Travelling and photographing the Australian Outback is a great privilege that I never take for granted.
As a family we visit it often and we have a couple of spectacular desert trips planned this year, the first one coming up in a couple of months time.
Recently we upgraded our touring vehicle to a Toyota 79 Series Dual Cab that we have modified to cope with the harsh environment it will be asked to operate in. It is also capable of pulling our off-road camper Trailer, a Track TVAN.
The TVAN is the go anywhere camper trailer with suspension built to military specifications.
Depending on conditions, the vehicle has a range of approximately 1,700-kilometres and all electrical equipment we require is powered by two 120-watt solar panels on the roof charging a 150-amp battery.
It is also equipped with a High Frequency radio for long-range communications. For those not familiar a HF Radio is capable of transmitting over large distances and with the right atmospheric conditions we can speak with someone thousands of kilometres away.
Now I’m not going to “rabbit” on too much here and I’ll let the photographs do the talking, but a little while back I asked for you to submit some designs for a mural to go on the vehicle and I’m pleased to showcase the final product that was inspired by a design suggested by Sassy, who writes a blog titled Sasieology…
The mural reflects the travel the vehicle will do, across the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the Sydney Opera House and into the Australian Outback.
And I hear you ask what about the Crow?
Well Charlie, he travels with us everywhere!
We captured the photographs as we put the vehicle through its paces with the TVAN in tow in the Australian Bush last weekend.
It passed with flying colours, but I’m still trying to wrest the keys back from Janet who is a rev-head at heart, especially behind the big gutsy V8 engine!
XPLORE - Out & About 
Love the off-road vehicle and camper Baz. Love the mural too. We just have a Toyota Hi-ace campervan, so we don’t do off-road unfortunately. We do like to find remote spots though when we can get away.
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Thanks Linda, it has been set up for long range desert travel and a bit of that coming up this year. Mind you, the Hi-Ace will probably go places you never thought it could…
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What a nice outfit you have there. I know I’m not telling you anything new. But, we read here about the heat wave in Australia. Here is an article I just saw.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=82790&src=eoa-iotd
I hope you get a break soon.
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Not too bad in Sydney so far…and thanks for the link!
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Been hearing more talk about the high temps, most recently in news about the Australian Open. So I’m guessing the TVAN is also equipped with some primo AC, right? Do the solar panels handle the AC load too?
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Airconditioning in the TVAN is limited to two vents on top. The back has a tent that drops down, or you can put a fly net across the back opening. Take a look at the TVAN link, they are quite impressive.
As far as heat goes, travelling the desert region is usually done in the winter months, and cold at night is the problem. This year I expect sub-zero Temps…
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That is one wild machine! You need something out there that you can depend on 🙂
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Oh, I’ve got Janet for that, but the vehicle is good too 😉
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🙂 Tell her Hello 🙂
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What desert are you planning on tackling this time? I will be starting my drive from Gunalda Qld to Karratha WA next weekend! The deserts over there are beautiful!
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Along the Birdsville Track in April and across the Anne Beadell Highway (Great Sandy Desert) in June – Enjoy your trip…Baz
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when will tomo be old enough to drive????
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Well, in fact he had a drive of the “Old Landy” when we were out and about last September whilst we were staying on a property.
Specifically, when does he get the keys to this one – it will be a long time! 😉
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It looks awesome! If I ever make it to Sydney, I’ll keep an eye out for it 🙂
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Hi Sas, once again thank you for your contribution as it set us precisely on the path we were looking for. And if you ever come to Sydney best you come for a ride in it out into the Aussie Bush! Cheers, Baz 🙂
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The mural turned out wicked cool!
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Yes, very happy with it, we got some great ideas from the blogging world and had an art shop put it together for us…
Glad you like it!
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Dude, let her drive! Then you can alternate between the scenery outside and checking her out inside…..
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😉
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Cheers to the new landy on the road!! so cool!
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All hail! Just got to get Janet out of the driver’s seat…!
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never!!!
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Awesome transportation you have there. Awesome driver too 😉
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Indeed! 😉
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That’s a great looking camper!!
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It is brilliant, designed for rugged off-road use, plus a queen size inner sprung mattress!
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She does look happy behind the wheel, that’s for sure!
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Yeah, well Janet better not get too comfortable! 🙂
Actually she is a very competent off-road drive…
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