Absolutely, I actually carry 2, If I go somewhere with a friend that doesn't have one, I give it to him. It can be had to get to an extinguisher inside a vehicle that is on fire, the one you lend to your buddy may be the one that saves your rig..
Having lived for 45 years in the Rocky Mountains of the USA, the front bull bar bumper has saved me from 3 deer so far. I have travelled alone most of my life, so a winch …and recovery gear including a shovel (mainly for snow) and axe have helped on several occasions. Even though we are in quite different climates, I have enjoyed your presentations. Hopefully before I move on, I will return to Australia and do a bit of the famous Outback.
As a female and being in Serbia, I rarely find any information on the main needs and what are just wants. I've been binge watching your videos since begging of the year and I find they VERY informative and I am finding out more stuff. Thanks for making these videos and covering all various topics! Can't wait for the weekend warrior edition of this video, as I currently fall in that group untill I get some things sorted on my navara.
i always ran a line for the trans and tcase to the snorkel and didn't care about the diffs. just drain them out and refill after as part of trail maintenance. doesn't matter what you do to them.....water is getting in the diffs
@@miketlane After every trip with a water crossing?! You must have stock in gear oil! You shouldn't be sucking water in with relocated extensions with proper breather valves, right?
20y in my 95series diesel Prado TX and the only things I haven't added are a winch, a lift and a snorkel. Never needed them. Cargo barrier, 12v fridge, dual battery, bull bar, recovery hooks (unused), tow bar, driving lights, mounted and handheld UHF CB's, and a solid Aluminum roof rack have seen me all across in every state of this wide brown Aussie land.... and the way Toyota's are will probably see me do out another 20y.
Our list is very similar to this. We are gradually upgrading. One thing I'd add is water storage. Something I've been thinking about is a quality filtration system vs a big tank. So long as the water isn't polluted with chemicals etc, a $400-$600 system should give me the ability to refill water storage from just about anywhere (excluding deserts etc). But I need to do more research. I'm still planning a maybe 60L vehicle mounted water tank.
WhyWouldYouDrawThat I considered that until last year when I noticed on a trip from Adelaide to Perth to Pilbara and back that finding water of any quality was quite difficult in a lot of places due to all being on bore water with rivers/creeks and dams all dried up. So unless travelling around the wet seasons could be quite difficult. Glad I was carrying 80L backup and even then we were quite low a couple of times.
why not just get a small backpacking filter. if you need to filter water they filter a gallon in a few minutes. weigh next to nothing and take up little space
Compressor first and foremost the reason I say this the first thing in 4wheeling in any situation is lower your truer pressure whether it stock or highly modified,so when you finish you need to pump them up
Great video Ronny.. One thing that’s often not considered is how you evaluate the mods you make. I think it’s important to know how the stock vehicle performs before making expensive changes that might be of no value or even have a negative impact. Really good to see someone who’s high profile in the 4WD community giving excellent advice 👍
Absolutely this. I use my tourer as a daily-driver and a desert racer all at once (Because I can't afford 3 vehicles, one that does all three somewhat subpar, that is very thirsty, is significantly cheaper). It has quite a bit more gear than even the long-range tourer, but because I'm never out of cell-range, I don't have a long-range radio, just the handheld. Expanded fuel tank (50 gallons/ 189L) is good enough for my area because even on tour, there's fairly regular fuel stations. The only major mods I've made are suspension-tire (Necessary for the desert racing more than the touring), replacing both bumpers with winch bumpers with a bull-bar on the front and tire rack on the back, and adding a crane in the bed because the tires are actually heavier than I can lift by myself. And then lights. I have the bare minimum supplementary lights to deal with the road at night, especially when it's flooded during the rainy season.
When I'm going to build a tourer, especially if it is going to be heavy, I think about safety first. Suspension and tyres are right up there but so are brakes. I'm not talking slotted rotors or stuff like that. I'm talking brake pads designed for heavy 4WDs, braided brake lines if you can get them, and at least a quality rotor/drum.
