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Basic Kit for Outback!!

No6

I amn't a survivalist but I am moving to a town in the outback for work. I'll be fairly ok but I am worried about my misses, she could get lost in a cornflake's box!!. In the event she does get lost what basic kit should I put in her car, in case she does manage to get lost in the bush!! Any ideas gratefully accepted!!

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Gran Hermano

Look at getting her a Personal locator beacon (PLB) if she is that bad.

http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/documents/beacon_brochure2011.pdf

baords dyslexic

Putting stuff in the car might make you happier but just make sure your wife knows what its all for and how to use it.

Doc Ruby

No6 wrote: »

I amn't a survivalist but I am moving to a town in the outback for work. I'll be fairly ok but I am worried about my misses, she could get lost in a cornflake's box!!. In the event she does get lost what basic kit should I put in her car, in case she does manage to get lost in the bush!! Any ideas gratefully accepted!!

You need two kits, one for if there is a breakdown, one for if she wanders off into the bush unescorted for whatever reason. Its very important that you impress on her that she must not leave the car without the smaller portable kit.

Have a good read through this and the bug out bags thread, you won't go too far wrong. Basics like water and a cellphone should go without saying of course.

Dawn Rider

Have a look at this Ray Mears in the outback series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CT0470DVKE

At the end of the fourth clip a helicopter fly's a few hundred meters away from someone on the ground - he can't be seen at all.
Whereas the car in the clip can be.

bonniebede

Two of everything vital... thats good advice.

Make sure you know basic drills between you, always know where she will be, what time leaving, arriving, so you know when she is overdue and might need help.

Multiple ways of communicating that help is needed, including to helicopters... learn the basic hand and arm signals to indicate this. Also carry light flourescent nylon textile panels which can make a signal, and several versions of fire starting equipment. This in addition to all the electroninc gear you can have as mentioned... gps, mobiles etc.

Learn how to read a compasss and navigate, not to go walking but to be able to tell rescuers where you are.
http://www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/tips-for-driving-cross-country.html

Emergency food and water. Also emergency water collection, there is water to be found with solar stills, very simple cheap and easy to carry kit, but not a replacement for large cans full.

Be aware of nighttime temperature as well as day time, if it is cold you need to be equipped for that too.

Make sure your vaccinations are up to date and learn about local venomous wildlife. Australia has several very nasty and even deadly insects etc, learn how to recognise them, and what to do in an emergency.

Above all be mentally prepared. People get the idea that just because there is a road they must be near civilisation and help. This is not true. Be prepared for the worst. Over prepared is no problem, and a chance to learn some skills. Under prepped could be tragic.

Don't panic:D

sfakiaman

Depends a bit on where in the bush you're going but the advice I'd give is this:

A map and compass should always be in the car.

Always keep a jerry can of water in the boot, you can drink it or use it to top up the radiator of the car.

Always carry spare fuel, it can be a long way between pumps. I once drove 300 miles between petrol stations.

One spare wheel is not enough!

If you get a flat tyre in sandy/soft ground you will need a board to put under the jack. If you can't jack the car up you will need a spade to dig under the flat wheel. So you need a spade in the kit.

If you get bogged down you will need tracks to put under the driving wheels, have ropes attached to these so you don't have to go back for them.

It gets dark very quickly in Australia so you will need a good torch and the means to make a fire.

In the desert it can get very cold at night, I've seen it sub zero in central Australia, so you will need a decent sleeping bag.

A first aid kit is obvious and the Aussie ones will have bits for snake and spider bite.

Snakes and spiders don't normally bite people unless provoked but if you are bitten try to kill the critter and bring it with you to hospital. In Darwin they had a huge array of bity stuff in glass jars so you could say 'It was one of them'.

It's been said before, always stay with the car and if push comes to shove light the spare tyre as that is a recognised alarm signal in the bush and the smoke can be seen for a very long way.

The bush is lovely but you do have to get used to it, it's not forgiving countryside but very rewarding.

Grizzly 45

Dunno what the legality of them are in OZ.
But I would have thought a decent flare pistol/launcher and some flares would be a good idea or a couple of red distress smoke cannisters?

