Welcome to the gang Snippy, enjoy here and out in the playground.

The way you are starting out is a good idea, I did a similar thing many moons ago and now live in what is in my signature.

Signature hey, click on " Snippy " it will bring up your profile and you will see a list of items on the left, signature is there.

Hello Snippy
As Dougwe has already said, welcome to the forum, and you will find it very helpful, if this is your first lap

If you ask specific questions, then you shall get specific answers. Do not be afraid to ask any type of question, as someone may well have already been down that road, and have the answer for you.

Re your cat, we travelled in WA with our cat, we put her in a harness, tied to a back seat belt, she could get up to, but not get under the pedals. She would have been about ten years old at the time, she did not like travelling, and now stays at home, on our longer trips

My first full lap was in an older EB 6 cylinder Falcon, towing an older Viscount pop top, 17 foot caravan. As our (tongue in cheek) BIG RIGS are compatible, then I shall pass on what I hope are some tips, which worked for me

I fitted a square type Reese hitch, as research had showed that the normal Ford tow hitch was the cause of a few problems, in respect to damaging the vehicle, on rough roads

I made sure that I had an aftermarket extra external transmission oil cooler, as I was led to believe that an overheating transmission was about the worst way you could abuse the Falcon.

I changed the transmission oil and filter, as it had never been touched, and the car had just over 200,000 kilometres, with a newly engine rebuild

I fitted a nine inch fan to the outside of the radiator, as my model had the mechanical fan. (Your fan/s may already be electric)

I was fully self contained in respect that I had a box on the back of the van, with a porta potty, and shower/toilet tent, with a 12 volt shower pump, and a 20 litre solar bag.

I fitted a second 9 kg gas bottle on the drawbar, and found on average that one bottle lasted 21 days using the small (RM 360) 3 way fridge, and gas stove.

I welded a M16 bolt about 100 mm long on to the back bumper of the caravan, so that I could place a 20 NB pipe on it which held the solar shower bag, just above the shower tent.

I placed a 12 volt weatherproof ciggy socket in this area, so that I had the option of using either the solar hot water, or hot water from a bucket and 12 volt pump.

I carried a ten litre container of petrol, and never used it, and have never carried spare fuel since.

I removed the original battery, and fitted a hybrid cranking/deep cycle OPTIMA D34 (Yellow Top) AGM spiral battery of 55 Amp Hour. This was the largest AGM battery I could get into the engine bay, without trying to modify anything.

I fitted a 30 amp thermal fuse, and wired an el-cheapo Anderson type plug at the back of the car.

I then tapped into the caravan 12 volt light system, (from the Anderson plug), and had a son-in-law, (electrician), fit an adjustable voltage cut out, so that it would switch off, when the caravan 12 volts system dropped down to eleven volts, this meant that the battery never went lower than eleven and a half volts, and I never had a flat battery, in regards to starting the car

Using the 12 volt TV with built in DVD, LED lights, and 19 volt laptop, plugged into 12 volts with a 19 to 12 volt cord, the battery would last for at least six hours, before the auto cut out tripped.

Hope that this gives you some ideas if you are thinking of free camping

Last but not least, if you are anything like me, asking others, what and why, their rigs are like they are, then you will definitely need a notebook.
After my first lap, going alone, and talking to as many other travellers as I could, I knew exactly what I was going to buy.

Alas the boss had decided on a walk through motorhome, so that on our shorter trips, the cat had room to walk about, and as she could see us, would not be lonely.

I can confirm, that you will adapt to whatever rig you travel in

Thanks Tony E,

Some interesting points there, I suspect this may have been some time ago.

We have a Thumper 75 A Hour battery which runs lights and  the Camp Fridge, 100 Solar panel (Have used this for a few years now when using Oztents)

Installing Kickass Solar kit with 300 watt panel, dc-dc charger to run the fridge freezer. Controller connected to the car with Anderson plugs. Will also provide power for the notebooks and camera equipment.

Removing all 240 volt gear.

UHF Radio.

The AU has 2300kg Hayman Reese towbar.  The AU has been to Birdsville, Innamincka, Windorah etc, scrapes her belly a bit so won't be towing the van there until we get new rig.

Ford dealer has recommended over riding the auto on hills to stop the gears from "Hunting" and should prevent excessive heat, but will be watching that one. 

So it's fingers crossed, 'ere we go.