Rooth family's Mahindra outback camping trip.

roothy.com.au
Rooth family's Mahindra outback camping trip.
Righto, this clip is a bit personal - it's made up from pics and phone vision from a trip in September 2022 when my brother Nicko and his wife Cathy and Karen and I all cut loose for a few weeks of nights of stars and fires. I put it together mostly to show people how easy it is to go see the outback these days. It always has been I guess, it's just it suits some businesses to make our outback out like some incredibly tough place where if you don't have a twin double locked freezer with solar powered remotes or something you're going to be stuffed.
Nope, just sticky tape the credit card to the dash and go bush ... or maybe a little preparation first....
more notes on this trip:
I guess I was missing the outback. The distance, the dust, the whole bloody beautiful experience. And the whole reason behind investing in a new truck was to finally take Karen bush too. For the last thirty years she’s stayed at home bringing up our kids while I went bush for work for months at a time. I’d spend so much time thinking ‘gee, I wish she could see this or that or whatever’, but work meant travelling solo in the old truck. Oh sure, we put in plenty of trips together and with the kids but not the long ones as a rule. Maybe with the exception of our rocket trip to Darwin in Milo to get to Mark and Shay’s wedding.
Now, that was a big trip in an old truck!!
You can see it all here on my you tube channel if you haven’t already. Check out Darwin Unplugged, the Handbrakes Holiday. There’s nine parts to it but that’s because we really had some adventures to share. But despite all her years of putting up with me, Karen had never seen Ayers Rock or the centre country. And while we’ve been to Adelaide more than once, she’d never seen the Flinders Ranges. There were some big spaces on her map that needed filling in!
I also had a bunch of Ryebuck products I’ve been helping develop with Ben Robinson at 4WD Industries for the new Mahindras to do a final test on - initially drawn up by the exceptionally talented engineer Zak Kubic utilising all our combined experience of Aussie conditions, we’d finalised the snorkel and exhaust designs, worked on a throttle position controller with Torqit, and fitted an under tray 80 litre water tank and side boxes from Gough Plastics up in Towsnville. We’d adapted a catch can to suit the Mahindra and I’d also fitted Mahindra’s after market suspension option, a 40mm lift with greasable shackles and fatter bodied EFS shockies.
Each one of these products and their fitment was sort of pioneering work to some degree because apart from the lads at 4WD Industries who’ve been preparing Mahindras for mines and fleet work for the last twenty years there’s not much experience of the Indian brand here in Australia. Certainly not modifying them anyway. That’s one of the reasons Mahindras are pretty cheap comparitively over here but purchase price has nothing to do with the quality of aftermarket gear and servicing needed to survive Australia’s conditions. I want the best and nothing tests out products more than a severe outback pounding on some long distance corrugated tracks.
The plan was simple enough, we were going to head north from Brisbane to Cairns first, then cut down to the centre country. We figured on taking two and a half days to get to Cairns so being school holidays and knowing how busy it can get up north I used HipCamp to make sure we got somewhere to stay. First night out we stayed at Travellers Rest near 1770 and second night was at Cattle Camp inland from Sarina. Kaz and I had the Bushcompany rooftopper and Nicko and Cath were in their double swag. We grabbed an airbnb house in Cairns so we could have a little beach holiday before plunging off into the outback.
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[@ianrobinson4501]

The Rooth brothers shoud do more videos together that was great

[@craigdouglasmartens7037]

Agreed! With more of the blues as well! The Rooth Blues Brothers! In Mahindras! Briliant! I'm volunteering as backup with my Mahindra s6 4x4 and guita, vocals

[@craigdouglasmartens7037]

If you ever get the chance to come out to South Africa we'd love to get you into some of our Bush trips. The Mahindra is turning out be a real winner and I can't recommend them highly enough. They've taken to our rough Bush conditions like a duck to water. It's time to share our experiences with you Rothy, you've inspired many of us here to "get out there". Good on yer, mate!

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

@@craigdouglasmartens7037 thank you. Nothing like jamming in the bush!! On ya mate - see you up a track.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Oh. Meant to say I’ve been to South Africa a few times and can see why our people get along so well - so Much country in common. Yea definitely we’ll be over for a trip one day. Never seen the Delta country which sound awesome.

[@TheKnobCalledTone.]

Such a wholesome video. Looks like everyone had such a great time (especially Nicko). I love the moral of the story at the end: you don't need a 4x4 that looks like it just ramraided an ARB to have a good time in the bush.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

It’s never about the money. Too right!!

