We’re Joost and Jasper — a Dutch-Australian father and son team with a small 4WD and big ideas.

After falling in love with Australia’s wild places, we decided to take on the Canning Stock Route in our trusty Suzuki Jimny — arguably the smallest 4WD that has any business attempting it (and that’s still up for debate).

This site documents everything we’ve done to prepare for the trip: what gear we picked (and ditched), how we managed our limited payload, what worked, what didn’t, and what we learned through test trips and desert dust.

We’re not experts — just real people giving it a crack, with a lot of curiosity, spreadsheets, snacks, and one very excited 10 -year-old.

If you’re thinking of doing a big trip in a little rig, or just want to see what’s possible with a Jimny, we hope our story helps.

Note: This site is a slow-build project! We’ll be adding more info over time as we prep for the trip — we’ve got a full-time life (and job), so bear with us as we go.

We know — the Suzuki Jimny probably isn’t the first vehicle that comes to mind when you think “Canning Stock Route.”

But for us, it made sense. It’s half the price of most other 4WDs, has low range, and is just simple, honest fun. Sure, the payload is tight (340 kg!), but that’s part of the challenge — and why we’ve tested everything with a light trailer, careful packing, and lots of spreadsheets.

This trip isn’t about speed or power. It’s about proving that you don’t need a monster rig to see the most remote parts of Australia. Just a bit of prep, some jerry cans… and a good sense of humour.

Most people tackling the Canning Stock Route travel in convoys or at least with a support vehicle. And for good reason — it’s one of the most remote, punishing tracks in Australia. Fuel, water, and supplies are serious logistical challenges, and when things go wrong out there, help can be a long, long way away.

That’s what makes our plan a little… different.

We’re attempting to drive the entire CSR in our Suzuki Jimny completely solo and self-supported — no support vehicles, no backup fuel drops, no recovery convoy waiting behind us. Just a tiny 4x4, my 10-year-old co-pilot Jasper, and a carefully thought-out system built to make the impossible just a little bit possible.

We know the risks, but also the reward: the freedom to go at our own pace, to stop and explore without waiting for anyone else, and to prove that a small, well-prepared vehicle can go the distance if you plan smart and drive with respect for the conditions.

The Canning isn’t about horsepower or ego. It’s about patience, preparation, and resilience. And if all goes to plan, we might just be the first Jimny team to complete it solo — fully self-supported, start to finish.

Well, we’ve thought long and hard about that. We’re not doing this recklessly — we’re doing it carefully, but independently.

We carry a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) for true emergencies — the kind where lives are at risk. Jasper knows exactly how to use it if I’m ever unable to. For anything less urgent, we have a Starlink Mini, which costs less than a sat phone, provides a live internet connection, and even lets Jasper FaceTime with mum from the middle of the desert.

Yes, it’s more risk than traveling in a convoy — but for us, it’s an acceptable one.

Because here’s the truth: it’s hard to find people who want to do the Canning, and even harder to find the right people — those who share your pace, your preparation level, and your way of travelling.

If we waited for the perfect time, the perfect people, and the perfect car... we’d never go.

And that’s not what adventure is about.

Yes — the Canning Stock Route is the big one.

It’s the kind of trip that grabs your imagination and doesn’t let go. Endless red sand, impossible distances, and that quiet satisfaction of knowing you’re completely on your own out there.

But everything we’ve learned while preparing for the CSR — the packing systems, gear choices, planning tricks, and “don’t overcomplicate it” mindset — applies just as much to a weekend escape as it does to a five-week desert crossing.

Whether you’re running a Jimny, a Yaris, or anything in between, the core idea is the same:

you don’t need a huge rig to have a real adventure.

Start small. Keep it simple. Go often.

It’s amazing how much freedom comes from knowing that your setup works, you’ve got what you need, and nothing more.

So while the CSR is the headline trip for us, the real story is about getting out there — learning what works for you, spending time with the people who matter (or just yourself), and discovering that the outback, the bush, and the quiet dirt roads are closer than you think.

If what you find here helps you plan a smoother trip, or gives you the confidence to head out for that first overnighter — that’s a win.

See you out there!