the dragon and I have done the loop a couple a times and many forays in to the centre and all in a toyota hi-ace camper, we have seen many and varied means of transport on our travels from old holdens to the top of the range 4wds, the old holdens get to be off the beaten track whereas the top models dont see too much dirt. it all depends on what you want if you want flash and fancy grab a 4wd just for the bragging rights and it will come in handy for the occasional foray in to the scrub but you never will because there is too much at stake to do anything stupid, they are great for towing as nothing compares to the weight and torque of the modern off roader. me when I retire and go full time its a mazda t4600 or an isuzu npr250 winnebego alpine you will never get to see what is over the next rise because there is always a rise after that, and oh boy dont get me started on the towing fees when things go wrong as they invariably will when you have a "4wd capable vehicle" you will at some stage "try her out" not to mention fuel in this day and age, me, luxury all the way thank you

IMHO, the real Australia starts where the bitumen stops.

It really depends on what she wants to see and experience and how deep her pockets are.
For us there is no option. If it a choice between comfort and 4x4, comfort looses out. Luckily we have a large measure of both and that way we pay no caravan park fees and see those places that are uncluttered with hords af other tourists.
Send her our web site link below and suggest she looks at our travel slide shows that are in there. Many are unaccessable without 4WD.

Cheers,
Peter (back in civilisation for a couple of days to stock up and dissapear again....)

Hi Peter and Margeret, envy your lifestyle, your travels have been similar to ours but you went a lot further, dont you find the cost a bit prohibitive in this day and age with a vehicle like that, and wouldnt a boat come in handy, love your webpage, havent the guts to do half what you have done, well done on the conversion

-- Edited by dave06 at 14:01, 2008-06-27

Dave, fuel cost is an issue, but the OKA is diesel, we get about 18L/100k and average about 100km/day, so that is around $35/day for fuel ($2.00/Litre in Broome). "Living" on the road you don't have the time constraints, so the weekly ks don't have to be as high. Slow down and smell the roses. We have just spent 5 weeks working for our keep on a Pilbara cattle station, they topped up our tanks too. It all helps. We are towing a boat this year. Next stop Kalumburu, some fishing and exploration of the coast, for a month......maybe two...?....no firm plan after that.... Cheers, Peter.

half your luck, happy trails

I have a T/D Jackeroo.... It's handy to tow the van with and it's handy when the asphalt fades to gravel or sand or whatever...
I don't use it as a 4x4 very often but some places require it eg Fraser Island, the Bloomfield "tracK"....
I have a Jazz that I use around town....