Image

News

Readers’ Rigs – “Life’s too short to drive a Toyota”

Defender Faith Kenneth Kemp, is looking forward to taking a permanent break from the military despite then buying a Landie! Retiring after 27 years in the Australian Defence Force, Kenneth has turned his attention to …

Image
Club 4X4 Insurance
Dec 21 2016

Dec 21 2016

Image

Defender Faith

Kenneth Kemp, is looking forward to taking a permanent break from the military despite then buying a Landie!

Retiring after 27 years in the Australian Defence Force, Kenneth has turned his attention to setting up the ideal touring rig. Ken reckons “life’s too short to drive a Toyota” and has been kitting out his 2012 Defender before going under the knife himself to have both knees replaced and shoulder surgery; talk about an all over upgrade!

With shiny new knees on the way, roughing it just isn’t on the cards so Ken got himself a 2016 New Age Manta Ray Deluxe off-road van. “The Manta Ray Deluxe is like a flash hotel room, beautifully comfortable and easy to tow behind my Defender”. Modifying the van with extra stone protection over the plumbing and electrics as well as a dedicated WiFi antenna to boost the stereo and rear-view camera, Ken is just about ready to hit the road.

With the Burke Development Road, Cairns to Karumba twice as well as the Dinosaur trail out at Winton already under his belt, Ken is aiming to cover the Savannah Way once he is on the move again. With nothing but avoiding the crowds in mind and exploring as much as possible, Ken is searching for some of Australia’s beautiful isolation with his travelling companions, rescue shar pei Rufus and parrot Raj. “Bit of a zoo, but they are good for my soul and love travelling” – sounds good to us Kenneth!

This article was originally posted by RV Daily.

Image
Club 4X4 Insurance
Blog

Discover other stories

View all

Warm up with weekly articles aimed at adventure

A group of people cleaning up sand dunes on K'Gari

Partnerships, Promotions & Events

Why We Keep Coming Back: K’gari Cleanup 2026

A weekend of sand, effort and community. The 2026 K’gari Clean Up brought together the 4WD community to remove tonnes of rubbish from one of Australia’s most iconic islands, proving that looking after the places we love starts with showing up.

Read more  

A weekend of sand, effort and community. The 2026 K’gari Clean Up brought together the 4WD community to remove tonnes of rubbish from one of Australia’s most iconic islands, proving that looking after the places we love starts with showing up.

Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series at entrance to Brooyar State Forest

Trips & Destinations

Brooyar State Forest 4wd Day Trip: The Beginner-friendly Adventure Hiding Near Gympie

Less than three hours from Brisbane, this quiet corner of southeast Queensland is one of the best beginner-friendly off-road weekends you've probably never heard of.

Read more  

Less than three hours from Brisbane, this quiet corner of southeast Queensland is one of the best beginner-friendly off-road weekends you've probably never heard of.

convoy of 4WDs on K'Gari

Trips & Destinations

3-Day K’Gari Itinerary

From the crystal-clear waters of Lake McKenzie to the famous Champagne Pools and endless stretches of 75-Mile Beach, this 3-day K’Gari itinerary showcases the best of the world’s largest sand island. Whether you’re camping under the stars or exploring by 4WD, this guide covers the must-see stops for an unforgettable island adventure.

Read more  

From the crystal-clear waters of Lake McKenzie to the famous Champagne Pools and endless stretches of 75-Mile Beach, this 3-day K’Gari itinerary showcases the best of the world’s largest sand island. Whether you’re camping under the stars or exploring by 4WD, this guide covers the must-see stops for an unforgettable island adventure.

View all