Trip planning - essential bits of kit - on a budget

Tweaksta

Tweaksta

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
615
Location
McMahons Point, Sydney
Car Year
2000
Transmission
5MT
I'm in the process of planning a couple of weeks in the Australian desert....

I have a limited budget, what are my main priorities?

My road tyres are 70% worn and driver's front has an egg in it. I can only afford 5 x tyres (if I go AT), not 6.....meaning my 2nd spare will be wrong diameter.

I used to carry spare belts and filters but have now utilised them. Should I restock these items?

Things like spare pumps and sensors are simply too expensive. Has anyone REALLY needed one out in the middle of nowhere?

I already have all the straps, shackles and safety gear from previous trips....

What would YOUR priorities be?
 
1) water

2) extra fuel

Misc general purpose repair items: duct tape, quick set epoxy, first aid kit (for people ... ).
 
Are you traveling alone or with a group? Communication in case of an emergency is vital so you have a choice of a sat phone, an EPIRB or Spot Tracker. I regularly carry EPIRB and Spot - if just one then Spot would be my choice:
https://au.findmespot.com/en/

Your tyres will need to be in really good condition.

Rescue tape is great! I would recommend you carry spare belts and filters (at least air filter)

Weigh up your cost of spares against a $7K recovery fee if you get stuck (i.e. in the Simpson)!
 
+1 for spot.
They may not give as accurate location but have the abilities of giving an ok msg. A premade msg like "I am ok just running late out" and emergency.
Know people who have used them for a rescue.
Can sometimes have a little while finding SATs though.
Always take mine out and about.
Can also track your trip/location real time to webpage.
Many police stations will do loans for beacons ≠ free
 
+1 for Spot Messenger 3. Agree with Vert & Kevin.

Provides for 'OK' and some other predetermined messages.

Can also provide last location for my mortal remains if I kark it! Saves the community an average of $250,000 for search fees that is better spent elsewhere ...

Ordinary mortals can follow your movements with a simple desktop (etc) Internet shortcut.
 
Where are you going, how remote, by yourself? They all affect what you need. If it's remote I would bring:

30-40L water
20-60L extra fuel depending on where
tools (doesnt need to be the whole kit lol. 8,10,12-15,17,19,22mm spanners; socket set incl 36mm; breaker bar; needle nose pliers, wire cutters, screwdrivers; pin punch (to remove axles); hammer; allens keys; utility knife)
CV Boot clamp tool and clamps, several stretch CV boots, CV grease
Jack & high lift jack stand
Duct tape, electrical tape and rescue tape
steel coathanger wire or fencing wire
cable ties, lge & medium
super glue
locktite (see maintenance)
WD40
Rapid Fix (2 part - brilliant stuff!!)
hand cleaner
rags
small tarp (dont forget this, you'll appreciate it working under the car lol)

Maintenance before you leave:
*Check all suspension bolts & locktite them in!!
*tyres
*CB
*service incl oil change & filter; fuel filter; air filter (plus spare); plugs (iridium) & leads; check coil pack; new radiator hoses top & bottom (keep old ones for spares); new belts (keep old ones for spares); check all suspension bushes ESP front LCA rear bushes and trailing arm front bushes, check exhaust for leaks; check wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rod & rack ends
*If you have a snorkel, a sock is a must! Plus turn the head to face backwards when you hit the dirt.

I would also get someone to show you how to remove an axle (esp front right), fit a stretch boot & refit the axle if you don't know how to do it.

If you want to be really prepared, I would bring a spare ball joint, tie rod & rack end. Depending where you go, these may be hard to get but pretty much any where can fit them.

This is a pic of the tools I brought for our Subaru Extreme 8 Deserts Challenge:
 
-Couple of welding rods and a nice set of jumper cables mask or face shield.
-Paper maps and a compass (learn to use them as well helps :iconwink: )
-multifit hose clamp (cut to size stuff)
-meter of fuel hose
-steel handle tire repair kit and a decent compressor
-if no other solar panel, small 1.5-10 watt for a dead battery.
-spare engine belts
-selleys knead it steel water and grease proof. (https://www.selleys.com.au/putty/epoxy/knead-it-steel/) great stuff
-Good shovel, some rope, big clear plastic sheet, (multiple uses, can even make a solar still if **** gets real)
-tube of rtv silicon forma gasket (multiple uses) non acidic

And everything nachaluva said, And a Repair manual for your model and engine. Stretch boots are really easy to use, and only a touch more expensive than normal boots, just remember to get a stretch cone to fit them over the cv joints

If your traveling with someone, some stuff can be shared, I'd still recommend carrying your own water, tools, parts, maps, and emergency beacon.
 
.. ok. Here's what I'd do on a budget

Water/Fuel - goes without saying. Take plenty of spare, especially water.

