The Perfect Setup To Travel Around Australia

There’s no such thing as a perfect setup. Every trip is different. Western Australia is very different from Tasmania, and while the North gets wet and humid, the South gets hot and dry. If we were to go away for a few weeks in summer, we would choose a 4WD with a canopy and a rooftop tent, and for a week on K’Gari or Moreton Island, we would be swagging it. Western Australia, we would probably explore in a Troopy.

We’ve covered about 20% of Australia with our Jeep Wrangler and Patriot Camper Trailer. We’ve spent about six months in South Australia, and three months in Tasmania and surfed our way down the Northern beaches of New South Wales. We absolutely loved it, and we also learned a great deal from these trips.

We spent a lot of time thinking about the perfect touring setup that suits us best when doing the Big Lap of Australia. Knowing that we’ll be on the road for the next year or two, we created what we believe is the ideal setup to lap around Australia.

Don’t forget to visit our Touring Setup Blog for more detailed information about our Tommy Camper S6X and Land Cruiser 79 Series modifications. Not keen on reading? Check out our YouTube video for a visual tour of our setup.

The background story

Why The Land Cruiser 79 Series?

We created this build to do the Big Lap of Australia with the two of us. Our trip won’t be just for a few months but for a few years. Because of that, we had to look at a few different things. Reliability was number one, and fuel consumption was number two.

Land Cruiser 79 Series Chassis Extension

A Dual Cab 79 series has the worst weight distribution. If you look at where the rear wheels are positioned, you’ll see straight away that there’s a lot of weight hanging behind those rear wheels. As a result, we decided to move the rear axle backwards by 300mm.
It doesn’t help with the already horrible turning circle, but it definitely helps with handling all that extra weight. It actually makes the ute drive better.

It’s called a chassis extension, but it doesn’t increase the total length of the car; instead, the wheelbase is extended by 300mm. For us, knowing that we’ll be adding about 700 kg to the back, this modification was essential. We chose Limitless for the chassis extension. These guys went above and beyond, and did an excellent job.

GVM Upgrade

Around 4 tons, that’s what we calculated that we need fully loaded. Due to this, we opted for a 4.2-ton GVM upgrade. TJM assisted us with the GVM upgrade, along with a 2-inch legal lift. They have just released their brand-new XGS Remote shocks, and with the 33s, it looks pretty good, if you ask me. These shocks are manually adjustable, and that is precisely what you need when you are planning to do the Big Lap of Australia.

Method Race Wheels

To handle all that weight, we ordered these Heavy Duty Method Race Wheels with some Toyo Open Country Muddies. Not the perfect touring tyre, but we had these tyres under our previous setup, and honestly, we were so surprised with the quality. 70,000 km without a single issue and still tread left – that’s value!
The guys from Just Autos upgraded our brakes with some new rotors, brake pads, and a Bramac booster, increasing the braking capacity by over 50%, exactly what a factory 70 series needs.

Land Cruiser 70 series Interior upgrade

From factory, the interior is probably the most old-school interior you can find in a modern car, and I don’t believe they’ve changed much in the last 40 years! If you are after simplicity, this is what you get. We didn’t upgrade much but the team from Cruiser Consoles helped us with the perfect arm rest, a roof console with radio, storage and USB portals. The factory audio system is absolute shit, so upgrading that was high on our list of essentials.
And we couldn’t imagine life without the One Stone Armrests, to be honest!

Custom tray for the Land Cruiser 79 series

Since we got a massive unit going on the back, we wanted a tray that’s super slim and clean. We chose a custom heavy-duty tray. It’s got four toolboxes and a rear trundle drawer, exactly what we needed. The tray is 1900 mm wide and 2100 mm long, which is perfect for our new camper setup.

We also asked them to install an ARB Air Compressor in one of the toolboxes. Over the last couple of years, we’ve realised it’s something you can’t go without. Honestly, we believe it’s an essential part of the perfect setup.

Landcruiser 70 series Track Correction Kit

After we installed the tray, the back of the ute looked completely out of place. With the wider tray, the rear wheels were tucked right underneath, making it look out of proportion.

Thankfully, DWIZ offers the perfect rear track correction diff. It’s not only about looks; it’s designed to handle more weight and ensure the rear wheels follow the tracks of the front wheels correctly.

If you’ve ever driven a 70-series, you’ll know the rear wheel tracks don’t naturally line up with the front. It’s a well-known issue and makes driving on sand way harder than it needs to be. There are several ways to fix it, but the most effective (and legal) option is a rear track correction kit.

We noticed the difference straight away when we hit the beach. The rear wheels now track perfectly, and the ute looks much more proportionate.

We added diff breathers to prepare for river crossings. It’s all about peace of mind, especially when you’re travelling full-time.

Land Cruiser 79 series facelift front bar

Aesthetics! Let’s start with the front. A front bar without a hoop. I know some people might think it’s not practical, but I absolutely love how it looks. It’s clean and sets the front apart from the usual setups.

The bar is from Offroad Creative and comes with some Stedi lights and an extra light bar. What you don’t see is the winch, tucked neatly inside, protected from the elements. If you’re travelling solo, a winch is a must-have. It’s a lifesaver when you get stuck.

I spent ages deciding between an Offroad Creative front bar and an Offroad Animal front bar. That decision led me to notice Offroad Animal’s roof rack and rock sliders, which are just as clean and well-designed. It’s a great combo with the rest of the mods and really completes the setup.

Australia’s Toughest and biggest awning

The 270 XT Max Awning from The Bush Company is a game-changer when it comes to free-standing shade. It has massive coverage, around 12 m², and features incredible wind resistance.

The best part? It’s super quick and easy to use. You can set it up or pack it away in under 60 seconds, all by yourself. Let’s be honest, if an awning is a hassle, you’re not going to use it.

We’ve been using gear from The Bush Company for nearly three years now, and the quality is next level. We haven’t found anything that comes even close.

We’ve also added their Outhouse Shower Tent, an excellent solution for added privacy while showering. The adjustable drop height works perfectly with our setup, and it even matches the colour of the awning.

Tommy Campers s6X

After travelling for over two years, we’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t. We love exploring the most remote parts of Australia. We love an outdoor kitchen but hate public toilets. When your entire setup is outdoors, sometimes you just want a place to escape the weather, flies, or the heat.

When you’re working on the road, having a quiet, protected space inside makes all the difference. And let’s be honest, you’ll appreciate your own private toilet inside so much more in the middle of the night.

It took us two years to find something like the Tommy Camper. When we first saw one, we were blown away by the possibilities. A queen-size bed, a sitting area, an inside table and a toilet? And it still doesn’t look a typical slide-on camper? We were sold immediately.

Built with a 3mm-thick aluminium body, Tommy Campers are designed to handle the roughest outback conditions. Perfect for us after coming from a Patriot Camper Trailer. We were definitely spoiled before, so our expectations were high, but Tommy Campers ticked every box.

You can get a Tommy Campers as a bare shell for a DIY build, fully fitted out and ready to go, or anything in between. The team at Tommy worked with us to create the perfect camper for our needs, even matching the Sandy Taupe colour of our Land Cruiser.

Our setup includes lithium batteries, a diesel heater, a hot water shower, solar panels, two fans, and plenty of storage space. In our opinion, we’ve created an absolute dream setup! Please read the full details about our setup here.