For many travellers in Australia, the idea of leaving the crowds behind, being off grid and heading into wide open spaces, is the dream to aspire to. Whether that’s in a caravan, other type of RV or even camping, you can go adventure touring safely by planning ahead and following a few tips.

For those of us who have done this many times it may be second nature and obvious, but there is always a first time or a different type of terrain, and these tips will help plant a few seeds for those considering if going off grid is for them. Some of these we’ve learnt from our own mistakes!

The August edition of the Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australia magazine, The Wanderer, has my advice for some of the first things to consider before you venture off road.

Tyres & Maintenance

With some lead time, have your van and car serviced and ensure tyres are in top condition before going off road.

A useful early warning system to have is a tyre pressure monitor, which can be fitted to any car and van tyres. If pressures drop or rise outside of a set range, an alert is sent to an in car display monitor, allowing you to check before problems arise.

Carry a set of tyre deflators and a portable compressor to reduce and re-inflate tyre pressure as needed to make the ride safe and comfortable on corrugated dirt roads or for sand driving.

Carry a spare air filter for your car if you’re planning to travel on heavy dust roads, and changeover to improve your car’s efficiency when it needs it.

*(Tip: make sure servicing happens with plenty of time to find any bugs before you head off. Tell your mechanic where you’re planning to travel so that they can do a thorough check. Sometimes even with the best preparations though, we and others we know, have had to limp into a town and stay while car issues have been fixed.)

Safe driving

Drive with headlights on all day to improve your visibility to others, this is especially important for being seen in the distance in high dust areas.

At the end of a day’s travel on rough terrain, check and tighten screws if needed on your car and van light housings. It also pays to check and tighten wheel nuts if necessary and do a general check over the car and van for anything that may have worked its way loose.

If driving in deserts or beaches where there will be dunes, a sand flag for high visibility is necessary to alert others of your presence in advance.

If in doubt about driving through any terrain, get out of your vehicle and walk the route first to make sure you know the safest line to drive on.  This is especially true of water crossings and rocky terrain.

Download maps for your destination, or carry printed ones that can be referred to at any time and if you’re going remote, let family or friends know your estimated dates of arrival at different points, checking in with them when possible.

*(Tip: Checking and tightening loose parts on the car and caravan can save a lot of headaches when you reach your destination.  This has come from experience when we drove to Steep Point in WA, only to find one headlight hanging out of the car when we arrived. And thanks to local knowledge when we travelled to the tip of Cape York, we were able to have incident free creek crossings and camping experiences.)

Carry Water

Carrying enough water is one of the most important factors, so make sure to fill caravan tanks before heading off the bitumen, and carry extra drinking water in a portable container that can be refilled when the opportunity presents. Caravan water tanks can also be refilled if needed from the portable container.

Be frugal with water usage, saving dishwashing for once a day, keeping some water in the bathroom sink for hand washing each day, and taking short showers or sponge bathing will all help to conserve water.

*(Tip: Make sure to look for potable water and fill up where you can. Asking the locals will help with finding places where you can do this.)

Choosing where to set up

Never park close to river beds, flash flooding can happen unexpectedly, turning dry ground into raging torrents rapidly.  Don’t park under large eucalyptus trees which can drop branches as a coping method during droughts.

Trust your gut when it comes to choosing where to stay and if there are signs at a campsite that make you feel uncomfortable, such as broken glass, and signs of lots of car tracks, move on.

When staying off grid, park where fixed solar panels will get the most of the sun’s trajectory and use power hungry appliances during the sun’s peak. Mounted or free standing 12 volt fans are handy in hot weather.

Take your rubbish with you and dispose of properly when you can. If you’re storing rubbish outdoors, make sure it’s in a sturdy bag and off the ground to prevent insects, birds, or animals from getting to it.

*(Tip: If you’re travelling for the first time to somewhere remote, travelling with others can help you feel more secure, but travelling on your own is when trusting your gut feeling is definitely an important factor.)

Personal health & safety

Have a first aid kit with useful bandages, and dressings, and if you take regular medication, carry a little more than you think you’ll need in case weather or other factors cause delays when you’re touring.

Carry a UHF radio for communication when mobile signal isn’t available and know which channels to use for general communications or emergencies. As a guide channels 10, 18 and 40 are most commonly used for general communications and channels 5 and 35 for emergency use only.

Pack clothes for conditions including long pants, comfortable walking shoes, and a broad brim hat. Lightweight and quick drying clothes that you can layer, are easiest for washing as you travel.

*(Tip: Check to see that your first aid kit really contains useful products and that you know how to use them. Make sure everyone is familiar with using a UHF radio and how to find different channels.)

Weather conditions & warnings

Keep an eye on weather conditions as you go, using reliable websites or Apps to keep up to date with any warnings for the area you’re travelling in.  It can also pay to speak with locals who may be more familiar with any current or expected hazards in their area.

Look for any warning signs as you’re touring and heed them. They’ve been placed for a reason and are there to help travellers who aren’t familiar with the local environment.

*(Tip: Be aware of your environment and keep your eyes on predicted incoming weather. If you think it could cause problems, it’s time to move before things get difficult.)

With these basic tips, you can start to plan that off grid adventure with peace of mind.

Enjoy

Glenys