FLICKING through the pages of 4X4 Australia magazine you might think that our intrepid travel contributors have the best job in the world. After all, they get to travel all over Australia and the world, to places most of us can only dream about, and they call it work!
Truth be told it’s not all stunning views and campfires under starlit skies; capturing these amazing images and informative stories can be hard work. Rolling out of the swag several hours before dawn, and travelling through the dark to get that magical sunrise photo, only to find that Mother Nature didn’t get the memo, can be pretty tough.
Then there are the long days on the road getting from one location to the next, battling with poor or closed roads, sorting mechanical problems, forking out for expensive fuel and supplies in remote places, and sometimes going for days without a shower or seeing another person. Not to mention having to deal with pesky editors always wanting words and photos delivered yesterday, and wondering why you didn’t get that stunning sunrise photo at that special place that’s renowned for it.
But ask any one of them and they’ll tell you that it’s a pretty good life.
All those miles on the road, and the locations and the tracks they lead to, mean that these guys and girls need dependable and well sorted 4x4 vehicles to ensure they can get to where they need to be … and back again, without any problems or fuss. They need a vehicle that they can live out of for extended periods, that has the ability to power and recharge specific equipment like lights, cameras and drones without killing their batteries, and one that has the communications gear needed to keep in touch with the world they left behind.
We asked some of our key photographers and writers from around the world to tell us a bit about what they drive to get the job done, and why they chose it. These are 4x4 vehicles built by people who have been doing this work for decades, travelling thousands of outback kilometres, and they know how to set up a vehicle for remote travel. It makes for interesting reading and gives us something to consider when equipping our own 4x4s.
KEVIN SMITH
1991 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER 80 SERIES
IT must be around 15 years now that I have been shooting for 4x4 Australia magazine, seeking out some of the most amazing destinations that our country has to offer.
My loyal ride is a 1991 Toyota LandCruiser 80 series, and I have owned it
