New solo traveller

Submitted: Sunday, Jun 03, 2012 at 19:01
ThreadID: 96000 Views:2455 Replies:12 FollowUps:6
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Hi all,
thought I should introduce myself after lurking here for months.
About 18 months ago hubbie decided he needed to live in another state from me & after about a year I decided that what I missed most was our 4WD / camping trips. We'd been camping / 4WD for holidays for about 17 years & it was an important part of my / our life.

So late last year I started planning my "return" & ordered the car. With 6 months between deciding what to get and waiting once ordered I had lots of time planning / deliberating.The car is a 76 landcruiser - never really questioned as that's what we had and I loved the car. It is red &I love it. The bits are a mix of safety (first), utility and some favourites - diff lockers, dual batteries, sat phone, radio, compressor, maxtrax (which we'd never had but sound useful), inverter, fridge, awning. Solar panels may have been a bit of a waste as never used before but time will tell, plus I remember a few annoying times when the fridge stopped working. Can't have that!
I recently went on a small solo trip as my first test (to / from Byron for friend's wedding) & loved travelling as much as before even solo (thank heavens). Everything worked fine & convenient (even though I didn;t have built in drawers like in the past) & the single swag is wonderful & easy to pack.

My next trip will be an old favourite - western NSW / Mungo/ Kinchega to Tiboburra to Innamincka and back to Sydney. Can't wait! But being a solo traveller now I suppose will be a bit more careful ? nervous about that but having said that had never run into trouble before.
Wish me luck! I am working on the becoming more competent at the vehicle side & finding I am more resourceful than I realised...

Thanks to the numerous experienced people posting here helped me to decide / refine some of my choices.
My next improvement will be water tank - if anyone knows of an under body water tank for the 76 cruiser would love to hear about it.
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Reply By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Sunday, Jun 03, 2012 at 19:19

Sunday, Jun 03, 2012 at 19:19
Well Vicki, sounds like you are off a good start and I wish you all the best. Don,t be worried about being on your own, I meet solo's all the time, and all ages too.
Once you get out there and meet the community there are a lot's of very friendly and helpful folks out there doing the same thing and you will make great new friends.

I love it out there and I can tell you there is more GOOD than bad.............you will be fine.

And stick around here on this forum.... lot's of help and hints from most of the folks here to help you on your way.......we're a community too.

Go for it.
AnswerID: 487539

Reply By: Member - Rob D (NSW) - Sunday, Jun 03, 2012 at 20:03

Sunday, Jun 03, 2012 at 20:03
Hi Vicki,

Why not join a 4WD club, ours has a number of single people and they join in the club trips and have the companionship as well as the knowledge of the other club members to help them out in planning trips and so on.

Best of luck.
If you relax at a faster pace you can get more relaxation in for a given time.
Regards Rob

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AnswerID: 487542

Follow Up By: mikehzz - Sunday, Jun 03, 2012 at 23:01

Sunday, Jun 03, 2012 at 23:01
X2 to that suggestion. There are quite a few people who have done that. You can still travel on your own as well so best of both worlds. Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - VickiW - Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 20:16

Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 20:16
Rob D, Mikehzz - thanks for the reminder

some good friends of mine belong to the local landcruiser club & it is about time I did something about joining

Particularly want a refresher on recovery techniques.. especially after finding some old photos on the weekend of us getting ourselves out of trouble in the river bed on the way to Palm Valley. I'm sure by myself I wouldn't look so happy (although I do remember feeling pretty stressed at the time - nothing like a car slowly sinking into the sand to increase stress levels)
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Reply By: Member - Jack - Sunday, Jun 03, 2012 at 21:13

Sunday, Jun 03, 2012 at 21:13
Check out post 95986. Another solo traveller looking for a friend :)

Jack
The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get. (Lewis Carroll-Alice In Wonderland)

