touring Archives - Pat Callinan's 4X4 Adventures

Corrugations are an unavoidable part of travelling Australia’s unsealed roads. They form as tyres disturb loose material and suspension movement repeatedly shapes it into ridges, creating anything from a mild…

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Advice

How to make a tank last longer when diesel costs a fortune

Diesel is getting painfully expensive, and there’s even been serious rumours around Australian prices pushing beyond $4 a litre. For anyone driving a big, heavy 4X4 around the country, that…

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News

MRT goes all-in on long-term ownership

Canopy manufacturers usually have plenty to say about construction, storage and new accessories. MRT’s latest announcement takes a different direction, focusing on what happens after a customer has collected their…

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Equipment

Aus J launches new EZY RV exterior shower

An exterior shower probably sits fairly low on the list when you first start building a touring rig. Get a few dusty trips under your belt, though, and suddenly having…

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Electrical

How To Size Your Solar

Solar power really shouldn’t be this confusing. You use electricity while camping, your solar panels replace it, and your battery stores enough to get you through the night. Simple. Then…

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Advice

How To Recover Yourself When You’re Solo

Getting bogged when you’re travelling with mates is usually an inconvenience. Getting bogged when you’re on your own can become a serious problem very quickly. There’s no second vehicle to…

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Advice

The Five Worst Campsite Crimes (and Their Punishments)

Camping has an unwritten code. Nobody hands you a rulebook when you buy your first swag or rooftop tent, but before long you learn there are certain things you just…

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Advice

How To Plan An Outback Trip Without Losing Your Mind

The first mistake people make when planning a major outback trip is trying to fit too much into too little time. Australia looks manageable on a map until you start…

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News

Is Hill End The Next Big Touring Destination?

Hill End has always felt much bigger than its current population suggests. Hidden away in the NSW Central Tablelands, north of Bathurst, the former gold-mining town is filled with old…

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Advice

Weight Distribution: Why Your Ute Handles Like a Wet Sponge

There’s a familiar moment in the evolution of almost every touring 4X4. It starts life feeling reasonably sharp and predictable, then slowly accumulates a bull bar, winch, canopy, drawers, fridge,…

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Advice

Five Things That End More Trips Than Mechanical Failures

Spend enough time around campfires and you’ll hear plenty of stories about snapped CVs, blown head gaskets and catastrophic engine failures. They’re entertaining tales, but they’re also surprisingly rare. 4X4s…

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News

The Strzelecki Track Is Changing Forever… But Is That A Good Thing?

Every time another section of the bush gets sealed, the comments light up. Some 4X4ers celebrate another step towards reliable year-round access, while others see it as one more piece…

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Electrical

What Actually Makes Touring Gear Survive?

There is a particular kind of confidence that comes with bolting new gear to a 4X4 before a big trip. Everything is clean, every switch works and every component looks…

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Travel

Shifting Sands: ARB’s 50th Anniversary Tour Heads For The Arabian Desert

There are plenty of companies that sell adventure. Far fewer actually live it. That’s what has made ARB’s 50th anniversary series such a strong reminder of why the brand has…

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Advice

The Unwritten Rules Of The Bush

One of the biggest mistakes new 4X4ers make is assuming that because they’re out in the bush, they have the place to themselves. The reality is that every track is…

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Advice

Planning A Big Lap? This Weather Forecast Could Change Everything

Most of us spend months planning a major trip. We map routes, book campsites, service the rig and count down the days until departure. What we rarely consider is whether…

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Advice

Is Your Roof Rack Dangerously Overloaded? (And How To Fix It)

There’s a good chance you’ve spent plenty of time worrying about your vehicle’s GVM, but how much thought have you given to what’s happening above your head? For many of…

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Advice

Why Corrugations Are Destroying Your Rig (And How To Drive Them)

When most people think about vehicle damage in the bush, they picture dramatic moments. A tyre sidewall gets sliced open on a sharp rock. A water crossing goes deeper than…

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Electrical

Aus J Hot Water System Faces The Ultimate Outback Torture Test

We talk a lot about reliability when we’re prepping our rigs. Usually, that means making sure our winches work or our tyres can handle sharp stakes. For most weekenders though,…

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News

Important April News

MRT LAUNCHES HELIUM INJECTED CANOPY TO BEAT GVM In an industry first, MRT have launched the world’s first helium filled canopy to help customers meet GVM requirements. Included in their…

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Advice

10 Tips To Save Fuel In The Bush

With fuel prices bouncing around like a kangaroo on a trampoline and remote outback bowsers regularly charging eye-watering amounts per litre, stretching every drop of diesel or petrol has become…

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Advice

Outback Roads Are Closing Fast: What’s Shut & What’s Next

If you’ve been watching the inland radar lately, you’ll know this isn’t just a passing storm. This is basin-wide rain feeding some of Australia’s biggest inland river systems. And when…

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Advice

Outback Rain Puts Damper On Remote Touring

Nearly half the country is on flood watch right now. A slow-moving low-pressure system has parked itself over central Australia and it’s dragging tropical moisture deep into the interior. We’re…

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Advice

Tub Rack vs Canopy: What Actually Works When the Trip Gets Real?

