1. This might sound like a motherhood statement, but if you’re planning extended travel in remote areas, ensure your tow vehicle and RV are in a fully serviceable condition. The same goes for your first aid kit.
2. At the risk of stating the bleeding obvious, always carry plenty of water. If water quality is doubtful, stocking up on bottled water before heading off might be the go. I know of an RV importer who, because of weight issues, suggests emptying water tanks before travel. That may be fine if you’re heading towards a booked site at a caravan park, but we do not recommended this for travelling in remote/outback areas of Australia.
3. If rough-road travel is planned, pack your van very carefully, paying particular attention to breakables.
4. Plan ahead: LPG for vehicles is not available everywhere.
5. When on narrow bush tracks, be aware of your rig’s dimensions, in particular the width and height.
6. Dispose of grey and black water waste in an appropriate manner. Dump points in Australia are not as numerous as they should be (although companies and organisations such as Kea Campers and the CMCA are working on that), so try to be as environmentally responsible as possible.
7. Ditto with rubbish. The days of “bash, burn and bury” are long gone. Try to leave your campsite in better condition than you found it.
8. Today’s electronics such as cameras and CD players don’t always cope with dust, so keep those items sealed.
9. Try to set up camp before it gets dark. One good reason for this is that animals often stray onto the roads at dusk, when they’re particularly hard to see.
10. Finally, if you have a breakdown, stay with the vehicle. It’s always good to carry an effective communication device, such as an HF radio, satellite phone or a personal locator beacon.