When selecting a vehicle, be aware that the following are desirable items:
Integrated air conditioning
Power steering
Window tinting
Towing points or hooks (front and back)
Automatic or manually engaged free wheel/locking hubs for front wheels
Transmission cooler (for automatics)
High-capacity alternator (about 80 amperes) if an electric winch or a refrigerator is fitted.
Professionally manufactured and tested towbar/bumper with jacking points.
Strong front bumper with jacking points.
Long-range fuel tank(s).
Air cleaner and snorkel
Locking differential(s)
There are many items that can be added to a four-wheel drive to make your journey safer and more enjoyable. However, be sure to fit essentials before non-essentials.
Fire Extinguishers: These are an absolute necessity. It may be wise to buy two. If a fire breaks out in the middle of the desert and burns out the car, you may be left with no radio, or other rescue equipment. We recommend you carry the personal extinguisher with you at all times. Fit the extinguishers in readily accessible places. If you have a fire on a gas cooking appliance, quickly turn off the supply at the cylinder.
Cargo Barriers: Cargo barriers are essential for containing luggage, and are critical to the safety of people in the vehicle. If you are going on an extended DriveWA adventure and are likely to be carrying more than the normal amount of material in the back, a good storage system aids safety; saving precious space and tie down points.
Quick Release Battery Connectors: If these are not factory fitted, fit them immediately. If electrical wiring chafes or a wiring short circuit develops, the wiring in the car body will overheat and possibly ignite flammable materials. By turning the screw on a quick-release connector, you instantly disconnect the battery; possibly saving both the wiring and the car.
Twin Independent Battery Systems: It is important to install these if you run supplement 12-volt appliances, such as a floodlight or refrigerator. The extra appliances run from an auxiliary battery, and remove the danger of being faced with a discharged battery when you crank the engine. With a two-battery system, you can arrange the system so that both batteries are charged while the engine runs; whilst not being connected when the engine is at rest.
The following list is a guide to tools and spare parts that may be appropriate. The team at DriveWA recommend that you conduct further research before commencing your journey. Remember that the list may vary according to your personal level of skill; your destination; and the vehicle you intend to take on your travels.
Large and small shifting spanners
A set of socket wrenches with extensions and ratchet handle; covering any special sizes or requirements for your make and model of vehicle (e.g. long-reach socket to remove injectors, extension bar with universal to reach upper clutch cylinder bolt)
A small pipe wrench and set of vice-grips
A pump, gearbox, and differential plug wrenches
Standard pliers, long-nose pliers, multi-grip pliers
A set of screwdrivers, fiat tip and Phillips head side-cutters
Tinsnips
Bow saw, hacksaw and spare blades
Soldering iron (gas or 12-volt) and acid-core solder
Sharp knife (perhaps two; small and hunting size)
Hand drill and bits
Pop-rivet tool and assorted pop rivets
Wire brush
Strong shovel
Two or more star pickets and length of 25-millimetre rope
Tomahawk and/or axe
Machete
Grease gun and spare cartridge
Ball hammer, sledge hammer, mash hammer
Standard jack, plus a piece of strong timber at least 30 x 30 x 5 centimetres OR a flat steel plate to use as a secure base for your jack in sand or mud
High-lift jack
Tyre levers, rubber or neoprene tyre mallet
Tyre pump or compressor, tyre pressure gauge, tyre valve tool
Wheel brace
There are many accessories available for your four wheel drive. You could spend a fortune and have a lot of fun doing it up! Some are useful to recover the vehicle if it is bogged, as long as you know how to use them, BUT they can be very dangerous if you do not know how to use them properly.
Webbing Strap (snatch strap): These are polypropylene or nylon webbing straps that are woven, with an eye at each end. In practice, the strap is attached between the towing and the bogged vehicle. The towing vehicle backs towards the stuck vehicle for about one-third the length of the strap, and then accelerates away. The webbing strap will stretch under tension, increasing the energy being applied to the towed vehicle.
Although the webbing strap is versatile and highly useful, it is without doubt one of the most high-risk items of recovery gear. The snatch strap can be fatal (they become projectiles) if used with a poor-quality towbar; or if connected to towing hooks, bull-bars, and towbars that are not secured with quality high-tensile bolts. It is most unwise to use one of these without first being properly trained on the use of this, and all other recovery gear.