If you’re building a dual cab for touring, this is the crossroads. Forget tyres and lift kits for a minute, what you do with the back of the ute will…

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Advice

The Most Underrated Mod for Long-Distance Touring

We spend a fortune protecting our engines from the harsh Australian elements. We fit snorkels to keep the water out and high-quality airboxes to stop the dust. We obsess over…

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Vehicles

Super Duty Details: More Options For Tough Tourers

Righto, let’s talk heavy hitters. Ford’s Ranger Super Duty ute has been a bit of a dream machine for anyone doing serious work, but let’s be honest, the initial offerings…

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Electrical

REDARC Unveils The REDLAB Lithium Battery

South Australian manufacturer REDARC has announced the launch of its new REDLAB Lithium Adventure Battery range. A next-generation off-grid power solution designed to survive the same punishing conditions that 4X4ers are known for…

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Electrical

Engel’s Twin-Door Combi Fridge Freezer Brings Touring Smarts to the Bush

If you’ve spent any time on the road, you’ll know Engel has built its reputation on one thing, reliability. But with the new Twin-Door Combi range, Engel’s stepped things up again,…

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Vehicles

How to Spec Up Your Super Duty

Ford’s Ranger Super Duty lands in early 2026, and while the ute itself is built tough, the real talking point is the way you can tailor it straight out of…

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News

Mundi Mundi Bash 2025 Hits Full Throttle

The Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash is on, and not only is it happening this weekend (August 21–23), it’s sold out, with an epic crowd of nearly 15,000 hitting the red dirt at Belmont Station on…

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Travel

ARB Gets Dirty In The Flinders

There’s no shortage of 4X4 gear on the market these days. Every second ute has a lift, lights, or a so-called “adventure rack” bolted to the tub. But when you…

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Advice

Free Virtual Caravan Safety Workshop Coming to Your Lounge Room

Whether you’re gearing up for your first big lap in your new caravan or just want to be sure you’re towing within your limits, there’s no shortage of advice out…

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Issue 067

Things I’ve Learned In The Dirt

When I first began camping there was a wave of shock that went over my family, with my mum exclaiming “who is this and what have you done with the…

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Issue 067

How to Cross the Continent: Tips and Tricks for the Ultimate Aussie Adventure

There’s something seriously magnetic about crossing Australia. The sheer size of the country beckons almost every red-blooded wheeler. For me, it’s not just about getting from one spot to another;…

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Electrical

Get Your Own ‘Thirst Responder’ With Engels Latest Release

If you’ve been tuning into Season 16 of Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures, you’ve no doubt admired Pat’s Ruby Red Metallic Engel kicking around in the back of the ‘Thirst Responder’.…

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News

Calls for More Outback Roads to Be Sealed: But Is It All Bad News?

For those of us who love exploring past the black stump, the news that more outback roads might be sealed can feel like a bit of a gut punch. The…

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Gear

ARB Launches Versatile Hard Lid for Utes

Getting the balance right between work and play is one of the major obstacles most dual cab ute owners find when decking out their pride and joy. The empty tub…

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Issue 065

The Big Lap Bible: A Guide to Touring Australia

Touring Australia is one of the most rewarding, and at times, challenging holidays you’ll ever have the pleasure of doing. It offers the chance to explore the vast and varied…

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News

4×4 Adventures Await in Reopened Kimberley National Parks

The wait is over for 4X4 adventurers as Western Australia’s Kimberley region opens its gates once again. After a challenging period of recovery from the worst floods in the state’s…

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Issue 064

Plan The Ultimate Desert Adventure

To most Aussie 4X4’ers touring Australia’s remote outback is a rite of passage. The rugged terrain tests the mettle of even the most seasoned travellers and their rigs, but the…

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News

Red Centre Turns Green with Outback Rains

With a deluge of water in the red centre, outback travellers are finding things looks a little… different this year. The iconic red dirt of Birdsville, typically synonymous with arid,…

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Gear

Touring Tech – What Suspension Is Right For You?

When venturing out into the wild, the performance of your rig hinges on numerous factors, with one of the most critical being the choice of shock absorbers. This choice can…

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Travel

Port Mac to Sydney Through the Backroads

Hey folks, this week on Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures we’re taking you through the last chapter of our epic Brisbane to Sydney adventure. We’re kicking things off from the stunning…

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Advice

Surviving the Slithery: A 4X4 Adventurer’s Guide to Snake Bites

Heading into the wild on four wheels? Fantastic! But before you channel your inner Bear Grylls, there’s a little something about our legless friends you might want to consider. Yes,…

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Gear

Beyond the Adventure: The Unsung Hero of Your 4X4’s Interior

Imagine this: you’re on the adventure of a lifetime, maybe you’ve finally made it to the stunning wild beaches of Esperance, you’re knee-deep in the Tele’ Track, or ascended to…

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Travel

Paradise not just by name, K’Gari is a must-see for every 4X4er

If you’re a sucker for off-road adventures and the great outdoors, Pat Callinan’s recent video on K’Gari will hit all the right notes. No stranger to the epic sun sets…

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Uncategorised

The Unwritten Rules Every 4×4 Driver Should Know

Alright, all you mud-slinging, adventure-livin’, transfer case enthusiasts, let’s talk 4×4 etiquette! Yeah, I know, the word “etiquette” might sound a tad fancy when you’re covered in dirt and your…

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Advice

How to Build the Perfect Campfire: A Sizzling Guide

Ah, the allure of the Friday night camp, the freedom of endless bush, and the promise of an ice-cold beverage and a hearty meal after a long day on the…

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Advice

Top Tips for saving fuel

There’s no freedom quite like owning a 4×4. Endless tracks, pristine beach campsites, and crystal clear rivers far beyond the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It’s the epitome of…

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Issue 058

Big mods for the Big Lap

As we travel around this great country, we get the opportunity to meet other fellow travellers living on the road or doing the big lap. Almost all of them are…

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