Useless touring accessories I have installed

Thought I would start a thread dedicated to the accessories that sounded good at the time but after using them realised didn't really suit my needs! And the reasons why .
Be aware that others may love these items that make their trips more enjoyable so play nice!

To start off my awning is a pain and I'm sorry I ever purchased one. Going to put it on my camper instead why?
It's heavy.
Possibly only been used 6 times in the last 40,000 touring km's .
It's to small when raining.
Never enough shadow when sunny
Used to use a freedom tent tarp that covered a bigger area for rain.
Cost a fortune in extra fuel to lug around.
Always worried I will take it out on a tree on tight tracks.

So there you go!
Hopefully the future posts will help others considering the pros and cons of purchasing accessories!

I totally agree on the awning.... got mine for my 40th and never used it properly in anger... it only got me angry..lol

Fitted an AM radio...

I am sure there are many more.

AM radio?
There must be a story behind that?

I like my awning but I do wish they made them bigger... 2.5x2 is not big enough. I would like a 3x2.5
I use mine more on boys trips to set the swag up underneath. Also good for cooking in the rain.

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Originally Posted by Winnie

I like my awning but I do wish they made them bigger... 2.5x2 is not big enough. I would like a 3x2.5
I use mine more on boys trips to set the swag up underneath. Also good for cooking in the rain.

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Making sand flags with electrical conduit... Bad idea! Don't be a tight ass Winnie and buy a real one

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Originally Posted by Winnie

I like my awning but I do wish they made them bigger... 2.5x2 is not big enough. I would like a 3x2.5
I use mine more on boys trips to set the swag up underneath. Also good for cooking in the rain.

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Always worried with running roof racks on harder trips as I've damaged the gutters many times and would hate to write off a roof rack and awning. Ok maybe not the awning!!!!

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Originally Posted by liftlid

Always worried with running roof racks on harder trips as I've damaged the gutters many times and would hate to write off a roof rack and awning. Ok maybe not the awning!!!!

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I remember having to go back up an extreme track cause you LOST YOUR ROOF RACK!

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Originally Posted by MudRunnerTD

I remember having to go back up an extreme track cause you LOST YOUR ROOF RACK!

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Hehe. What a shame more driving

Love my Awnings. have 2 on the GUIV and they are great. I dont use them a heap but when i need them they are fantastic.

I have fair skin and need shade. i use them for shade at lunch stops. I used the back one to shade the back of the car and the fridges when static camping for the win.

The week i spent up at Woodspoint in the winter it was great. 3 cars all had them, we circled the camp fire and were nearly touching corners. had a camp fire in the middle and all the smoke went up the centre, we all sat under awnings and had a great night.

My Useless......

When i did my GQ rebuild i spent a heap of time and effort nutting out an amazing Air system including no less than 5 switches and isolating air solenoids. Was Sooooo proud of it.

So...... get int eh car now and it turns out for me to pump up my tyres i have to have this isolated and that turned off and this switched to that and well bugger me dead! It was a fail and would take 5 minutes of checking for air in the wrong places to know it was set right. I am in the middle of stripping it all out and revamping it right now.

this is more like a product review, what works and what doesn't.
Bummer but you need to buy it first if you think its a great idea.
Only to find its another lot of $$$$ down the drain.
I take heaps of stuff to try , but cant pinpoint one that's failed .
I'm sure there are plenty , thinking cap on.
I make most stuff I take.
got it one of those silicon handles you use to lift hot pots with, don't buy one, too big for most pot/fry pan handles.
Not installed but brought to make life easier , not

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Originally Posted by threedogs

this is more like a product review, what works and what doesn't.
Bummer but you need to buy it first if you think its a great idea.
Only to find its another lot of $$$$ down the drain.
I take heaps of stuff to try , but cant pinpoint one that's failed .
I'm sure there are plenty , thinking cap on.
I make most stuff I take.
got it one of those silicon handles you use to lift hot pots with, don't buy one, too big for most pot/fry pan handles.
Not installed but brought to make life easier , not

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Yeah not sure what you trying to say above !
It's not a product review as I'm not asking for specific branded items .
Just things you originally thought would be a good idea when you got them but turned out being just another thing you lug around!

Before the camper we had the fold out stretcher and inflatable double blow up bed.

Takes up too much space, too long to set up and is absolutely freezing to sleep on.

Sleeping on a double blow up double bed with your misses is not good.

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Originally Posted by AB

Before the camper we had the fold out stretcher and inflatable double blow up bed.

Takes up too much space, too long to set up and is absolutely freezing to sleep on.

Sleeping on a double blow up double bed with your misses is not good.

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We tried that and no good! We have a double self inflating mattress now and it's great. Also good for me on solo trips.

Staun tyre deflators. SH!T

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Originally Posted by AB

Sleeping on a double blow up double bed with your misses is not good.

