What to take

Contents

• Weight
• Tools
  • 2CV A Series Tool List
  • Spares
  • Support Team
• Food and Water
• Fuel
• Clothing
• Camping

For further detailed suggestions on packing see relevant information on the Raid 2008 website page.

Weight

Weight is the primary consideration when Raiding.
Consider the manufacturer’s weights set out in the Citroën Manual No. 8161.

This clearly illustrates that the load range for these sorts of vehicles is generally around 335kg and in the case of the vans, up to 435kg. Of course, regardless of the type of vehicle, they all exert the weight over the same four tyres on the ground. Normally it takes someone to have experienced the frustration of being uselessly bogged in the sand for a couple of hours to fully appreciate how important the maximum weight issue is.

That is 335kg for the people in the car, all your gear, your food, your water, your fuel and any weight that you add on in mechanical preparation.

People

The first thing is to work out how much the people in the car weigh, as this will be the first and single largest consideration when determining how much other gear (including tools, water, fuel and food) you can carry. This is the reason why experienced Raiders limit the number of people in the car to 1 or 2.

Tools

Every Raider is requested to carry a minimum of tools and spares for minor repairs.

2CV A Series Tool List

• Small good quality socket set 3/8″ drive from 8mm-21mm (including spark plug socket 21mm)
• Spanners open ring 8mm-19mm + extra 11mm
• Fan removal tool
• Screwdrivers
• Small Hammer
• Pliers
• Feeler gauges
• Telescopic magnet
• Test lamp or multi meter
  Grease gun (small) and grease
• Tow rope
• Good quality tie down rope
• Jack
• Wheel nut tool
• Tyre pump
• Puncture repair kit

Spares

• 2 Tyres
• 3 Tubes
• Spare keys
• Spare electrical cable and terminal connectors
• Coil
• Engine gasket set
• Set of light bulbs
• Alternator fuse, belt and relay
• 12 volt fuses 10 amp
• Brake fluid LHM or Dot 4
• Brake pipe seals
• Duct tape and insulation tape
• WD 40 spray small
• Cable ties
• Engine and gear box oils
• Ice-cream, clean up containers
• Front and rear knife edges, and clips
• Assortment: bolt, nuts, screws, washers, pins, clips, splits etc.

The support team will carry amongst them:

• battery powered tools
• rattle guns
• drills
• angle grinders
• a welding setup
• a spare gearbox and a spare motor
• spare wheel arms and wheel arm straightening device
• carry spare shock absorbers
• chassis repair plates
• some extra water
• some extra fuel for the 2CVs
• shovel
• tow straps

Food and Water

When undertaking any outback travel you should always carry a stock of emergency food. Raid 2020 Australia is a self-catering camping trip with the exception of a few meals that are incorporated in the registration fee.

There are strict quarantine laws within Australia and between each state. RAID 2020 envisages that all fresh fruit and vegetables purchased in Western Australia will have been consumed or cooked prior to arrival in Coober Pedy in South Australia. Fresh fruit and vegetables can be purchased in Coober Pedy for the forward journey across the Birdsville track.

It is planned that the food requirements for the Raid proper will be set out in the guide book so that you can purchase enough for the duration of the next leg prior to departure. The longest period between opportunities to re-stock at a proper supermarket is eight days provided there are no breakdowns. This is between Laverton and Coober Pedy. Ilkurka is at day 5 on this stretch and has limited dry food products – tinned foods, noodles etc. The longest period without access to water is 5 days.
You should carry enough water containers to carry the minimum amount of water required for the occupants of your car for five days, plus your emergency water.

Fuel

When undertaking outback travel you should always carry an emergency supply of fuel. If a fuel tank gets punctured, or a fuel line ripped out, you should still have enough fuel to get through. Obviously, we do not need every car to carry emergency fuel, however it is recommended that two cars in each group carry an extra 10 litres.

The fuel requirements for the Raid proper will be set out in the guidebook, so that you can purchase enough for the duration of the next stage prior to departure. Petrol prices fluctuate and the highest price for fuel on the survey was $3.50 AU per litre. Currently the cheapest price of 98 unleaded fuel in Perth is $1.50 AU.

Raiders are expected to purchase enough fuel for their own requirements during the Raid.

Depending on local weather conditions, the Anne Beadell Highway (track) between Laverton and Coober Pedy may be soft sand or hard corrugations. The longest stretch between fuel stops is 780 km. To determine your fuel requirements for this leg, you need to know what the consumption of your car is, then multiply it by 1.7 to allow for the conditions.

Fuel Calculator for this 780km stretch

Clothing

The first thing worthy of mention when you are considering clothes is the red dust. White and pale clothes will be coloured red and this may upset some.

You are going to need clothes to suit from below zero at night and above 30 Celsius during the day.

Absolute musts are a warm jacket, pants and socks. Walking shoes. Sandals are not appropriate for desert conditions. Good protection against creepy crawlies is a must.

Camping

Preparing yourself

There are lots of different approaches preparation. It is important to put your own thought & research into what suits you: talk to other Raiders and check out camping shops and hiking shops, consider what issues you may face, and how you can prepare to overcome or prevent them. This planning stage is a big part of the enjoyment of the whole Raid experience.

A philosophical attitude and a sense of humour are good to have on an expedition like this accompanied by a moderate amount of physical fitness to make pushing cars, getting out of tents, etc, easier (a good time to start working on this would be about now). Perhaps brush up on some first aid knowledge and mechanical skills. Some camping practice is a good thing if you haven’t done it before; even one dinner cooked with the stove you intend to use and a night under canvas in the back yard will teach you so much!

Saving space and weight

Don’t economise on quantities of fuel or water – you cannot afford to run out of either.

Environment

As a large group, our impact on the environment will be noticeable, especially when we are bush camping. I hope that it will not be too hard for us to take a few steps to protect the beauty of the areas we will be visiting.

.. leave only your footprint, not rubbish;

.. never pick the flowers;

.. I think it might help to use environmentally friendly detergents;

MOST IMPORTANTLY – Going to the Toilet in the Bush

.. bury your natural waste, place toilet paper in a paper bag and burn it when returning to the campfire.

Sun/insect protection

You will need it. Hat & sunglasses, sunscreens, insect repellent +/- fly net.
As a person who attracts mosquito bites, I have found products containing deet to be the most effective.

First Aid Kit

Use stuff from your home first-aid kit, but do check use-by dates.

Tweezers, panadol, savlon, bandaids, bandages, scissors, antihistamine tablets (Telfast), Diarrhoea tablets (Imodium), 7.5cm x 2.3m crepe bandages (for sprains & wrapping large wounds), triangular bandages, safety pins, broad-spectrum antibiotic, re hydration electrolyte sachets, eye drops (Visine), needle & thread, cotton buds, Stingose spray, face washer, eye bath, cold sore cream, first aid book …

 For further detailed suggestions on packing see relevant information on the Raid 2008 website page.