You make some excellent points, Steve.

Yes I agree that anyone venturing off the beaten track should have an EPIRB, PLB, SPOT (or similar) or, at the very least, a SatPhone. My point was that they should not be the only plan.

Earlier this year I encountered a guy on the edge of the Nullarbor who did not have a tool bag. His rationale was, "I have Nissan Roadside Assist". He was in a non-mobile area. Smoke signals or mental telepathy were his plan I suppose. And where he was, NRA (or their agent) were hardly likely to even contemplate coming to his aid.

Some years ago I came off my motorbike in the Simpson Desert, broke my leg and spent a night out there with a half a bottle of Scotch as an anaesthetic. I suppose someone will chip me for choosing Scotch over an EPIRB but at that time they weren't that readily available, were too big for a bike and hellishly expensive (bit different now). I got to Alice Springs hospital without any search and rescue dramas.

I've seen well-prepared vehicles stopped by a broken '$2 part'. That's when the seven Ps come into play. Like making sure you have a clean fuel tank. Like having a well thought out recovery plan. Like driving a 4WD rather than riding a motorcycle.

Over many years of outback travel and adventuring I have never bothered to clean my fuel tank (I will be doing so now) and, yes, I have had some 'issues'. Always blamed it on the fuel supplier. The manufacturers don't make it easy by not incorporating a drain plug into their tanks. I wonder what their reasoning is?

Although I haven't tried it with my main Patrol, I have drained a tank by breaking into the fuel line and connecting an external 12v pump powered by a battery pack. Worked ok and easier than removing the tank.

Thanks again for a good tip, Steve.