Spring Travel Prep: Your Quick Checklist for Stress-Free Adventures
Spring is the season of road trips – here’s how to prepare your caravan, tow vehicle, and travel essentials for safe, stress-free adventures.
Spring is one of the best times to hit the road in Australia. The days are longer, the temperatures are kinder, and the landscapes are starting to show off their best colours. But before you roll out of the driveway or pull away from camp, it pays to take a few minutes to prep properly.
After six years of living full-time on the road, we’ve learned that the right preparation makes all the difference between smooth sailing and stressful surprises. Here’s our quick spring travel prep checklist to get you road trip ready this spring.
1. Tyres and Pressures
Your tyres are the only thing between your rig and the road, so it’s worth giving them proper attention.
- Check before you roll: Always check your tyres before setting off, even on short trips.
Our golden rule is the 4 C’s of tyre maintenance:
- Condition – look for cuts, bulges, or uneven wear.
- Contents – make sure the tyre is inflated to the correct pressure for your load.
- Cold – always check pressures when tyres are cold for an accurate reading.
- Caps – don’t forget the humble valve cap; it keeps dirt and moisture out.
- Torque it right: Always torque your wheel nuts to your manufacturer’s recommended Newton-metre setting. This small step can save you big headaches down the track.
- Use a TPMS: A Tyre Pressure Monitoring System gives you live data on your tyre pressures and temps while you’re driving, so you can catch problems before they become dangerous. We run iCheck TPMS on both our tow vehicle and caravan, and it’s saved us more than once. (Use code FEELGOOD for 10% off iCheckTPMS gear.)
- Heat means higher pressures: Spring can bring warmer days, which means your tyres will expand more. Adjust your pressures accordingly.
- Carry the right gear: A reliable gauge, deflators, and a compressor aren’t just handy, they’re essential for safe touring.
The peace of mind that comes from knowing your tyres are in good shape is worth every second it takes.
2. Water Supply
Water is one of those things you don’t want to get wrong – especially when travelling Australia.
- Fill before you go remote: If you’re heading into really remote regions, always set off with full tanks. Otherwise, apps like WikiCamps make it easy to plan ahead and find reliable water fill points along your route.
- Drinking water matters most: As a guide, allow around 4-6 litres per person per day just for drinking. This doesn’t include cooking, washing, or cleaning, so plan accordingly.
- Not all water is equal: Water quality varies across the country, and not all taps are safe to drink from. A good filtration system is worth its weight in gold. Our Zone RV has three 80L tanks, one of which is a dedicated drinking water tank. Keeping this separate means no risk of contamination, and peace of mind that we always have safe drinking water.
- Backup jerries = peace of mind: Carrying a few extra jerry cans can make all the difference if plans change or taps run dry.
When it comes to water, preparation is about more than convenience – it’s about safety, health, and making sure you can enjoy your adventures stress-free.
3. Comms & Navigation
Water is one of those things you don’t want to get wrong – especially when travelling Australia., and sometimes, it’s more than convenience, it’s safety.
- UHF Radios: A UHF is non-negotiable when travelling Australia. We run a GME XRS fixed mount radio in the 300 Series, plus a couple of handhelds for around camp. They keep us in touch on convoys, help with overtaking trucks safely, and mean Jasper’s never out of range when he’s off adventuring.
- Starlink: One of the biggest game-changers for full-time travel. Starlink gives us reliable internet even when phone reception is long gone. It means we can work from anywhere, keep in touch with family, and stream a bit of Apple TV on rainy nights.
- Offline maps: Phone reception isn’t guaranteed once you’re off the highway. Apps like Hema Explorer and WikiCamps let us download maps ahead of time so we can navigate confidently, even when completely offline.
- Plan B ready: No matter how well you prepare, things don’t always go to plan. Tracks close, weather changes, or campsites fill up. Having a backup route or alternative camp in your back pocket takes the stress out of those “what now?” moments.
On the road, comms aren’t just about convenience, they’re about confidence. Knowing you can call for help, find your way, or check in with family is what makes remote travel not only possible, but enjoyable.
4. The Little Things That Make a Big Difference
Spring prep isn’t just about the big-ticket items like tyres and water tanks. It’s also about the small details that make life on the road smoother and more enjoyable.
- Spring clean your van: Clearing out unused or unwanted items not only makes the space feel better but also helps keep your weights in check. The less you carry, the safer (and easier) your travels.
- Freshen up the feel: Swapping out linen, cushions, or even a throw rug can make the van feel new again – a small change that goes a long way when you live in a compact space.
- Restock the pantry: Keep a stash of easy, healthy meals and snacks ready to go. Long stretches of travel days are much easier with food prepped and accessible, especially if travelling with kids.
- Check your essentials: From the fridge running smoothly to making sure your first aid kit is topped up, these small checks often save the biggest headaches.
- Give your van a once-over: A quick walk around before setting off – checking hatches, windows, and gear – helps catch issues before they become problems.
It’s often the little things that make the biggest difference between a trip that feels rushed and one that feels relaxed. A few minutes of prep gives you more time to enjoy the fun stuff.
5. Prep = Stress-Free Travel
At the end of the day, preparation isn’t about creating more work for yourself, it’s about giving you the freedom to enjoy the journey.
When your tyres are checked, the water is sorted, the comms are working, and the little details are taken care of, you can relax into the rhythm of travel. Instead of worrying about what might go wrong, you get to focus on what’s right in front of you – the landscapes rolling past the window, the campfire stories, the moments with family.
Good prep means less stress, more confidence, and more time to enjoy the road for what it should be: an adventure worth remembering!
Check out our recent Emergency Preparedness blog for more tips on how to stay cool when things don’t go to plan.
