It’s a humid afternoon in the Top End, and somewhere between the satisfying click of a ratchet and the distant rumble of thunder, two women are lying under a 1984 Land Cruiser, covered in grease. This isn’t a breakdown.
For Astrid and Bec, the duo behind The Free Roam Chicks, this is simply what a random Tuesday looks like. One day they’re hiking the mountains of New Zealand; the next they’re elbow-deep in the engine bay of a vintage HJ47 they’ve nicknamed “Sizzle”. A moniker earned after four months of collecting burns. They have no routine. And no fixed address. There is only the road, a shared sense of humour and a goal to use their rig for something bigger than just ticking off destinations.
We caught up with The Free Roam Chicks to talk about their Troopy “Pumba,” their love for Alu-Cab’s rugged simplicity and their new campaign that’s a lifeline for rescue dogs.
Who Are The Free Roam Chicks? (Hint: They’re Probably Funnier Than You)
If you’re expecting a glossy, perfectly filtered travel feed, you’re in the wrong place.
“We’re Astrid and Bec,” they explain, when asked for the elevator pitch. “We use humour, adventure and chaos to shine a light on causes we care about, especially animal welfare.”
The platform they’ve built, is less a travel blog and more a mobile megaphone for grassroots projects and people who don’t usually get the spotlight. Their ethos is simple. Ditch the sad, teary storytelling and lean into the absurdity of life on the road. The breakdowns, the corrugations that shake your teeth loose, the kangaroos that photobomb the perfect shot... All while getting things done.
Astrid’s journey to Australia started with a one-way flight and a $15 Kmart tent that deflated every hour. Bec’s began at 17, traveling Cape York in a beat-up Triton ute. They met in 2023, and in the way that only true overlanders do, they went “all in” immediately.
“We decided to build a life that revolved around the road, not around a postcode,” they say.
The Chunky, Lovable Heart of the Operation
The vehicle that carries this chaos is a V8 Troopy named Pumba. A reference to The Lion King’s flatulent but fiercely loyal warthog.
“Personality-wise, Pumba is the dependable friend who always shows up but also farts at the worst possible time,” they laugh. “Solid, a bit ridiculous. It fits right in with us.”
For Bec, the Troopy was always the dream. It’s the sweet spot between van-life comfort and legitimate 4WD capability. But to unlock its full touring potential, they knew they needed a roof conversion.
“When we looked at what was on the market, Alu-Cab stood out straight away,” they note. “The layout, the build quality and the clean, purposeful look all matched what we wanted the rig to be. Simple, tough and ready for long stretches off-grid.”
The Hercules roof conversion is the hero of the build. It provides standing room, a comfortable bed and a place to take shelter when the weather turns. It’s the difference between surviving a trip and living in comfort.
Beyond the pop-top, the setup is surprisingly simple. They run a Shadow Awning, permanently plumbed 10L hot shower (“Being able to shower almost every day makes a massive difference to morale”) and swear by their Maxtrax. These aren’t just recovery boards for Pumba; they’re nightly levelling blocks, step ladders and the occasional makeshift table.
The Old Dog With a New Mission
While Pumba is the workhorse, their new project is a 1984 HJ47 named Sizzle. This rig forms the heart of their next chapter.
The idea for Sizzle was born out of a restlessness that many long-term travelers will recognize. After six months on the road, Astrid and Bec realized that traveling just to tick places off a map felt purposeless. They wanted the kilometers to mean something.
In August 2025, a half-delirious idea in Kununurra took root. “We spotted the Shitbox Rally and loved the idea,” they recall. “We tried to sign up, never heard back, so one night we just said, ‘Stuff it, we’ll do our own.’”
The plan was audacious. Buy an old iconic Cruiser, rebuild it, send it up the Old Telegraph Track and use that stunt to raise money and awareness for rescue dogs. That tiny idea has since ballooned into a full-scale campaign backed by over 20 brands, including Alu-Cab.
“The vision is simple. Back to basics,” they explain. “Sizzle is our ‘old dog’ and the face of our dog rescue campaign. We want to show that older rigs not only still have value, they can literally change lives.”
Send It for the Strays
The campaign, Send It for the Strays, is where the rubber meets the road. Literally.
The premise is refreshingly straightforward. As they travel from shelter to shelter, Astrid and Bec use their skills as professional photographers and storytellers to help dogs get adopted. They take high-quality photos and videos of shelter dogs and sometimes take the pups out for a “day off” to give them visibility and a break from the kennels.
The HJ47 plays a crucial role here. You simply cannot park a restored 1984 Land Cruiser at a roadhouse without someone wandering over for a chat.
“If we were doing the exact same project in a 2025 Hilux, we honestly don’t think it would turn as many heads this early,” they admit. The old Cruiser is an icebreaker, a conversation starter that allows them to talk about the brands backing them, their cause and how a 40-year-old vehicle (much like the older dogs in shelters) still has a tremendous amount of life and love left to give.
The Philosophy of Partnership
For the Free Roam Chicks, a brand partnership isn’t about logo placement. It’s about real connection.
“We love taking time to really know the people behind the emails,” they say. “Meeting in person, sharing meals, going camping together.”
Our Australian team is thrilled to have such committed content creators running around shows in inflatable dog suits, handing out merch and raising awareness for their cause. They're also great people to go camping with and are always good for a laugh.
Their philosophy extends to their work ethic. They’ve made a pledge that between November 2024 and August 2026, 50% of the profits from paid content jobs in the 4x4 touring industry will be donated to Happy Tails Animal Rescue.
“Each paid gig is also a little fundraiser,” they add. It’s a business model built on integrity, proving that you can build a sustainable career on the road while actively giving back.
The Road Ahead
When asked what excites them more—the places, the people, or the dogs—they can’t pick one.
“It’s honestly the mix that makes it magic,” they say. “We’re excited for the tracks we haven’t driven yet and the ridiculous ideas we’ll probably say yes to without thinking them through. We’re excited to keep weaving animal welfare into everything we do.”
As for the advice they’d give to their younger selves, or to anyone sitting on the fence?
“Keep saying yes to random ideas. Loving people fully. And laughing too loud. And don’t water yourself down to fit what you think life ‘should’ look like. You are on the right path.”
For those of us who spend our lives chasing horizons, it’s hard to imagine a better compass to follow.
Click this link to follow The Free Roam Chicks and support the Send It for the Strays campaign.