Outback Ready: off-grid setup for outback road trips
Everything in Campsite Ready, plus water, a shower, recovery gear and solar for two to four nights between towns.
Outback Ready is the setup BCA recommends for outback road trips in Australia. These trips cover long distances on sealed highways and graded gravel, with two to four nights at a time between towns. We suggest everything from Campsite Ready, plus a water tank, a shower, bedding, a cooking kit and lights for camps without facilities. For gravel roads we’d add recovery boards, a recovery kit, a compressor, a tyre deflator and a tyre repair kit.
Is Outback Ready right for your trip?
Distances between towns are long. Uluru to Alice Springs is about 460km by road. Many good free camps have no tap or toilets, so you’ll need to carry water and be able to repair a puncture yourself. It suits your trip if:
- You’ll be on long sealed highways or graded gravel, such as the Stuart Highway, the Eyre Highway across the Nullarbor, the North West Coastal Highway to Exmouth, or the roads into Kings Canyon and Karijini’s main gorges.
- You’ll spend two to four nights between towns at free camps, roadhouses or station stays.
- You’d like to handle a flat tyre or a soft road shoulder without waiting for help.
What we recommend, and why
Camp setup
Rooftop tent and roof racks, 40L fridge, lithium second battery with solar, awning, stove, table and two chairs.
Water and living
Water for camps that don’t have a tap.
For washing off the dust at the end of the day.
Two pillows, a blanket and sheets, so the rooftop tent is ready when you arrive.
A knife and chopping board set, a 37-piece picnic set, a pan and a pot.
For lighting the camp after dark.
Useful for cooking, packing up and getting around camp at night.
Tyres and recovery
Placed under the tyres to get traction when you’re stuck in sand or mud.
Snatch strap, shackles and the rest of the gear for being towed out by another vehicle.
For clearing sand or mud from around the tyres first.
Re-inflates your tyres before you get back on the highway.
Lowers tyre pressure for long gravel sections, which gives a smoother ride and reduces punctures.
For plugging a puncture at the roadside.
Safety
Help can be hours away, so carry more than the basics.
Fitted and checked in our workshop
Recovery gear, battery system and tent are installed by our mechanics, and we show you how to use the recovery kit at pickup.
Also worth considering
Double the capacity: around 50–60 hours of fridge between drives.
Shade on the side and rear of the vehicle at camps without trees.
Attaches to the side awning to make a private shower.
240V power for laptops, camera batteries and small appliances.
Lockable storage in the boot: slim, single or kitchen drawer, plus a drawer table and a fridge slide.
Starts a flat battery without needing a second car.
Roof-mounted and wired to the second battery. Internet and Wi-Fi calling where there’s no mobile signal.
Which vehicles suit Outback Ready?
SUVs and AWDs handle these roads, and most Outback Ready trips start in one. A 4WD is a good choice if you might take unsealed tracks later in the trip. Campervans already have a bed, power and a kitchen, and we can add Starlink and water tanks for off-grid travel and remote work.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the fridge run on the second battery?
Around 30–40 hours on the 60Ah battery and 50–60 hours on the 120Ah battery. It recharges from the alternator whenever you drive, and from the solar blanket while you’re parked.
Do I need recovery gear on gravel roads?
You probably won’t use it often. Recovery boards and the recovery kit are for times you get stuck on a sandy shoulder or a wet creek bed, and that can happen a long way from a tow truck. Punctures are more common on outback gravel, which is why we include the repair kit and compressor.
Do I need a 4WD for an outback road trip?
Not on sealed highways and graded gravel. The Stuart Highway, the Nullarbor crossing and the main WA coast road are sealed. Unsealed tracks like the Gibb River Road, Cape York and the Tanami need a low-range 4WD, and we’d recommend Remote Ready for those.
Can I add Outback Ready gear to a pre-purchase?
Yes. Include it in your pre-purchase enquiry and we’ll fit it before you arrive.
Tell us your route
We’ll suggest the equipment and quote it with your vehicle.