Worst 7 items/4wd mods to Take Travelling Australia

A recip saw is NO substitute for a chainsaw

Honestly I feel like content creators are grabbing at straws for any and all content these days… 🙄

You'd be absolutely mad to head deep into the VIC high country without a chainsaw....the amount of tracks that are blocked constantly by large fallen trees and in some cases even your only return track can become blocked over night by fallen trees. Like a plunger 🪠 you want to have it on you and not need it, then to need it and not have it. Regarding additional light sources, this really depends on your vehicle and the state of its factory lights, if you are in an older vehicle, think GQ patrol or 80 series with sealed halogens, then id be running a pair of spot/spread as a minimum, if you are in a brand new ranger with the very best LED factory headlights, probably not. You dont however need the latest $1500 ARB lights or STEDI Spotlights, you can easily spend $50 and get a pair of old IPF/Narva/Hella spotties and swap out the halogen globes with modern LEDs and get enough light performance.

A few simple considerations to live by, 1, Don't drive at night! Anywhere! - if you find yourself driving at night, you failed to plan properly! 2 You don't need Muds, you NEED AT tyres, muds are harsh, they are not great in any coditions, even mud, and AT's do pretty well great in everything. Believe me, I've done everything from sand, mud, clay to rivers in AT tyres. 3, Who actually uses one of those horrible loo/shower tents? Just have a real tent on the awning. 4, Toiletries - who are you smelling good for? Ok, one person, but do you need to smell that good? Nope. 5, Shoes, Yep, take the posh shoes, but remember, they will get muddy... 6, Work out what you use, have everything as dual or more purpose, if you don't use it, consider if you need it. As for tools, that depends where you're actually going. If a lot of trees, take a saw, if no trees, don't.

Good idea with the saw but dont agree with the light bar, because everybodys situation is different ,. Originaly I thought light bars were a bit of a wank but purchased an old disco2 with a light bar and I was wrong , We live in rural western victoria and when travelling during roo times the light bar shows much more of the sides of the road for a good distance ahead , much easier to spot wildlife as we do quite a bit of night driving

Great video, very useful info, the most important things you said that everybody needs to remember are minimal and practical clothing, the toiletry setup also is ideal and only take what you will probably use. For our bush camping we use a cast iron pot and frying pan at least once every day, couldn't live without them, gave up on the large one like you showed though. Been using an Ozito reciprocating saw for 5 or 6 years now, small easy to pack like you say and also quiet. A cheap light bar on the bullbar is great in the bush as you get a wide view of what's ahead. Good headlights are more use than the spotlights. We also have small rear side lights. Water is in a 60ltr bladder with an electric pump in the 3rd row footwell on one side, dual battery and electrical panel on the other side. 3rd row seats were removed and we have 2 draws behind the water and battery compartments. our fridge goes on top on one side with a drop down fridge slide, home made $50. I thought about the clip on shower tent but I like to keep the water away from the vehicle so I am not walking in mud later on. We have an Oztrail ensuite and also use it with a chemical toilet, we always just used a bucket but got this last summer and I wish I had done it sooner. Lasts 2 of us and our son 6 to 7 days at least, about the same as the water bladder so convenient to service them both at the same time. I use Wildpeak A/t,s 90% but have a set of Hankook MT2,s on another set of rims which I put on if I am going to muddy or rocky areas, they climb rocky hills so much better than the A/T's.

I agree. After lap 1 with a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van, I know that keeping it simple is the best. I'm gearing up for lap 2, and so long as I have my 80 litres of drinking water, diesel, a few spare parts and insurance (CIL is best for a motorhome) and RAC breakdown plus; I'm set to go. Make sure your vehicle is fully serviced and registered. Make sure you have an appropriate licence for your vehicle. A two wheel drive vehicle can get to SOME 4wd destinations, but don't think you have 4wd capability when you don't! Yes, I drove out to Mary Kathleen uranium mine (that closed down in 1983). The track is rated 4wd only. But using the torque of my diesel engine and 5 speed manual gearbox, it was ok. Note: it hadn't rained for over 6 months when I drove this 'track' (I use that term loosely). DO NOT rev the engine and spin the wheels on this track as you will butcher your tyres. Low end torque, low revs, and reduced air pressure in your tyres will get you through most dry gravel and/or dirt tracks. DO NOT SPIN YOUR TYRES! That's how you get bogged! My van is 2wd and I do not even try to get to beach drives or sand dunes: I'm not that stupid!

