Gregs tips on Preparing for a Remote Trip

Planning Remote Trips 

By Greg Carthew 

Most of us dream of that great remote trip, to the tip of Cape York, The Canning Stock Route, or The Simpson Desert or even something like The Binns Track or the Bourke and Wills Track. I could go on and on with all the remote trips available to us in Australia, but I won’t, because these are your dreams not mine.   I have done many of them already, although there are many I never got to do, and the days of my remote trips are now over. 

However, what I do want to impart is the need for preparation. When I was in the Army during the 1970’s there was a saying ‘Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance’ also called the 6 P’s for a successful outcome. 

So, what does the prior preparation include?   Well, I’ll write a list, but if everything was included the list would be many pages long, so I will keep it simple which reminds me of another Army saying, ‘KISS” or ‘Keep it Simple Stupid’.   I’m not suggesting that anyone reading this is stupid, but that anyone who reads this and ignores the advice may well be. 

Planning the Trip 

1. First you need to decide what the destination is. 

2. Then decide what the route will be to get there.   Will it be the bitumen as far as possible, or follow the roughest tracks with the most river crossings?   Will you return by the same route, or will it be an adventure for the whole trip? 

3. Once 1 and 2 are decided, you will need to consider when you will go.   You will need to think about things like the weather at different times of year. E.g., The Canning Stock Route is asking for trouble during the summer months with temperatures that can kill a person in a single day.   The Simpson is closed during the summer months and the tip of Cape York is also closed during the Wet season, October to April.     If you are not taking children with you, then check when school holidays are and try to go outside of that time. 

4. Check with work early and make sure you can get leave when it is most appropriate to go. 

5. Work out what spares you may need for your vehicle and camper trailer and purchase them beforehand.    

6. Is this an appropriate trip for camper trailers and caravans? Maybe it should be restricted to tents / swags / etc.  

7. Is your vehicle properly prepared for the trip that is planned?   If your vehicle needs upgrading this may need to be started months in advance of the trip. Will you need heavier suspension?   Will you need new Tyres?   Will your brakes handle the trip? Do you need an auxiliary fuel tank? Is your 12V fridge up to a trip of this magnitude?  Will you need Diff Locks? Will your camper trailer handle the type of trip you are planning?   Do you have appropriate Recovery Gear in your vehicle and is it easy to get to? 

8. Get on the internet and start investigating the trip you are intending to do.   A great site for info is https://shop.hemamaps.com/blogs/off-road-adventure-travel-tips, but there are many other sites also available to assist in your planning. 

9. Talk to 4WD drive club members who have done the trip you want to do and get advice from them.   Make it a club trip and you may just get someone who has done it before who wants to do it again.   Consider making it an inter club trip and invite people from other local 4WD clubs to join in. 

10. Check the route you are taking, for things like ‘fuel availability’. (Are they open every day? Do they have the type of fuel you require? Will your fuel be available when you need it?), do caravan parks along the way require bookings or are they available on an ad hoc basis at the time of year you intend to be there. Is there free camping in the area? What about food supplies? You will not want to pack food for the whole trip before leaving home.   It is far better to carry what you will need until the next reliable supply stop, plus a few days extra.    

11. Will you need a vehicle service along the way?   Is there a service agent available where you will be at that time?   Will required items like ‘fuel filters’, ‘oil filters’, ‘air filters’ etc. be available?   You should be carrying all these items plus a full range of fan belts, water hoses plus a set of wheel bearings and seals for your vehicle. 

12. How much water will be needed for drinking, washing/showering and cleaning dishes etc. Realistically you should plan on an absolute minimum of 4L of water per person per day, with 2-3 days reserve.   Is it readily available along the way or does special planning for water need to be undertaken?   On some trips I would advise that bottled water be carried for drinking and river water can then be used for washing, cleaning, and showering. Jerry cans can be used but remember the weight issues.   A jerry can of water will weigh 20 kilograms plus the weight of the empty Jerry Can.   Where will you carry it?   Do you really want that weight on the roof of your vehicle, making the vehicle top heavy?    

13. Do you have a water pump?   How will you move water from the river into water tanks and jerry cans?   

14. Don’t forget to arrange the loan of a Defibrillator, Satellite Phone, First Aid Kit and other recovery items you may need from the Black Diamond 4WD Club. 

As I said earlier the list could go on and on for many pages, but hopefully, this will give you an insight into some of the things you will need to consider.