fitted to my car yet.

Ron

[Utemad]

If you are doing the trip here then why not buy a Defender when you get here and take it back with you?

You could convert it to LHD when you get back.
You'd only have to transport it one way and you'd save a fortune on purchase price.

Why are they so expensive over there?
Are they personal import only?

[p38arover]

Impossible to register in the USA if less than 25 years old.

Don't worry, I had enquiries about my '84 V8 County when I sold it.


Ron

[Redback]

They have this strange obsession about NO DIESELS in the US too:eek:

Drive a clagged out petrol gussling V8 getting 5 mpg as much as you like, but have a clean well maintained diesel, not a chance:(

Baz.

[Blknight.aus]

Just to throw it in there...

looking at your schedule thats when dads planning on having purchased a deefer and doing the retirement tour of australia and Ive already offered to go support for him on that...

canning stock route then up to the cape was the plan over 3-5 weeks

Stay in touch and if it works out then you can join in with us and we can pool resources... this is very tenuous then

[Redback]

Just to throw it in there...

looking at your schedule thats when dads planning on having purchased a deefer and doing the retirement tour of australia and Ive already offered to go support for him on that...

canning stock route then up to the cape was the plan over 3-5 weeks

Stay in touch and if it works out then you can join in with us and we can pool resources... this is very tenuous then

That's a bit optomistic Dave, it will 3 weeks just to do the canning:eek:

[revor]

Hey all!
Enjoying the advise.. Managed to pickup an extended range fuel tank for my 110 (even though it's not here yet) for free.. We've been working on an extended water system in my friend Grahams truck currently (even got a hot water shower!) learning all along.. The wife's a Nurse so our current first aid kit's very complete with things I don't think we're even supposed to have in there. I, my wife and my boy are all CPR and basic first aid certified, the wife and I are certified first responder caregivers, although brushing up on different types of trouble there might be in Australia is a good idea. We've got a 60L water tank in the trailer and I figured on duplicating Graham's 70L tank in the truck.. Plus add more water where ever I can..

We're both planning the trip over so we'll work together to build my truck, his is a veteran of Africa, but civilization is closer together in Africa than in Australia.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/equipment/vehicles/2006/grahamsrover/grahamsrover.php

As much as I relish the Idea of buying a 110 over there and importing it back it's nearly impossible.. Some rules here are mighty silly, the ones regarding importation and diesel vehicles being only a couple of them.. On the other hand it seems (at least in Eastern Australia) that modifying a vehicle from stock can be quite difficult.. Anyway the Truck I'm looking at is a RHD and is registered as a 1969 Series llA of all things! kind of a go around on the rules. The series truck was "restored" using modern components..