First aid kits! Absolute must for long range remote locations. And dont cheap out. But that would be the same as a winch. As long as 1 in a convoy, You're good!
Appreciate the great content Ronny, in the market for another 4x4 to set up myself so this vid helps and gives me plenty of great ideas. I was impressed with your 79 beast at the Perth 4x4 show. Agree with the night driving, there's just something about it. Keep up the great work Ronny 👍 Cheers Met.
Nice break down on what is really needed. Kept it simple with no extra fluff. The only thing I would add about winching is to use a nylon type rope than the steel cable. Nylon will go limp if it snaps, steel cable will whip around and slash people in the strike zone. One thing I was taught in my young days was to put an old pair of blue jeans over a steel cable when winching to contain the cable or wad it up without allowing it to whip and injure someone.
Almost hit a roo in the middle of the day in my 2019 Triton the first trip I went on without a bullbar. Luckily the Mrs was in the passenger seat at the time and it proved my point about putting one on asap
In the space of about 2 minutes, 4 skippy's jump across in front of us near Broken Hill. Don't know how we missed them. Mrs saw it all and went very quiet.
I guess there are many definitions of "tourer" . to me its more overlanding type traveling. If I'm thousands of k's from home with family on board doing a tough track for fun is not going to be on the agenda. I'll take the chicken track every time. so a 6" lift and 37" tyres would be wasted on me and would probably cost me 20 or 30% more fuel! For us the most important thing is a safe, reliable and most of all comfortable vehicle (with a good sound system). I was surprised to learn many modern 4WD's have the air cleaner inlet in the front mudguard, in that case yes the snorkel is definitely going to save a lot of filter cleans.
Why wasn’t winch on short range tourer? I live in Florida, US, and I use my winch all the time. Mostly helping others, but it’s saved me a few times. Good video!
I think 'tour' is more about the destinations than the journey. Often tracks requiring a winch are not necessary. But if course it all depends on where you are going. I like to think every mod is some kind of compromise. Could be price, comfort, durability, appearance, utility, etc. So it's good to skip things you don't need. If you are experienced you likely already know what you need.
I agree. It really comes down to where you live and what is accessible to you. Anybody familiar with Florida knows it is one big aquifer system and depending how you drive through the state 8+ hrs or longer. So "short" or "long" tour, you could still be in the state. Water bogs and loose soil abounds. Winch, snorkle, compressor and a life jacket (lol) would be on top of my list. I hydrolocked a perfectly good engine on a TJ in the New Jersey Pine Barrens which like Florida is a huge aquifer system. It takes me an hour to get there and I'm usually solo vehicle. So, short or long tour snorkle, winch and compressor are high on the list. On the other hand the Appalachian Mountains are in my back yard, so lift, big tires, rock protection (sliders, diff guards, skid plates) are on top of my list too.
@@kadmow Dunno, we argue so much i would never ask a favor lol , but if you run long straps in front of your wheels and tie them on then stake the other end you can drive over the straps and pull yourself out a few meters, do you need a winch ? also works going backwards.
Here's my list: A steel bull bar, spotlights, 4wd tyres with 2 spares, fire extinguisher, a compressor, jumper leads, recovery gear (shovel, snatch strap, shackles etc), first aid kit, 20L+ drinking water, handheld UHF, toolkit with spares and a jerry can or 2... The most expensive bits are the bull bar and spotlights while the rest are cheap and don't need to be mounted. I use ice & an esky in the car and have a 3 way LPG fridge at camp.
Shade is more than important- especially for Long Range touring. You can go anywhere and you are going g to need shade. Sure, pull up under a tree, but they are not always going to be there. If you can’t get a good lunch spot to take some down time, it’s going to be an awfully long day.
Suspension and tyres go hand in hand, but they also generally need to go last, once you've finished adding all the extra crap to your vehicle. Then they can get the suspension rated for your new constant load.
Buy a better winch or look after the one you have better. 99% of winch failures can be traced back to low quality manufacturing or lack of proper maintenance
@@TheCarpenterUnion Absolutely. Flip flop winch is great if there's plenty of trees about but my first & best back up is to think through every challenge BEFORE tackling it & always make sure I have 2 options for getting myself unstuck.
