GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #28 | Page 49

RV TRAVEL FAMILY TANAMI ADVENTURE! PREPARATION Given its notoriety for rendering cars, caravans and trailers defective, a lot of time and energy went into preparing for the Tanami. Being a full- time travelling family, (with our entire lives on the road with us), we wanted to make it out the other end in one piece. We assessed everything inside the van, learning how things moved around on rough roads by putting our GoPro in various positions to give us ‘eyes’ during transit, and adjusted things accordingly. Visual and audio checks were carried out around the 4WD and van, and tyre pressures and torque settings were researched and set. The closure of Rabbit Flat Roadhouse meant the 600km between fuel stops was a major concern. Worst case scenario: our Cruiser would use 30L /100km, so we carried an extra 100L as well as a heap of spares – particularly nuts and bolts – (and a spare swivel hub kit as ours was on its way out). TANAMI DESERT Thick red dirt for as far as the eye can see. Random rows of naked, charcoaled trees curved forward, reaching in desperation for water in the dry conditions. Fragments of new life rose amongst their charred roots in fire- devastated patches. Bright yellow spinifex contrasted next to the sparse greenery – with a layer of red where the wind and passing vehicles had left a sprinkling of dirt in their midst. The changing rugged landscape on the Tanami epitomises the outback. There is ‘nothing’ to see, yet so much to see – and that’s part of its appeal. / 49