Patience

Craigww2,

Back in 1995 I owned a 4WD shop just so I could set up my 80Series.

It is an ongoing thing. 12years later, right up to the time I sold the 80Series I was still setting it up. I estimate that $20,000 was spent over 12 years. My wife thinks it was a lot more.

I have a Troopie now and have done for the past 2 years and it is still get set up, even 11 days before I set off on a few big trips.

You might have to get your own purse. Buying the vehicle is the cheap part, it is the set up that costs.

Just a quick tip. Buy good quality gear, it will last longer and be cheaper in the long term.

Wayne

its takes as long as your cheque book/credit card can hold out

I'm lucky enough to have mine on novated lease.
I sold my modified GQ to kit out my GU which covered about 2/3 of my kit out.

I still spent $10K over the GQ sale and still adding to it................

It's down right depressing as to how much hard earned you can spend on a 4WD.

Hi craig, I have basically a standard vehicle and get around fairly well. Its a matter of knowing the vehicles limitations according to what gear you have. You can spend $30000 easily if you want it all. We use our Patrol for camping and touring and we are aware of where we can go. Luckily the Patrol is very capable in standard form. Buy used add ons if you can, usually less than half price for Bullbars,etc. Maybe dont buy a rear wheel carrier, instead you can get a used roof rack and get dual use from that.. Dont overspend, you wont get it back!! Michael

Also good tip is search the forums for sale sections for good second hand stuff, this will save you money and make it possible to buy more stuff, LOL.

Making things yourself and fitting things yourself also saves you money as well and also gives you a sence of achievement.

Most of my mods i've done i have fitted myself, with mates helping of cause, about the only thing that i've had put on is the Maxi drive locker and axles.

Oh by the way it never ends, there's always something else to fit or make, LOL.

Baz.

i always try and buy one that is already kitted out as much as posible, let some other mug pay for all the extra's ,saves on taking the loss yourself when its time to sell.

>>The other half is sick and tired of me going to her purse for money.
swap her for a lift kit and live happily ever after

Yeah I can sympathise with you! I have an 80 Series which is bog standard and have had for 2 years now. My mates are decking their trucks out in all the gear for our "big trip" coming up next year and I don't reckon I'll get anything done to mine before I own it (still 2 years to go). It's bloody frustrating! And I still need to try and find the cash for a CT as well! I'll get there one day but just wish I had a lazy $20g to do it all now! haha!

Cheers, Scoey!

You make the bull bar and wheel carrier, take an esky instead of a fridge, forget about the winch, dual battery, snorkel and UHF buy a Hi-lift, snatch strap and long handled shovel and go out and enjoy yourself. All the other bits and pieces are lovelly to have and are great to talk about but you dont need them if your carefull.
It doesnt have to be that expensive mate.

Cheers
Hairy

Craigww2,

It's simple really. Do what some others have done. Get a job as a bank manager hahahahahahahahahaha

I wish my wife had that sort of money in her purse!
Agree with Hairy to some extent. You don't NEED a lot of that stuff - you just WANT it.

Build a rear draw system out of 12 mm ply wood. I used 2 sheets at $37 a sheet. You will also need a box of self tapper screws and wood glue. The draws run on wooden slides - been in there for 3 years inc. trip across the Simpson - still rock solid. (ps. you need a proper steel bearing slide for the engel due to the weight).

I keep my spare underneath (troopy 75). The only place I carried fuel was across the simpson - jerry cans on the roof rack.

I don't have a winch but often others I travel with do! You could always buy a 2nd hand hand winch..

It never ends.

Don't know how poeple swap cars every few years and put everything on, my pockets are not that big!

I keep my cars as least 10 years.

This is was 10 last March, and I am still adding things as the budget allows.

One reason it is a pajero is that some of the accessories off the old 85 model fitted this one - long range tank and roof rack.