Then considering a minimal repair kit, depending on how far away you will be from the nearest town (ie: drive to a workshop) and roads with daily traffic. Also consider what you are capable and willing to fix on the side of the road / in the dirt.
  • Belts - just take a spare Alt/PS. You don't need AC if that belt goes.
  • Rad hoses -- consider repair tape instead of spares. Maybe take top/bottom hose.
  • Filters - why? What's going to happen? You could clog your air filter -- brush/knock the dust out. Fuel filter you might clog if you get crappy fuel, but again, it can be cleaned out to be serviceable - take a bottle of meths to chuck in the tank if its contaminated. If you get a holed air filter (which you probably wouldn't notice) - you could plug the hole or put a t-shirt over the lot.
  • Sensors -- I can think of six or seven that might fail. How are you going to even diagnose the problem? The most common failures (MAF, O2, knock) are not likely to completely strand you.
  • Tyre diameters -- it matters less if you're on dirt where there's easy wheel slippage. Still a risk. Consider a tyre repair kit to plug up small punctures. You need a compressor.
  • Some goop to plug rad (and exhaust) holes would be good.
  • Busted CV boots can be bodgied with plastic bags and tape for a short time.
  • Communications -- again, depends on where/size of party/etc.
  • Basic useful stuff like cable ties, hose clamps, wire, tapes, decent shovel, jack plus soft-ground plate, WD-40 or similar.
  • Tools to do reasonable repairs - 10mm, 12mm, spark plug socket, socket set, screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, etc.
  • Consider 5l of spare oil in case the worse happens and you dump all your oil.
  • maybe a couple of old spare spark plugs

And don't forget to listen to your car constantly, and just to spend 10min every day looking over your car (under, engine bay, etc) before you set off (or when you have a beer at the end of the day). Observation is 9/10 of fixing problems, and they're all easier to fix early.
 
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in light of our new discussion I choose to change my list...bring a bike...that is all.
 
I should've mentioned, I'm not exactly a noob. I just have a low budget this time around.

I've done three previous trips out there but never fully done a lap of Lake Eyre or the Simpson. I've already got a satellite phone, 80L of extra fuel carriers, 80L of drinking water, fridge/freezer, HEMA E-maps, paper maps (can navigate using compass and ruler), topo GPS maps, snatch straps, shackles, tow hitch mounted recovery point, 2 spares, common sense, know-how, sense of adventure, positive attitude, some mechanical skills.

I agree with your suggestions Duncan.....sensors are useless really. Some repair tape and grease in case of CV issues is a good idea - I'll do that. I'll also take an alt belt, top hose......off to Repco right now.
 
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Just went up to the tyre shop to get two new XM2s for the front as one developed an egg in it...

I ended up ordering 4 x Grabber ATs 215/65s to be fitted on Wednesday. They are actually cheaper than the XM2s. That means my two spares are smaller diameter - hopefully the grabbers will be robust enough for me not use a spare.

I'll keep the XM2s, then when I get back home I can decide whether to sell the Grabbers or the roadies.
 
I have always noticed that going places in Australia is very different from doing so in the contigous 48 of the US.

But what are the distances we are talking about here? Distances to closest paved road as well as to closest place with gas, food, bed, and phone.
 
MiddleAgeSubie said:
I have always noticed that going places in Australia is very different from doing so in the contigous 48 of the US.

But what are the distances we are talking about here? Distances to closest paved road as well as to closest place with gas, food, bed, and phone.
Click to expand...

Anything up to 500 kilometres or more, MAS.

However, it is very easy to die in the Australian bush/outback, even when the distances are not so far, or even when travelling on major highways (e.g. the Eyre Highway between SA and WA - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyre_Highway ).

The area Tweak is going to is here:
Simpson Desert region.
 
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MAS, distances to the nearest town in the outback can be HUUUGE! On the Gary Hwy in outback WA, we had a sign that was 371km in one direction, 750 in another, 950 and 1000kms in the other 2 directions. It was very isolated! Being self sufficient is a must, not just to finish the trip but for survival. In probably 2/3 of Australia, you run a very real risk of death if you break down & aren't prepared, esp with enough water. The golden rule is never ever leave your car to walk for help, stay with the car & spread out a big tarp so the SAR helicopters/planes can find you easily.

Remember, Australia is the size of the continental USA but with less than 10% of the population & a tiny fraction of the budget.

Tweaksta, sounds like you're well prepared, I'm sure you'll be fine. But definitely do a thorough vehicle check before you leave & replace anything that isn't 100%
 
CV boot repairs, some sheet plastic cut into, more or less, 20 cm X 60 cm strips, wrap around affected boot ( not always easy), and held in place with cable ties over the shaft and gearbox stub, and lots of electrical tape to keep plastic from unraveling. Remember to wrap plastic so that it will not unravel while you are driving forward.
Another useful item for boot repairs is old panty hose, easy to wrap over plastic and easy to tie a knot in.
Probably already mentioned but long handled shovel for sand work.
 
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