Rough As Guts Blog

All of our accumulated wisdom, thoughts
and rants are kept here on our blog

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I believed cup-holder armrests are the most overrated "upgrade" to a 79 series, that every youtuber hypes. Do I still believe it now?
79 series landcruiser stuck in a big mud hole
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Domin8r Xtreme Winch Review | 3 Years of Using This $350 Winch

After 3 years using this budget winch, here's why it punches above its weight and why it's one of the few Kings products we recommend.
A man enthusiastically standing in front of a bogged amarok
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A guide to driving on the beach in your 4WD. Covering tyre pressures, driving techniques, safety tips and how to get out if you're bogged.
Toby sitting on top of his tour vehicle and talking to a group of people on the canning stock route
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The unexpected lifestyle benefits of running a tour business and the odd philosophical implications of doing this in the modern world.
A bleak image showing surveillance of the population.
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Most companies are willingly handing over your data, to help squeeze out more profit. Here's what we're doing instead.
brand new Trojan recovery boards still in the packet
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After two years of punishing use, here's what I think of the $98 Trojan recovery boards, compared to $500 MAXTRAX.
sunset over the spinifex plains
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Discover the stunning Pilbara region. Explore Australia's most underrated wilderness through 4WD tours, bus tours, hiking trails, fishing charters, & more.
A bogged D22 Navara
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There's a lot too learn, if you're new to four wheel driving. We believe you're better off to start in an older, cheaper 4WD.
people standing around a campfire with illuminated tents and stars in the background.
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Do you wish you went four wheel driving or camping more than you currently do? A lot of us feel the same way. Let us know what holds you back.
A standard cranking battery in an engine bay
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An in-depth look at dual battery systems, which type of isolator/charger is best for your vehicle and what type of deep cycle battery to choose.
an old 4wd being jump started because of a flat battery
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A basic guide to every aspect of 4WD electrical systems and accessories. Part 1 of our in-depth 12v series.
tent on a hilltop in front of the sun set
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We all know camping helps us relax, sleep better and think more clearly. But how much is enough, and does it matter where we go?
a toyota troop carrier travelling down a red dirt road
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What is the best four wheel drive for Australia? This is a charged question, but here's what we've seen as a 4WD tour company, having witnessed many breakdowns.
a group sitting around a campfire next to a toyota landcruiser in the west australian bush
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Genuinely remote, isolated and awesome. These are some of the most stunning, exciting and adventurous 4WD tracks in all of Western Australia.
UHF radio sitting on desk
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Everything you need to know about two-way radios. The best UHF, choosing an antenna type - radome or elevated feed? What's the best antenna gain?
2024 Best 4WD products awards
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The Rough As Guts annual awards for best in class and best value 4WD products. We cover swags, light bars, recovery gear, roof racks and everything else.
aerial view of four wheel drives, swags and campers sitting around a fire on the beach.
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All of the best 4WD tag-along tour operators in Australia and WA. We look at their routes, itineraries, prices and reviews.
A fair-use take on the RAC logo, describing that they're not for the better.
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A detailed report, outlining the deliberately misleading practices of the RAC and how they're lobbying against our better interests.
a landcruiser behind a tree next to a group sitting around a campfire
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We've compiled the mega-list of nearly every 4WD tag-along tour happening in Australia during 2024 and 2025.
an offroad animal hoopless bullbar pictured on an n80 hilux
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The hoopless bull bar is a compromise between style and 4WD vehicle protection. Or is it? It's too much of a compromise, and here's why.
side by side comparison of AOS swag and Adventure Kings Swag
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Is the $700 swag from AOS, 7 times better than the $99 swag from Adventure Kings? Is the price difference between premium and cheap swags worth it?
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Perth has a great range of 4WD and camping shops, not just limited to the big box options like Anaconda and BCF. These are our favourites.
Chuditch campsite in lane poole reserve
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Camp near Dwellingup with these camp sites and grounds available in Lane Poole Reserve. Large groups with caravans or small swag sites available.
Decorative image showing the beach
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WA is the second largest state in the entire world and has 5 sparsely populated deserts. It's no wonder there's some amazing off-road tracks.
D22 Navara bogged in deep clay
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Recovery boards are simple to use. Slap them under the tyres and away you go, but we've got a few tricks for using them in winch and snatch recoveries.
A snatch strap being attached to an F150 in the desert
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Snatch straps have long been the saving grace of many stranded four wheel drivers. Here's how to use them without catastrophic consequences.
a soot covered billy (kettle) on top of a fire.
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Billy tea is a long steeped Australian tradition in the bush. Add it to your next camping trip to make it feel authentic and wholesome.
The underside of a car on a hoist showing the DPF
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A very deep dive into DPFs. Are they limiting performance on four wheel drives or are they a necessary evil? We take a very close look.
Amarok driving through Barnett river on the Gibb River Road.
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Are snorkels really necessary? We take a deep dive on the pros and cons of using a snorkel and which type is best for your 4WD.
UHF radio sitting on desk
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A no-nonsense guide to choosing the best two way radio for remote touring in Australia. Which brands to avoid and which are the best.
D22 Navara being winched out of deep mud
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We look at the best winches available in Australia. We look at the best winch under $500, the best under $750 and the best under $1,200
Tyre being changed on a Jeep Wrangler
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Real, practical skills that will be essential at some point when four wheel drive touring. We cut the nonsense and keep the essentials.
a swag in a grassy field
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Everything you couldn't possibly even need for a 4WD trip. We dissect commonly repeated bad advice and tell you what you should actually take.
side by side comparison of stock suspension from D22 Navara and lift kit suspension
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How do you get the most out of your 4WD without compromising road handling or looking like an idiot in a lifted mall crawler?
moka pot and jetboil on rock in front of glacial lake
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When you're four wheel drive touring, a bit of luxury can go a long way. Here's the best lightweight methods for making coffee while camping.
a white Amarok being winched out of a salt lake
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Know how to use your winch before you have to figure it out on the fly. How to choose the right winch, use it and how to maintain your winch.
Snatch strap connected to recovery hitch with soft shackle
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Snatch strap recoveries using tow balls kill people. Here's how it happens and why you need a recovery hitch for safe vehicle recoveries.
Brass automatic tyre deflator on valve stem of mud covered off-road tyre.
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Set your Staun type brass deflators to a pre-set pressure, so you can easily deflate all 4 tyres quickly on the side of the track.
An old fuel bowser showing the price of 91 octane unleaded petrol
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A look at the best fuel additives to take on a remote journey to combat fouling, water in fuel, diesel bug, low octane and more.
side by side before and after of an alloy bullbar having a winch installed
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How we built the toughest winch cradle possible, for a D22 Navara.