Packing

Limited space, weight restrictions, climatic conditions ranging from freezing to mid summer temperatures, a desire to restock as infrequently as possible (to get a better idea of what we can manage next year in the Western deserts), & the first time we have packed the Tvan & Patrol for longer than a week away have all added up to a packing task which has been huge …………. & in which a great deal of cooperation & compromise between us has been needed.

That we have completed this task without a single cross word to each other is testament to the shared dream we each want the other to experience.

It’s all packed now bar the last minute items like fresh fruit & vegies & computer. Although we have had the Tvan for 2 or 3 years now, & the Patrol for longer, this is the first time we have fully utilised the storage space in the Tvan & packed for longer than a week away.
With everything laid out on the shed floor it looked like total chaos & we feared we would never fit it all in & fully expected we would have discard quite a lot. I guess the fact that this did not transpire reflects our past experience & the camping list book maintained by MrsTea.

We also wanted , as much as possible to ensure the easiest access possible to everything, nothing worse than always having to move ‘stuff’ to get to other ‘stuff’

The result of our several days effort proved rather better than expected, with most things easily accessible AND with quite a lot of unused space ‘left over’ in the Patrol. We found it hard to believe & kept wondering what we could have forgotten! Being able to redistribute the gear which we usually squeeze into the Patrol between the Patrol & Tvan has made a big difference. Buying 3 extra plastic boxes to go under the Tvan bed made the biggest difference.

Here’s the list of what we packed, together with 270 litres of water distributed between car & van – (we left the Patrol’s 30 litre under tray tank empty & also decided not to carry the Oztent, or the Tvan’s main awning & ensuite shower tent on this forthcoming Queensland jaunt.

The structure of the list, made as we packed, reflects the process we followed. 🙂

TVAN SPARES LIST
Two sets bearings with seals & grease & split pin + drift
two dust caps & small tube silicon – better seal & holds them on better
Two shocks
Shock rubbers
Main fuse – 30 amp Maxi fuse x3

Patrol Spares & tools list. (All in under tray compartment unless noted otherwise)

Spanner & socket set
Ratchet spanners
Shifters – small medium & large
C spanner for DO35 hitch
Clamp meter
2 x files (1 round, 1 half round)
Oil filter wrench
Filter strap for fuel filter
Spare keys
Belt tensioner ……. don’t have
Ground pepper  – for coolant leaks
Socket sets 1/4 & 1/2 inch
hammers (Nylon faced + geologists)
small cold chisel
centre punch
Screw drivers
Allen Keys
Hack saw + 2 blades
Multi Meter
WD40
cable ties
knife & spare blades
set of step drills – in blue box 2
set of small drill bits – in blue box 2
Fuses
Fuse ammeter (battery in blue box 2)
Spare fan belts – in Gas cabinet
Spare Radiator hoses – on top of batteries in canopy
Spare fuel hose
Spare heater hose
hose clamps
Electrical cable & connectors
Electrical tape
Test lead
Leak tape
Hose repair tape
Duct tape
Fencing wire
wire brush
Tyre plug kit
steel putty
Engine oil + 2 filters
Fuel filter – 1 x main
Fuel filter – 2 x CAV
Spare fuel filter glass bowl
Brake fluid – in Blue Box 2
Brake bleeder
Small Tarp – in gas cabinet
Mesh radiator screen suitable for spinifex …. don’t have
Front hub adjustment tool.
Pliers – needle nose, conventional, pipe wrench
Vice grips – large & medium
Grease
Small grease gun
Hand cleaner
Rubber gloves
set of wheel nuts
set of wheel studs – don’t have.
Wheel brace – under small fridge
Spare shocks ? Not this trip
Blue thread lock.
Artery forceps.
circlip pliers
Spare tyre valves
Blow gun – under compressor tank
Funnel – on top of compressor.
Assorted glues & goos.
cordless drill driver & bits – in blue box 2
Vehicle workshop manual on iPad

Recovery Gear
3 x bow shackles – in under tray gas cabinet
1 x Soft Shackle – gas cabinet
1 x bow shackle hitch receiver – gas cabinet
2 x snatch blocks – gas cabinet
1 x 30m Dyneema rope extension -next to compressor in canopy
1 x 8000kg snatch strap – next to compressor
1 x 12000kg snatch strap – next to compressor
1 x tree protector strap – next to compressor
1 x equaliser strap – next to compressor
Leather gloves – cab door pocket(both sides)
Winch rope blanket – behind seats
Tyre Deflator – behind seats
Tyre Inflator – next to compressor
Air Hose – next to compressor
1 x pair Max trax – top shelf inside canopy
Exhaust Jack – at front of canopy, on top of battery compartment
Vehicle Jack – in cab
hydraulic Jack – in Tvan side
Timber jack plate – underneath driver seat
Shovel – rear of canopy (extension handle in under tray compartment).
winch controller – in cab
Chain saw – next to compressor

Cab
Waterproofs – in passenger seat rear pocket
winch tube handle – in door
Tyre repair kit – under drivers seat
Ropes x 1 – behind small fridge
Tow Hitch lock – in pocket back of passenger seat
2 stroke oil & measuring bottle – behind drivers seat
Map book in pocket behind drivers seat
Hema gps navigator + iPad with Hema 4wd maps & wikicamps app + phone with Topo maps & Wikicamps app.
2 x hand held UHF radios –
Satphone
Epirb
2 x pairs sunnies
2 x Camelback hydration packs + emergency grab bag