Why is she yelling…… please…

Sheesh! Some of the comments 🤦‍♀️ Great tips for what was outlined repeatedly as a lap trip - not a specific high country trip etc. And for what you kept saying works for you. I agree on most points (esp cast iron camp oven and clothes) - thanks for pointing out a few things and making us think what is necessary on our own trips. Great job guys.

First time I have watched your videos and I have to comment on your audio quality. If you are teaching or coaching on a subject there is no reason to raise the inflection of your voice, people do not understand any better. Take this as friendly advice as you seem to be on a good thing.

I guess with the recip saw, if you carry the right blades, you can also cut metal. Could be handy for bush repairs.

Great video! Lots of great tips, I'm going to get a reciprocating saw today for the weekend trip (I hate bringing my chainsaw) - I gotta say, the shower awning is great, but I am not 100% sure its a great replacement for the popup shower tent. Mine takes about the same amount of time to set up and pack up. It saves space in the vehicle especially if you have to pack up wet and air out at the next destination, but you also have to shower right up by your vehicle which can make the area muddy. Also, it can be nice to leave the shower tent out and go exploring for an hour or 2 to indicate that someone is using the campsite. If I had space, I would get a popup

I don’t like the idea of having the privacy tent attached to the car. Sometimes you might prefer your toilet to be a little distance away. I have a Coleman instant up privacy tent and I could have it set up or packed down nearly just as quick.

Thanks for an interesting video Could you post a link where you purchased the 40L footwell water container. Looks like something we could use. From a google search the only 40L footwell water tanks I could fing were the ones that that go across the whole width of the vehicle. We cant use these as the console sticks out the rear too far.

G'day. For the most part I agree. The Saw issue would depend on where you paln to go. The Reciprocating saw would be OK for a lot as would a SHARP Axe. The extra lighting for night drining is for people who drive after dark. Some would say a Winch would not be required for most vehicles.

Some great advice there! I have had a hard think about it and I have put together my 7 most important items to take camping. In ascending order from 1 to 7: 1: Carton of Beer, 2: Carton of Beer, 3: Carton of Beer, 4: Carton of Beer, 5: Carton of Beer, 6: Carton of Beer, 7: Carton of Beer. Hope that helps your viewers with their difficult decisions 😉.

Great advice here! In =other words, decide which stuff you absolutely need for a long trip and reduce it by half.

Brush Bars are useless too. * Everything you take out of the car you have to put back. * Don't keep all your water in one container. * All my cloths fit in a Suit Pack except warm coats behind the seats. * A Golf Umbrella in a tube behind the seat on our Cargo Barrier - toilet privacy & around the camp fires when it drives. * Rain gear under the front seats. * For years we have only carried 1 small Sauce Pan & 1 Flat Pan with a glass lid (Plus Spatula) fitted into the plastic box from a Butane Gas Stove with Rubber Mat Pad to hold the glass & that's it. (In Australia the Pan with two handles is available at Woolworths - the box needs to be tried out with a soldering Iron to make it fit - glue the rubber pad inside the lid) * We now use a Cheap Butane Stove. (We cook Scones & Flat Breads, Meat Pies, (thawed)Chicken Keiv's Fish & Chips etc) * Use Baking Paper for all of the above including Steak & you won't have to wash up. * With Lithium Battery & Inverter we now do most of our cooking in a small Air Fryer (Boiled Eggs - put the eggs in whole & 6 minutes) * A Jet Boil style Butane jug is used for all water boiling plus great for cooking frozen veggies. BTW We have driven 12 Simpson Crossings, Canning Stock Route

How do you go with the water blader and the plastic taste in the water? Or do you have have something else for drinking water?

Great content! Touring Australia is very different to doing tracks in the mountains! Chainsaws are a must in the mountains, but for touring Australia they are not and in some cases like the Simpsons desert are actually a finable offence! Travelling at night whilst touring is to be avoided at all costs due to the animals and unknown pot holes / washed out corrugations, etc, that may emerge and cause substantial damage, so light bars of any description are really a waste!