The Simpson Desert and Cape York remain two of the most popular long-distance four-wheel drive destinations in Australia – and it’s clear that plenty of travellers are out there enjoying this wide brown land. 

What has changed in recent years, however, is the level of knowledge and skills many bring when it comes to keeping their vehicle mobile. Back in the good old days, travellers were mostly self-reliant, sorted things out, and kept themselves moving whatever happened. Now, if it’s more complicated than a wheel change, it often gets left for someone else to fix.

Having some mechanical skill is paramount when travelling in remote country. This doesn’t mean repairing a blown engine out in the scrub, but there are plenty of basic things that will help keep a vehicle mobile.

Modern vehicles carry so much electronic equipment that they can be near impossible to fix if something goes wrong with a computer. Still, a scan tool is an essential item, costing only a couple of hundred dollars and often able to detect or even clear fault codes. For most outback travellers, though, the common problems are bent or broken components, along with simple electrical issues.

Bush repairs remain an important part of travel. Steering rods have been reinforced with star pickets and welded, springs replaced, suspensions patched up, chassis cracks repaired, roof racks fixed, fuel tanks sealed, and countless electrical issues traced and solved. These repairs might not be pretty, but they keep vehicles moving.

Too often now, travellers simply give up. Some have abandoned vehicles with broken springs or cracked chassis, waiting for recovery that can take days, when with a little thought and the right gear they could have stayed mobile.

Before heading out on an outback adventure, it pays to learn the basics of the vehicle, buy or download a repair manual, and pack a few essential tools. On the road, check oil, water and leaks daily – or at least every second day – and keep an eye out for loose nuts, brackets or hose clamps. A multimeter is another tool worth carrying, simple to use and capable of solving a host of electrical problems.

Resourcefulness still makes the difference.

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