If you have a 4WD or SUV and you’re considering taking it off the beaten track – far off the beaten track – you’re going to need an accessory endgame. If you’re hundreds of kilometres away from civilisation and you get stuck in a jam, you’ll only have yourself or your mates to pull you out. You’ll also need a whole stack of other equipment such as camping gear, hunting gear, and specialised light rigs.
The problem is that this can all add up and cost quite a bit of money.
The temptation is to put it all on the credit card and worry about it later. However, there is a more practical alternative – applying for and obtaining an online cash loan.
Here are some tips so you stay within a reasonable budget and avoid any pitfalls along the way.
Getting the essentials
If you’ve got a stock standard 4WD or AWD vehicle and you’re going away you need to ask yourself:
- Will I need to get myself out of bogs or rough spots?
- Am I going to be spending overnights in the bush?
- How much off-roading will I be doing?
Once you have answered these questions, you can start building a list of accessories you’ll need. If you are getting yourself out of bogs, you’ll need a recovery kit (in fact, you shouldn’t go anywhere without a recovery kit.) These could be as simple as slings and straps but also have other handy tools such as shovels, air compressors, or UHF radios. If you’re spending overnight in the bush you may opt for bushranger awnings which attach to the side of your vehicle. You’ll also need LED fog lights or HID lights, depending on how you want to light up your surroundings. If you’re going off road, you’ll need off-road suspension and a bull bar – perhaps even a snorkel if you’re driving over rivers or lakes.
Setting a budget
First of all, you need to set a strict budget when shopping. With your shopping list set, you need to do your homework and find everything you need at a reasonable price. If you can wait until EOFY or end of year sales, even better. But you should have a dollar figure you arrive at so you aren’t buying anything and everything in a rush of excitement.
Get quality gear – not knockoffs
If your first instinct is to buy knockoffs or low-cost (and dismal quality) gear from AliExpress or Wish, don’t. Your gear is something you will come to rely on out bush; don’t skimp on quality for the sake of a few dollars. It really is a case of you get what you pay for. If you can’t recover your vehicle after a bog, it’s going to cost you more money and time trying to get out of that particular jam.
Avoid the credit card – consider online cash loans
Even if you have a big credit card limit, you probably don’t have the deep pockets to avoid all the extra interest you’ll be paying. The bushranger awning as we mentioned costs about $325 – the other gear all adds up too. Bill Tsouvalas, personal finance expert and Savvy Managing Director says an online cash loan can provide the needed funds and give you peace of mind when it comes to interest. “Most credit cards have a 55-day interest free period – but you need to come up with the full amount to take advantage of it,” he says. “An online cash loan is a fixed loan ranging from $300 to $50,000. The advantage is its regular repayment schedule. Every payment you make means you’re closer to a zero balance. Not so with credit cards. If you don’t reduce your balance to zero, you’ll pay interest on that amount. This can go on indefinitely and even hurt your credit rating if you near your spending limit.”
When you plan your next hunting getaway, take into consideration all aspects of planning, including access, permits, vehicle preparedness, camping equipment and your personal budget.
If you’re unsure, you should consider talking to a financial adviser before making any decision.
0 Comments