[Joost]

Hello

Not sure where to post this, or if this is the right forum, but I am planning a trip from Sydney to Perth (and back) in my (2018) Grand Vitara with my 9 year old son and i am looking for some tips, do's and do not's.

The trip is planned in October, would be a mix of dirt roads, normal roads and maybe some (light) 4x4 on the way. The car is recently (yesterday) serviced and apart from Toyo Open Country R/T tires standard. I will be towing a small trailer (https://www.balancetrailers.com.au/5x3- ... -trailers/) with camping gear, extra water / petrol etc. the base of the route will be something like https://www.mynrma.com.au/travel/road-t ... -road-trip as will be the timeframe.

is there anything special I should do or take with me? I am fairly experienced hiker and camper so having a trailer vs a backpack is already such a luxury. just after some practical tips and tricks and maybe potential issues with the car.

thanks in advance for the help!

[SPEEDY]

If doing some trails or light off road, id definitely take traction boards x 4, a small shovel and exrta fuel.
It properly won't be needed if your careful but if something goes a little wrong, yiu hit some soft ground and get stuck you will be glad that you have them.
Basic tool kit, zip ties, fuses, radiator tape, extra water ect should give you adequate insurance encase of a problem.

All of that lives in mine all of the time, I try very hard to avoid situations that need it, but stuff happens, I've only needed mine a few times over the years, but I've been very glad I carried it when I did need it.
When travelling remote areas I always take 3 days worth of dehydrated food just encase I get stuck, I only ever needed that twice in my life, once when a road got cut in the NT by rain on a weekend getaway and once when a highway got cut by sudden flooding.

[Gwagensteve]

I don’t understand the appeal of traction boards with the unique exception of in sand, and only then if the vehicle isn’t bellied out.

I’d do a lot of research on how to use them effectively before I spent the (substantial) money on them. In Victoria they’re useless but that doesn’t stop every ranger driver having 4 on the roof at all times. Consider how you might jack the vehicle to get them under the wheels of the chassis is on the ground especially. I’m not thinking of soft sand, I’m think more of being trapped in ruts.

Hire a sat phone.
Make sure you have the highest level of roadside assistance.
Keep a close eye on the weather and get advice from locals on track conditions if you are planning even “light” off-road driving by yourself, and/or see if you can find someone else going to the same way to travel with.
Make sure you have recovery points front and rear. No point asking someone to help and finding there’s nothing to attach a strap to. (Obviously the tow bar will work on the rear but that assumes you can get the trailer out the way)
Avoid travelling at dawn and dusk.

Otherwise I can’t see much issue. Your route is predominantly on pretty well frequented roads. Most of locals will likely be in cars and think nothing of where you’re driving at all.

[SPEEDY]

The thing with a trip like this isn't to bottom out, it's to avoid problem areas and not take risks. If you get properly stuck then boards aren't a lot of help, but if you find yourself in a bit of trouble, not enough traction or only 1 wheel stuck then they are brilliant.
They won't get you out of a big bog hole, but if you loose traction on a sandy bit, do a 3 point turn and get a couple of wheels stuck off the track, that's when they shine.
They won't get yiu out of
This trip doesn't sound like a 4x4 adventure to test his capabilities, it's just a touring adventure with a bit of light 4x4 driving as a possibility with the potential to get a little stuck, and boards shine in those situations.

I've dug myself out of plenty of bogs over the years,

[Joost]

Thank you all for you advise it was extremely helpful.

The trip was an incredible experience, with breathtaking sunsets, stunning landscapes, and even a terrifying storm that flattened steel power lines!

The traction boards came in handy when we got stuck in the Nullabor in a sort of mud that turned tires into slicks. No issues getting out with a shovel and the boards. While the ground clearance was not a issue in most places, we did hit the bottom a couple of times on the small tracks and lost some plastic 'bash' protection. nothing major.

It did highlight how much I missed my old Jimny though, so on my return I traded the Vitara in and am the proud owner of a Jimny again and future trips will be even better.

Again thank you all for the advise, greatly appreciated!

[SPEEDY]

Those boards might seem pointless most if the time, but it's surprising how they can get you out of a little bit of trouble before it becomes something more.