Do You Really Need a New Four Wheel Drive?
Four Wheel Drive on a Claypan, Oodnadatta Track If you are on a tight budget you can still travel and enjoy the outback in an older four wheel drive That way you can spend your money on your trip and not on your vehicle. Naturally, if you are able to afford a new or late model 4WD, go for it. After living and travelling in the outback for over 20 years, I have learnt a bit about travelling in some fairly ordinary vehicles. But I still had a lot of fun! 4wd is always better if you can afford it. While you will get most places with careful driving in a two wheel drive with good ground clearance, the extra peace of mind in having 4wd is worth spending a bit more. Toyotas are by far the brand of choice by those who live in the Outback. (Just count the Toyotas at the local pub.) Whether you decide on a Landcruiser, Troopie or Tray-top it doesn’t necessarily have to be a late model. I travelled many thousands of kilometres in a 1987 Hilux with a steel tray. This was handy in the camp for collecting firewood and taking rubbish to the nearest tip. After a good clean up and the addition of a large nylon cutting board, the tray made a good food prep bench. The Hilux made many long trips through sand, water, mud and over corrugations. The only time it gave trouble was after it hit what could have been the biggest kangaroo in the NT. My son and daughter–in-law, recently headed into the real outback in a 60 series diesel Landcruiser wagon. It had cost them $6000 with a roadworthy certificate. They loaded it up and drove over 8000km on sealed roads and the roughest outback roads in a 12 month trip away. They replaced the radiator after finding a small crack in it. Other than that, repairs cost them nothing. This is the type of vehicle I would recommend for those on a budget. In fact buying an early model Toyota would be a better proposition for overseas tourists than hiring. Especially if you come across a hire company like this bloke did. Google "Big Red Tour" to visit his site. The earlier Toyotas maintain their resale value and should be fairly easy to resell before you head home. Get your motoring association to check it out, whether you are buying, or hiring from anyone other than the big companies. I originally headed outback in a 20 year old 1500cc Datsun Ute with a homemade toolbox/tucker box on the back. It broke down a couple of times and got bogged a few more times, but boy, did I have some fun times with it. When "Missus Dave" and “The Kid” came along, I pooled my pennies and bought a very ordinary Kombi. It was a lot harder to get bogged but it did break down fairly regularly. Again it was great fun, and we got to meet and make friends with a lot of people during our broken-down episodes. Summing up: • GETTING THERE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOW YOU GET THERE! • If its too hot to travel in your low-cost four wheel drive, stop and have a swim at one of my secret waterholes • If it gets too cold in your poor-man’s transport, stop and light a campfire. • If your old four wheel drive breaks down, take an old bushy’s advice, light a fire, boil the billy and have a cup of tea before you try to fix it or call for help. Better still have a couple of beers and camp there overnight. • If you get bogged, stop and make a cup of tea before you do anything else. • A diesel engine is more reliable than petrol in wet or dusty conditions • In dust keep your four wheel drive's windows up and turn the heater fan on high to pressurise your vehicle. It should keep out most of the dust. • Let your tyres down for extra traction when you get bogged. • Join a motoring association before you leave. Get them to check your hire vehicle or your second hand four wheel drive. Motoring associations have Australia wide reciprocal agreements with other state associations. They are contactable for assistance in many outback areas. Remember: Don’t overload. Don’t Hurry.
My 80 Series on the Andado Track
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