[@michaelmyers2896]

This right here is the best video from any KZbinr I have seen in a long, long time. This is exactly why I own a 4wd. Bloody brilliant.

[@MrAidenaiden71]

This is what I have missed Roothy doing his trips with no hype Just out there doing what you do best

[@scottsNX]

I was in Broken Hill last week completing a Hot Shot delivery from Sydney in my 2021 LDV T60. I worked with Shearing Contractor from our Moree base in the late 70s and I've never seen the Darling floodplain at Wilcannia so wet and full of new growth. And yes Roothy, we live in the Best Country on Earth!

[@madmick3794]

The explosion of wild flowers is what shocked me.

[@KrakensGarageandAdventures]

Always a good time when the Rooth brothers get together!

[@arvindldayal5086]

The campfire music...Wow. Beeauutiful !

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Thanks - how's the hearing going??? hahahaha

[@arvindldayal5086]

Hahaha... likes to hear the sound of harmonium these days.

[@merinofarmeragriculturewor4623]

Love the outback roothy & been on the road for 4 months now & love it in my 1985 Landcruiser troopy with a engine swap 1HZ,33s,winch & can go anywhere in Australia this old girl does

[@andrewcoulter323]

love seeing your 4wd videos again John, cheers 🍻

[@peterdiebel7372]

John, was really great to you and your family out and about having a wonderful time. Cheers mate. From B.C. Canada.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Thanks. Canadas the only country I really want to see outside ours - and I’ve seen a few too. On ya mate.

[@rakesh.c.kukreti25]

Great camping trip 👌

[@mozartheart2958]

Nice video, nothing beats hanging out with family!

[@brentmcd12]

congrats on your trip! 🏜️🌄🛻📹🤙😎

[@jameswebb3000]

Awesome to see great work you mob

[@gl2856]

Just a great video once again , love these guys. 👍. GL

[@TheOldaz1]

Thanks John, green with envy right now. Looks like a great trip had by all, love it.

[@zoezoe610]

Thanks Roothy, doing what you do best a great story and a look around.

[@craigquinn7887]

Great video "Uncle Arthur"😁👍

[@Zobby447]

Love it Roothy great how you did the costing what a great trip

[@OutbackOutlaw]

I’d like to test drive a Mahindra one day.

[@TheCampOvenCook]

Good stuff, I love a good camp oven feed

[@steveformosa5191]

Hee hee trailing with your brother that’s fantastic my brothers can only handle five stars luv your work

[@Coastmac2001]

Great reviews. Obviously 2 bloody great vehicles

[@voodoocruiser2543]

Brothers - love it

[@belindacuzner9436]

You both got musical talent and Nicko got the looks love your work roothy

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Couldn’t agree more!!

[@theswag7113]

Did a few trips to Mt Serle goat shooting in the early 70’s in my EH. That thing went everywhere around the Flinders. I’ll have to get back up there for a visit. I enjoyed your little family holiday. Good stuff.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Yep. My old man had Valiants. They’d go almost anywhere - they had to!!

[@theswag7113]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY did a trip in a Valiant out to a well from the homestead along the Frome. Auto with lsd just about as good as my hilux!

[@FarqueKnowsWhere]

Your brother’s just as beautiful as you are Roothy,. Haven’t seen you play the mouth organ before. I hope people start seeing and believing you don’t need it all. Arh $580 on drinking water, maybe a stainless drinking water tank might help knock that down a bit.😀 Top video Roothy…

[@ianweal3081]

Stainless tank ha, does it remained chilled & poor with a head on it. I'd figure water consumption would fall in under $10. $570 on ales.🍺🍷 🍻 Cheese Roothy. 😆🤣

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

It Takes a bit to get me harping on. A bit of that ‘drinking water’ you Mentioned. Hahaha

[@MsCarissa007]

Yep great episode 👏👏👍

[@AllTerrainAction]

Some real adventure and bloody good times good on ya 👌🔥

[@mickwatson2177]

I agree you brothers are awesome. And while your brother was there you didn't break anything. Haha. 👍🐕🤠

[@andrewgrunewald4055]

Thank you roothy for the excellent shows, I too drive a Mahindra s6 and I love my truck ,you are a great inspiration I'm planning a trip to the wild coast in two weeks time,I live in SA keep well roothy

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Hey from an old Flinders boy, g'day! And I'm loving my Mah

[@bmrt1000]

What a great trip!!!!!

