Tips for getting ready to hit the road.

“A sage traveling all day is never far from the supplies in his cart,
and however spectacular the views, he remains calm and composed.”
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

The dry season is upon us. A caterpillar convoy of grey nomads in gleaming white caravans migrates north with staggering volume and stuttering speed. Like the sign of geese pointing true north, it is a signal to pull the dust covers off our trusty steeds, check the long-parked tyres for flat spots and get ready to saddle up again for the open road.

All who wander are not lost…but proper preparation is the difference between the lost wanderer and the adventurer. Here are some tips to help make the transition from sitting still to travelling a bit easier.

Before you leave
A month or so before you leave you should:

  • Get your mail/ newspapers held or forwarded
  • Clean out your fridge/ freezer and cupboards
  • Make sure the rubbish is out, or get a neighbour to help
  • Get your car and Kimberley serviced
  • Fill up gas bottles, check all quick-connect gas lines on your Kimberley
  • Book any tours/ accommodation/ experiences (sometimes you’ll need to do this a year out for busy spots up north like the Kimberley and Kakadu)
  • Plot your course on a map so you’ll always know where you’ll be and when

Less than a week out you should:

  • Buy your food, vac-pack meat and pack your Kimberley
  • Ensure all batteries are fully topped up
  • Turn on your fridge/ freezer and make sure it’s fully cooled before packing your groceries for the road
  • Move your indoor plants outside and give them a good drink
  • Fill up your water tanks and fuel
  • Pre-cook the first few days’ meals and freeze them. Happy hour is so much happier if you don’t have to cook!
  • Make the bed in your Kimberley so it’s perfect for day one
  • Shut off power/ gas/ water to your house and lock all doors and windows
  • Share a drink with all your mates before you leave home!

As you pull out of your driveway you should:

  • Honk maniacally and wave to all of your neighbours who are stuck here while you’re going on an adventure.
  • After you’ve embarrassed yourself, ask one of your neighbours to check your brake and signal lights on the Kimberley

What’s in a Kimberley service?
It’s worth getting your Kimberley serviced before every big trip or annually. Besides what you can do yourself like keeping extra fuses, LPG quick connect hoses, trailer/ Anderson plugs and a set of pre-packed bearings, you want a qualified technician to go through your home on wheels to check:

  • Door and window seals and functions
  • Wheels and brakes
  • Suspension system
  • Chassis condition
  • Coupling
  • Wiring inside and out, including hot water service, air conditioner, etc
  • LPG system
  • All over check for water or animal damage, particularly on roof
  • Tyre condition, especially if you’ve had your van stored for a long period
  • Keeping your Karavan or Kamper healthy before anything goes wrong is cheaper in the long run, will get you better resale down the line and will keep you safe and healthy yourself. It’s a no-brainer.