How to prepare for a remote 4WD off-road trip

Embarking on a remote tour in Australia and staying off-grid for any extended amount of time can be the adventure of a lifetime, and it’s something I’m lucky enough to do on a regular basis.

The Australian outback, with its vast landscapes, rugged terrain and remote beauty, offers an unparalleled experience. However, extended off-grid adventure comes with its challenges, requiring thorough preparation and modifications to your vehicle.

The cornerstone of a successful extended remote touring experience lies in a well-prepared vehicle; a 4x4 suited to travelling in the Australian outback is one that must be reliable, durable and capable of handling harsh conditions. Here is what I have learned over 25 years when it comes to setting up a vehicle for such an endeavour.

JUMP AHEAD

• Fuel range
• Navigating and comms
• Water and food
• Staying off-grid
• Health, safety and environment
• Top five items to pack

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Fuel range

If the fuel capacity and range of your 4x4 is less than 1000km, carrying extra fuel will be necessary.

One of the reasons I purchased a Toyota Prado was its standard twin 90L fuel tanks. I also carry enough 20L jerry cans to give me a range of over 1200km, so I can travel long distances off-road without having to worry about running out of fuel.

The best way to improve your vehicle’s fuel-carrying capacity is to install an aftermarket auxiliary tank, or replace your existing fuel tank with a larger capacity aftermarket fuel tank. The major players for aftermarket fuel tanks are ARB, Long Ranger and Brown Davis, but they don’t necessarily manufacture tanks to suit all vehicles.

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For vehicles from the USA, several imported replacement fuel tanks are available, with Titan Fuel Tanks one company that specialises in this area.

Ute owners also have the option to install a polytank in the tub or tray; some of these come with pump kits included while others require you to manually siphon fuel into the OEM fuel tank.

Jerry cans are also an option, but you will need a secure place to mount them. Fuel should never be carried inside the cabin of a 4x4 as it can leak and emit fumes that can be fatal. If your 4x4 uses diesel, only use a jerry can that is designed to carry diesel fuel.

The aftermarket rear bar on my Prado has a dual jerry can holder on which I carry one diesel jerry can and one water jerry can.

Steel fuel jerry cans were my go-to, but I found that when carried in the rear holder, the bottom would wear through on exposed bolt heads which caused leakages. In the past, I also carried two steel jerry cans on my roof rack, mounted in a holder specifically designed for the job, and I used a syphon hose with the ball at the end to transfer fuel into the Prado fuel tank.

Installing a fuel prefilter into the mix can assist in preventing bad fuel from affecting your engine. One thing I have learnt is that if you do install a prefilter, make sure it is a brand that can be easily sourced anywhere in the country; the one my mechanic installed, a Diesel Dog, isn’t readily available so now I carry a spare if needed.

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Navigating and comms

Remote touring in Australia means often being out of mobile phone range and this is where appropriate navigation and communication equipment become your lifelines.

Carrying a reliable GPS navigation system, such as the Hema HX2 or the Garmin Overlander, supplemented with detailed paper maps, ensure you can navigate even when digital devices fail. As well as maps, books such as Hema’s atlas and guides are helpful when planning a route, and when finding POIs such as campgrounds, boat ramps, track ratings and much more.

When it comes to communication devices a satellite phone and a UHF radio keep you connected. The UHF radio is useful for communicating with other vehicles in your convoy or nearby, while the satellite phone is essential for emergencies.

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Satellite phones are expensive to purchase, and the phone/data plans aren’t cheap either, but they are invaluable when it comes to emergencies.

If you can’t afford to buy a satellite phone, you can hire them, which I did back in the day on my first Simpson Desert crossing in the early 1990s, picking it up at Mount Dare and dropping it off at the Birdsville Police Station.

You can still do this for the Simpson Desert, but the Birdsville pickup/drop-off point is now the Wirrari Information Centre. Other businesses that hire satellite phones in Australia include RASP (Rent A Sat Phone), SatPhone Shop and Satellite Hire.

When travelling in remote areas, don’t expect to have mobile coverage once you leave town as there are still many black spots in Australia.

You might get some coverage near Aboriginal communities and even as you approach roadhouses, but decent mobile coverage can’t be relied upon; in some cases, Optus is the only solution (William Creek), which is frustrating for a Telstra subscriber, or vice versa.

The roll-out of Starlink has vastly improved communications in remote areas as it provides access to the internet, social media platforms and phone calls. Recently I used Starlink to organise a vehicle recovery on the Gary Junction Highway; it saved time and relieved stress as I didn’t need to worry about poor satellite phone connections as has happened in the past. Starlink is power hungry though, so this is something that has to be closely monitored.

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Water and food

Carrying sufficient water is crucial; your body requires water to survive and if you run out you will die quicker than if you ran out of food.

Jerry cans or built-in water tanks, combined with water purification methods, will ensure you stay hydrated. Allow enough water for drinking, cooking and washing. A good rule of thumb is four to five litres per person per day, plus extra for emergencies.

