What not to get!

Lighting up the road for 1.5KM infront of you because you can is a waste of time. A spot and spread are great...I travel out here in Alice Springs at midnight regularly and its saved my ass as I can see the buggers coming out of the bush :-) The day I took the daughters Holden Viva, it didnt end well, car was in the panel shop for a month....left huge chunks of fur in the grill :-)

Pete

I would say nearly everything you buy for the first time if it has anything to do with camping and 4 wheel driving, the amount of gear people have sitting in their sheds that the bought when they first started out; used it a few times and relised there was something better must be BIG.

We have found out if we spend good money on something better the first time we don't have that much gear we don't use anymore.

Now! For the driving lights, we run really big bright expensive driving lights on most of our vehicles including work, we find they reduce fatigue 10 fold and are much safer..... the thing about you shouldn't be driving after dust is the biggest crook of **** I have ever heard and would love to find the first person who made the comment.

I'm not having a go at you personally but it's personal choice if you have driving lights and if you decide to drive in the dark...... for us we have to drive long distances in the dark and we don't live in a remote area.

For anyone who says there standard light are great and it's all you need ...... what can I say without being moderated. LOL

I have never had a light go out of adjustment from driving on dirt roads, years ago when rallying we had to run support straps to stop vibration; but thankfully mounting designs have come along way.

People fit big tyres, winches, lockers and host of other 4x4 gear that they may only use once a year if lucky..... I have a simple philosophy " It has to work as it is intended to, be functional, be useful and be used".

Coldee.
I agree, you don't have to have driving lights on a modern vehicle. The most common problem with poor night vision is dirty windscreens. People who smoke have a double problem, the inside of the glass has a coating of tar that is hard to clean off, as well smoking effects the sensitivity of the eyes. Eric.

You don't have to have driving lights but gee it is a lot better with them than without them

I wouldn't dismiss extra driving lights. We rolled into Cobra Station later than we anticipated a while back and the last hour of driving was in the dark. With only the Cruiser's standard lights it was hard work. I don't find them satisfactory at all. Having been in a mates Cruiser since that he has fitted the HID replacement bulbs, plus some Lightforce spotties, I have to say............BIG DIFFERENCE.

why is everyone jumping on the driving light bandwagon? It was just an example. I'm sure other people have ideas of things they think will be usefull that just end up being junk.
My idea of useless kit is the 12v wheel nutt remover. If you can't undo a wheel nutt with a breaker bar and pipe extension, then you probably should drive a Corolla. It's just another big plasic box that sits up the back of the wagon and does nothing.

Agree with coldee and eric.
In the outback on the highway normal sedans can cope with normal lights but some 4wd drivers can't cope without extra driving lights, figure that one out.
Cheers

hi all
I never drool at the mouth when I see all the gear some people have with them and in and hanging off/on their vehicles
simply because it was their personal choice
/or a b/sh----g salesman that convinced them that they cant possibly manage with out x amount of gadgets or they have an image they want to live up to
also it was their own money that paid for the items not mine
so i don't give a toss

some stuff is required and also makes life easier depending how often it is to be used and for what
based on each individuals likes and dislikes
I have bought some items that weren't as good or as useful as I thought it would be but so be it
I paid for it so in the end a bad decision
but that's life
just do what you want and make sure you enjoy it and don't worry about what others think
that's my basic moto for life and so far it's working well
keep breathing
cheers

I'd suggest that most of the gadgets I have that I'd consider useless, weren't bought by me anyway. Family seems to think that "he's into camping, he'll love this..."

For example
Black bag solar shower
Camp oven lid lifter
Bullbag (airjack)
and of course the old chestnut, the pre-packed "off road" first aid kit!!!

Michael O

Similar thread from a few months back HERE.
Enjoy.

I bought a plastic 'solar' shower from Kathmandu on special (for about $5 - down from close to $50), it leaked like a sieve without being able to turn it off the first time I used it, and was too hard to fill in the first place... I burnt it in the fire to prevent anyone else from losing water too.

I wont take my Webber Baby Q on another remote trip again due to the weight / space / gas bottle required.

The fold-up chair with a built-in foot rest stays at home.

The COBB now stays at home unless space isn't an issue, but it is handy...

The cheap air compressor that pumped tyres up from 16 - 12. I made sure I ran it over before I took it back for a refund (and bought a Blue Tongue that has been working faultlessly (slowly) for the past 12 years)

I love my spotties as I try to travel at night - would rather risk the roos and cattle than caravanners, wide loads, and dicXheads trying to pass in the wrong spots. I will upgrade to HID's when funds allow.

My 12v impact wrench has undone bolts that otherwise would have been stuck for another day (Chain guard on a bobcat), and makes wheel rotations a breeze)

My cheap fold-out kitchen is the most ridiculous piece of crap (including backgammon on the top), however when space isn't an issue, it gets a spot as it has a place for the butane cooker, a sink, shelves, hooks to hang things, etc. Each time I unfold it I wonder why I bought it - thinking it must have been VERY cheap. It makes life easy though...

Drew

G'day Coldee,

For me (because everyone is different) I could do without the following:

Bullbar: yes, they look the business, but having traveled at least as much as most others on this forum in remote areas I don't need one (that comment is about me, not anyone else!). Would I buy one? Yup! but coz I like the way they look, not because they do anything special. I remember when they where called "roo bars" lol!

Roof rack: again, I don't need one. In fact, the roads we travel would most likely cause a loaded roof rack to damage our 4WD.

2 way UHF radio: never needed one, bought one coz I thought I should, but I've never needed to use it. Hate the bloody thing - too much jibbering on it!

GPS: Why would anyone who can read a map ever need one???

Swing out kitchen in the camper trailer; I took it out & sold it after towing it around the country for 15,000km & not ever using it.

Lift kit; once again, they look the business, but why? I tour in remote places, I don't play in mud or mess around with cars on rock faces. If I was really serious about climbing extreme terrain, I'd use 2 wheels, not four. Motorcycles crap all over 4WD's in most extreme situations.

Quick up gazebo's: probably great if you're in one spot for a while, but I don't do that. We do short hops, with overnight stops in different locations as a rule.

I'm thinking that there will be all kinds of responses to this question based on age/family situation/how 4WD's are used by individuals & none will be the same.

Some people have dismissed driving lights as unnecessary. I don't know if you can remember back to when having a heater in a car was an expensive accessory, or when a car radio was a large valve unit that cost as much as the car. We take a lot of things for granted these days. Personally, the things that make long distance travel pleasurable and safe are: climate control, comfortable and infinitely adjustable seats, cruise control, a good entertainment system, and good vision. Some OEM headlights are OK, but none compare with the improvement in vision that HID driving lights afford. I do a 1200 km round trip through country NSW every few weeks. The bi-turbo diesel BMW X5 ticks all the boxes except for adequate lights, even though it has OEM bi xenons. I added Roo Lites with HID inserts. The BMW dealer is disgusted, but it makes (the unavoidable night part of) my trip a lot less tiring.

The only other extra for these trips are a 10L jerry of diesel, a good compressor and tyre plugging kit, included because the BMW relies on run flat tyres. Thankfully, not needed in the three years I've been doing this trip.

Bob

Based on the discussion here I'd have to say insurance because I've had the same car since 2002 and have never made a claim! It has probably also been the most expensive accessory too boot. BUT I have it because one day I might need it and I'll be grateful for having it. I know some will say the other things are optional and insurance isn't but I travel with a welder that has seen duty on every trip (except the last one) and this piece of equipment takes up space that some might find unnecessary!

Kind regards