Spotties, (bought 1978), 2nd battery and controller (bought 1988), air pump (bought 1990) etc swap over too. Got the fridge 2nd hand off my father. Built up the recovery kit as I went with Chrissy and birthday presents. 4 to 14 year old boys love buying shackles, expecially when you take to the shop for a good gander.

Don't have winch, maybe another 10 years!

And I do most of my own installation work.

Putting stuff on your your 4wd lasts forever. You can spend more than the value of a new car without trying. There is always something else that you need/want/would be handy/make life easier. It is often best to get bits as you really need them. A lot depends on what you are using your truck for. If you are going with others then as long as some one in the group has all the recovery gear it is a good start. If you are going by yourself you need to be able to get yourself out of trouble (and if possible stay out of trouble in the first place). If the other half is over it then you need to put a positive spin on it. Mine got a choice of a winch or a shovel ie she has to help do any digging. She told me she does not dig so I got a winch and I don't get her to dig :-)

For my two cents I would be thinking along these lines:
1) Am I going somewhere by myself ie only one truck?
2) Am I really going somewhere out of the way?
3) Am I likely to do something wrong/risky and end up stuck somewhere?

Then
1) What do I need to keep us alive if I do any/all of the above?
2) What do I need to get the truck out of most predicaments?
3) What would help me keep my truck going?

This will give you what you really NEED as opposed as what you want.
So number one has to be a good First Aid kit (training is also a bonus). You hopefully do not need it personally but if you happen apon an accident at least you can render some meaningful assistance, there may not be anyone else. Beats standing there watching some poor sod bleed to death.

If you are going by yourself anywhere out of the way a distress becon is a good last ditch just in case measure. They are not that expensive. You just need to be able to survive the two days it could take for someone to turn up.

So stuff to carry sufficent water and non perishable food is a must. We tend to carry at least 7 days worth of extra food. You need quite a bit of water. In very hot conditions you need 10l/day/person. A 10l container of water will not go far.

A good 4 wheel driving course will help you stay out of trouble and get out safely if you do get stuck. Recovery gear (winches and snatch straps) can and do cause seriuos injury/death if incorrectly used.

Now you can start on the stuff for the truck. Spares, extra tyre would have to come high on the list. These things keep your truck going. A good set of spares to cover most situations can cost a bit say $750.

If you are going with others an UHF radio is good value and not that expensive.

If you are going to (may have to) drive at night then a bull bar is a good idea. It also gives you something to hang other toys on!

You can live without a fridge for a while if you are in an area where ice is easily available every few days.

As always only you know what you are going to do, and where you are going. You need to be prepared for the worst outcome not the best. Hopefully you never end up needing some of the stuff you have but you will be bloody glad you have it if you ever need it.

Hope that helps

Steve

I have been doing this camping thing for about 30 years and have just about got it right.

My rig however only costs around $25,000 all up. That is iuncluding all accessories and toys!!

I think most of the married guys on here could sypathise with you, however just keep at it.... Eventually she's just going to give up trying to stop you.

Like a very wise camper once told me on a boys trip. Just buy what you want and don't tell her. When she finds out she'll be mad at you for a week. A week later, she'll be fine again and you'll still have your new toy! LOL! It works, trust me!

He also added that the're never going to divorce you over a camping light or new auxilary battery!

I mean when you tihink about it, even if they did, you'll have no money left and all they are going to get is half of the 4wd which she doesn't like anyway! :-)))

But seriously, yeah you can keep on spending and spending. I've poured god knows how much into mine, but I've also saved as much as I've spent by doing it all myself.

I don't think I would have been able to poke myself in the eye with a screwdriver if I tried before I started tinkering with the 4wd. Now if I'm not driving it I'm adding something else or changing something that's already on it! It's almost as much fun as actually getting out bush!

Forums like these are they key to getting things right the first time by reading mistakes ding bats like myself make for you! We are also really handy to get pictures and instructions out of to do things by yourself.

Oh and one more thing. When you think you've got it right. You havn't. ;-) It'll never be perfect, but it's fun trying to make it that way!