Brilliant info mate. Most videos don't get all that info across in one video. I'm gathering info before I buy or do anything, so putting it into sections on how you are you are going to use your vehicle, makes so much sense, I'd rather buy less unneeded stuff but better quality gear. I don't buy cheap stuff cause in the end you pay more and can get you into alot of unnecessary trouble and danger. Top job.👍🍺😉🇦🇺
AS others have said Fire extinguisher & First Aid kit should be a must. I have one 2.5kg Fire Extinguisher in the rear cargo area, One 1.5Kg in the Rear Passenger area, and a 1kg in the front drivers door pocket for easy access. And for goodness sake please do not wire up any Electrical to your vehicle if you do not have the practical knowledge as i have been doing electronics & Auto electrical as a Hobby for around 20+ years and have seen some unsafe setup's to downright dangerous (ticking time bomb MATTER of speaking). Great video Ronny just what we need to see, love this channel.
Hi ronny. Absolutely spot on. Re the suspension and tyres. Tyres a must. Not sure of suspension unless u add steel bull bars. Messing with suspension always compromises the ride. Did i miss u saying anything about a toolkit. A fairly stocked toolkit is essential.
Cheap suspension or incorrect suspension compromises the ride. Mind you, the role of suspension is to carry the vehicle and keep the tyres in contact with the ground.
@@k2svpete i have a fj cruiser. I loved the smooth ride. I did 4x4 trails while stock. Then ther mod bug caught. Efs to bp51 can't replicate the smooth ride.
Some good points to consider there mate. I know if I went back an impulse bought all the stuff I wanted, but didn't necessarily need; I'd have an even bigger hole in the bank account, alot of regret and extra weight on my rig!
Tyre size; for touring, squeezing 35s under a IFS twin cab will create a lot more problems than it’s worth. Slightly larger than standard will keep the whole vehicle happy and comfortable for many 1000s of km.
Great video Ronny - this channel gets better and better. Your comments about fridge size / use are really handy. Going out for up to two weeks or more probably supports a freezer capability, to make food last longer. And having a dual zone fridge might be useful as well. Helpful also to hear your advice on the fridge size - the choice of fridge is a trade off between the space the fridge occupies, the time away without access to replenish supplies and number of people the fridge supports.
I'm in the US and I have only gone in a group once. It is just too difficult to find people around me who want to go on the same sorts of trails that I want to go on. I'm super careful about what trails I go though. I'm always extremely conscious about the possibility of getting stuck or damaging my car.
I live in rural NSW with lots of roos....I consider the purchase of my vehicles based on the availability of a bull bar. Suzuki Grand Vitara, Land Rover Defender, and a 2019 Colorado. So many cars were written off during the drought seen dead on the highway. With my Defender I run standard 235/80/16 (750.16)tyres as they are easy to find at any tyre shop of farmers spare.
great list that gives everyone a good idea of what is needed or not, i see alot of people going over-the-top with their mods only to do things like short trips to the beach 45 minutes way, etc. One mod i am looking into for sure, which could be both short and long range is a catch can and filter system, only to help my engine stay sharp! Thanks for the videos Ronny, keen to see more like this!
I chose to keep my stock suspension until I could afford some good stuff.... amazes me to this day how far the patrol can get on some gnarly tracks with only a set of 31” muddies (and a winch 🤣)
that's exactly right mate! You absolutely don't need modified suspension for touring! I've done the Flinders Ranges including Skytrek and Arkaroola, red centre, Oodnadatta Track all off road on corrugated roads on stock 79 series suspension with a full canopy. Absolutely no problems. Did the west Mereenie Loop and Oodnadatta track with the stock tyres too. Tyre pressures and speed are the most important factors when touring.
@@jimbojones2457 Was just about to post about the old mans 100 series, never modified one bit, stock suspension and height, no winch and still the original toyota bullbar and over the last 15 years of owning it he has done the gibb river road, the simpson, the cape and a heap more places and never had a problem, all while towing a 20 foot off road van.
