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Allan Whiting’s thoughts on 4WD issues and other topics of interest….
The really, really, really dopey country
Back in 2015 I ran a blog entitled 'Living in the Dopey Country'. I didn't think it could get more stupid than that, but I was wrong. In 2017 Australia was even more stupid than it was in 2015 and, by 2021, it got even worse. Back in 2017 Australia was...
Not much social media presence for Outback Travel Australia
We’ve been asked many times why we don’t have much social media presence and the answer is very simple: we don’t agree with the principle of unbridled or biased ‘news’ platforms. That’s the same reason we would never have dealings with any arm of the Murdoch...
Toyota 70 Series recall
There have been documented fires in 70 Series vehicles around Australia, caused by dry vegetation getting caught around the hot DPF housing and we’ve been warning potential buyers of this hazard since 2016 and so has Toyota, with a warning label on the driver’s door....
Holden is no more
Holden is no more “God bless the child that’s got his own,” ran the lyrics of the 1941 Billie Holliday song, but their wisdom was lost on 1930s Australian politicians, who allowed General Motors to take over Holden, a long-serving Australian body-building company....
Bushfire Neglect
Over the past 20 years, during bush exploration trips, we’ve witnessed first-hand several infernos that engulfed much of Alpine Victoria, the Adelaide region and the NSW south and north coasts and Great Dividing Range areas. Of course the situation is getting worse...
Australia’s ridiculous licensing and towing laws
When well-meaning authorities and pressure groups call for reduction of the road toll it’s surprised me that no-one mentions the criminally negligent situation that different lawmakers tolerate across this so-called Commonwealth.
VW emissions scandal widens
In my September 2015 blog I suggested that Volkswagen may have been premature in saying 'sorry' for the fact that it had sold some half-million diesel-powered cars in the USA that didn’t comply with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) laws. Since then, it has...
Living in the Dopey Country
I've just returned to civilisation after a month touring in the Outback: long distances on dusty roads and tracks providing ample reflection time. I left home on Anzac Day and couldn't help wondering how those young men who made the ultimate sacrifice would view the...
What about Burke and Wills
We've just driven on the 'roads' around Innamincka, doing prototype tyre testing. We chose the area because mining vehicles and the contractors who supply the Cooper Basin gas and petroleum endeavours have destroyed the roads we used to love touring. We were looking...
Australia – according to Douglas Adams
This is how Douglas Adams, the author of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, viewed Australia and Australians: Australia is a very confusing place, taking up a large amount of the bottom half of the planet. It is recognizable from orbit because of many unusual...
Let’s slow down the electronic race
We all have our favourite electronics-failure horror stories and here at Outback Travel Australia we've had our fair share of dramas, with our own vehicles and with road-test machinery. Self-locking 4WDs are great fun: we had to use a two-metre length of eight-gauge...
Buy Australian wherever possible
In 2017, for the first time in its automotive history, Australia will not be able to produce a motor car. Yes, we know that several truck makers claim 'Australian manufacture' but all the major mechanical components for these vehicles are imported. However, Australia...
No more Australian-made vehicles
It's a sad day, but it was always going to happen. Globalisation dictates that production goes to the cheapest labour and infrastructure regions, and to those whose currency is virtually tied to the US dollar. Australia doesn't comply with any of these criteria. On...
Why no OTA 4WD of the Year
We've been asked why we don't nominate a vehicle or a number of vehicles for some type of 4WD of the Year Award. The same suggestion has been put with regard to a camper trailer award. The reason we don't is simple: testing a new 4WD or camper won't tell you anything...
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