1666 http://www.4X4australia.com.aufootloose
RON MOONA COUPLE of friends of mine travel
with such a great toolbox in their
vehicle, I hardly need to carry anything.
They rarely need the stuff themselves,
but they’ve helped out dozens of less-
equipped travellers wandering the
backblocks of this country.
However, do you really need to carry
so much repair gear and spare parts?
I’ve consolidated a little since my early
days of outback travel as vehicles have
become more reliable and I better
maintain them. Plus, a major breakdown
in the scrub is basically untenable even
with all the tools, so a recovery of sorts
will be required.
I remember a trip in the 1980s with
the late Russel Guest (who established
the still very successful and highly
regarded Guests 4WD in the Melbourne
suburb of Alphington) when one of
our convoy blew a harmonic balancer
when at full noise trying to cross a dune
on the CSR. Such was the devastation
under the bonnet by the flying pieces of
balancer that the water pump, radiator,
hoses, alternator, air-conditioner plus
associated hoses, along with the vehicle
battery, were all damaged or destroyed.
I’ll always remember Russel’s words
as he slammed the bonnet shut: “Well,
that’s stuffed”, he said in a classic
understatement. That 60 Series ended
up on a very long snatch strap as we
towed it back to civilisation, but that is
another story.
What tools do you need to carry
on your next bush trip? First up, we
always carry a repair manual for our
vehicle. Even if you haven’t got any
vehicle knowledge, somebody with more
mechanical knowledge may be able to
help if they know where to start with
your particular vehicle.
Then start your kit of with:- Set of open-end/ring spanners.
- Set of sockets.
- Small ratchet driver.
- One large ratchet driver and socket
extension arm. - A couple of adjustable spanners.
- Set of screwdrivers and Phillips head
screwdrivers. - Engineer’s hammer.
- Hacksaw and blades.
- Pliers and multi-grips.
- Set of files: ‘bastard’ grade, round, flat
and square. - Electrical and gaffer tape.
- WD-40 or similar.
- Tube of oil/fuel-resistant Silastic.
- Kit for repairs to fuel tanks, radiators,
etc. Ensure they’re compatible with
tank (metal or plastic). - Basic tyre repair kit, such as the
Speedy Seal from ARB.- Cable ties (selected sizes).
- Selection of fuses.
On bigger, longer trips, or those
involving remote cross-country jaunts, I
carry an extensive tyre repair kit which
includes tyre levers, a bead breaker and
more. For one of the best on offer, see:
http://www.tyrepliers.com.au
I also carry extra gear for 12-volt
welding, using a set of jumper leads
(that are always in the vehicle) and the
two big batteries under the bonnet. A
piece of welding glass for eye protection
set in a piece of cardboard makes a
handy eye and face mask, while my
welding handpiece and lead from the
240-volt welder at home completes
the emergency kit. Some people will
recommend three 12-volt batteries
connected in series, but I’ve always
found two to be more than enough.
With all of the electrical outlets and
accessories we tend to carry these days,
as well as towing a trailer, one of the
most common problems plaguing
travellers is an electrical fault. A
multimeter is essential for analysing
electrical issues when in the scrub, while
a good soldering iron (we like the
butane-fuelled ones) is paramount for
wiring repairs. I keep most of my often-
used tools in tool rolls, which makes
them easy to pack and easy to get to.
A WELL-PREPARED TRAVELLER MAINTAINS A WELL-STOCKED TOOLBOX.