GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #27 | Page 40

can follow your 4WD to the back of beyond, make sure it is truly offroad with excellent suspension and remember that smaller equals more freedom. If it makes the difference between going or not, consider a good tent and basic camping gear stored either in your vehicle or in a simple (and far cheaper) offroad trailer. TOWING If you have never towed a caravan or camper trailer, practise before you leave. An empty parking lot is a good place to learn to reverse as you will need this skill when manoeuvring into narrow campsites. Every driver in your party should have towing skills in case of an emergency. Pay particular attention to learning how to adjust your vehicle’s electric brakes and how to attach sway bars to the van. 40 \ PLANNING YOUR ROUTE If time is unlimited, then you can tour at your leisure. If you are restricted, consider picking one region to concentrate on at a time. That way you won’t be rushing, burning up fuel and missing great stops along the way. Determine when and where. The Centre and the Top End offer the best touring in winter or through the dry season, leaving Tassie, Victoria, New South Wales and the southern parts of South and Western Australia for the summer. Plan your route based on what you most want to see and when the best time is to see it.