Tips, Tech & Tinker Time: Off Grid Preparation Tips

Got a tough trip in the midst? Here are a few pointers to help get your set-up prepped and ready

So, you’re planning an off-grid camping trip, somewhere that’s a challenge on you, your 4WD and your trailer? Good on ya! But before you hit the dirt roads, let’s take a look at a few often-overlooked tips. You know, the kind of things you often don’t think about when it comes to the preparation side of things that’ll save you from some serious headaches in the middle of nowhere. Trust me, these little tricks are worth their weight in gold.

1. RUBBER INSULATION

Ever been serenaded by the sweet sound of metal on metal as you drive along a bumpy track? Yep, us too. That’s where our humble hero, the rubber mat, comes in. If you anticipate a bumpy ride ahead, strategically adding a few strips of rubber to vulnerable locations could save you a headache. From vibration dampening and absorption to silencing all those rattles and squeaks while adding extra grip, a few spare bucks’ worth of rubber could mean the difference between a noisy trip full of friction-based damage to your accessories and things like your jerry can from doing the cha-cha slide every time you hit a bump. It stays put; you stay sane. Win-win!

2. SPARE STUB AND A HUB

If there’s one thing that will stop a trailer in its tracks, it’s damage to the bearing assembly. While it’s common practice to carry a spare set of wheel bearings, it’s also a good idea to carry a spare stub-axle, if possible, too.

Now, a great idea is to use the spare stub-axle as the mount for your spare bearing hub assembly and spare tyre. This allows you to keep the whole hub packed with grease and ready to rumble. Heck, even if you’re not too mechanically savvy, possession is nine-tenths of the game! If you’ve got the right parts handy there’s always the chance a local mechanic or even a fellow traveler can get the job done without having to wait for parts to come in from the big smoke.  

3. SPARE TYRE VALVES

Tyre valves are small, cheap, and pretty easy to overlook—until they fail, and you’re stuck with a flat. How can this happen? Well, perhaps there’s a mishap as you’re deflating your tyres, or maybe the valve comes loose and gets blasted out of the valve stem while you’re trying to clean mud out of it? Either way, having a few spare tyres valves and the removal tool at hand is a super cheap way of guarding against this potential issue on the tracks!  

FINAL THOUGHTS

So, there you have it—three little tips that’ll make a big difference on your next off-grid adventure. Think of them as your secret weapons against the whims of the wild. With a bit of rubber, some spare parts, and a few valves in your toolkit, you’ll be ready to tackle anything the outback throws at you. Happy camping, and may your jerry cans be quiet, your axles stay strong, and your tyres roll on without a hitch!