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all you need to know to experience an outback adventure holiday - four wheel
driving, camping, accommodation, facilities, services, and much more.
click on OUR CAMPERS - or on the picture to take you to information on our campers.
TRAVELLING PATROL
Vehicle Modifications for Touring
Ron and Viv Moon spend a lot of time and cover some long distances travelling Australia and the world for their work for magazines, guidebooks and videos. Here are some of their vehicle's secrets.
The main requirement for any of our vehicles is that they have to be tough and reliable, capable of touring the black blocks of Australia, with a modicum of comfort, a rash of dependability and a stout of robustness. That it has to be a diesel goes almost without saying.
This time around, after a couple of diesel LandCruisers behind us, we chose a Nissan 4.2 turbo diesel GU Patrol in ST form and having such things as remote central locking, power windows and mirrors; all things we would have scoffed at a few years ago!
No matter what you buy though - and the moral of this story - is that if you want to head bush, carry heavy loads over rough rugged country and make the job easier on your vehicle and yourself then the vehicle ... of whatever make and creed ... needs a few modifications.
4.2 litre turbo diesel GU PATROL
CONVERSION - Wagon to UTE
One of the biggest modifications we've made is to turn the GU Patrol wagon into a 4-door ute.
For all the details on this major modification, click on the picture or on this link: ourvehicle conversion.htm.
ENGINE & PRE-TRIP SERVICING
Outback 4WD Centre Bayswater
All or pre-trip servicing and regular maintenance on both of our Patrols is done by Outback 4WD Centre in Bayswater.
Our Around the World Travels
Our around the world travels in our expedition Patrol has seen us clock up over 215,000km so far and a lot of that has been hard work not only in Australia but also in Africa, Europe and Russia.On our last Australian jaunt through Cape York, across the top through the remote Kimberley and then down through Central Australia to home was one that had its fair share of issues (see Footloose columns for a full yarn – you wont believe it!). One important point I did discover was that the 4.2 GU Patrol does have an ECU - it’s all to do with the Nissan NATS security system. We have removed the NATS system and the ECU! That work and some finer tuning of the injector pump and injectors was done by MTQ Engine Systems in Dandenong, ph: (03) 9794 2888, or www.mtqes.com.au.
In preparation for the next leg of the journey (South and Central America) the Patrol has spent a fair amount of time at Outback 4WD Centre in Bayswater getting a lot of work done on it, including replacing the clutch, overhauling the starter motor, alternator, water pump and lots more.
We also needed some welding done on rear suspension brackets and on the support rails to the Candy Camper canopy. This was a pretty big job as the canopy had to be removed and flipped over to be able to be worked on. Luckily we ended up at Advanced Engineering & Fabrication in Boronia (ph: (0488) 228 951) and Brendan Dowdle there did a great job.
See you in the bush.
Ron and Viv.
Equipment and Accessory Suppliers
ARB, ph: (03) 9761 6622
Berrima Diesel, ph: (02) 4877 1256
Black Widow Storage Systems, ph: (03) 5428 8088
Bushranger 4WD Accessories, ph: 1800 654 767
Car Tint, ph: (03) 9870 6667
Cooper tyres, ph: (07) 3272 98886
Creative Conversations, ph: (07) 3881 0577
Engel Fridge/Freezers, ph: 1300 302 653
De-Bug Australia, ph: (03) 9515 0771
GME Electrophone, ph: (02) 9844 6666
Garmin, ph: (02) 9844 6666
Hema Navigator, ph: (07) 3340 0000
Kaymar 4WD Accessories, ph: (03) 9870 4419
LightForce, ph: (08) 8340 2766
Long Ranger Fuel tanks, ph: (02) 4953 3288
Marks 4WD Adaptors, ph: (03) 9793 3388
Mickey Thompson tyres, ph: (07) 3272 9888
Michelle's Sacs, ph: (08) 9248 1111
Milford Cargo Barriers, ph: (08) 8294 5955
MTQ Engine Systems, ph: (03) 9794 2888
Nissan Australia, ph: (03) 9797 4111
Outback 4WD Centre, ph: (03) 9720 6226
Outback 4WD Storage, ph: 1800 354 066
Piranha Offroad Products,, ph: (03) 9762 1200
Radtel Network, ph: (02) 4943 1745
Rhino Rack, ph: (02) 9638 4744
ROH Wheels, ph: (08) 8468 4140
Safari snorkels, ph: (03) 9720 4211
Telstat Communications, ph: (03) 9786 9422
VKS-737 Network, ph: (08) 8287 6222
Warn winches, ph: (03) 9761 6622
ON
THE ROOF