COMPILING OUTBACK/OVERLANDING CHECKLIST

[TheDocAUS]

I am working on a draft checklist with @Rok_Dr when traveling remote or overlanding. Anyone think of more points? Feel free to suggest some.

Some suggested checks to help with preventive maintenance when travelling remote.

1. If you are going on a long trip, a pre-trip inspection by your mechanic is helpful, especially if the mechanic services off-road vehicles. Get the car serviced if needed;
2. Monitor the TEMPERATURE Menu when driving. Keep an eye on oil temps, water temps, and tyre pressures and temps;
3. Manually check the tyre pressure on your spare tyre;
4. Take a close look at any alarms raised by the Grenadier’s warning system;
5. Check wheel nuts, tighten nuts to the correct torque setting (160 NM). Check weekly or after severe corrugations (washboard);
6. Set tyre pressures for the road surface being driven. Pressures should be varied between bitumen, gravel, sand, mud, corrugations and towing (XREF pressures);
7. Each day look for tyre damage like nicks, cuts, screws, spikes, and check for slow air leaks (the Grenadier’s TPMS should show slow leaks);
8. Check your roof-rack/bars are secure (I check during each stop);
9. Check your restraining straps, loads and awnings are secure;
10. Look for oil or water leaks under the car;
11. Check for spinifex/grass build up under the car, remove the buildup;
12. Every morning check under the car for loose nuts, missing bolts, broken gear, leaking hoses, etc A ground mat, safety glasses and a torch come in handy.
13. Check your drinking water containers are not leaking. Take more than one drinking water container.
14. Personal locator beacon, satellite phone or Starlink for really remote travel.

Do you need extra spares for the trip like fuses, filters (oil, fuel, air), extra oil, coolant, clamps or belts? On long remote trips a spare front and rear shock absorber maybe needed (like in Central Australia or remote Africa). I needed a shock when crossing Australia. I asked for the shocks to be inspected in a service before my return trip, they found a problem and the shock was replaced with the spare I had with me (Nissan Patrol days). That damaged shock would not have survived the return trip through the centre of Australia, disaster avoided. The shocks thread, near the top attachment point, was being stripped by the severe corrugations.

@globalgregors @Logsplitter

 

[TheDocAUS]

Print out and take the Rok Dr Guide.

 

[Rok_Dr]

Good initiative Michael

This could be a booklet in its own right. I'll PM some ideas an d suggestions in the next week.

Cheers
Steve

 

[pedrogb]

I found (after a deep water crossing) that the electrical system stopped charging. We had just started the old Telegraph Track. I thought it might be something like the alternator getting wet. It did make the alarm sound, but no dash light that I recall. I had to search the screens to find why it has alarmed. It started charging again after 1/2 hour or so, no alarm this time.
I began to check/cycle the offroad screens every couple of hours as habit then, as I was using the car batteries for camp lights and charging devices. No issue or repeat since.

 

[TheDocAUS]

Pre trip checks

1. Check fluid levels including coolant, oil, brake fluid and the windscreen water bottle.
2. Set cold tyre pressures, including the spare tyre.

Trailer/caravan/toy hauler checks

1. Set cold tyre pressures on the van or trailer, including the spare tyre.
2. Close and lock all door and hatches.
3. Ensure trailer/van lights are working.
4. Test trailer/van brakes. In Australia trailer/vans over 800kg must have their own brakes fitted.
5. Raise and secure van stabiliser legs.
6. Attach and cross the safety chains. Tighten any D shackles.
7. Raise and secure the jockey wheel.
8. Plug in any trailer/van power cables (like a 50 amp Anderson plug).
9. Check trailer/van tyre pressures, rim and hub temperatures and wheel movement throughout the trip.
10. Distribute the cargo weight around the trailer/van.
11. Ensure weight limits on the Grenadier and trailer/van are not exceeded. In Australia, there are limits on the car (GVM), the trailer/van (ATM) and the combination of both. Do not exceed rated the tow ball weight. [this area is very complex so this is a a rough draft and varies greater between countries].

These will be added to the list in due course.

Keep the comments coming as it is prompting ideas. This is going to be differences between countries around towing limits, rules and best practice.