[@JehadiHellTransportAgency]

Love the video

[@AndyL940]

Family ❤

[@jeremyburton-au]

Great vid guys, family out seeing the bush sights is the best 😊

[@kuldeepkaushik1808]

Mahendra - good choice...

[@OTRWA]

Haha! Family fun...so who's the better looking one...great to see ya getting out in the new rig...almost bought one not long back. Looks like it would have been a great investment. Take care n safe travels. PS...should cut down on those frothies...I mean 500 is plenty for one night these days.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Too right. Thanks mate

[@Pyjamarama11]

Before marketing knobs convinced everyone they needed a $70k 4WD ute, our parents would take us around the country in tired old rwd wagons and sedans

[@tommypaintingplastering2854]

We are remember when John working at 4wd action.

[@madmick3794]

Loved this. Around June/July, to get away from the flood aftermath and introduce the kids to Western NSW we did a slightly smaller trip. We went from NE NSW to Sydney, Dubbo, Cobar, Menindee Lakes, Silverton, Broken Hill, Bourke, Moree, Glenn Innes back to NE NSW. By the looks of your clips and photos you were only a few weeks ahead of us as you passed through outback NSW. I hadn't been there since 97 and have never seen the lakes that full or the ground that green and colourful. Keep up the great work a usual.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Good ya mate. Great way to get the kids involved and loving the bush. We’ll done.

[@madmick3794]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY Cheers and will do 👍

[@888DMAC]

Great video team Rooth.

[@kimbullock475]

That was an awesome video👍👍

[@flossblueberry1262]

John and Nicko, good to see you boys again. I don't normally watch your videos John, but I really enjoyed this and it was good to see Nicko again. From the other Karen from FPC BrisVegas days.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Hello Karen! Nice to hear from you - we're off to see Greg Bush later this week too!

[@flossblueberry1262]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY say hi to Greg for me.

[@ndafarachaitezvi1139]

Awesome

[@closertothetruth9209]

12.7km to the litre loaded not bad

[@secdetau]

And to think I used drive the old XB down some of these roads 😅

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

And the roads were worse then too I’d bet. They’re really improving fast. Thanks

[@secdetau]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY to me they where a lot better then now lol especially the jigalong rd & talawana in wa and the calvert road

[@chascollard1461]

On ya men great video

[@shovelrickshovelhead8713]

I took a pic of Milo at the work shop .I picked ther advice on my bj40 coaster van.😉patrick

[@johnkeane8275]

Motor bike engine looks like a late 20,s Indian ,I stand corrected .John Keane

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

I though so or maybe BSA v twin but my mate Terry Paxton couldn’t pick it and he’s the expert here.

[@Carpediem-cn3jq]

Mahindra should gift you a XUV 700 for the trust, support, love and the kind words you have shared for their SUV segment especially Scorpio and XUV 500 🎉🍻🤘

[@ianweal3081]

Bit rushed for me, but still a great trip, you're got me yearning for our April trip outback this year travelling with daughter/s partner/s and grandkids, our family. Those bush camps, sunsets etc are so special, love them. I don't recall flies bothering you though, any time I've been out there they have been horrendous. Recall a phone discussion with Birdsville Ranger one time, he says to me, " you don't need a car out here at the moment, just put your arms out and the flys will carry you away". Haha, also last time I travelled the Plenty it was bull dust whallows on-top of Bull Dust Whallow. That was Sept 1999 thought. Bit like Battle Camp road now ha, just about all sealed in July 2021, guessing it would be completed by now. Looking forward to seeing more, thanks.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Flies weren’t an issue at all. But I’m another couple of months they would have been for sure!!

[@dannywootton2468]

👍

[@paulsmit8147]

🤙👍

[@betterthanreallife8105]

good luck miss the real trucks like milo

[@indywilly3602]

What a ripper mate. And yes keep it simple and just go. Been great following your adventures, from the LTR days to now. Keep em coming. Bloody great,

[@markb936]

love the guzzi cap nicko you dont happen to own a v650 tt ?

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Nickos got an old bobbed solo 650 Verada - he’s a carby man like me. And he rides it to work everyday.

[@markb936]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY sold mine to a bloke yrs ago said he was gonna ride it out of the gem fields came from wynnum

[@davidthomas9267]

looks like your brother has the same barber?

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Nah. We’re too cheap for barbering.

