About Captain Billy's 4WD Hire

Captain Billy's 4WD Hire is a genuine specialist — operating out of Cairns since 2003 with a fleet of 9 purpose-built 4WD vehicles for Cape York and Far North Queensland adventure. This is not a rental-car company that happens to offer 4WDs. Every vehicle is configured specifically for remote Queensland conditions: dual batteries, bull bars, snorkels, recovery gear, and diesel engines as standard. The insurance excess is $6,000 AUD, with three reduction tiers (NZ$38/day → $2,800 excess, NZ$55/day → $1,800 excess, NZ$70/day → $500 excess). Minimum hire is 7 days. Vehicles are restricted to Queensland — no interstate travel.

The fleet ranges from the nimble Hilux Rooftop Tent (2012 auto, 80L water, 40L fridge, 270° awning) at the entry end, up to the Landcruiser 70 Series Wanderer variants and the flagship Cape York Bush Kamper — a Landcruiser 70 V8 fitted with a Kimberley Kamper body featuring an integrated ensuite, 120W solar, 40A charger/inverter, 1,300L Gullwing dual-compartment storage, and a U-shape kitchen on roller bearings. The Kimberley Kamper Trailer (available as a tow-behind add-on) adds the same ensuite and storage in trailer format for those wanting to pair it with a Landcruiser Wagon. The Ford Ranger Raptor (10-speed auto, bi-turbo) and Ranger Rooftop Tent Deluxe round out the fleet with more modern platforms and Apple CarPlay.

Captain Billy's is part of a multi-brand rental network that includes Tasmania Campers, Devil Campers, Tui Campers NZ, and Freedom Campers NZ. Pricing is on the higher end for the category, but reflects genuine outback-capable preparation. Best suited to experienced 4WD travellers targeting Cape York, the Daintree, or the Gulf Savannah.

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

  • Kimberley Kamper body option with integrated ensuite and solar

✗ Cons

  • Minimum 7-day hire
  • Single Cairns depot

Vehicle Fleet

Bushcamper 2 berth Safari campervan
Bushcamper 2 berth Safari
👥 2 berth🚙 Toyota Hilux⚙️ Manual
👥2 Berth⚙️Manual
Cape York Bush Kamper campervan
Cape York Bush Kamper
👥 2 berth🚙 Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series V8⚙️ Manual
👥2 Berth⚙️Manual
Hilux Rooftop Tent campervan
Hilux Rooftop Tent
👥 2 berth🚙 Toyota Hilux 2012 2.8L Turbo⚙️ Automatic
👥2 Berth⚙️Automatic
Kimberley Kamper Trailer campervan
Kimberley Kamper Trailer
👥 2 berth🚙 Tow-behind trailer⚙️ n/a
👥2 Berth⚙️n/a
Landcruiser Wagon Roof Top Tent campervan
Landcruiser Wagon Roof Top Tent
👥 2 berth🚙 Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series V8⚙️ Manual
👥2 Berth⚙️Manual
Ranger Rooftop Tent Deluxe campervan
Ranger Rooftop Tent Deluxe
👥 2 berth🚙 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2L Turbo⚙️ 6-Speed Automatic
👥2 Berth⚙️6-Speed Automatic
Bushcamper Challenger 2/3 campervan
Bushcamper Challenger 2/3
👥 3 berth🚙 Toyota Landcruiser 4.5L V8⚙️ Manual
👥3 Berth⚙️Manual
Landcruiser Wagon campervan
Landcruiser Wagon
👥 5 berth🚙 Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series V8⚙️ Manual
👥5 Berth⚙️Manual

Features & Amenities

🍳Kitchen Facilities
🚿Shower / Toilet
☀️Solar Panels
❄️Refrigerator
🛏️Bedding Included
🔧24/7 Roadside Assist
📡GPS Navigation
🏕️Camping Equipment

