Yep!! You've guessed it....now you'll have to look heh?

Popsy and Bubu · Member

Yep!! You've guessed it....now you'll have to look heh?

GrumpyOne · Senior Member

Hey Guys,

I too am a newbie at all this, I recently separated from my 3rd missus and travelled here to Sydney where my brother has been gracious enough to let me have the run of his place while I get geared up, and set my 4x4 up for some serious travels.

As for the mail stuff I have a buddy who uses Landbase Australia for his mail redirection, said it cost him about 3 or 4 hundred a year but he has never lost anything yet all he does is give them a weeks notice of his next destination and then collects his mail from the post office when he gets there.

As for tax etc, i am using my brother place here in Sydney, also I spoke to Qld transport about the rego issue and they told me that I should just keep using my old permanent address until I get a new one, just alter my postal address, this is not breaking any rules apparently..???

I have just set myself up with a new RV2 OzTent and screen room, gas stove, engel, generator, solar panels, camp kitchen etc... as well as a heap of 4x4 recovery gear. All in all about 6 grands worth of stuff and still got some more to get yet.

Anyway I will be leaving Sydney about the 28th July heading north to the Gold Coast on the way to Pandanus Park veterans retreat, if you see a strange looking white Ssangyong with a green 4.4 seajay tinnie in tow and the name grumpy is on the side say gday on either 18/40 UHF, or just give me a wave.....

Happy Days Hoo roo........

Pam · Guru

Welcome to the new ones.
If you look in the general forum there is a recent topic on handling mail while travelling.
You can also use search to see what topics might come up as well

Popsy and Bubu · Member

Hi Grumpy - Oh I love that....
Thanks so much for e-mailing. Where is Pandanus Park north of Goldie?
Sounds like you are better kitted out than us!!
Very useful info regarding mail etc. we will have to look into. As for the things like rego, drivers licence etc. hadn't even given that a thought, just shows we can't do without this site for the things we don't/can't think of. Really great talking to you, if you are passing Sunshine Coast on the way to Pandanus park we'll give you more than a wave!! Let us know. Good fishing at Balsa Park...
Must get UHF and so it goes on....
Appreciate your time

GrumpyOne · Senior Member

Mate,

I will definately be willing to stop by the Sunny Coast on the way north, will prob stay at the Maroochy Palms Big4 again, have just joined their club so may as well get the discounts.

My only timeline at the moment is I need to be at Lakeland Caravan Park by the 6th August, Pandanus is just inside Kalpowar Station on the edge of Lakeland National Park about 3 hours inland from Cooktown.

Mate I have listed everything I have bought so far just so you have a starting point, and i have still got stuff to get......cost so far is about $6000+++ and climbing everytime I go out the door.

The list is far from complete and just writing it has made me think of things I still need.....

MAPS
HEMA Maps... Cape York, Top End & Gulf, Central Australia, The Red centre, Camps Australia Wide 5 as well as a general map book and dual GPS units (1 for lat & long readings and one for general directions in the cities).

VEHICLE
Canopy & Bullbar, Dual Battery System & 2nd 180amp hour battery (freebie froma mate that works at Battery World), Airbag Suspension Upgrade, Spot Lights, Rear work Lights, Roof Bars canopy & Vehicle Roof, Roof baskets, Addtional Spare Wheel for truck...

BOAT & TRAILER
2nd Spare Wheel, Spare Boat Tie Down Straps, Spare 20l Unleaded Fuel

RECOVERY GEAR
Snatch Block, Tree Trunk Protector Strap, Winch extention strap, 3m Wire Rope Hand Ratchet Winch, Exhaust Lifting Bag (Exhaust Jack), Tyre Repair Kit, Heavy Duty Compressor...

GENERAL VEHICLE SPARES
Engine Oil, Brake/Clutch Fluid, Engine Coolant, Radiator Hoses, Belts, Globes etc....

CAMP STORES
RV2 Oz Tent & extension panels, Camp Kitchen with sink, 3 Burner Gas Stove, Compact butane Stove (Short stops), Engel 40l Fridge/Freezer, 90w Solar Panel, Petrol Generator, Camp Chair, Camp Stretcher, Small fold away table, Plastic Tent Pegs, Spare rope...

STILL TO GET
Max Tracks (Soft Ground Recovery System), Camp Oven, Griddle Plate, Billy/Kettle, Shower Bag (Army Surplus)...

Anyone who sees a glaring omition please give me a yell and let me know......

Cheers
Grumpy

-- Edited by GrumpyOne on Friday 9th of July 2010 07:03:21 PM

Popsy and Bubu · Member

Hi Grumpy
Be pleased to catch up with you, don't like the look of that shopping list much,
maps are a great start, guess we don't have a fishing boat so eliminates some of the cost, but you're scary!!!
Hope nobody adds to this until we make our wish list out,
See ya

jimricho · Guru

Hi GrumpyOne, Welcome to the forum,

Mate come back in a year's time with a similar list of all the stuff you bought but never used!