Alo one of the high viz personal distress strobes might be a good idea?

baords dyslexic

One bit of kit I have in my wifes car is a rechargable booster battery for jump starting a car with a flat battery, it also has a decent double fluorescent lamp which will run for 24hours from a full charge and 12V cigarette lighter outlets to run other 12Volt equipment. When things go wrong other things get forgotten lights get left on that sort of thing so the booster battery has come in useful a couple of times and comes into the house in a power cut.

krissovo

Never had the privilege of being in the outback so cannot add much. I have spent lots of time in Africa and the desert so I expect the principles are similar.

The first thing I would do is take a couple of days with a local guide and spend time in the outback. You should expect they will demonstrate driving in the local conditions, how to recover your vehicle, equipment you need, local communication methods (radio CB etc) and setting up simple shelters to live under the stars. This will give you the basics of local knowledge with a bit of experience so you do not panic. Even with my experience if I travel somewhere new where I intend to leave civilization I always source local knowledge and even hire guides for a day or two depending on risks.

What I would carry in addition to a get you home bag:
Water - lots
Fuel -
Vehicle - 4x4, nice to have :-)
Recovery kit - Hi lift jack, 2x 6ft lengths of carpet (use instead of sand ladders*)
Shovel, pick axe
2x spare wheels
Bed roll
Tarp shelter
Solar Panel - Can charge your car battery or other kit like phones
Compressor - Inflate your tires after you have deflated them for traction cross country

*Sand ladders are shoite, they are dangerous to use and can damage your vehicle

Grizzly 45

@Krisovo
Re Sand ladders and 6ft length of carpet..I'm intrigued how does the carpet work?As I do get occasionally bogged down here in the fields here in Ireland,would they work in Irish conditions too??

krissovo

The carpet is not great in our boggy and clay soils, it will work once but then its as much use as using banana skins to get yourself out. They are perfect for desert or savanna's. I have always wanted to try astro turf as I think that would work in our soil but I have not had the chance yet.

What I use in temperate climate like ours is similar to a rope ladder. 15ft long with "steps" every 7inches or so, place this near or under the Tyre and anchor the other end with a 3ft steel earth anchor. Then I try and drive out:D

The steps are aluminum, I have also used 2x2 timber in the past which is better grip but not as tough.

I Forgot to say how they work:

With the carpet I pick two (driving) wheels that look like they will get most traction. Lower tyre pressure, Place the carpet in front of the wheels with about 6" riding up the wheel. Once prepared then try and drive out slowly, the first take up of power should feed the carpet around the wheel and progressing should give you enough grip to get out.

sfakiaman

Just remembered a couple of things,

Driving off road you should never hook your thumbs round the spokes of the steering wheel, if the wheel suddenly twisted it could break your thumbs.

If you have to ford a river send the wife across first to check for crocodiles it's sometimes best to reverse over keeping the revs up to clear the exhaust, this stops the water flooding the engine compartment.

A bit of plastic fuel line is handy, I once had a rear shock absorber come off and flatten the fuel line, I cut away the old pipe with my hunting knife and fixed it with with plastic pipe.

baords dyslexic

krissovo wrote: »

Recovery kit - Hi lift jack, 2x 6ft lengths of carpet (use instead of sand ladders*)

My idea of what a "Hi lift jack" is http://www.offroadadventures.com/articles/view/id/347 , I used to call it a Hi lift toe jack as they will lift from toe level with minimum clearance. Only problem with a "family" vehicle (as opposed to a dedcated off road vehicle) is finding a suitable jacking point that won't damage the paint work.

And the Hi-Lift website http://www.hi-lift.com/

Grizzly 45

Thanks Kris..Must try the rope ladder idea here.Sounds alot easier to store as well!
One thing about the Hi lift and winching in general..Be really careful to kep well away from cables, and mounting points should be 100% in order.
You are workig with forces that are in TONS pressure,and if anthing lets go,it is going to let go with a vengence.Likewise jacking with a high lift.Higher up you go the more unstable they can become,and it is too easy to get a steadying hand caught between the bodywork and the jack bar.