Adventure, camping and off-roading are three of Brisbane’s favourite pastimes. Every weekend, thousands of us load up our 4WDs and head out of the city to find a slice of the outback. A weekend away is often just what the doctor ordered, but you don’t have to go far to be out of reach of help. Preparing your car before you go off-roading ensures you’ll have the tools and equipment you need to survive the adventure, and it means you won’t find yourself stuck without help. In this article we’re going to cover the basics and provide a list of things you need to do to prepare your car for an off-roading adventure!
1. Get Your Car Serviced
Regular maintenance is a critical part of car ownership, but it becomes even more important when you’re on the trail and far from help. While it’s possible to find off-road towing services that will come and rescue you, it’s better to avoid needing help at all. Basic service items like an oil change, battery load testing, brake inspection and tyre inspection can make sure a sudden issue doesn’t derail your off-roading adventure. There’s nothing worse than wanting to crank the air conditioning on a hot day to find that you should’ve booked it for a car air conditioning service Brisbane wide.
While you’re having the car serviced, it’s also worth having the car’s electrical systems looked at. A flat car battery can ruin your adventure as fast as any mechanical failure. Especially if your 4WD has dual battery setups or any off-grid electrics, a quick check of the components and batteries can keep your trip moving along smoothly.
2. Pack the Essentials
It can be tempting to take everything with you when you’re headed off-road. You’ll be away from the creature comforts you’re used to and there’s no reason not to bring the kitchen sink, right? In most cases, the less you can bring off-roading, the better. Loading up your 4WD to the brim is a recipe for disaster. Keeping your vehicle light and agile will serve you much better on the trail.
When packing, prioritise the must-haves first and foremost, and ensure they’re packed into the car correctly. Heavy items like jerry cans and spare wheels should be packed into places where the weight won’t be an issue, and emergency items like first-aid kits and recovery tools should be in readily accessible spots. Once your car has those things loaded on board, you can start thinking about the non-essentials you’d like to have with you.
3. Pack Your Recovery Gear
Speaking of recovery tools, you’ll need to make sure yours are packed and ready. Whether you’re going away for a weekend or a month, you could find yourself a long way from any help, and self-recovery is an important part of your packing list.
Essential off-roading recovery gear includes:
- Recovery tracks
- Shovels
- Snap straps
- Tree-savers
- Winches and winch gear
- 12v air compressor and tyre gauge
- Spare wheel and tyre
- High lift jack
4. Install Important Accessories
When it comes to comfort and safety off-road, there is a huge range of vehicle and towing accessories Brisbane wide can make your trip a success. You don’t need to go overboard on designing the perfect off-road vehicle from the start. It’s a good idea to take smaller trips and spend time working out just what you need to make your vehicle more capable.
As you get to know your 4WD and dive deeper into off-roading, you can begin investing in accessory installations to improve your vehicle and make camping more comfortable. External lights, tow bars, reversing cameras and UHF radios are all popular off-roading additions. If you’d like to go a step further, installing dual battery systems and solar panels on your vehicle can ensure you’ve always got power, even when you’re far from civilisation.
5. Take a Buddy
The final tip is to never go off-roading alone. Even if you’re ready for a solo adventure, being away from any help is a bad idea in Australia’s outback. Solo travel makes recovery a struggle, but travelling with some friends and other vehicles will make the trip safer for everyone. Even small emergencies can go wrong quickly, so make sure you have someone nearby who’s ready to help you out of a sticky situation.
Getting Ready for an Off-Road Adventure? Make an Appointment with Access Auto Today!
Heading off-road for your next adventure? Getting your car ready beforehand with vehicle diagnostic services is the best way to make sure your trip comes off without a hitch. Whether it’s your first time or you’re an experienced off-road driver, installing a few accessories or even upgrading your esky to use camping fridge hire Brisbane wide, it will make the trip more comfortable and ensure you can get yourself out of trouble.
Access Auto Electrics works on a huge range of cars, 4WDs and light commercial vehicles, installing electrical systems and accessories that can make any off-roading trip a success! Our team will work with you to design the perfect systems for your vehicle and make sure you have the electrical accessories you need. Contact us today to book a consultation with our friendly team!