Fishing gear
3 rods/reels (surf reel behind small fridge & 3 piece rod in storage tube. Medium & light rods carried ready to use on canopy top shelf.
Tackle box
Bait box
Filleting knife
1 x rod holder
I x bait net
1 x keep net

Water
Wooden ‘spanner’ – blue box 1
Single filter for filling tank – blue box 1
Chlorine – blue box 1
Micropur powder – blue box 1
2 x spare sediment filters – – blue box 1
1 x spare carbon silver filter for Patrol – blue box 1
1x spare carbon silver filter for Tvan – blue box 1
3 x hoses – on Tvan drawbar
Assorted hose fittings – blue box 1
Assorted water pipe fittings – next to pump
Spare pump (can also be used for filling) – alongside water tank
Short hot water hose – rear of canopy

Blue Box 2
AAA batteries
AA batteries
Button batteries for Tyre Pressure sensors
4 x 18v lithium batteries ,charger & impact drill driver
3 x spare chainsaw chains
Chain & bar oil – 1 litre
Brake fluid
——–

aluminium stool – rear of canopy
Black step stool – rear of canopy
2 x poles for Patrol awning
Awning – top shelf in canopy
Foam ground mat squares – top shelf in canopy
2 x chairs – top shelf in canopy

Clothing
All in Tvan in 2 x ‘netting tubes’ along side of bed (can be hung vertically in tent) except for 2 outdoor coats.
Walking boots x 2 – in yellow box under bed
Sandals x 2 – under passenger seat
Crocs x 1 – in Tvan
Thongs x 1 in Tvan

Tvan drawbar
‘Telecom’ cord – on top of spare Tvan wheel
3 x diesel jerries
Timber blocks
2 x gas bottles
2 x levelling ramps
1 x choofer
Spare wheel

Portapotti toilet – in Tvan + Napisan & toilet roll

Tvan Side storage
Rear right:
1 x 20 l water jerry
1 x Hydraulic jack
6 x deck legs
6 x plywood pieces (for under deck legs on soft ground)
Legs etc for choofer

Rear Left:
1 x 20l water jerry

Front right cabinet:
5 awning poles
1 x Sail awning
1 x rear fly mesh for Tvan
1 x large Wok
Box containing assorted Tvan spares & the useful bits &
pieces
1 x hydraulic jack handle2 x pool noodles
10 x tent pegs
10 x guy ropes
1 xHammer (geologist’s pick)
1 x folding table
1 x longer radio antenna

Front Left:
Slide out kitchen
Utensils & assorted knives & cutlery
Tea towels
——–

2 spare shock absorbers – one either side of bed

‘Lunchbox’ – in canopy kitchen
2 x plates
2 x cups
2 x glasses
Thermos flask
1 x lighter
1 x billy
Sandwich box
sharp knife, teaspoon.

2 fridge/freezers
2 boxes under Tvan bed for non perishables
1 box under Tvan bed for fresh fruit, veggies & eggs.
Regular use items on kitchen shelves in canopy.

1 x Cpap machine in Tvan

Gas cooking & kitchen equipment – in box in canopy
Camp fire cooking gear ( frypan, camp oven & baking trays, ) fly spray and clothes washing liquid – in box under Tvan bed. Will also hold some fresh veggies & fruit

Wash bags/personal hygiene x 2 – at side of bed in Tvan
Towels – 2 x small hand towels
– 2 x large microfibre towels

1 set spare sheets & pillowcases – with clothing in Tvan

2 x fire extinguishers – 1 in Tvan, 1 in Patrol
1 x fire blanket in Tvan kitchen

Black Box (Patrol) No.1
Medications & lotions etc
First Aid Kit.
Sewing kit
Hair dye.
Mozzie spray
Cpap spares

Black Box (Patrol) No.2
Kitchen equipment & coffee making apparatus.

Black Box (Patrol) No. 3
Some fishing gear – half empty

Black Box (Patrol) No.4
2 warm coats – half empty

Black Box(Patrol) No.5
Empty

Black Box (Patrol) No.6
Empty

240v 15amp extension cable with Amp-Fibian for 10amp supplies – yellow box under Tvan bed

Computers
1 x laptop + charger – carry under doona on bed
1 x iPad & charger in second glovebox
1 x HDD – Backup for laptop – in box under tvan bed
1 x HDD – movies – in box under tvan bed
1 x iPod + charger cable – in second glovebox
2 x iPod shuffles with earphones & charger cable
1 x cable to connect iPod to Radio (car & Tvan). Next to radio in Tvan

Cameras
1 x Canon camera + accessories in bag – behind drivers seat
1 x Sony camera – in second glove box
Sony battery charger & cables – in box under Tvan bed

Spare toilet rolls -in bag on top of compressor

Booklets/instructions/manuals – in small fridge side pocket.

Phew! 5 days to go

Ps. feel free to let us know if you think we’ve forgotten anything! ha ha.