One thing I fit, which I build myself, are side lights along the side of the body and underbody lights to illuminate the front and rear of the wheels. Pass through tight rocks and you and any watcher can spot both sides of the vehicle, and any obstacles you are about to drive over; mine are all LED.
One thing most folks do not consider about the snorkel is they are great for cleaning up the air into your engine (you sort of hit on it, but were too quick to dismiss the Cold Air factor, at slow speeds sure, but high speed on dusty roads is a diff story). Before my snorkel I was nuking air filters after 5k miles (Nevada deserts), i'm 30k and still have ~50% the life on my current filter. *I use panty hose as a prefilter*
5:03 - Yes! Whether it´s dry or wet - get your air intake as high off the ground as you can. Have you ever considered why every new tractor in the world has snorkles? I bet they don´t intend to wade. But it adds a considerable amount of hours to your next service point. Heavier particles clog up the filtre more easily. Heavier particles are closer to the ground. You do the math. 14:32 - What you want to get people to read up on, is how ground planes work with antennas. A roof mounted antenna will use the surface of the roof as a ground plane to amplify the signals. You could also mount it in the middle of the hood, wouldn´t that look cool? Worst place is on the side corner like that bull bar...
Cheers mate, very useful. I'm off to Africa as soon as Qantas start flying again, and I intend buying a 4x4 for overlanding. I've made notes of the things you suggested. Thanks again. Regards, Dave.
A long range HF radio can be useful in far remote locations, Codan, HAM radio etc. A sat phone or beacon atleast will save your life, especially on solo expeditions. Love you practicality for different purposes. 🍻👍🤠
ronny ...… food for thought ….. considering the fact we are all stuck inside due to the beervirus, how about …… vid of .. 1. top 5 running gear mods .. 2. top 5 interior mods .. 3. top 5 electrical mods .. .. 4. top .. 5 touring mods .. 6. top 5 mods that you have done and had to change .. 7. top 5 mods you would never do again ….. all in a 1 or 2 part vid and include a couple of mates, having a beer and a laugh, making a all in one discussion ….. I know that you have covered 99% over time but things continuously change as a result of experience ….. keep the idea, throw it out, your call
Hey Ronnie, always great videos! Thanks so much for all the valid information. - I wozld consider thinking about water-tank on long range trips and discussion wether a water-tank or additional fuel tank is more important.
I think it depends heavily on where you are wheeling. If there's lots of water nearby then extra fuel. If there's no water then less fuel and more water.
Essentials: A black car so it heats fast in the Sun and boils all the food, drinks and occupants inside to at least 90C. Big and many driving lights to dazzle any oncoming drivers to at least 5 km away. So many electrical circuits that a giant fuse-box is required to manage the distribution - you aren't a real 4WDer unless you have at least 50 circuits. A vast quantity of electronic gadgets so that a degree in communications and electronic engineering is required just to start them all up. A porcupine of antenna pointing toward the sky to show other 4WDers that you are a good communicator and impress them with your communications requirements back to the far distant world (mum's house, 5 km away). A vehicle mass of at least 4 tonnes so that the vehicle will sink in 2 cm of mud and this is so the 4WDer can demonstrate his skills in unsinking his $100,000 investment. A broad-brimmed hat to indicate that he is a country squire not a city boy with a $100k toy. Brand names and logos on every part of the vehicle possible. This is to indicate his commercial responsibilities in having to promote goods being flogged by those businesses who cater to buyers with more money than sense.
I bought the Next gen ramge raptor. Tyre ✔️ As much as I want to get bigger tyre on mine(look awesome) it would be to impractical. Suspension ✔️ Recover point ✔️ Compressor, hopefully I can get one on sale 2023 Sydney 4wd show 😅 Uhf 5w gme 6160 hanheld ✔️ (Waiting to get the xrs390c to be installed) 14L long-range tank ✔️ (coz the car is thirsty 😅 Fyi, foe family of 4, weekend drives
sorry ronny I will correct you in 1 thing that you will need some form of rail on the front because you will need consider animal strikes and what you have might be prudent and cheap to install, however it shouls be a a welded only option for rigidity sake... whilst steps can be optional, if you are considering a roof rack I would consider steps as a mandatory setup which must support full length of the footwear you wear..
