Thread: Spares Kit for Outback Remote

I suppose it depends on how long you plan to be off the beaten track and the type of terrain to be encountered. On 2 trips into Central Australia in the last 3 years we only took basic stuff like fluids, bulbs, fuses, spare belts & tyre mending spares plus a good tool kit, repair bandage (silicone self amalgamating), liquid metal, cable ties.
Admittedly these trips were only for 2-3 weeks and combined off road & road in remote areas. The list could be endless and in the end, how much weight etc, do you carry just in case? A satellite phone would be advantageous in very remote areas.
Just food for thought.

Cheers Neil.

There are areas that do not have cell phone coverage here in TX, without a significant hike through snake country. As a rule it is suggested here to stay with your vehicle if you breakdown. There are countless stories of deaths due to getting lost, etc.

Recently a couple from Canada driving south took a "shortcut" The wife stayed with the vehicle. She was found with their Van 7 weeks later. The husband had carefully provided his detailed GPS way points before he left for help. They still have not found him, as of yet. Of course, these folks had not planned to go off the highway, but it happens all the time.

I am not familiar with the territories, but I would "hope" there are also such remote areas there. I do agree with you though, it pays to pack based on the situation.

article: Wife survives 7 weeks in wilderness; husband missing - Koinlocal6.com

What makes this news is that someone survived.

In this case, it was the wife as she had stayed with the vehicle. In the winter, well the outcome would have been different and is one reason I have two starting batteries in my 3 and my goal is reliability and staying on the road.

Also it is the reason one chooses the route and navigates with a paper map and uses a GPS to tell you where you are. It appears the couple attempted a shortcut recommended by the GPS - kind of straight line navigation that can kill you in Australia as well.

We still have other missing persons "out there", and as the snow melts, probably their fate will also become known.

Originally Posted by unseenone

There are areas that do not have cell phone coverage here in TX, ...

I am not familiar with the territories, but I would "hope" there are also such remote areas there. I do agree with you though, it pays to pack based on the situation.

article: Wife survives 7 weeks in wilderness; husband missing - Koinlocal6.com

Um I think it would be more accurate in Australia to say there are areas that /do/ have cell phone coverage. All a cell phone is good for in Australia is keeping the kids occupied playing games, and picking up the voice mails when you get home. And yes, every year in Australia someone (usually European) hires a 4WD, gets stuck hundreds of kms from anywhere and disastrously thinks it'd be a good idea to walk out.

But that aside, the suggestion was to pack a /satellite/ phone, which technically should have coverage everywhere. Either that or a HF radio (very expensive commitment compared to hiring a sat phone depending on just how long you're going to be out there). You really should have one of these, or at the very least an EPIRB or SPOT so that you can send up the distress flare.

I think spare belts, hoses, fuses, tyre repair and other 'patching up' materials, along with a decent set of tools (right sizes!) are the critical things - as long as you can limp a few hundred k's you'll usually be right. Oh, and if you can get it, a full workshop manual - I don't know if you can get them for D3 and D4 - I had one for the D2.

I stand corrected on the Satellite phone. Thanks for your comments.

IMHO The most important thing is to keep your GVM to a minium. The less weight the less chance of a problem.
The most important item is COMMUNICATION. Sat phone or 2 or a HF.
Carrying spares may not help, remember Murphy. But if you can communicate and get the help or the correct part, you will live.
Don't carry spares that are not show stoppers. If failed part doesn't stop you moving, you don't really need that spare.

Well said DT

Originally Posted by Desert Traveller

Don't carry spares that are not show stoppers. If failed part doesn't stop you moving, you don't really need that spare.

Also, work out beforehand what can be done to isolate a failed non-essential component that would otherwise disable the vehicle. EG for my D2 I carried an oil cooler bypass housing for the manual gbox for a cooler or pipe failure and a short serpentine belt that bypassed the ACE pump. For air suspensions, I'd carry some 6mm tubing, joiners and schrader valves that could be fitted if needed (or get a GOE bypass kit).