Thread: Land Rover Holiday Photos

Did the cape in the eighties. Came across a Daihatsu which had expired. Appeared to be heavily loaded with barely enough room inside or out for the 2 occupants to squeeze in

When talking to the driver he commented that had only brought what was essential and was traveling light. Loaded on top of all the gear on the roof rack was a set of golf clubs in their bag and trolley

What is "essential" seems to have steadily increased over the years. My first real 4wd "trip" in 1964 (as opposed to just going somewhere for work) was from Roma, where I was working at the time, to PA via Broken Hill, and up through the Centre to Mt Isa and back to Roma with a few side trips, with my brother.

This was in a swb Series 2. Main essentials carried, as far as I can remember were extra fuel (4 jerricans), water (two 4 gallon drums) a tent, sleeping bags, a couple of billies, a modest supply of non-perishable food, a couple of tin plates and mugs, towels and teatowels. Each of us had a small kitbag with spare clothes and things like a camera.

Tools etc - assorted spanners, pliers, screwdrivers, a couple of hose clips, a bit of electrical wire, Scope soldering iron and solder, spare fan belt, pair of rear halfaxles borrowed from work, and, of course, jack, jacking plate, wheel spanner, and spare tube and a stack of vulcanising patches and a manual tyre pump. And a gallon of engine oil.

Navigation - oil company maps covering the planned route.

There was almost no car trouble, except one flat from a nail picked up when pulling off the Barkly Hwy to camp.

Outside of towns, the only sealed roads on the trip were Roma to Surat and Alice to Mt Isa. The only vehicles seen outside towns between PA and Alice were four cars and utes (travelling both directions) and two of these were broken down. That was over three days. Camping for two nights, there was no traffic overnight. And no trucks at all, and certainly no buses.

Since then, I see that the "essentials" have grown steadily. 1964_4M_17_Camp_Stuart_Hwy_S2_small.jpg

We were the same,just imagine going to Fraser island in the early 70's with all the food,gear,tools,etc,etc,etc for 8 weeks,two adults,4 kids, in a SWB Land Rover,and a small wooden trailer.
Just the large canvas tent filled up most of the vehicle.We could get fuel on the island,but still carried 3 fuel jerrries.We brought all the food and other supplies with us.
No fridge either,but the fishing was fantastic,so it was often on the menu,but we spent quite a lot of time inland,away from the coast,so were not fishing all the time.
No maps,just arial photographs,most of the tracks were overgrown fire breaks.
On later trips we had some sort of two way radio for communication,and a larger LWB vehicle which gave us more room,but it struggled with the weight,and with the heavy newer steel trailers.

Cockburn Range, Wyndham-Karunjie Rd. 2005

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