Setting up a 4WD to camp

by Stef
(Motueka, New Zealand)

Hi Birgit, do you have any ideas on the best way to set up a 4WD for camping? I'm planning my second year of Working Holiday in Australia, aiming to discover SA, NT and WA.

I've spent huge amounts of time reading your websites (outback and Kimberley... great resources by the way!) which has me pretty set on buying a 4WD instead of a van to see the Gibb River Road, Purnululu NP, parts of Kakadu, etc.

Thing is though, I'd like to set up the 4WD so I can sleep in the back. I realize this might be more of a builder/mechanic/something question rather than a strictly travel one, but I thought I'd give it a shot ;-) So: any advice or good links on how to fix up the back of a 4WD so you can put a mattress there and sleep in? I'd think some wood and screws would do the trick, but I have no real idea of what I'm talking about - I've got the "can do", but it'd be nice to get some "know how".

I know tents would be an easier option but... we'll be living on the road for weeks at a time (which makes the set up camp, tear down camp routine a bit boring after a while...) + may sleep nearer to towns occasionally. We've been known to pull up and sleep in our van in quiet suburb streets, but I could hardly see that happen with a tent :).

That's about it. I've planned to go Adelaide, Flinders Ranges, Lake Eyre, Oodnadatta Track, Coober Pedy, Uluru/Olgas, Kings Canyon, West MacDonnells/East MacDonnells, possibly Finke Gorge, Alice Springs, Kakadu, Darwin.

And then Darwin, Litchfield, Katherine, Purnululu, Gibb River Road, Geikie Gorge and down to Broome + Cape Leveque. Then all the way down to Perth along the coast... or maybe with a detour to Mount Augustus, do you think it's worth it? I thought it might be a good alternative to Uluru (I don't like tourist crowds).

I reckon about 3 months for the trip. What do you think? Time is not really an issue with us. I guess the only thing would be seasons as we'll want to avoid the wet... so we'd do the trip between July and October (October would be southern WA, I'd like to be out of the northern half by the end of September).

A bit of a rambling message, sorry for that. Hope to hear from you and keep up the good work... websites like yours are rare treasures to the traveler!

Cheers,
-stef

Response to: Setting up a 4WD to camp

Wow, quite a submission indeed. And quite a plan! Thanks for the kind words. Glad you like the sites and the information. I guess it is written primarily with people like you in mind :).

Three months sounds about right to me. If time is not an issue just leave it open and take it as it comes.

I can't say anything about Mt Augustus because I've never been there, but don't be put off by the crowds at Uluru. You still have to do it and there are ways to enjoy it.

To me the crowds were a shock the first time I saw Uluru, after ten days in the desert to the west (coming from Perth via the Gunbarrel Highway and taking our time). It was so unexpected and it was too much of a contrast.

My second visit (2007) I thoroughly enjoyed. I knew there would be busloads of tourists everywhere and didn't have any unrealistic expectations.

We did the Valley of the Winds walk in the Olgas late in the afternoon and did not see another soul. Obviously we also went outside the main tourist season (May-Sep) and that certainly helped. Your experience will be somewhat different. But hey, it's gotta be done!

Well, and regarding your main question, I can't help you at all! Plus, obviously it totally depends on the vehicle you buy.

I just want to throw in some of my experience.

In September it's HOT up north. You don't want to sleep in the van, trust me. You don't even want a tent. Just a mozzie dome will do.

I have one that takes about five seconds to set up. Really. It works like an umbrella, only that you pull a string at the top instead of pushing the joint from underneath. I loved pulling it out of the car in campgrounds while everyone was slaving away setting up their tents and go... - zip - done. Hehe.

Also, depending on your vehicle and how you set it up, unpacking the car so there is room to sleep, and then putting everything back in is just as much work. (At least I found that when sleeping in the back of my car.)

If you can't get a vehicle that is already set up to sleep inside, I wouldn't worry about modifying the car. I'd get a mozzie dome and a fly to throw over it when it gets cold or when you need privacy. (And a warm sleeping bag for July in the centre. Brrr.)