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so AB what you are saying is its better to sleep with Jonathan :) pml

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Originally Posted by Stropp

so AB what you are saying is its better to sleep with Jonathan :) pml

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He likes to spoon, huge difference!!!!

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Originally Posted by AB

He likes to spoon, huge difference!!!!

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Definitely wouldn't get cold then..

Most useless thing I've toured with would have been the highlift jack, stays at home mainly now, but I can see the limited benefits of one.

Awning walls, they are a pain but have had a night in foul weather that we were glad we had them. Away for 6 weeks last year and probably only used the awning 2 or 3 times.

The real waste of time has been the second spare. We have been outback 8 times travelling over 45000 klm, never had a flat, did cop a slow leak from a screw in a tyre at Tibooburra but that was it.

BUT we use a TPMS, that gives us warning of any problems with the tyres.

Still can not bring myself to leave the second spare at home, yet. :)

Macca I don't have awning walls but I find my gazebo walls are fantastic. At this stage I can't honestly think of anything useless i've bought

Most unless item I was actually given.
A fold up shovel.
What a pos!!!
Nearly farked it first use. And ain't nothing worse than a useless shovel when you turtle neckin..

And another thing.
After market egg holders.!!!!
The box does how many thousands of kilometres so why do you need anything different.
Wasted money, and lost more easily in the pos compared to the normal egg carton...

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Originally Posted by biggqwesty

After market egg holders.!!!!

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..........best sentence ever!

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Originally Posted by biggqwesty

After market egg holders.!!!!
The box does how many thousands of kilometres so why do you need anything different.
Wasted money, and lost more easily in the pos compared to the normal egg carton...

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Lol......

I agree with the egg thingy but as for folding shovel you need a genuine german in trenching tool.... top bit of kit.

Think I'll just stick to my full size shovel on the roof rack

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Originally Posted by Bloodyaussie

I agree with the egg thingy but as for folding shovel you need a genuine german in trenching tool.... top bit of kit.

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I've used the good 'ole Entrenching tool to dig some big holes and they are quite capable even in hard ground. But I'd still prefer a decent long handle shovel for any 4wding I do.

I agree Westy, I used those stupid egg holders on a Simpson trip in 2002 and lost all the eggs, have used the cartons they come in since and rarely lose any.

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Originally Posted by sooty_10

Most useless thing I've toured with would have been the highlift jack, stays at home mainly now, but I can see the limited benefits of one.

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X2 not required on Fraser ever but will probably need it one day and it will be in shed at home

Can't make up my mind so IMHO it is a deadheat for totally useless shit between...

Plastic Egg Holders - should actually be sold as automatic egg scrambler with added calcium (the shells)

High lift Jack - should actually be sold as scrap metal

2nd Spare fully mounted - I just throw a carcass on if I am going bush for extended periods as 35's can be hard to find

Annex Floor - never used one camping but make a reasonable slip and slide for the toddlers in the back yard

Fold up shovel - see Hi lift jack

Plastic POS Porta Potti - never been used but my folding style thunderbox has... lots

My most useless thing is the passenger seat, no bastard been in it since I bought the recaros.

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Originally Posted by Stropp

My most useless thing is the passenger seat, no bastard been in it since I bought the recaros.

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Be careful what you wish for, once they hop in you might not be able to get rid of them LOL

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Originally Posted by sooty_10

Most useless thing I've toured with would have been the highlift jack, stays at home mainly now, but I can see the limited benefits of one.

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have to agree with the hi-lift jack with my other 4x4 it was ok but of little use now with the GU,
mind you I have 3 one is an original Trewella, one is a new OX brand and the first one
I brought is the Hi-lift brand, Great for pulling out fence posts though

Very dangerous in the hands of a new comer, not called "widow makers" for nothing

Had a blow up bed in the back, Wife got in 1st and the bed was so high her face was touching the roof. Then I jump in like a ballet dancing gazelle and it burst. Please no joke about too much pies lol

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Originally Posted by macca

Be careful what you wish for, once they hop in you might not be able to get rid of them LOL

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this could be the perfect co-driver for you stropp.
sorry wrong pic BBWWwaaahhhhhhh

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Originally Posted by macca

Be careful what you wish for, once they hop in you might not be able to get rid of them LOL

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Attachment 56493

Yup never know

Boobies !!! .... nom nom nom

X10000 for the Hi-lift jack only been used 3 times in the last 4 years, and that was to hold up some horizontal posts while I screwed them in

also

x10000 for the yellow egg thingys..........
seen almost every third person walking out of the Camec stall at the Cvan & Camping show with them -
only thing they are good for is if your needing somewhere for seedlings to germinate

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Originally Posted by SonOf

Attachment 56493

Yup never know

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He would not fit into my recaro, in fact probably wouldn't fit in both my recaros lol