Full Time Travel Truths: Lee & Daz’s Big Lap Survival Guide

What happens when everything goes to plan with full time travel, until it doesn’t?

For Lee and Daz from Our Salty Life, their Big Lap of Australia has been filled with epic adventures, unforgettable wildlife encounters, and plenty of campfire chats. But it’s also been marked by mechanical meltdowns, unexpected medical needs, and those classic “we didn’t see that coming” moments.

In this episode of Big Lap Chats, I caught up with Lee and Daz (again) to talk through the highs, the heartbreaks, and the very real tips they wish more travellers knew before hitting the road.

Relationship Resilience and Close Quarters: “You’ve Got to Really Love Each Other”

Before the fuel receipts and itinerary planning, one thing often gets overlooked: the reality of living in close quarters.

“If you’ve got a relationship that’s a little bit testy… caravan life isn’t going to fix it,” Daz joked, only half kidding.

For Lee and Daz, who’ve been travelling full-time for more than two years, one of the biggest lap survival skills is emotional endurance and yes, actually liking your partner. “You’re together 24/7 in a very small space. If the weather turns, it gets even smaller.”

It’s not just about managing your relationship, either. As Lee pointed out, you also lose your everyday support network. “You’re not just ducking out for coffee with a girlfriend. Your family and friends might be on the other side of the country.”

The Breakdown That Changed Everything: When Plan A Falls Apart

One of the most eye-opening parts of their journey was the sheer unpredictability of breakdowns, especially in remote WA.

“Our custom diff failed in Karratha,” Daz explained. “It was a $15,000 issue and no one up north wanted to touch it. They’re used to Toyotas. RAMs? Not so much.”

And it wasn’t just the mechanical problem that derailed their trip, it was the ripple effect. Lee and Daz found themselves stranded in an expensive town, with no transport, limited options, and peak-season caravan park prices.

“We had to truck the car and van back to Victoria. Flights, the dog, everything. RACV Premium picked up the tab, but only because we had it in place beforehand.”

Lesson learned: Always have a contingency fund—and premium roadside assistance. “It might cost you an extra hundred bucks a year, but the peace of mind is worth every cent.”

Don’t Decide in the First 24 Hours: The Value of Sitting with the Problem

In the midst of breakdown chaos, it’s tempting to make decisions fast. Get home, get it fixed, get moving again. But Lee and Daz have learned the hard way that sometimes the best move is no move at all, at least not right away.

“Sit in it. Breathe. Look at your options. Reach out to your network,” Daz said.

When they were told their diff had failed (again), they weren’t convinced. They reached out through a local community page and found a young, travelling heavy-duty mechanic who diagnosed a completely different issue—a wheel bearing. Six days later, the part arrived from the US and they were back on the road.

“If we’d jumped too soon, we would have been towed home for no reason.”

Contingency Isn’t Just Financial, It’s Emotional, Too

Lee and Daz emphasised the need for more than just spare cash. Contingency also means thinking through your exit strategies, before you need them. If you’ve rented out your house, do you have somewhere else you could go? Could you house-sit? Can friends help?

“We ended up house-sitting next door to our own house. Our tenants were lovely about it, but it was still weird!”

It’s about planning for the worst, without obsessing over it. “You don’t want to expect breakdowns—but they do happen. Don’t wait until disaster strikes to ask, ‘What now?’”

Medical Mayhem and the Power of Just Asking

Lee and Daz’s story is also a powerful reminder that life doesn’t pause when you hit the road. Injuries happen. Health issues arise. And sometimes you need to navigate the healthcare system in unfamiliar places.

After Daz injured his knee, they didn’t wait around. They rang a Perth surgeon, explained the situation, and asked for help. In five days, he’d had scans and surgery, purely because they asked.

Later, when the other knee flared up, the same surgeon and an MRI centre fast-tracked his case again.

“We were honest. We said, ‘We’re travelling, we’re only in town for a few days, can you help?’ And they did.”

Tools, Tips, and the Things You Actually Need

As seasoned travellers, Lee and Daz have learned a lot about what gear is useful and what’s just dead weight.

“You don’t need a massive chainsaw,” Daz laughed. “You’re not felling trees. I switched to a reciprocal saw and it’s been a game changer. Light, low maintenance, and perfect for campfires.”

They’ve also added a water bladder, and fine-tuned their toolkit on the go. “You pick up great ideas from other campers. If it works for them, it might work for you too.”

Finding Hidden Gems: The Campfire Connection

When asked how they find those jaw-dropping, off-the-beaten-track places, Lee’s answer was simple: “Just talk to people.”

The campfire is where real intel lives, far beyond what a guidebook or Google can offer. And sunset drinks? “That’s when the best stories come out,” Daz added.

Nothing beats an old-school chat with fellow travellers. “Ask, ‘What should I not miss? What was your least favourite spot?’ You’ll be amazed at what you find.”

Bucket List Moments: From Whale Sharks to Rodeos

While they’re careful with their budget, Lee and Daz aren’t afraid to spend on unforgettable experiences.

“Swimming with whale sharks. Snorkelling with turtles. A helicopter picnic on a remote beach for my 60th—things we’d do again in a heartbeat,” said Lee.

Surprisingly, another favourite was the Broome Rodeo. “We’d never been to one. It was wild, exciting, and so Australian. The skill of those riders blew us away.”

Money-Saving Hacks (That Aren’t What You Think)

Lee and Daz aren’t penny-pinchers, but they’re smart about spending. A few of their favourite hacks include:

• Woolworths Online: “We get groceries couriered to Coral Bay. It saves hundreds when there are no major supermarkets around.”
• Visitor Info Centre Discounts: “We saved 25% on a helicopter ride just by using a code from the Broome Visitor Centre.”
• Seniors Cards: “At first, we were embarrassed to ask. Now? If there’s a discount, we’re taking it!”

They also mentioned prepping their own lunches in the back of the Ram instead of eating servo pies every day. “Year one, we gained weight from too many drinks and too many social nights. Year two, we pulled it back.”

The Tip That Saved Their Bacon: Premium Roadside Cover

If there’s one piece of advice Lee and Daz want every lapper to take seriously, it’s this: go premium with your roadside assistance.

“You think you won’t need it, until you do. And when you do, you’ll be thankful. We got towed thousands of kilometres, flights home with our dog covered… it saved us.”

Final Thoughts: “Just Go. Don’t Wait.”

Lee and Daz had one more message they wanted to share, one that rings loud and clear for anyone sitting on the fence:

“You don’t need the flashiest gear or the biggest rig. You just need to start. If this is your dream, trust yourself. You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time.”

As Daz put it, their financial planner gave them the best advice they’d ever heard: “You’ve hit your goal go and have your holiday.”

And so they did.

Inspired by Lee & Daz’s story? The Big Lap Chats Podcast Membership is where we dive even deeper—raw, unfiltered advice from real travellers like them. No fluff. Just the stuff that can save you thousands, help you avoid rookie mistakes, and give you the confidence to say, "We've got this."

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