We have finally set sail in what should have been Tony’s yearned-for yacht, but has emerged as a 4WD Global Warrior motorhome with marine-style construction and finish.

I am astonished at how much attention Isabel is getting along the road. Men just love her and seem to be drawn in by her pert rear end. When we set off, she was the only one of her kind in Australia, but others are now coming off the production line at the All Terrain Warriors’ factory at Yandina in Queensland.

We left in mid-July on a comparatively sedate poke into some of the more remote parts of Australia. This is going to be a different experience to our previous Australian explorations. We have already traipsed more than 100,000 kilometres around the country, living mainly in the back of utes with our feet sticking out; visiting out-of-the-way places where towing anything can be a problem.

Isabel is a well-sealed and insulated fibreglass house on an Isuzu NPS 300 4x4 with parabolic suspension and air-adjustable Robo shocks. She has a 15,000lb rear winch, LSD rear differential and ATB front diff; 19.5 single off-road tyres with two spares, diesel heating for hot water and heating; solar power and 2x110m/h house batteries.

Fittings include an electric pop-up roof, awnings either side, inside shower  and toilet, outside hot and cold shower/hose, queen size bed, four seatbelts in the dinette that converts to a double bed, roomy Italian fridge and freezer drawers and super comfy cabin seats.

Isabel’s galley style kitchen is in keeping with her yacht-style finish

I named her Isabel, to Tony’s disgust. Friends have been a little more polite. Maybe she should have been Rocky or Bruce, or even Boadicea, but Isabel the Isuzu it is.

Now we are off in search of the flocks of migrating grey nomads who have gypsied Australia in the last 15 years. We have been to the tip of Cape York, ducked in and out of the Telegraph Track and found few fish, but lots of interesting places and people.

Isabel’s table slides over for an easy step through to cab

Category: Unknown
Written: Tue 01 Oct 2013
Printed: October, 2013
Published By: