Part one of our three part series on setting your 4WD up for whatever you want to point it at

Setting up your 4WD for the truly astonishing amount of off-road tracks we have in this country can be a tricky thing. Sure, there’s a basic recipe for building a well-rounded tourer: You need some decent suspension, tyres, storage, enough 12V gear to keep the drinks frosty and the tracks well lit, maybe a couple of engine upgrades and of course, a camping set-up that’s going to be spot on for your individual needs. However how you get this package together is going to be influenced by a lot of variables.

Basically, the answer lies in comparing different levels of modification. For just about every area of 4WD customisation there’s basic, intermediate, and ultimate set-ups that all have their pros and cons. We’re not here to tell you what you need, instead we’re going to line them up back to back and show you how well each level of modification works, how far they’ll take you, and tell you what you need to know to get there.

TEN THINGS TO ASK YOURSELF
Before jumping in with both feet and going bananas with the mods on your truck, sit down and answer the following ten questions:

• Where will I be taking this vehicle?

• What terrains will I be driving?

• Will I be travelling alone for extended periods of time?

• Is it a daily driver or dedicated get-away-from-it-all truck?

• What are the shortcomings of this particular make and model?

• What do I absolutely have to take with me when heading bush?

• What is the GVM?

• What camping set-up will I be using with this 4WD?

• Which is more important to me: off-road capability or long distance comfort?

• What is my budget?

WANT Vs. NEED

When it comes to modifying a 4WD, we see a lot of folks ticking the “I want that…” box instead of the “I need that…” one. While it’s not necessarily a bad thing, by getting what you need knocked over first you’ve got the basic recipe in place, then you can focus on refining it to suit your taste. Let’s say you’ve got a desert crossing planned for next year and want to prepare your vehicle to suit. You’re going to need some heavy duty suspension, quality all-terrain tyres and maybe an awning to keep the dew off your swag. After that it’s all about adding things to suit your requirements. A set of drawers makes life infinitely easier and a fridge is high on the wish list for desert travel. Maybe a long range tank and a good set of driving lights to keep the animals from becoming the latest bullbar decoration?

By sorting out the essentials first, it gives you a great foundation to build from. We can’t tell you how many 4WDers we’ve spoken to over the years who have thrown a heap of mods at their pride and joy, only to realise later on that they don’t need half of them and would rather have spent the money on something they’d actually use.

CAMPING

CHOOSING YOUR CAMPING SET-UP IS A DIFFICULT CHOICE AND HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON HOW YOU MODIFY YOUR 4WD

Having a solid camping set-up makes any trip infinitely more enjoyable. But knowing what will work for you may take a little trial and error. While some of us start out with a swag or dome tent and work up from there, others will be happy with nothing else. It’s a personal thing, so try a few different things on and find out what’s the best fit for you.

BASIC

An Adventure Kings Swag and Awning is as simple as it gets, but there’s a reason this set-up has been in use for the past hundred-plus years. It’s quick, easy and it works! Swags these days offer excellent comfort and awning keep the worst of the weather off. Perfect for singles or people travelling as a couple

INTERMEDIATE

An Adventure Kings Rooftop tent is perfect for couples and young families who need quick set-up and pack down times, don’t have the room in the cab for swags and who aren’t keen on towing. Perfect for when you’re on a trip to a destination, like the Cape, where it’s likely you’ll be camping somewhere new every night or two.

ULTIMATE

Camper trailers may take a long time to set up compared to a rooftop tent or swag, but the extra room and comfort they give is out of sight. Plenty of shelter, great for couples and families and best of all you can unhitch your trailer and go for a drive without the need to pack everything up.

EXPERT INPUT – BRENNO

“There are few things as personal as setting up your campsite. Choosing between tents, swags or trailers can be one of the most difficult choices you can make, and can have a direct impact on how you modify your 4WD. Kids, pets, comfort requirements, cost, set-up times and the types of trip you do also play big parts in the decision making process. At the end of the day, the only way you’re going to get a good idea of what you want is to get out there! Start out with a decent sized tent and go from there. You may find you want something quick and easy, like a swag, rooftopper or 30 second tent. Or you could find out that having more room and creature comforts like kitchens and double-beds are worth a little more time and effort, and start scouring the classifieds for a camper trailer. Everyone’s different and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution here. You have to work out what’s important to you and go from there – and see some of the best parts of the country while you’re doing it.”

WHY BRENNO RUNS A SWAG AND AWNING

“I’ve run just about every camping set-up you can imagine over the years and was part of the rooftop tent faithful for ages, but since the advent of double swags I don’t think I’ll ever go back to anything else. Both swag and awning are ready to go in about three minutes, I’m comfy, have plenty of room and can be packed up and ready to go again in no time. It’s the perfect set-up for me, no matter if I’m doing a fortnight long epic DVD trip or quick overnighter with the lads. The awning’s always mounted so I just chuck the swag up on the rack or in the back and I’m set.”