Customer Reviews

✍️ Leave a Review
Gerry.B
📍 Australia
★☆☆☆☆
Worst car hire I have ever experienced: 1. Worst post-hire customer service 2. No handbrake 3. Different size spare tyre 4. Slow puncture 5. Expired rego sticker 6. Past service due 7. Confusion over camping equipment booking 8. 2 of above were detailed in the damage report – which we somehow did not end up with (got all other paper work) Details below: From: Gerry Buitendag Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2012 1:47 PM To: Stephen Turner Cc: Tom Cairns Subject: Re: Captain Billy 4WD Hire Booking Confirmation #QLD3052 (Cairns) Hi Steve Obviously you are not interested in trying to solve this issue amicably. As we reported on return the aerial broke on our trip on the first full day before we even left the tar so I am not sure how we could have caused in-pack damage. Your extremely slow (almost 2 months) and arrogant response solidifies my case that this is by far the worst car hire experience of the many that I have had. I still await the refund. Gerry Buitendag From: Stephen Turner Sent: Friday, September 14, 2012 10:29 AM To: [email protected] Cc: Tom Cairns Subject: Re: Captain Billy 4WD Hire Booking Confirmation #QLD3052 (Cairns) Tom has answer your questions, theirs no issues, the only issue I have is the damage to UHF radio aril you have done ( broken) $293 to replace and don’t tell me you didn’t do it because I go up to the Cape 4 times a year doing tag a longs, I have look at aril and has in-pack damage. I have look into your complaints after arriving back from 16 day tag a long tour to the Cape and their is no justification to your complaints, etc punctures you are liable to fix, inside door light bulb you can buy one and we would refund. Will refund $300 cleaning fee, have had a good talk to Tom about your issues and he’s done good job with addressing them to you. R1 Handbrake was noted on Vehicle condition report which you signed 2 The tyre issue — I should have sent you off to get it repaired when you found a Tyre service open . It was not a slow leak , a roofing screw was the cause . I gave you the only 5 Stud wheel I had as a Spare . 3 The Rego was paid prior to due date — Receipt was in folder handed to you This was also documented in Vehicle condition report 4 When Vehicle left here it was almost one thousand Kms prior to scheduled service , All oils and fluids ,Tyre pressures ,etc are checked prior to every hire 5 Confusion over CAMPING equipment hire was caused by one of your Passengers phoning here and advising me you did not require the extras ,you required the Vehicle only , You were subsequently supplied everything you asked for on the day at no extra cost to you Sent from my iPad On 14/09/2012, at 7:57 AM, Billiard Empire wrote: —– Original Message —– From: Gerry Buitendag To: Billiard Empire Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2012 9:02 PM Subject: Re: Captain Billy 4WD Hire Booking Confirmation #QLD3052 (Cairns) Hi Steve I am now tired of trying to phone you as you are not returning my calls. I was hoping we could resolve this issue amicably. Please phone me on 0011 64 21 475 849. Gerry Buitendag From: Gerry Buitendag Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 9:41 PM To: Billiard Empire Subject: Re: Captain Billy 4WD Hire Booking Confirmation #QLD3052 (Cairns) Hi Tom I have not received any answer from this email. I think you should discount this hire by 25% ($889) and refund the cleaning costs($280.50), else I will be taking this issue further. from: Gerry Buitendag Email: [email protected] From: Gerry Buitendag Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 8:07 PM To: Billiard Empire Subject: Re: Captain Billy 4WD Hire Booking Confirmation #QLD3052 (Cairns) Hi Tom I am not arguing the details, for an annual care-free holiday, the expensive car hire, was not anywhere near worth it. I have never hired with so many issues – even cut-rate in 3rd world countries. Come back to me with the refund (I am in Africa 1/8 to 21/8 so may not be reading emails often). Gerry From: Billiard Empire Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 9:47 AM To: Gerry Buitendag Subject: Re: Captain Billy 4WD Hire Booking Confirmation #QLD3052 (Cairns) Hello Gerry I am presently waiting for the owner of Business to arrive from Cape York tour . However 1 Handbrake was noted on Vehicle condition report which you signed 2 The tyre issue — I should have sent you off to get it repaired when you found a Tyre service open . It was not a slow leak , a roofing screw was the cause . I gave you the only 5 Stud wheel I had as a Spare . 3 The Rego was paid prior to due date — Receipt was in folder handed to you This was also documented in Vehicle condition report 4 When Vehicle left here it was almost one thousand Kms prior to scheduled service , All oils and fluids ,Tyre pressures ,etc are checked prior to every hire 5 Confusion over CAMPING equipment hire was caused by one of your Passengers phoning here and advising me you did not require the extras ,you required the Vehicle only , You were subsequently supplied everything you asked for on the day at no extra cost to you Regards Tom —– Original Message —– From: Gerry Buitendag To: Captain Billy 4WD Hire ; [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 8:03 PM Subject: Re: Captain Billy 4WD Hire Booking Confirmation #QLD3052 (Cairns) Hi Tom I have not received any of the expected communication from you since we handed the car back last Saturday or the expected refund of the cleaning costs. I assume there was no issue with the car or its cleanliness or you would have mentioned it earlier. Just to recap, I have paid you: 26/3 $500.00 21/6 $3055.72 30/6 $280.50 ———— Total $3836.22 We were not happy with the car, due to the following problems: 1. No handbrake 2. Different size spare tyre 3. Slow puncture 4. Expired rego sticker 5. Past service due 6. Confusion over camping equipment booking I spent the first week of the holiday wondering what would go wrong next. I am someone who strongly believes in feedback to companies about good & bad service & that this car hire was the worst I have ever had by far. Your prices were not greatly different to other companies I checked, but I would not accept this kind of a car hire from anyone. I think you should discount this hire by 25% ($889) and refund the cleaning costs($280.50), else I will be taking this issue further. Thank you . from: Gerry Buitendag Email: [email protected]
Sept 2012

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Video Reviews

▶️ YouTube Embed — Vehicle Tour
▶️ YouTube Embed — Customer Testimonial

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