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AnswerID: 487551

Reply By: Member-George (WA) - Sunday, Jun 03, 2012 at 23:48

Sunday, Jun 03, 2012 at 23:48
Hi Vicki, a usefull item would be a HF radio fitted in your LC. At least you will be able to stay in touch and call for help if needed on isolated roads. Join VKS-737 4WD Radio Network. They provide an excellent 24/7 contact service. I do have a vested interest here. Good luck and Cheers
AnswerID: 487560

Follow Up By: Member - VickiW - Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 20:22

Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 20:22
Thanks George. Time to start researching. Haven't taken a HF along for years. I know from experience how difficult, annoying and expensive it can get when reception for the sat phone isn't good, then you get put on hold...
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Reply By: jacks m - Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 12:34

Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 12:34
it is cool
AnswerID: 487585

Reply By: wombat100 - Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 13:03

Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 13:03
Don't forget an overnite (or 2) at Milparinka !!!


AnswerID: 487587

Reply By: Member - Trouper (NSW) - Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 18:20

Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 18:20
Well Vicki no-one has answered your question yet...............The fellows at 'Off Road Systems' Smeaton Grange/Narellan NSW are very helpful, Graeme the owner is very good and i would speak to him. He has 'decked out' a 76 series previously and I'm sure he would be able to help.

Cheers and goodluck

Jeff...........PS start your own single ladies club!!!
AnswerID: 487608

Follow Up By: Member - VickiW - Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 20:25

Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 20:25
Ha - an idea for a tv series!
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Follow Up By: Member - Frank P (NSW) - Wednesday, Jun 06, 2012 at 12:32

Wednesday, Jun 06, 2012 at 12:32
X 2. Great people, great service.
FrankP

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Reply By: Member - Lee & Arrabella A'Van - Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 19:53

Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 19:53
Hi Vicki,
Welcome ot the solo club- although I am in WA.... you'll find that there are quite a few of us out there.
I am also newly solo and starting on my first extended trip away in a couple of days time up the north west. Can't wait.

The Landcruiser sounds like it is all well decked out and I bet you find the solar panels will come into their own when you camp in one spot for more than a few days.
I am towing an ALiner Avan but am also looking at finding a swag for those more offroad 4 wd drive trips. Sio it will be good to swap stories.
Keep us posted -- I am looking forward to hearing of your adventures.


AnswerID: 487621

Reply By: Member - VickiW - Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 20:31

Monday, Jun 04, 2012 at 20:31
Thank you everyone for the welcome, advice (all very welcome) & for making me feel so unlonely! Hope I meet some of you on my travels.
AnswerID: 487630

Reply By: Member - Andrew (WA) - Tuesday, Jun 05, 2012 at 00:42

Tuesday, Jun 05, 2012 at 00:42
VickiW...where have you been all my life? ;-)

V8 Landcruisers...camping...travel...OMG!

LOL....

Carry on the dream...
AnswerID: 487657

Reply By: Grubby - Wednesday, Jun 06, 2012 at 20:02

Wednesday, Jun 06, 2012 at 20:02
hi there

I'm a solo and a chick. :-). I'm doing this full time. Everythings been fine so far. In WA atm. I have a big iron bar for if anyone decides they want something of mine (heard from a lovely 86 year old and his wife who are both deaf that awoke to find some POS going through their van in Pt Augusta). Those are the only sort of things that disturb me - but that can happen at home!!!

Cheers

Rob

AnswerID: 487815

Reply By: Les R2 - Monday, Jun 11, 2012 at 18:32

Monday, Jun 11, 2012 at 18:32
Hi iv just recently ordered a 76 cruiser with factory diff locks i put the order in on the 2nd of may along with a $5000 deposit.I'm just wandering whats the estimate delivery time on these cars as you cant get a bloody straight answer from these dealers.
any info would be appreciated from anyone who recently bought one and had to wait a while.


Cheers.
AnswerID: 488194

Follow Up By: Member - VickiW - Monday, Jun 11, 2012 at 18:42

Monday, Jun 11, 2012 at 18:42
Hi Les R2,

I ordered mine mid Jan, also with factory diff lockers. They told me 3 - 4 months & I got delivery (after a few days for AC instal, new tyres) a week before the 3 months was up.

Cheers.
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