I hacked about up and down the east coast (Aus) in a rear drive 76 f100 which had a LSD. All I did was put A/T's on the rear and not go where I knew it would not, which wasn't much. Cheapest modification. Sturdy footwear so you can walk in and have a quick look before proceeding.
Affirm. Yup, all fairly accurate. I ended up swapping my front recovery points for a plow hitch, but the plow hitch also doubles as one giant recovery point. And I removed my SMOG pump and instead fitted an A/C compressor which I wired the clutch up to a toggle switch on my dash, added a PCV filter to the return fitting, and piped the compressor to an air hose that I use to fill a 6-gallon air tank up to 50 PSI while I drive. I’ve literally reflated or reseated many tires for many people on the road just due to the fact I have built-in portable air, and if I stick a screwdriver into my throttle to keep it open to 2,000 or so RPM, I can just take my hose and refill my own tires directly from the pump. Additional. I’d say that Vehicle-Mounted radios are important. CB Radios are far less expensive than VHF, whether they’re vehicle-mounted or handheld. And you’d be surprised how much of a difference it makes, especially in zones without cell service. So that I’d disagree on. Furthermore. I have everything I need for food or otherwise cooking (minus the food itself) all in my Native Alaskan grub box. And for food, I use a cooler with ice but if I’m doing a long-range trip I’ll go with canned goods. I also added a 28-gallon fuel tank onto my trailer, fitted with an electric pump and a fuel line that ends in a fitting that connects to a fuel line near my hitch receiver and ultimately empties into my tank. A secondary wiring connector is added to attach to a wiring loom that is controlled by a toggle switch, and the sender on the tank is hotwired to an external fuel gauge that I can eyeball out my driver’s side mirror, to reduce wire clutter.
Ronny I will agree with tires and suspension . But I will also add from my experience that the A and Z in off road driving is the winch ... especially in solo or pair traveling . Even with 80/20 tires and suspension there are so many senarios one may get bogged . Especially without lockers . The winch will SAVE you every single time
I suggest the side rails attached under the sills all they way to the bull bars can be very important in protecting your sills or side panels from damage - especially if they are properly engineered as they will hold the weight of the vehicle on slow impact over mounds where there may not be enough clearance - also they will protect from large sticks or timber which may be thrown up by the wheels and damage the sill panels.
For a long-range tourer I would prepare at least a smaller box with some spare parts. Some parts that can be changed and do not takle a lot of space. Some tools, fuel pump, nuts and bolts, cables, filters, spark plug connectors, v-belts, pp. Some jerry cans with water also might come in handy.
Nice list and I do like the distinction between a wagon and ute. I'd still keep the cargo barrier with drawers in the wagon as it allows for the stacking of kit on the drawers and they make for a handy spot to attach items like garbage bags, hand towel and first aid kits etc.
I think we can all agree for all touring priority is bull bar bumper, rocksliders, skid plates, spair carrier with full size. Tyre upgrade not necessarily suspention, winch stuck is stuck, GPS.
Can you do a video on what you would recommend for a weekend warrior somethings you would recommend for those mud running people that don’t really need to stray too far from home, tourer is great but I’d love to see a video on just weekender 4wding cars not camping sort of thing
Good vid Ronny, I'd say another important mod would be to know your vehicle. Sounds simple but being able to change a wheel bearing in the middle of no where or change a brakeline could save ya. A lot of people I see out don't have a clue how to do things on their own 4wds because they drop it off at a shop and leave for a trip straight away
Pretty solid list would very much agree with everything. I am getting a way with touring without a fridge and lift. I have been building my 105 on a budget and so far most of the other things you listed I have managed to buy good quality products seccond hand. I really wish I had a fridge and lift because Ice is such a pain, you can't get it in alot of places remote and I'm getting a bit saggy in the rear end now so lift is on the cards next.