I carry a Boab 40L poly water tank connected to a 12V pump for drinking water, and it sits in the rear footwell of the Prado. While I expect that water to last at least 10 days, I also carry a water purifier so I can top it up when and where I can. My compact and portable Guzzle H2O pump filters and purifies drinking water from any fresh water source.

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I also carry a 20L jerry can with a tap to carry potable water for personal cleanliness and for washing dishes. I top this up at service stations, caravan parks, rivers, streams and bores.

Other options for water storage include stainless steel and poly tanks that can be hard-mounted either under your 4x4, inside the panels of your rig or in the tub or tray of a ute. Water bladders are another option but many people complain about the water taste.

When it comes to food and food storage, you have pantry items and fridge/freezer items. Pantry items include the types of food you keep in the cupboard at home, such as pasta, rice, tinned vegetables and soups, biscuits etc.

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These items have a long shelf life and are easy to carry. I leave space in my rear drawers for most pantry items, but those items that I know will be used in the short term are packed in a zipped-up shopping bag.

Most pantry items that I carry will last at least until the end of the trip.

Fresh food is a little different. A portable fridge/freezer is invaluable for keeping food fresh but space in your 4x4 may restrict the size of the fridge available to you. The rear drawer system and cargo barrier in my Prado restrict me to a myCOOLMAN 44L compressor fridge, which means I don’t have a freezer.

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To get around not having a freezer I buy cryovac meat, and for those occasions when I can’t source this I carry a cryovac machine with me.

Vacuum-sealing food extends its shelf life, sometimes by weeks. When shopping, I plan to buy meat that will last me the longest time and vegetables that I can use in the short term (lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli) or that will last more than a week or two (potatoes, carrots).

If time spent off-grid is going to be longer than fresh food will last, I purchase pre-packed cooked food such as stews, pasta sauces, curries and risotto that can be heated in hot water. These are lightweight and easy to store, but I make sure they are packed in such a way that they won’t puncture or wear through when driving on rough tracks. I have never enjoyed freeze-dried meals, so they are not an option for me.

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Staying off-grid

A dual-battery system powers your appliances without draining the starter battery. Having a management system that provides you with all the information you need for battery inputs, outputs and status is highly recommended.

When it comes to batteries, lithium is the way to go as it’s lighter, faster charging and allows full use of amp hours.

The size of the battery is important as the number of amp hours required will depend on what electrical equipment you need to power, as well as the weather conditions and the management system that looks after the battery.

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I have found that the 100Ah lithium battery in my Prado is not really big enough for my needs, keeping my laptop, drone, camera batteries, Starlink and electronic navigation tools going, but I don’t really have the space to go bigger.

Solar panels can supplement power needs for longer stays, whether they be permanently mounted or portable.

I have a 200W solar panel mounted to my rooftop tent and I carry a 180W folding solar panel as a secondary power source, and on the last trip I did this proved itself when the roof-mounted solar panel died halfway into my three-month journey.

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With my set up, I need to keep my 100Ah lithium battery charged up by going for a decent drive every second day or so.

The solar panels do a good job of topping up the battery, but my usage is often more than the solar input can make up for, especially in hot conditions. While I can get by without connecting to 240V for several weeks, I do find that lithium batteries enjoy a feed from it now and then as it helps to recalibrate the cells.

If you need to run sensitive electrical equipment, you’ll need a pure sine wave inverter. How big an inverter you will need depends on what you want to use it with. To run power-hungry devices like a coffee machine, air fryer, toaster or kettle, you will need a large (and therefore heavy) inverter, and your auxiliary battery will need to be big enough to power the inverter. For my needs, a 600W pure sine inverter perfectly suits my 100Ah lithium battery.

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Health, safety and environment

Safety and environmental conservation are paramount considerations when travelling through delicate ecosystems of the Australian outback.

A comprehensive first aid kit tailored to your group’s needs, including snake bite kits and sun protection, is essential. Knowing how to properly administer first aid is also important; make sure you complete a first aid course to learn how, and to keep up to date on processes.

You should carry at least one fire extinguisher in an easy-to-access spot, and adhere to local fire regulations to protect both you and the environment. Take care when driving through spinifex as it can become stuck to the underside of your 4x4 and catch alight on hot mechanical components. The Talawana Track is littered with burnt-out vehicles caused by spinifex fires.

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Carrying a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) and knowing how to activate it can save your life in a critical situation. Store it where it can be easily accessed in an emergency, not locked away in the glovebox.

Mental well-being is something not often talked about but it needs to be taken seriously. Travelling solo on extended remote adventures can be mentally draining and is something I suffered on a four-month solo trip a few years ago.

Communicate with your loved ones and mates as often as possible, not only talking on the phone, but making a video call now and then. Talk to fellow travellers and enjoy a counter lunch while chatting to locals as often as you can. Schedule rest days so you can do something different, or just sit and read a book, but the best thing you can do is ask your partner or mates to join you on a section of the trip.

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