Road Trip Ready?

Road Trip Ready

Trip Tips

Before any great camping and/or roadtrip begins, one thing is non-negotiable — a reliable vehicle. It might sound obvious, but proper preparation is what separates a smooth trip from an unexpected roadside story.

Below are 10 practical checks to run through before heading off. Chances are you already know most of these, but it’s worth covering them every single time. I keep a clipboard with a checklist in my glovebox — simple, quick, and effective.

Good Prep & a Good Attitude - The keys to successful road trips.

10 Essential Pre-Trip Checks

1. Service, Oil & Cooling System
Ensure your vehicle is serviced and running fresh oil. Check the radiator and cooling system thoroughly — especially before long-distance travel or remote routes.

2. Batteries
Inspect both your vehicle battery and any auxiliary or camping batteries. Confirm they are fully charged and in good condition.

3. Tyres & Spare
Check tyre pressure and condition. Look for wear, cracks, or damage. Always carry a properly inflated spare tyre and a tyre pressure kit - 50% or more of petrol station air pumps are broken and some don't even supply them!

4. Jack & Recovery Readiness
Never leave without a jack — and make sure you know where to position it and how to use it. Roadside assistance (such as RACQ or similar) is also worth having.

5. Jump Starting Equipment
Carry jumper leads or a portable jump starter. Modern lithium jump starters are compact and incredibly useful.

6. Fluids, Spares & Tools
Pack spare oil, coolant, radiator hoses, fan belts, and a basic tool kit. These can turn a major problem into a minor delay. Your own fluid (WATER)!!!. 

7. First Aid & Safety Gear
A well-stocked first aid kit is essential. If travelling in regional Australia, include a snake bite kit.

8. Load Management
Avoid overloading your vehicle. Consider a cargo barrier for safety and proper weight distribution. Caravans take extra care with weight.

9. Navigation Backup
Do not rely solely on GPS or mobile mapping apps. Carry paper maps as a reliable backup — technology doesn’t always get it right. It's great to combine paper maps and technology.

10. Travel Support
If travelling solo, roadside assistance membership provides valuable peace of mind. It can mean accommodation support and recovery if something goes wrong.

Even after all of the above, an unexpected roadside story can still happen!!! However, put it down experience and use your common sense to get home!

 

A few years ago, in my trusty GQ TD42 ute setup, I headed off to Esperance WA and back across the Nullabour to Adelaide SA. Heading back up the inland roads, poor ol 'Margaret', unexpectedly started to run hot (nothing obvious, and I had ticked all the Prep boxes before I left Townsville). Driving at 80k’s and under, I kept the temperature down, all the way home (1000's of k's, ridiculous January heat, no aircon and avoiding bush fires too as I recall), Wasn’t that fun! I kept in touch with the truckies behind me and pulled over to let them past. Solved the problem once home. Fairly unexpected major fixes actually - 6 new injectors, new fuel lines and eventually a new radiator. She’s very happy now! My last Patrol, Maggie, a 91 GQ TD42 Wagon had about 950,000 k's on the ol girl.

 

Experiences like this, happen now and again, even when all due care had been taken.  Reinforcing why preparation isn't optional - it's essential! It also allows you to re-plan and get home safely when something does go wrong!

 

Just go with it, keep your 2way on, mobile charged and always have extra water and food in vehicle.

 

Final Thought

Road trips are about freedom, exploration, and self-reliance.

Check the basics. Pack smart. Travel confidently.

Dream Travel
Camp Your Way