Road trip camping equipment for Australia
We sell our travel vehicles fully set up. Choose a setup by route, and everything is fitted by our own mechanics before you pick up the car.
BCA (Backpacker Cars Australia) sells its travel vehicles fully set up. What you need depends on where you’re driving, so we’ve split our recommendations into three setups. Campsite Ready covers sealed roads and nights at serviced campgrounds. Outback Ready is for long drives with a few nights between towns. Remote Ready is for 4WD tracks such as the Gibb River Road and Cape York. Each page lists the gear we’d take and explains why. Everything is fitted before you pick up the vehicle.
Some travellers leave with too little and spend their first week on the road buying gear. Others pay for a winch and a satellite phone and never leave the bitumen. Choosing gear by route avoids both.
Which setup do you need?
Three setups, matched to the roads you’ll drive and how far you’ll be from the next town.
Campsite Ready
Sealed roads and campgrounds.
- Routes
- East Coast, Great Ocean Road, Tasmania, a sealed Big Lap
- Vehicles
- SUVs, AWDs and 4WDs
Outback Ready
Long distances, nights between towns.
- Routes
- Melbourne or Adelaide to Uluru and Darwin, the Nullarbor, the WA coast to Exmouth
- Vehicles
- SUVs, AWDs and 4WDs
Remote Ready
Unsealed 4WD tracks, no mobile coverage.
- Routes
- Gibb River Road, Cape York, the Kimberley, the Tanami, the Canning Stock Route
- Vehicles
- High-clearance 4WDs with low-range gearing
How the three setups compare
Each setup builds on the one before it.
| Campsite Ready | Outback Ready | Remote Ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roads | Sealed, some graded gravel | Sealed highways and graded gravel | Unsealed 4WD tracks, river crossings |
| Where you sleep | Caravan parks, campgrounds | Free camps, roadhouses, station stays | Bush camps, days from the nearest town |
| Nights between towns | 0–1 | 2–4 | 5 or more |
| Power | 60Ah lithium second battery, solar blanket, 40L fridge | Same as Campsite Ready | 120Ah lithium second battery, solar blanket, 40L fridge |
| Bed | Rooftop tent | Rooftop tent and bedding | Rooftop tent and bedding |
| Water | Campground taps | 25L water tank and a shower | Water tank, a shower and two jerrycans |
| If something goes wrong | Phone signal and help nearby | Recovery boards, 11-piece recovery kit, compressor, tyre repair kit | Bull bar, winch, recovery kit, bush mechanic tools, satellite phone, PLB, Starlink |
| Vehicle | SUV, AWD or 4WD | SUV, AWD or 4WD | Low-range 4WD |
How buying equipment through BCA works
Every setup is installed and checked before handover
Roof racks, tents, battery systems, recovery gear and premium upgrades are fitted by the same mechanics who service every car we sell.
- Gear stays with the car when you sell it back
- We show you how everything works at pickup
Our own mechanics, our own workshop
Every setup is fitted at the BCA Service Centre by the team that inspects and services our cars. No subcontractors, and one place to come back to.
Most of what you need is already in the van
Our campervans already come with a bed, power and a kitchen. For off-grid travel and remote work, we offer extra options like Starlink, water tanks and Luffare modules.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to take everything you recommend?
No. Each setup is a list of what we’d take for that kind of trip. Choose the items that suit your plans and leave out anything you already own.
Can I add equipment if I’m buying my vehicle before I arrive in Australia?
Yes. Add equipment to your pre-purchase and we’ll fit it before you arrive. If you tell us your route when you enquire, we’ll suggest what to take.
I’m buying a campervan. What do I need?
Our campervans already come with a bed, power and a kitchen. For off-grid travel and remote work, we offer extra options like Starlink, water tanks and Luffare modules.
What happens to the equipment when I sell the vehicle back to BCA?
Fitted equipment stays with the vehicle. As long as it’s in good condition, it’s part of the vehicle we buy back.
Do I need a 4WD to drive through the outback?
Not for most of it. The Stuart Highway to Uluru and Darwin, the Eyre Highway across the Nullarbor and the main highways along the WA coast are sealed, and an SUV or AWD set up for Outback Ready can handle them. Unsealed tracks such as the Gibb River Road, Cape York and the Tanami need a low-range 4WD and the Remote Ready gear.
Can I buy equipment without buying a vehicle from BCA?
Our workshop’s focus is our own vehicles, but when we have space we can fit equipment to yours. Ask us.
Not sure which setup fits your trip?
Send us your route and how long you’ll be away. We’ll suggest the equipment and quote it with your vehicle.