THE DESERT GURU’S ESSENTIALS
4X4 AUSTRALIA’S Editor-at-large, Ron Moon, has been exploring Australia's deserts for decades and knows what gear works ‘out there’ and what you need to do before you go, to make sure you have a cracking – and safe – adventure.
ESSENTIAL GEAR
A GOOD knife, an extensive toolkit, some basic spares, a recovery kit and a fire extinguisher are things that never leave any of the vehicles I head bush in (a stretched GU Patrol with Carry Me Camper, a 79 Cruiser with Boss Aluminium canopy, and a Ram 2500 with a Four Wheel Camper slide-on). A comprehensive first aid kit and some maps get put in before I push off anywhere, and then I add the things I’d like to have.
You can use a smartphone for navigation, but I much prefer a dedicated navigator or an ipad running my preferred mapping software – that normally includes Hema Maps and another mapping app, such as Pocket Earth Pro (only for Macs – there are others). And I carry a good selection of the appropriate maps that show overall detail.
Communications play an ever increasing and important role in our travels and it seems these days if you can’t reply to a phone call or text message in a few minutes, you are either in trouble or don’t care about the person sending the request. And while mobile phone coverage is much better than it used to be, there are still many places where you won’t have coverage for many kilometres, hours or even days.
So first up, a UHF radio is darn near mandatory and they make travelling easier and safer. For more remote stuff you have a choice of a HF radio, a satellite phone or a satellite communication device. We’ve got all three, although the HF radio gets less use these days. I particularly like the communicators such as the Spot X which allows messages to be sent both to and from the device.
BEING PREPARED
THE old army saying of the 7-P rule (Prior Preparation and Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance) apply to many things including preparing for a 4WD trip, whether the High Country for a week or to the outback for a month or more.
Make sure the recovery gear is in good nick, winches work, and shackles and the like are all rated.
When you throw the first aid kit into the vehicle for that next trip, make sure everything is up to date. Medicines, creams, antiseptic lotions and the like all have an expiry date on them, so check your kit before you leave.
All three of my vehicles have an inbuilt water tank and these are always filled before I head off, no matter if that’s to a well-watered region such as the High Country or Murray River, or to the deserts.
SERVICING YOUR VEHICLE
PART of that pre-trip prep is making sure the vehicle is in top condition. I keep a pretty close tab on all of my vehicles and where they are in my service and maintenance schedule.
Being a firm believer in fixing and replacing stuff before they break means I have less troubles out on the tracks. And in the end, it doesn’t cost you any more. Breaking down out in the Simpson or up in the High Country can work out expensive just for the recovery, while the repair costs in some small town may be a lot more than what you’d pay at your normal service centre.
And one thing I don’t do – I don’t get my vehicle serviced or maintained by a manufacturer’s outlet, no matter what brand I drive. Much better to have your vehicle maintained by a speciality 4WD repair/service centre – they know what we subject the vehicles to and the conditions they are likely to meet much more than some city-based dealership that does more Camrys than Landcruisers. – Ron Moon
STORMING THE DESERT, SUCCESSFULLY…
FORMER 4X4 Australia Editor, Dean Mellor, has been fortunate enough to traverse some of this continent’s most spectacular desert country, and is a huge fan of not only Australia’s red heart but also being thorough and considered in preparation.
“One of the most satisfying things about preparing for a desert expedition is figuring out exactly where you want to go, where you want camp (to see what you want to see and experience what you want to experience), and where you’ll be able to source supplies (fuel, water and food).
The best way to plan a trip is using a combination of maps including an overall map of the area in which you’ll be travelling and several detailed maps. A paper map is the best option to cover the general area, as you can spread it out and get an overall picture, but when it comes to detailed maps, these days I rely on electronic maps – Hema Explorer on my iphone, ipad and HX-1 Navigator provides Hema mapping as well as topographic mapping, covering all of Australia.
Carrying enough fuel and water is essential for any desert trip. When calculating fuel usage, remember that your vehicle will use more fuel in trying off-road conditions than it will cruising on the highway, and always throw in a good safety margin. As for water, it’s a good idea to carry this in more than one container in case one springs a leak. Perishable food, of course, will need to be stored in a portable fridge/freezer, and you should always make sure this is working properly before departure, and that you have spare fuses/leads/plugs etc. and a small electrical repair kit.
Thorough vehicle preparation is important prior to setting off on a big trip. If you don’t have a lot of mechanical skills yourself, make sure your vehicle gets a thorough going-over by a specialist 4WD mechanic, and ask them what spares you’ll need to carry with you and what tools you’ll need to make minor repairs. If you suffer a major mechanical breakdown, or some other big problem when you’re in the middle of the desert, you’ll want to make sure you’re carrying a remote-area communications device such as HF radio, a satellite phone or a satellite communicator, and make sure you test it before you leave and that your subscription is up to date.
As well as supplies, tools, spares, comms gear and navigation equipment, some essential items you’ll need for desert touring include a complete vehicle recovery kit (winch, straps, snatch block, shackles, recovery boards etc.) a tyre repair kit (tools, plugs, patches, glue, tyre levers, working jack etc.) electrical power supply (dual-battery system, charging setup, inverter etc.) and all the obvious stuff like camping gear, lighting etc. You’ll also need a comprehensive (and up to date) first aid kit, and you should make sure your first aid training is current. When travelling, some personal items I always carry with me include a Leatherman, a camera and a handheld UHF.
No matter how prepared you are, many things can still go awry on desert expeditions. I’ve seen all sorts of stuff break on trips from shock absorbers and leaf springs to sway bars and CV joints. Although I have a modicum of mechanical knowledge, I’ve usually been fortunate enough to travel with people who would easily pass as bush mechanics. If you don’t know how to fix stuff, you should learn to … or travel with someone who does.” – Dean Mellor