Do You Need the Latest Gear to Hit the Open Road?

Geez, I tell you what, 4WDing has changed a lot over the years. These days, there are more electronic gizmos and gadgets built into our 4WDs than into Pimp Daddy’s 747 jetliner! I mean, even our camper trailers are five-star hotels on wheels — hard to think they started off as horses and carriages, eh?

After pondering on the topic for a little while, I’ve come to the conclusion that right now really is the perfect time to be a 4WDer. Think about it. Every man and his dog are selling aftermarket accessories and the camper trailer scene has practically exploded with a billion different camper trailer models to choose from.

Plus, if you know how to drive a computer, the internet can open up a whole new world in terms of information on destinations and tracks. With all this in mind, I reckon the real beauty about modern day 4WDing is that you’ve got the choice to either rough it like the early pioneers, or go see the country in complete luxury!

The problem is, the lines between the gear you really need and what you think you need are often blurred. That means there’s a heck of a lot of campers out there who actually believe they need a big fancy 4WD and camper trailer with all the fruit to explore the road less travelled.

If I bought a beer for every time I’ve heard somebody say, “I can’t go until I buy a 12V fridge and fit diff locks,” I’d be Australia’s biggest drunk. The thing is, nine times out of 10, you don’t need diff lockers and a billion accessories to get you to and from most places in Oz.

Don’t get me wrong, you still need to be well-prepared and have a reliable set-up capable enough to get the job done. But if you’re putting off going camping because you don’t have the latest gear, you’re probably missing out on an epic adventure.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s that, years from now, you won’t remember what you did or didn’t have on a particular trip, but the journey you put off now could dead-set be the adventure of a lifetime.

I guess sometimes you’ve just got to get out there and run what you brung, even if it means going without the cosmetics!

Check out the full feature in issue #88 May 2015 of Camper Trailer Australia magazine.