[@craigdouglasmartens7037]

Heya Roothy! I see you're using the standard steelies. What tyres are you running? Loved the blues by the way. I'm a bluegrass guitarist and singer for The Motled Crew myself. We own a Mahindra s6 /x4 pikup double cab in Karoo trim. 98000 km's in 2 years with no probs over some of the worst roads and tracks in Southen Africa. Bush crazy, us...

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Great to hear about your s6 - always keen to hear good or bad. The tyres are stock Mahindra - whatever that is - as fitted to steel wheels. Eventually I’ll offset the rims and fit a more rugged tyre but no point while these have tread. Be great to have a jam sometime - you never know!

[@rickynicholls7184]

And another thing roofie I'm glad you're honest and everything Andy's 4WD shows however not even my reverse camera works and I have only 300 Ks on the clock so far my new I'm not knocking the runny it runs great good engine but the service from Moorooka Mahindra has been shocking it's like they don't want to know anything once you drive the vehicle away even though they know the vehicle is not finished what should I do should I go to Channel Nine on this matter

[@wombamatic]

Roothy you seem to really like the Mahindra. Worth giving a go? Seriously considering.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

People don’t believe I don’t get paid by Mahindra. They cover expenses when they want something shot and that‘a all. Yes, I really like my Mahindra and value simplicity and strength over marketing bullshit. And I like sticking it up the noddies in my trade who need a $200k truck to do the shopping.

[@darcycawley8417]

Hey roothy, I been watching your videos since I was about 4 with my parents. I still watch your videos and I know you love you bushcompny rooftop. So I was wondering if you had a model that you like more and if you can keep all pillows and beding in it while folded down. I swag it at the moment but looking for a more comfortable set up 👌🏽

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

No, haven’t seen or used anything better than our Bushcompany tent and the 180 awning. Yea they’re expensive but I couldn’t kill the last one on Milo so they’re a lifetime thing. We have an extra mattress and sheets doona pillows etc all packed in there. Trick is to keep thing away from the sides when you fold down. 👍👍

[@darcycawley8417]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY yeah that's sick. I was looking for second hand bushcompny roof top but I am yet to see one. everyone who has them love em. Thanks for your response 🤙🏽

[@jamiegroves1761]

😎🍺🍺🍺🍺👍

[@drevil4454]

a damper?? where did you Aussies get that name? here in south africa we call it potbread. if the bottles loose their lids inside the cooler, make no mistake, I drink from the cooler.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Hahaha! Fair enough, and you call chicken a vegetable at BBQ's - sorry brais - so I guiess we're all different!

[@drevil4454]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY Yes Chicken is a veg. everyone knows it!! same as fish, it's a salad. Common knowledge. No we are not that different. Looking at where we are in the world we have evolved into bat like humans. We hang upside down from the earth.

[@georgesbackyardgym]

Roothy are the camp sites actually camp sites or just of the beaten track.

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Everything after Cairns was sure if track bush camping. Then showers next day at servo stops. Easy!

[@JehadiHellTransportAgency]

11:36 bloody wife 🤣🤣 hope she doesn't sees your videos

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

I’ll be paying for that….

[@rickynicholls7184]

Hi Ricky I like your 4WD shows and the stuff they can go through which gave me good news I paid 52000 for a new 2023 Mahindra s11 unfortunately bought it on the 31st of May and required a heap of accessories to go on believe it or not picked it up had it for 4 days in completed still to be completed on my vehicle all the striping the rear flares around the Wheel Arches the wider rims and tyres to be done and fitted and they had the cheap to tell me to come back at my thousand service and they will do it then and fit everything else on the lift wasn't completed I had to get the front and completed and pay for myself after I paid Mahendra themself at Moorooka full price what do you think of that one

[@owz37]

Seems like mahindra is paying you well. Coz i have been owning a mahindra for 12 years now. I know its fine but not as good as you explain.

[@devendersuhag6968]

12 year is lot at this price point 😁

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

They don’t pay me. And the new Pik Up is a vast improvement on your old one. Try it and see.

[@owz37]

@@JOHNROOTHROOTHY tried it. Believe older models were much better

[@dustinfrost5214]

Did you not make any money opal mining

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

Not much, best day we had money wise was when we soll all our gear and left. We'd spent everything growing the business on the way...

[@dustinfrost5214]

That's no where near Bush camping come to nz ws will show you Bush camping we call this glamping

[@JOHNROOTHROOTHY]

I love Kiwis, everything's bigger and better - err....