What toy to buy with a 4X4 voucher....?

Put it towards basic recovery gear if you don't already own it - you should be able to pick up a basic kit with shackles, snatch strap and gloves for not much more than $100.

Otherwise put it towards a compressor if you already own the Stauns!

Hmmm thanks Spliney! I like the compressor idea! Or the trolley jack! Cheers for the ideas - keep em coming people! :-))

Ah forgot to mention that I have a good snatch strap and a coupla rated shackles!

Cheers
Scoey!

If you dont have a copressor then that would be top of the list. Bare minimum you should go out with is a shovel, snatch strap 2 shackles and a compressor

Hey Roachie,

Cheers for the ideas! I never would've thought of this stuff by myself! hehe! I would've trotted my guts down to the shop and ended up coming out with a DVD and a new shirt or something equally useless! ;-)

Cheers
Scoey!

88 dollars for a seal kit?? cant remember how much mine was but it would have been less than 20 bucks pluss the cost of some more worms and more glue. used it at least 3 times in anger and it works

Good choice Roachie. My safety seal has helped me & a mate out a few times, on one occasion in Werrikimbee NP, Mate was stranded with 2 flats in 10 minutes & I had to drive from Port Mac with the safety seal to help him out, had to put 5 plugs in the hole but it got him out of there. Iv'e seen the $20 kits mentioned but I'd leave them on the shelf as I would certainly not rely on them to repair a 4X4 tyre.

I have just bought the ARB branded safety seal kit from their new shop on South Road. Nice orange box you can't loose (well loose easily!) 30 worms and robust, solid, metal handled tools. It was $59.95 and has already been used twice.

Highly recommended.

Pete

For loose read lose!

Can you use those during a total fire ban?

Yes Scubaroo,
It takes those small blue gas cartridges internally and is about the same size as your kitchen kettle.
Steve

You can't use these during a total fire ban.

Cheesrs,

Mark

Hi Mark,
Are you intimating that you can't use any sort of gas appliance in a fire ban?
I would think not but I may be wrong. We still use our gas 2 burner stove wherever we want and this Hot2Go is a lot safer than that.
Steve

From discussions with Victorian Park Ranger recently, and experience with the regulations in the past no, sorry Steve, you can't use your Hot2go or your gas stove on a Total Fire Ban Day. At least not unless you have an approved area (usually in a public park, eg. the coin operated units you see everywhere except out bush) and a ready supply of available running water (a river nearby doesn't cut it) or are in an appropriate permanent building. You may want to check exactly on the Hot2go (it was an item mentioned in conversation which the ranger was certain of) but I'm certain about your gas stove (or petrol stove, or Trangia etc.). Using the gas unit in a tent, camper trailer or caravan isn't allowed either in most states (has to be a permanent dwelling and a caravan doesn't count).

I'll look up the exact regs and get back to you. The ruling on caravans etc. shows that most campers technically break the law in this regard.

Cheers, (or is that cheesrs?)

Mark

The info was mostly right. Try:
http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/restrictions/can.htm#cancant1
Site Link

So unless your wilderness camping is next to a permanent dwelling, enjoy the muesli!

PS: gas is considered a liquid fuel.

Cheers,

Mark

Mark, You have aroused my curiousity now. I am in WA which means it could be completely different.
I will check tomorrow and report back.
Steve

Mark, I just found this on the WA CALM website. I think i was right and we are different in WA.

"Fires should be restricted to the areas provided, or visitors should bring their own gas barbecue or stove. No open fires are allowed on total fire ban days."

Regards, Steve

Thanks, Steve. Interesting. Can you post the link?

Cheers,

Mark

Now Mark, I could tell you that but then I'd have to kill you. Otherwise all you foreigners would want to come over here.
Seriously, I would like to check with the authorities first and get something factual. Just remembered it is Saturday tomorrow and WA shuts til Monday.
I have been her 25 years and I guess that sometimes we do what we think is Ok (legal!) until we get caught.
Just google CALM (Conservation & Land Management).... OK I'll try!!

Site Link

Steve

Hi Mark,
THis has been a challenge to say the least. I have contacted CALM (Conservation & Land Management); FESA (Fire & Emergency Services) and eventually the local Shire.
It appears that each Shire is responsible for their own area and initiate Fire Bans as required. Overall, the State is guided by the Bush Fires Act 1954. Following is a quote from that Act which is about as close as I get get to anything sensible.
From my knowledge, I don't think I have ever seen a Total Fire Ban in place. We have signs in each Shire indicating Fire risk from low to extreme, which is just a warning to be careful.

Bush Fires ACt 1954
Section 25(1aa) For the purposes of this section a gas appliance, comprising a fire the flame of which is encapsulated by the appliance and which does not consume solid fuel, shall not be taken to be a fire in the open air and may be used at any time for the purpose of camping or cooking if that gas appliance is used —

(a) at a person’s home; or
(b) in an area which —
(i) is set aside for that purpose by the State Authority or local government responsible for the care, control or management of the land; and
(ii) bears the State Authority’s or local government’s sign denoting that purpose,
and all combustible material is cleared from within a 5 metre radius of the appliance.

Steve

Thanks Steve. I tend to read it as acceptable to use in a camping area with a designated fire place/pit/spot(?) which would rule out use during general camping without such a fire place on site? Does this sound about right? Or would it mean the park/forest is designated for camping, therefore acceptable? How would you read it?

It's interesting the different regulations for different areas.

Cheers,

Mark

Hi Mark,
I agree with your interpretation other than, for instance a free camping spot designated as such by the local authority/shire (as are all over WA), that it would be OK to use your gas cooker at these spots. The other point that I mentioned before is that I have never seen a Total Fire Ban in WA in my 25 years here.
Your right about the variations between states. It reminds me of road rules; towing regs; annual vehicle checks; etc etc. It would be nice if one day we could become one country instead of 5 or 6 states and territories.
Best regards,
Steve

Victoria has plenty of Total Fire Ban days - sounds like the use of this device is more restricted in Vic because of it's gas nature. WA obviously has a different set of rules.