THE ULTIMATE ESCAPE MACHINE
For those remote outdoor adventures, where you’re off the grid for days at a time, you need a reliable mobile basecamp. This HiLux is a brilliant example.
Words Dean Miller Photos Dean Miller and Pip Ryan
WE ALL WANT to do it. Loading up the car for that weekend away with the family, that extended road trip with some friends, or getting down and dirty on some remote expedition to a place you’ve never been. Yep, that’s the stuff that really gets me excited!
So, is there a vehicle set-up that will make these dreams happen? Everyone will have different needs, but there are vehicle upgrades, camping additions, and simply fantastic gadgets that can transform your vehicle into the ultimate family adventure machine, regardless of what it is you drive.
When I start a project like this, I get a little obsessive, researching specialist publications and websites, asking other campers, and checking out potential gear purchases in-store whenever I can. Equipment for your adventure vehicle needs to be reliable (which can often mean paying more), and it needs to suit your personal needs. Can it be packed/unpacked by one person? How much space do you have to fit said accessory? Also, whatever gear you purchase should have nationwide support. If a piece of gear does fail in the field, you need the assurance you can find a replacement part – or a repairer – easily, i.e. in the nearest town.
Setting up a reliable, comfortable vehicle that suits your needs isn’t easy, but if you focus on three key areas, you’ll end up with a reliable mobile adventure home.
THE BIG STUFF
Indulge me in a thought experiment. You’ve spent months dreaming of getting out to a location you’ve heard about, and now you’re in the bush exactly where you want to be. But the trail looks rougher than you expected and you’re doubting your vehicle’s ability to negotiate the rugged track that leads you to camping paradise. This is where the big stuff comes into play.
The first thing I think about when setting up a tourer is vehicle range and protection. Bull bar, brush bars, side steps, under-car bash plates and heavy-duty vehicle recovery points are essential if you’re going to start looking down some of those roads less travelled without doing some serious – if not permanent – damage to your running gear, paint and panels. A long-range fuel tank means not only will you get home from that magical campsite, but you can also confidently explore all the side missions.
On my vehicle I’m running ARB hardware for all of the above. It’s tough, reliable, and installed in the same workshop by professionals who love 4WDs. To provide extra protection to the paint job, I also run BushWrapz panel wraps, a simple addition that allows you to explore those more overgrown tracks without fear of damaging paintwork. One seemingly small component worth upgrading is your vehicle’s windscreen wiper blades. Having decent blades that remove grit, dirt, dust and other detritus will make a world of difference to your driving experience. I fitted Wipertech TrueFit Aeroflex Wiper Blades to the HiLux and have found them long-lasting and robust.
Suspended animation
Suspension is incredibly important, dictating how the vehicle rides (and handles) both on the highway and along that heavily rutted track, especially when it’s fully loaded.
I run a Fulcrum 50mm Formula 4×4 ReadyStrut Lift Kit. It has transformed the HiLux’s ride and handling on- and off-road. This kit also allows an increase in the vehicle’s gross vehicle mass (GVM), the legal maximum and safe total weight of the vehicle, to support all that extra bit of kit I’ve added and keeps the car safe and legal.
I also invested in REDARC gauges to give me ultimate peace of mind. One set gives exhaust gas temperature (EGT) and turbo boost in pounds per square inch (PSI), which are crucial pieces of info on the highway or in remote areas. While your vehicle is equipped with a temperature gauge it has a considerable lag time that means you may already have a problem before the factory gauge moves. Knowing real-time exhaust temp allows you to monitor and detect a heating issue immediately. Monitoring PSI also allows you to see how the engine is behaving and if anything changes. Both are equipped with alarms and light features meaning you won’t have to watch them every minute. The other gauge monitors start and secondary batteries under the bonnet, giving you peace of mind for all your power usage, as well as alternator function.
Light up the night
The next is lighting. Ideally, you’ll avoid night-driving and all its additional hazards whenever possible, but there will, no doubt, come a time when you need to push on into the night. For that, you’ll need reliable additional lighting that illuminates not only further ahead of you than your vehicle’s standard high beam but also lights up a wider area. Wildlife strikes quite often occur from an animal running in from the side of the road, rather than from the front.
There are two types of driving lights. The first is distance lighting for highway or higher speed work, and the second is low-speed track illumination so you can see all the obstacles. A common lighting solution is combining spotlights and an LED light bar, but my Altiq Rogue 8.5-inch lights do both in the same unit, with a claimed light penetration distance of 1.9km and a 180° spread in width. The second type of lighting is work lights all around the vehicle for when you have to change a tyre or recover your vehicle in the dark. I use Altiq Rock Lights to illuminate the ‘work area’.
Recovery time
The final must-have is a quality winch, which is always handy for recovery and especially so if travelling solo in remote country. I’ve opted for the Ultra PDX MK4 12,000lb, which has both wired and wireless controls, exceptional waterproofing technology, and an ultra-light synthetic rope that makes handling and setting up recovery easy.
For recovery equipment I use the MaxTrax Beach recovery kit, which is an all-in-one bag of everything you need for vehicle-to-vehicle recovery, as well as winching out. For adjusting tyre pressures for different track surfaces, I combine an ARB twin air compressor with the MaxTrax Indeflate digital 4 hose. If I do get stuck somewhere that the winch is not a viable recovery option, I use my MaxTrax Extreme recovery boards – they’re a fantastic, simple recovery device, and a must for inclusion in your vehicle recovery kit.
