Read about Ron & Viv and the rest of their travelling group.
Departure Date:
17/02/2007
Ron, Viv and their son Trent beside their Nissan Patrol vehicle just before leaving Australia.
Neil & Helen Cocks
Fred Osterhagen, beside his truck.
Ron and Viv's Nissan Patrol.
Neil & Helen's vehicle all set up.
Fred's well setup rig on the road.
Our Little Travelling GroupRon and Viv Moon
After spending 20 years in the Australian Army, Viv and I have been writing guidebooks on Australia as well as writing for a wide range of magazines. For 15 years Ron was the editor of 4x4 Australia magazine and is now their Editor-at-Large, which is something like an escaped prisoner, but in this case we've just escaped the office and the deadlines.
You can see more about who we are and what we do at: www.guidebooks.com.au .
For details on our stretched Nissan Patrol check out the 'Our Vehicle' page on this website.
There is more than just us in our little group heading across the wilds of Africa though. We've convinced a couple of friends to join us on this great adventure.Neil and Helen Cocks
Neil and Helen have been travelling the remote areas of Australia for many years and there would be few more experienced desert travellers in the country. Neil is a retired surveyor so we'll be able to stay on track with his skills and experience.
Their well set up Ford F250 has been tested and proven in cross country trips in the Tanami, Little Sandy and Great Sandy Deserts (to name just a few) as well as elsewhere in outback Australia. Accessories and mods to the Ford include:
ARB bullbar
Warn 15,000lb winch
Ford snorkel
ARB Air Locker front and rear diff locks
Rhodes Automotive canopy and rooftop camper
Outback storage system
LRA fuel tank and water tank
Tradesman roofrack
Kaymar rear step and tyre carrierFred Osterhagen
Fred hails from Carson City in Nevada in the USA and we met him while he was travelling around Australia in 2005/2006. He's travelled extensively in Central and North America and possibly to a few places he hasn't told us about ... yet!
With Fred's vast electronic knowledge and gear along with his experience at long distance travel we'll be able to fix, repair or get around most things along the way. Fred has a very well set up GMC Sierra pick-up and amongst a long list of accessories the vehicle is fitted with a commercial coffee roaster, grinder and cappuccino machines.
A custom made offroad trailer which features a Track Trailer ( www.tracktrailer.com.au ) independent coil suspension and a full alloy box carries the coffee beans amongst the other supplies.
Other accessories and mods to the Sierra include:
Custom built steel bulbar (doubles for compressed air storage)
Douglas Body Builder's canopy
3000 watt inverter
Ultra violet water purification system
Premier power welder
ExtremeAir air compressor
Mile Marker hydraulic winch
60-litre Engel Fridge
Black Widow storage drawers
Edge Products 'plug and play' chip upgrade for engine management
Offroad Engineering Throttle Controller
Banks 4" Exhaust
X Vision night vision goggles
Maggiolina rooftop camper
