Help me build my tourer?

[billy bleed]

@cuppa and 4D - i'm gonna take a step back and remind myself.. right the first time if not close fella..

appreciate your thoughts and direction.. its that big plasma like 90 inch screen.. bigger picture.. i really need to define what i want to achieve with my truck..

[Cuppa]

i really need to define what i want to achieve with my truck..

I think you're right but I also acknowledge that this is not an easy task without experience - a catch22 ...... This is where forums & the experience of others can be so useful to folk .... If like yourself they can 'hear' the answers they get. Keep asking stuff.

If you have any contacts out on a communities, it might be worth seeing if you can organise a visit prior to setting up your vehicle, as this would also likely be quite informative in determining what you want.

Cuppa

[billy bleed]

I think you're right but I also acknowledge that this is not an easy task without experience - a catch22 ...... This is where forums & the experience of others can be so useful to folk .... If like yourself they can 'hear' the answers they get. Keep asking stuff.

If you have any contacts out on a communities, it might be worth seeing if you can organise a visit prior to setting up your vehicle, as this would also likely be quite informative in determining what you want.

Cuppa

been thinking about it and the reality is that the patrol will be used to travel to different locations where i'll be based for 3 or more months and i'll be in work accommodation or at a caravan park - i'm actually going to be employed by social / community organisations - it will be in between jobs that i'll travel and camp out of the truck - so i don't need it to be completely self sufficient if i really think about it.. that makes sense don't it?

[threedogs]

My mate that did the same as what you intend doing ,he had a small trailer purpose built to carry extra stuff
and just took off. He had no elaborate setup like you can acheive today, Think that formed part of the
adventure. He is still doing it now, and loving it

[billy bleed]

My mate that did the same as what you intend doing ,he had a small trailer purpose built to carry extra stuff
and just took off. He had no elaborate setup like you can acheive today, Think that formed part of the
adventure. He is still doing it now, and loving it

we can think too much about something can't we rather than just getting out there!

[BigRAWesty]

Spot on.. as you probably have seen my thread I think were trying to achieve the same thing, but still very different.
Never know, might run into you one day.. not literally..

Kallen Westbrook
Owner of
Westy's Accessories

[Cuppa]

been thinking about it and the reality is that the patrol will be used to travel to different locations where i'll be based for 3 or more months and i'll be in work accommodation or at a caravan park - i'm actually going to be employed by social / community organisations - it will be in between jobs that i'll travel and camp out of the truck - so i don't need it to be completely self sufficient if i really think about it.. that makes sense don't it?

That makes so much difference. Far easier to 'rough it' for shorter periods between jobs. Now you have to think about what sort of places you want to travel & how you want to travel. If it will mainly involve moving on most days it simplifies your battery charging requirements, more so if you expect to be places where you can occasionally plug into power. In fact it simplifies everything. Water & food storage, fridge, swag or tent, tarp or awning, tools & you'll probably be right. Depends on your routes, but a fuel range of 400kms will take you to most places. If your experience of aboriginal communities is anything like my (limited) experience, you will have a 'network' of places & people along the way.

[happygu]

Billy,

I am in Melbourne and would be happy to meet with you to chat about gear and priorities, as i have lived out in the outback and toured extensively with the truck set up as a tourer.

Looks like you are on the way with your vehicle and the lift kit should be adequate to get you started. You need to now prioritize dual batteries, fridge, storage, sleeping, etc

There are known problems out in the communities with Petrol vehicles and theft of the fuel for sniffing, but you should be OK as most 4WD's are called Toyota's as default and assumed that they are Diesel and as such left alone.

PM me and we can arrange something

Mic

[lhurley]

I have reread your post again today, and 3dogs post about his mate got me thinking. Why not a camper trailer? It will have ample storage, can be set up and left while you go do what you need and when you get back its already done. It might stretch you budget but theres no harm in looking out for 1. At the 4x4 show up here last week they had a few decent new trailers for mid $3k. Dont see why you couldnt pick up a 2nd hander for less, then get a dual battery and fridge with the remainder.

Just my ideas, its ok if thats not what you want

[3kids]

Although new to the 4WD world, batteries/chargers/solar/alternators and their arrangements is something I have been researching extensively of late.
The DC - DC charger is an impressive product, not only will a decent one provide near 100% charging while driving to the destination (as stated above) they will increase the life of the deep cycle battery considerably maintaining optimal charge rates, stages and times. A decent DC charger has the capabilities of accepting and delivering a charge via solar panels in conjunction with the alternator charge. This gives a 120AH deep cycle battery the possibilities of running a quality 12 volt fridge/freezer for 4,5 or 6 days depending on solar exposure to direct sunlight and storage of the fridge in a shaded spot.
Sorry to side track the train of thought