PLUG ’N’ PLAY
This is where you can personalise your set-up, from the vehicle to your camping kit, shelter, power and storage, with the goal of an easy set-up of what should be a very comfortable campsite.
Shelter, Storage and Power
Let’s start outside the car and work in, beginning with the awning. For ease of operation and durability the Darche 270-degree freestanding Gen 3 provides an impressive 11.5 square metres of coverage and features inbuilt LED lighting. I’ve used the awning in freestanding mode in some pretty high winds, and if it has ever become too windy or wet, I can easily lower the included poles and attach the (optional, at extra cost) wall system for additional shelter. For ultimate security I use the Tiegear Overland Bundle with illuminated guy ropes so you don’t trip over at night, which is an absolute game changer. I also use their Flexstrap Bundle to secure internal loads and bags on the roof racks.
I have opted for an iKamper Skycamp 3.0 rooftop tent for bush accommodation. Lightweight, fast to set up and pull down, capable of storing all your bedding, very comfortable, weatherproof, and with a massive sleeping footprint. Rooftop tents are popular for many reasons, and this unit is a great example of why.
Most campers know that in-vehicle storage is key to a successful, enjoyable camping trip, and for that you need a well-thought-out system. The HiLux is fitted with a KUFU Drawer System from Umhauer Products Australia, a modular, quick-release system that’s light in weight and runs the full length of the HiLux’s rear tub. In addition, it has internal twin diffused full length and front high output LED lighting that powers from an internal lithium power bank. The drawers are tough, and smooth in operation, and have withstood thousands of kilometres of rough roads since fitted, while safely carrying all our gear.
For power, the HiLux is fitted with the KUFU SPARK again from Umhauer Products Australia, a powerful plug-and-play battery management and power distribution controller system, powered via a REDARC 2000-watt (W) inverter and BCDC 12-volt (V) battery charger. This gives me 12V and 240V power options at the touch of a button, allowing me to power everything from fridges to lights, induction cookers, waffle makers, and anything else from your kitchen that draws no more than 2000W. I’ve even tested an air fryer with no issues at all. At the heart of all this is a REDARC 150Ah lithium battery supported by a 300W solar blanket for recharging. All this will run my Dometic CFX3 75L fridge (this unit has an incredibly low power draw and is quiet in operation), and other accessories, for as long as I am willing to camp.
Navigation and comms all within easy reach and eyeline of the driver are a must as you really don’t want to get lost beyond the black stump. Excellent apps are available on your phone, but where to mount your device so you can follow that trail without it jarring or falling loose is a real issue. The Quad Lock system is superior to others as you can have different phones use the same mount and different applications as well, allowing you to move seamlessly from your vehicle to your bike or ATV, for instance. This is a rock-solid mounting system that makes your phone the data hub of the entire vehicle.
THE FUN STUFF
Food is a massive part of touring for me, and I just love a good cooking system that is compact and easy to use. I’ve opted for the NomadiQ ULTIMATE Beach Package, which packs down incredibly small. For storage of camp cutlery, condiments and cooking utensils I use an Overedger Half Pack. It has space for everything you need, then folds up and packs away.
Light it up, cool it down, and pack it out
Nothing is more fun for families than some wildlife spotting at night, which means you need a decent spotlight. Ledlenser head torches are my go-to, and I currently use the H19R Core Headlamp and the H19R Signature Headlamp. For a handheld option that will blow you away in terms of brightness, the P9R Core LEP Torch is a top option.
This all lives in a backpack with our Survival Outdoor Bundle, which contains a first-aid kit and snakebite kit. Having everything on hand, complete with first-aid booklets in a small and convenient case, provides excellent peace of mind. Also in our backpack is a Leatherman FREE K2 pocket knife multi-tool.
For a little bit of camp luxury, I use the Cybertake S2 Pro mobile air con unit. I know, I know, but the thought of sweltering at camp in the height of summer has meant in the past we’ve simply not gone camping. The Cybertake unit has increased the amount of camping we do in a year by around 4–6 months in Far North Queensland, and for that reason alone it belongs in this list. I use this with the REDARC GoBlock mobile lithium battery in summer, which means I’m not stealing power from any other part of my camping set-up and get a perfect night’s sleep every time.
This last item deserves a lot more credit than it probably gets, and I consider it a must-have for any campers. The ARB tailgate bin bag ensures your stinky, dripping rubbish bags stay outside of your vehicle. For those who use a wagon or sedan for camping, it’s well worth looking for a similar option; the last thing you want to do is leave rubbish at camp.
The ARB tailgate bin bag simply straps onto the tailgate, has a mesh bottom so liquids can escape, and keeps those dirty bags safe and secure from inquisitive wildlife when at camp, all while being external to your vehicle on the road until you are home or can drop them off at a refuse site.
The end result equals outdoor fun
So, there you have it: my version of the perfect touring and camping set-up that will take you there, and importantly back, while providing ridiculous levels of comfort, safety and fun. For my needs, this is the ideal set-up, but walk any campsite or caravan park in Australia and you’ll quickly realise no two vehicles are set up the same, and that’s perfectly fine, too.
The most important thing when starting to set up your vehicle is to figure out what works best for you and your family, and get out there. This is one big, amazingly beautiful country that’s just waiting to be explored.
PRODUCTS USED IN BUILD: