Thread: Essential Kit

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

This is a good question!!

any nominations?

Be gentle with me. Remember I am a Pom



At the moment the actual route is very loosely defined. So forgive me if I am a bit vague about route. The route will have the Australian coastlines as its boundaries.

Regards

Leeds

Originally Posted by weeds

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

And where would the mechanic sit ?

A comprehensive first aid kit and either the skills or a reference book fo using it.

The EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indicator Radio Beacon) transmits a radio frequency which can be picked up by all commercial aircraft and used to locate you. Only for use when life is in immediate danger. It alerts rescuers that you need immediate assistance and roughly where you are, locating the position and actually finding you can still take several hours depending on where you are.

Be aware that in Australia there are 2 types currently being sold and depending on when you plan to travel the old system may no longer be in use. It is being phased out and replaced with a satelite version which will be more accurate, faster and has the ability to give rescuers more information about what/who they are looking for. (These need to be registered with your details)

However keep in mind neither of these offer two way communication they are purely a last resort to allow emergency services to find you.

If you back these up with a UHF then chances are (I am sure someone will correct me if wrong) in the event of a flyover from searches you may be able to establish communications and advise them of exactly what assistance is required.

These save lives but be aware a massive search and rescue effort will be undertaken and depending on why it was activated you can be charged for misuse and costs.

NO 1 RULE DO NOT LEAVE THE VEHICLE, searches in outback area's are almost exclusively done by air and it is very hard to find someone, much easier to find a vehicle especially if you have stayed on the track. An emergency V distress sheet is also worth carrying to strap to the roof or lay on the ground, (same as used by boaties) highly visable from the air.

Another item (ideally a couple of medium sized ones) is fire extinguishers, a vehicle fire can take out all your emergency gear very quickly and does happen regularly. Also worth thinking about when you pack is how easily/quickly you can grab your epirb/sat phone and some water if the worst happens.

Also maybe consider where ever possible to hook up with others so your not travelling alone.

Originally Posted by cookiesa

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If you back these up with a UHF then chances are (I am sure someone will correct me if wrong) in the event of a flyover from searches you may be able to establish communications and advise them of exactly what assistance is required........

May is about right. Some, but very few*, aircraft are equipped with UHF, and while contact may sometimes be possible don't plan on it.

John

* In my experience most ultralights have UHF, but these are exactly NOT the class of aircraft likely to be used in searches.

And a note on EPIRBs - developed originally to locate downed pilots in Vietnam, they transmit on emergency civil (121.5) and military (243) frequencies. These frequencies are monitored by all commercial aircraft, but also by satellites that can pinpoint the transmission reasonably well. The satellites are being decommissioned as the EPIRBS are being replaced by a newer type (operating on an exclusive frequency), that is more frequency stable and hence can be located much more accurately by a new generation of satellites. As mentioned, they also transmit a unique code, and all are supposed to be registered to the user, so it is known who is missing. But the older type will still be detected and can be located by aircraft, as the emergency frequencies have not changed.

"But the oder type will still be detected and can be located by aircraft, as the emergency frequencies have not changed."

Well and good for "locating" you but they have to know it has been activated first.

When talking about remote travel you are then relying on being under a flight path and so not 100% coverage, as a fallback for a life threatening situation I personally wouldn't want to trust my families lives to a maybe. Great as a back up, bit like the older AM CB units if you have got it it is worth a shot but you don't rely on it being able to get you help.

kinda defeats the purpose for carrying one for me.

If you travel only close to cities then maybe.... But they are being phased out anyway so why bother buying one new when a new, better system can be used.

Originally Posted by cookiesa

"But the oder type will still be detected and can be located by aircraft, as the emergency frequencies have not changed."

Well and good for "locating" you but they have to know it has been activated first.

When talking about remote travel you are then relying on being under a flight path and so not 100% coverage, as a fallback for a life threatening situation I personally wouldn't want to trust my families lives to a maybe. Great as a back up, bit like the older AM CB units if you have got it it is worth a shot but you don't rely on it being able to get you help.

kinda defeats the purpose for carrying one for me.

If you travel only close to cities then maybe.... But they are being phased out anyway so why bother buying one new when a new, better system can be used.

Coverage is not quite 100%, but would be pretty close to it - the width of track "seen" by an airliner at a typical altitude of 35000ft is over 700km, so you do not need to be anywhere near directly under the aircraft. There are few areas in Australia that would not be covered at least once a day - about the only one that comes to mind is the Canning Stock Route.

But as you comment the newer type is preferable. The major difference of course is cost.

Commercial aircraft are required to have a spare VHF radio, and this is normally tuned to 121.5, and is kept turned up, as it is used as a calling channel. Any distinctive emergency tone would be reported immediately.
John

Originally Posted by DirtyDawg

.even Bear Grylls (Man vs Wild) had to drink his own pizz here and that was in the wet season

P155 poor hotel service if he had to BYO, bet he was glad for the helicopter ride back to his shelter after shocking service like that.

If you are travelling with a companion, buy a hand-held UHF CB as well (they are quite cheap).

It's not unknown for people to go into the bush for a toilet stop and not be able to find their way back to the car. If they have a radio, at least they can talk to the person in the car.

I recall one occasion where club members had a toilet stop and one went into the bush. They then packed up and left - each car thinking the person who went into the bush was travelling in the other car.

It's also useful when you need a spotter to direct you along a bad section of track.

Ron