When planning for a 4WD trip or holiday, consider
firstly, what is required to prepare for such a trip.
Apart from the spares, recovery equipment and
camping gear the very important area of the ‘food
department’ needs consideration. If you don’t have
adequate refrigeration, you will need to outlay some
considerable dollars to provide a battery or gaspowered
fridge/freezer. A difficult decision since a
portable fridge takes up space and weighs about 30 kg
(without the food), depending on the size chosen,
which is subject to the space available. To operate a fridge/freezer wet cell batteries
(standard) are required to be discharged and recharged often beyond their limits of design.
Your battery system will need to be assessed and increased in capacity to cope.
When it comes time to pack the vehicle, the fridge and provisions are a major part of
your load. As for provisioning: how much do you buy, where can you restock, just
how much should you take, will the meat last the distance??? What will the prices
be in the areas that you are travelling and how fresh will the stock be?
Consider.....
Weight
Loading your car for a self-catered tour or trip means that your gas bottle (be it one or two)
has to go in along with the stove, the refrigeration unit, the crockery and cutlery, the
cooking utensils and of course the tea towel.
Keeping control of the added weight and resultant wear and tear is important for your
vehicle! Remember when packing that this weight must be correctly distributed. And
beware! Avoid exceeding the capacity of the vehicle’s suspension!!! You may need to
seriously consider reinforcement of your suspension when taking into account the miles
that you will be travelling with a heavily loaded vehicle. Also your present tyres, if original,
may not take the punishment that a loaded vehicle has to cope with on those long miles?
Consider.....The Environment
With an uncatered tour each vehicle takes their own cooking gear. In the case of say five
vehicles travelling together, that is five gas bottles with maybe two burners, attached each,
being used to feed ten or more people when one gas bottle and burner can feed the lot?
And the waste – remember the 4WDers Creed - What you take in, you must take out!
Consider .....
Recovery Equipment
You will need to consider what recovery equipment may be required in the event of the worst
case scenario when travelling off road. The shopping list may include –Winch, bulbar, hi
lift jack, snatch strap, chain, extension strap, pulley block, tree protector, shackles, shovel,
axe, exhaust jack etc..etc.. Consider the added weight (the equipment can weigh up to
200kg if you are provisioned for all scenarios) and the added wear on your vehicle.
And what about the ...
Why Australian 4WD Catered Tours
Hints and Tips 15
Respecting Australian History
Protecting Australia's Future
Spares
Here the list could be endless – just how much or how
little do you carry? Where do you put it? Then, how do
you get at it when you need it?
But..... ...with a catered
tour!
We carry all the recovery equipment, tyre changing and
tyre repair equipment, tools for basic repairs, emergency first
aid equipment. We carry the gas bottles, the cookers and we carry most the
waste. We carry the catering tent. We carry the heavy refrigeration an dfreezes
And we take the worry
out of meal preparation – all you do is set up your camp and your meals will await you – the
only way to travel!!!
Consider that encouraging less weight in vehicles is to promote less damage to the tracks
and minor road systems in the remote regions that 4WD travel takes place!
Travelling with Australian 4WD Tours you do not need to fully equip your vehicle with the
latest and often costly recovery equipment and loads of spares. You don’t need to indulge in
any added expense, just come along in your off road capable vehicle and we will look after
you all the way on our Fully Catered 4WD Expeditions.
Return to homepage for more information about 4WD Training.
Email: enquiry@australian4wd.com.au
Website: australian4wd.com.au
Phone: 07 3264 1877
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