Remote Ready: 4WD touring setup for the Gibb River Road and Cape York
Bull bar, winch, satellite phone, Starlink and bush mechanic tools for the Gibb, Cape York and the Tanami.
Remote Ready is the 4WD touring setup BCA recommends for remote tracks in Australia, including the Gibb River Road, Cape York, the Kimberley, the Tanami and the Canning Stock Route. Help can be a long way off on these routes, so the gear focuses on recovering your own vehicle, making roadside repairs and contacting help without mobile coverage. We suggest everything from Outback Ready, plus a bull bar, a winch, a bush mechanic tool kit, a satellite phone, Starlink and two jerrycans. We fit this gear to high-clearance 4WDs with low-range gearing.
Is Remote Ready right for your trip?
The Gibb River Road runs for about 660km, mostly unsealed, with river crossings and long stretches without mobile signal. Remote Ready suits your trip if your route includes:
- The Gibb River Road or other Kimberley tracks
- Cape York, including the Old Telegraph Track
- The Tanami Track, the Plenty Highway or the Canning Stock Route
- Long sections of beach driving, such as on K’gari (Fraser Island)
- Five or more nights in a row without reaching a town
What we recommend, and why
Camp and living gear
Rooftop tent and roof racks, 40L fridge, lithium second battery with solar, awning, stove, table and chairs, plus a water tank, a shower, bedding, a cooking kit, LED lights and head torches.
Double the capacity: around 50–60 hours of fridge between drives.
Recovery
This gear only helps if you know how to use it. Ask us to show you the kit at pickup, and consider a one-day 4WD course before you go.
Protects the front of the vehicle from roos and scrub, and gives a solid mount for the winch and driving lights.
For pulling the vehicle free when there’s no second vehicle to tow you. Mounted on the bull bar, so the two are fitted together.
Snatch strap, shackles and the rest of the gear for being towed out by another vehicle.
Placed under the tyres to get traction when you’re stuck in sand or mud.
Mounts the boards on the outside of the vehicle so you can reach them quickly.
For clearing sand or mud from around the tyres first.
Tyres, tools and fuel
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.
For roadside repairs when the nearest mechanic may be a day’s drive away.
Carry extra fuel or water, whichever your route needs, for long gaps between roadhouses.
Staying in contact
Most of the Gibb, Cape York and the Tanami have no mobile coverage.
Works anywhere with a clear view of the sky. This is how you’d contact emergency services, a mechanic or the nearest station.
Roof-mounted and wired to the second battery. Internet and Wi-Fi calling where there’s no mobile signal.
Sends your location to rescue services at the press of a button.
Safety
Help can be hours away, so carry more than the basics.
Stay in contact off the grid
Satellite phone, PLB and Starlink, fitted and tested by our mechanics before you leave, so you know how they work before you need them.
Also worth considering
Lockable storage in the boot: slim, single or kitchen drawer, plus a drawer table and a fridge slide.
Shade on the side and rear of the vehicle at camps without trees.
240V power for laptops, camera batteries and small appliances.
For anything else, such as a long-range fuel tank, tell us what you need.
Which vehicles suit Remote Ready?
High-clearance 4WDs with low-range gearing, such as the Toyota Prado, Mitsubishi Challenger and Nissan Pathfinder in our Explorer+ range. You can see current stock on the 4WD page. AWDs such as the X-Trail and Outlander aren’t suited to these tracks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a BCA 4WD on the Gibb River Road?
Yes, in a high-clearance 4WD with low-range gearing, fitted with Remote Ready gear. The Gibb is about 660km of mostly unsealed road with river crossings, so it isn’t suitable for an AWD or a campervan.
When is the Gibb River Road open?
It’s usually open in the dry season, from around May to November, and closed during the wet. Opening dates change with the rain, so check the Main Roads WA road condition report before you leave.
Do I need a winch?
Not always. Recovery boards and a snatch strap will get most vehicles out of trouble, particularly if you’re travelling with a second vehicle. A winch is most useful if you’re travelling alone on tracks like Cape York’s Old Telegraph Track or the Canning Stock Route.
Will my mobile phone work on remote tracks?
For long stretches, no. That’s why we recommend a satellite phone and a PLB for emergencies, and Starlink if you want internet and calls at camp.
Can I add Remote Ready gear to a pre-purchase?
Yes, and it’s the best way to buy a full Remote Ready vehicle. There’s more to fit, so ordering through pre-purchase gives us time to have everything fitted and tested before you arrive.
Tell us your route
We’ll suggest the equipment and quote it with your vehicle.