In my travels around Australia I have seen people do things that I found absolutely unbelievable If they had only stopped to think before driving recklessly it would have saved them time and embarrassment and even a whole Vehicle.  

OUTBACK TRAVEL

Don't drive out on salt lakes as usually you end up sinking in a nice deep hole. Don't cross rivers unless you are certain you know what the surface is like, best to walk it first. Always let your tire's out to 15 psi (I sometimes have had to use 12 psi ). Also contrary to popular belief when driving on desert or beach soft sand with tires down don't travel like a bat out of hell. If you bog (and I have seen it happen many times) you have a long way to try and get out. As I usually travel alone I go slow, If I bog then its only a foot to reverse back onto solid. A typical example of this is at Maud's Landing at Corral Bay where the closer you get to the sea the softer it got (knee Deep to walk) So there goes that theory. Know what I'm saying?  Please Don't leave your litter, take it with you and dump it in a bin when you find one.

BE CAREFUL

Keep away from cliff edges. I saw Someone at Steep Point park at the cliff edge and a few moments later the Nissan he had was at the bottom in the sea. It was a 8 month old vehicle gone and unable to be rescued lucky for him he was not in it when it decided to slide. I have also seen people drive out across the tidal beach at BUSH BAY to launch their boat even though they were told DON'T by other campers and sure enough they bogged and the tide covered it up so you would not have known it was there and of course no camper was prepared to risk their vehicle for some silly bugger that had been told. The last one I shall mention is Don't ignore signs on river banks warning of Flooding. I saw a family one winter on the Murchison do this and said to him NOT A GOOD IDEA to which he replied "IM AN OLD BUSHMAN I KNOW WHAT IM DOING." Later that night I decided it was raining too heavy so I may as well head to Perth. As I was crossing the bridge which now was overflowing with water I glanced in this blokes direction and saw the water starting to enter the caravan door. First instinct is to go help but then I recalled  his arrogant nature and him being an old bushman so I left.

Know your Vehicle

Ok now first before any trip I take my vehicle in for a good going over and service at Bill Brown Automotives in Balcatta Opposite Alco Soils. This guy would be one of the best mechanics in Perth for four wheel drives and busses. Also he is honest and cheaper than most and used to be called MR. TOYOTA. Also once you go to Bill you won't ever go anywhere else. This guy is Good and when you know you going to go into places where your life may depend on your vehicle, well you got to trust your mechanic He has found faults in vehicles that others  have said there's nothing wrong that sound you're hearing, it is normal or your imagination" , Pity I did not myself discover Bill sooner, He would have saved me a bundle.

What to Take, carry

Well lets cover the North. Lets take the best time like June to December.

First a good service at Bill Brown of course so no surprises happen during the trip.  Next  Make sure our water containers are full, Generator works OK, Fuel for the Generator, Fridge packed, Long range Tanks are full.  Ample food for one month for me and the dogs. Tire pumps working ok. Battery's are in good condition,  By the way if you want a city style of travel the Overlander Motels are everywhere at only $60 per night. Washing goodies, Gas bottles, Billy Cans, Tarps and Poles , Jack, tire gauge, shovel, solar shower, Bushman's anti bite spray The only 1 that works in the north against the Mozzies and terrible Midges who have put people in hospital with itching. For those of you who took the Aerogard Ha Ha, When you find it don't work in the North you can use raw Dettol, it actually works, until you get to a Chemist so you can get some Bushman's.

Very Important is to carry some glue and Gaffa Tape. I carry CRC Epoxy Putty, Liquid Nails and Contact Cement. One of these are needed usually on each trip. The CRC is very strong, flexible and fast drying and can patch a crack or hole which would otherwise require a weld. (still holding manifolds together just above the extractors since 1997) 

If you intend doing one of the Outback Trails then it would be a good idea to put Normal Steel belt tires on. Fats have soft walls and chances are you are going to end up having lots of punctures.

Well the South I wont get into as its pretty well populated and busy with passing traffic in most areas and help is usually close at hand and AWVP pretty well caters for the South of WA.