Beach driving and coastal camping bring a special kind of magic… and a special kind of mess. Salt, sand, moisture, and mud can wreak havoc on everything from your underbody to your camp chairs if you don’t give things a proper clean-up and check-over post-trip.

A solid second-hand 4X4 will take you to places most people only ever dream of and with the right checks, it won’t leave you stranded halfway up a track with a detonated diff and an empty wallet.

When done correctly and sensibly, there really is no reason to have the fear of God surging through your veins when tackling a water crossing.

You’ve spent the day hiking through ancient gorges or splashing in a remote creek. You return to your site—sun-kissed, content… and then your heart sinks.

Let’s talk about what you need to do to get your 4X4 ready for towing—properly. Because if there’s one thing worse than breaking down in the middle of nowhere, it’s being the person who breaks down with a caravan in the middle of nowhere.

If there were a rulebook for camping, here’s what Jess from Adventure Intel Australia thinks should be in it.