As the host of All 4 Adventure, Australia’s number one four-wheel-drive and adventure show, Jase Andrews has had his fair share of long and remote adventures. Having experienced it all, Jase knows how to prepare for weeks or months on the road.
With restrictions starting to ease, it’s the perfect time to start planning and preparing for your post-lockdown adventure. From fitting your car with the right equipment and organising packing lists to uncovering the best rest-stops and planning for changing weather conditions, we’ve asked Jase to share some tips to keep in mind when planning and preparing for a trip.
Make sure to keep up-to-date and check each state’s travel restrictions before heading off on your adventure.
Tip 1: Start planning your route
Preparation is key for long-range touring, and you will need to start thinking about how much time you have available, where you want to go and how long you want your trip to be. Start researching potential routes, destinations, and attractions you would like to visit and map it out. Think about how much time you will need to drive between locations and if possible, cut down on driving long distances so you have more time to relax and enjoy each destination instead of feeling rushed. While planning your route, it’s also important to factor in fuel stops and where you plan to stay – will you be staying at a motel? Caravan parks? Or are you free camping? Once you have a plan in place, give a copy of your plans to your family or friends so they know where you might be during your trip in case of emergencies.
Tip 2: Check the weather
When planning your trip, consider where you want to travel at what time of year. Noting that some parts of Australia, like Far North Queensland or the Northern Territory, experience the wet season from December to March and the conditions will be extremely humid with monsoonal rains. Knowing what the weather might be like for your trip can help you prepare your vehicle and packing list to suit.
Tip 3: Prepare your vehicle
The most important thing to consider is making sure you have a vehicle that is road ready. capable of driving long distances and suited to your chosen destination. Before heading off on any big trip, take your vehicle to a specialised 4x4 mechanic to get serviced. They will do a thorough check over the essential mechanics of your vehicle and replace and replenish all fluids. They will let you know of any spare parts you should take and any modifications you might need for your trip. You can also have them check the outside of your vehicle for any problems. Remember that you should continue to do daily vehicle checks once your trip starts including tyres, oil, water levels and air filters. Any aftermarket accessories should be inspected as per manufacturers specifications and remember to increase inspection when travelling extended periods off-road.
Tip 4: Make a packing list
If you’re planning on travelling long term it's important to take time to consider everything that you will need to pack for your journey, factoring in often extreme weather conditions and limited access to stores to purchase additional items when on the road.
There are the obvious important things you need to pack for a trip away like clothing and camping gear, but if you're planning to travel into more isolated parts of the country you will need to be more prepared.
When you're on a long-distance road trip you often find yourself in locations with no reception, people, accommodation and minimal access to food and fuel. Pack essentials like a satellite phone, navigation system, protection from the sun with a Rhino-Rack Batwing Awning, a first aid kit, car tools, as well as making sure you have enough fuel and food and water to keep you and your car going.
Tip 5: Pack smart
Weight is your enemy, pack smart but light. We recommend packing the car then unpacking it and laying everything on the floor and start removing items by asking yourself “do I really need this item?”. Do this several times until you’re confident that you have only the essentials for your trip and that you’re under the vehicles maximum GVM.
While it’s critical to pack what you need for your trip; it also comes down to how much space you have and where you plan to store your gear. If you need more storage space or simply want to free up legroom inside the vehicle, consider installing a Rhino-Rack Pioneer Roof Rack System and setting it up to carry just about anything from recovery tracks, jerry cans, gas bottles, shovels, shade awnings, swags and more. If you want to bring bikes or kayaks on your trip, the Pioneer system can also transport sports gear and any other items that might not fit inside your vehicle. Before loading anything up on the roof, make sure you know your vehicle’s roof load capacity and how much weight you can carry on top of your vehicle.
