How silly we must look

beautifully said Matt.

Very well said. I wonder if people who own boats go through similar discussion about the cost on their forums.

Lets face it, it is an expensive "hobby / lifestyle" but at the end of the day it is us as individuals who have chosen to participate in it. Rather than complaining about that cost we should just get and enjoy it while it is still affordable.

We bought our first 4WD as we had 4 kids so needed a larger vehicle. It has brought as so much enjoyment being able to explore this great country that I wouldn't have it any other way.

Yes it is expensive, yes things do break, but that is the nature of the business. Tell me any other way to get out on the Simpson / CSR or any other remote place without one.

Sure you can take a bus trip to some places with 40 other people, which kinds of defeats the purpose of getting away from everything and everyone.

Once again Matt, well said and regardless of the cost, it is a lifestyle we have chosen and while we are still able to afford it, we will continue to go out and explore this great country.

Matt,
Just like you to mull over your post a little.

Some of the people out there love being in the bush but don't have a lot of cash, hence the quest to enjoy themselves without breaking the limited budget they are on.

Yes! you choose to have an expensive to run 4b and I would guess top of the range gear. Others have to watch their pennies to achieve the same goal with limited means.

All the best and never forget where you came from or might wind up

The Ape

Yeah but it's still nice to use a bit less fuel, for the hip pockets sake if not the environment.

Matt,

It need not be expensive.

Suzuki Sierra, tent, two folding chairs, esky, steel plate to cook on, rechgargeable torch, newspaper and a box of matches.

Not my prefered style.

A Porsche Cayenne and a Kimberley Karavan would be lovely, but not within my budget.

I fit somewhere in between and can camp comfortably and afford to do it on a regular basis.

Hence my post on LPG. My Courier is cheaper (purely fuel cost) than the GLW's Hyundai Getz.

Jim.

Matt, you laid it very well.

But for this merit any decent hobby is about to spend money *IRRATIONALLY*. Just name it, fishing if obsessed can be quite expensive. Boating – even worse then 4WD because those poor fellows cannot use their gears for any practical reason like wood collection at all! Motorbikes also never been cheap. Oh! How about photography? For last 5 years I spend more then 2 decent Warns worth! And list is going on.

Surely you right and I agree with you on 100% if one trying skip on tyres or suspension, then they pick up wrong hobby. Generally we love spend on our gear, but no-one treat fuel as essential spending – it is just unavoidable nuisance and if impossible to rid of it completely would be nice as least do not spend so much and put money into “useful” gear. Irony is – there is no miracles here and it is impossible to cut fuel cost in half, so lets be not so obsessed with such fruitless discussion and spend more time for rig’s preparation for next trip!

Serg

i have a lot of expensive hobbies then
4wd, stamps (yes postage Stamps!), antique furniture collection and restoration tools and equipment, Fly fishing, firearms,..??? kids, wife,

personally i find all the questions in this forum interesting , we all do different things in different ways whether it be cheapest or easiest , what the heck
Reminds me of a post in the CMCA forum chap declaring --if you can't afford to stay in a caravan park you shouldn't be on the road

Good stuff Matt, all the moaning about the cost of fuel pales into
insignificance when compared to the cost of depreciation on a
$60k plus 4WD. I have a standard petrol 4wd & a DIY C/t that set
me back less than $20k & is quite suitable for most outback touring. Not used as a daily driver though, I run two Peugeots
for that. The combined costs of running all three, when you incude capital cost ,is far less than running an expensive 4WD for
all purposes, & I still get to go touring this great country. Fuel is
only a part of the whole deal. Sure, I aint got the latest & greatest,
but I still get there, at a fraction of the cost....oldbaz.

Matt I have to disagree some what with your line of thinking. Sure it's an expensive game but if you have the choice of 2 options, both that will do a similar job, wouldn't it be reasonable to go the cheaper way. Many can only just afford to get into 4x4ing as it is, so if putting their car on gas or picking a cheaper suspension option is what they need to do to be able to get out in the bush then surely that's better than staying at home with their cheapy 4 cylinder shopping trolley.
Grey Nomads in particular living off their super or a pension often have little margin so discussions on using less fuel, free campsites & budget accessories will always be popular.
Cheers Craig.......

Matt, that has got to be one of the most sensible threads I have ever seen here. What a breath of fresh air!

I don't think I could agree with you more.

This forum seems to attract a disproportionate amount of whining fuel economy zealots who are perpetually going into quivering, hand ringing mental vapour lock over whether driving with their windows up or down is .000002c / km cheaper as if their life depends on it - yet they're driving a +2.5T 4x4 worth over $50K, towing $30K camper trailer for fun.

I say either buy a secondhand Suzuki Sierra on LPG or just stop belly aching and enjoy it.

If we are really honest with ourselves, just the depreciation on a modern 4x4 would pay for most city people's yearly fuel bill on its own.

I like big cars that go well - always have. No apologies either. Fuel is an 'essential' item and I just buy it when I need it. Simple as that. Until I found this site I never gave it a second thought. I live quite frugally (by choice I should add), but enjoy my life as much as possible and don't sweat on the small stuff. Life's simply too short. It really is.

I genuinely pity those folks who let their trips appear to be dominated / ruined(?) by angst over how much or little they spend. What fun is there in that????? Talk about travelling with a wet blanket....

As Matt M said...."4WDing is an expensive game. Sure we all like to keep the costs under control, but if you are getting to the point of obsession with the money you spend on them, time for a new passion methinks."

Remember.....LIFE IS LIKE A ROLL OF DUNNY PAPER. THE CLOSER TO THE END - THE FASTER IT GOES.

Stop worrying, budget for what you need, get over it and then just get out there and enjoy it.

Ever thought that some of the questions are intended to find the best price out there? There are some places who will willing to rip us off in the mistaken belief that we think we must pay what they ask as we have an 'expensive hobby'. Priced tyres recently and two very well known dealers had the same tyre at a $90 differential. That's $540 better in my pocket! Just because we have said 'expensive hobby' we don't need to pay others to eat lobster next Friday night on us.

Have to agree Matt, the Missus won,t get out and push so just have to keep fillin her up.( The Bus, Truck. 4By. Wheels) what ever you want to call it.
DUKE

Never truer words spoken.
4 tyres alone for my 4by cost 1/2 what my 2wd bush wagon cost - a 1978 nissan camper. i saved on swags engals etc with it coz it already had everything.
saw more of South australia and western australia in it both on and off road than many have in their 4by

so going by Jimbos logic everyones stupid for wasting money on expensive 4bys when some old POS will do the job for alot cheaper