Also the stuff you bought, used once, found to be totally useless for the job it was intended, then never used again!

(I've got half a shed full of stuff in the latter category, and some in the former too!)

Jim

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

Grumpy

Yes it is frightening the cost of setting up a vehicle to go well off the beaten track. We have all of the items you have listed but acquired them over a number of years so the damage to the hip pocket did not seem so bad.

We also have an OzTent (http://www.ronshirl.net/OzTent.htm) that I use for travelling on my own particularly through the Victorian High Country and desert areas. Recommend a ground sheet, double thickness of shade cloth, to go under the bed area helps keep the dirt off the bottom of the tent, plus small brush and pan to sweep dirt that gets walked in from the floor of the tent.

I would suggest that you add one of those thin self-inflating mattresses to your list as these keep the chill off your back when sleeping on the camp stretcher on cold nights. You do not make mention of items such as water container, long handle shovel, axe/saw (chainsaw?) for firewood, and I would certainly add one of those 12v $30 shower units as I find them better than the shower bags, plus maybe a shower tent/porta loo.

I found that a separate collapsible stand for the stove (Coleman) was a good investment rather than having the stove on the table/kitchen taking up room when you are preparing your meal. I note your griddle plate which I also carry however I also have a fold-up BBQ stand to place over the open fire which keeps the steak/snaggs etc well away from the ashes.

With regard to your list only two items I have hardly used, though we don't have a boat. The winch has been used twice in 4 years (helping others) and I have not had to use the Exhaust Jack to date, but then you just don't know what is around the corner.

-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Saturday 10th of July 2010 12:46:16 PM

-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Saturday 10th of July 2010 12:51:17 PM

GrumpyOne · Senior Member

Hey Guys n Gals,

Well points well made form Jim, Ron & Shirley, I hjave a white paint pen that will be used to mark items I use, then if they don't get used after three trips they will get the old heav ho providing they are'nt recovery gear...

As for my well made plans of leaving Sydney on or about the 28th of the month this may now be nothing more tnan a pipe dream, I managed to redesign the front end of the horse today and she now has a snub nose until the panel shop performs their magic.

No injuries to anyone which is by far the main thing but a badly bruised ego and a slightly lighter wallet after the insurance excess...

All bets are now off regarding dates at places.

Cheers
Grumpy

GrumpyOne · Senior Member

Hey Guys n Gals,

All is very quiet here at the moment, I took the advice Ron/Shirley and got myself a 12v shower and have a ground sheet/floor sava they call it for the tent which I bought with the tent but intend on gtting a large piece of shadecloth as well, for the shower tent.

Talking about shower tents, bought one those OzTrail pop up ones today.....what a comedy of errors trying to put it back in the bag, after an hour or so of getting fed up and aggrevated ad eventually tossing it in th ebin, I decided to google it.....looks so easy on youtube.

Still no dates for my starters orders but should hopefully be closer after tomorrow.

Cheers
Grumpy

lilly · Senior Member

would be good to be packed and heaing off ...will be little while for me yet but i happy to see u r almost ready ..... can i carry your swag lol

Cruising Granny · Guru

It's good to dream.
It's even better to live the dream.
Our time will come.

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

GrumpyOne wrote:

Hey Guys n Gals,

All is very quiet here at the moment, I took the advice Ron/Shirley and got myself a 12v shower and have a ground sheet/floor sava they call it for the tent which I bought with the tent but intend on gtting a large piece of shadecloth as well, for the shower tent.

Careful with the shadecloth for the Shower tent as shadecloth can become quite slippery when wet.
We stand in a small square tub, that also serves as the washing up dish, to shower then step out onto a open mesh rubber mat (doormat) to dry. This mat is also used as a doormat in front of the entrance to the Oztent and our Caravan to reduce dirt being walked in.

-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Monday 19th of July 2010 10:04:28 AM

lilly · Senior Member

so true granny .... time go so quickly

Cruising Granny · Guru

I've been parked up for 2 years. It was supposed to be 2 weeks.
It's all good now and I'm now 75% healthier than I was when I got here.
I'm planning to head out of here in early October, and head to SA. I haven't decided which direction I will take. I have a feeling it's not going to be the shortest way.
Now that I'm looking for a job as an escort pilot for oversize loads, I could end up anywhere.
I went to the transport dept today to get the details of the test and accredition. That was a task in itself.
Even the staff member didn't know what the procedure was so we learned together. She was so helpful, and very frustrated at the lack of information available on their internal computer programme. I failed the first test by 2 questions. I'll do it again on Wednesday. There are only 2 basic tests - 1 down, 1 to go. I'll have to get it right eventually.
I haven't collected and hoarded too much crap along the way. I've kept to the basics and it's worked out ok. The only thing I haven't used is my camp stretcher bed which lives in the back of the car as a guest room or camp accessories if I go camping.