Preparing for your first desert trip? Here’s some advice

As I write this I’m about to head out to our vast western desert country. It seems I won’t be alone going by the interest on TV and social media – this year is going to be a busy one in outback Australia, in fact right across the continent from Sydney to Perth and from Darwin to Tassie.

But for those who are preparing to head out to desert country and are getting their info from social media, I really do despair. There are so many self-proclaimed experts out there spruiking their wares on FB, Instagram and Twitter, who may have done a single lap of Australia or one trip across the Simpson Desert and they know everything … or so they say!

So, what’s my qualification you may ask … and it’s a fair one to throw back at me. Without going into too much detail, I’ve been driving a 4WD since 1965 when I joined the army and have been touring and travelling across Australia and the world for the last 40-odd years.

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So, here are my thoughts on what you need to know or do for a desert trip in Australia.

I’m already assuming you know how to four-wheel drive because you’ve done a training course or joined a 4WD club. Likewise, your vehicle is well-maintained and set up with good suspension for the loads you are carrying or towing, while the tyres you’ve fitted are All-Terrain (or better) and of Light Truck (LT) construction.

Now, you may have a brand-new car and camper, but that doesn’t make you immune from breakdowns and punctures. Do you know how to do the basic stuff or even what to look for under the bonnet if something does go wrong? Can you find the fuse box and have you got the right-size fuses – in both physical size and current-carrying capacity – to replace any if one does blow?

Do you know how to clean an air cleaner, change a fuel filter or, most important of all, how to change a tyre? Have you got the basic tools for such jobs? If you don’t know any of these basic repairs, it’s best to learn a little before you head off.

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Also, before you go, have you got all your bases covered in regard to a first-aid kit, recovery gear and communication equipment – a normal mobile phone won’t cut the mustard. And in case of an emergency (having a blown tyre or being stuck on the side of the road should not be considered an ‘emergency’) who are you gonna call? And how?

What about water and fuel? If you do break down on a lonely road, it’s best to stay with the vehicle and it’s even better when the vehicle has a good supply of the liquid aqua.

How about your plans for the trip; where to go and what to see? A good guidebook will help here and for $50 or less (way less than one tank of fuel) you’ll have all the major spots to see and explore without asking mundane, stupid questions on FB.

With good planning and preparation and a bit of training, you’ll be able to handle most things that unexpectedly come your way on your next desert jaunt. However, please don’t rely on social media experts for all your information; ask someone that has more than a single-trip experience and join a club and get trained – or at the very least join a tag-along tour operator for your first long desert trip.

You may be surprised at what you don’t know!