Around the World adventure vehicle
Discussion
Ayahuasca said:
Would strongly suggest getting some qualified training in before going anywhere. I didn't and it cost me $$$$$$$$$ in valuable learning experience.
Also, some of the kit ( high lift jacks, snatch straps, winches, etc) can quite easily kill you.
What he said; recovery equipment can easily spoil your whole day if you don't know what you're up to.Also, some of the kit ( high lift jacks, snatch straps, winches, etc) can quite easily kill you.
Not a round the world trip but ... I am just back from bolivia and driove a land cruiser lwb app 2007 model (prado) and it done great , we drove the death road and the headed to the border and drove up a volcano and reached 17500 ft with no road , great machine really fantastic on and off road.
Hardly a drive into the unknown plains of Africa but I chose a 110 Defender for my winter trip to Nordkapp.
I chose a 110 200tdi. The engine is bombproof, give it a good service and it can tolerate overheating, has enough power to keep you going and reasonable consumption. We managed 26mpg over 10,000km and on some incredibly cold days we didn't stop the engine at all. It started easily at -36 and didn't give us any bother.
It had a Salisbury rear end, again bombproof.
The front axle isn't anything special, I wouldn't say you could abuse it in the same way you can a Patrol or LandCruiser but it does the job.
Adaptability, we lined the inside, fitted 2 40 litre storage lockers in the side, fitted an Eberspacher cabin heater, bed in the back, all our spares including oils and a 20 litre jerry can and all we had inside the back was 2 bags of clothes for the pair of us and 1 storage locker.
We used a Hi-Lift for recovery purposes which did the job admirably when I drove down a snow covered ditch at 10pm just south of Nordkapp
The biggest problems with them imo is the gearbox, the LT77 is just not that strong and 5th is known for being weak, which is why ours broke and we had to come all the way back in 4th. The R380 is better but I'm not sure by how much.
Camel Landy touched on it but weight is also a big issue, I think we came in at around 2.5 tons from memory and that included 2 spare wheels, a full length Brownchurch rack and all the gear we travelled with. I love the idea of a Unimog etc but if you get a 10 ton vehicle stuck, you really need some huge recovery gear to get it out (Which adds lots of weight) or hope some big truck is going to drive past to help you out.
Most of the fun is adapting the vehicle to how you want it.
Money no object i'd have a 130 double cab with covered payload area, a roof tent the same height as the double cab roof, portal boxes on the axles, onboard air, seperate fuel tanks, a Cummins 4BT and LT85 gearbox, Salisbury rear end with locker, front locker, external cage, hydraulic pump from the PTO, removeable hydraulic winch and lines run front and back, seperate Eberspacher engine and cabin heater, a good stereo with loads of books on tape and a credit card with no limit. Mainly though, NO CHEQUER PLATE!
Dave!
I chose a 110 200tdi. The engine is bombproof, give it a good service and it can tolerate overheating, has enough power to keep you going and reasonable consumption. We managed 26mpg over 10,000km and on some incredibly cold days we didn't stop the engine at all. It started easily at -36 and didn't give us any bother.
It had a Salisbury rear end, again bombproof.
The front axle isn't anything special, I wouldn't say you could abuse it in the same way you can a Patrol or LandCruiser but it does the job.
Adaptability, we lined the inside, fitted 2 40 litre storage lockers in the side, fitted an Eberspacher cabin heater, bed in the back, all our spares including oils and a 20 litre jerry can and all we had inside the back was 2 bags of clothes for the pair of us and 1 storage locker.
We used a Hi-Lift for recovery purposes which did the job admirably when I drove down a snow covered ditch at 10pm just south of Nordkapp
The biggest problems with them imo is the gearbox, the LT77 is just not that strong and 5th is known for being weak, which is why ours broke and we had to come all the way back in 4th. The R380 is better but I'm not sure by how much.
Camel Landy touched on it but weight is also a big issue, I think we came in at around 2.5 tons from memory and that included 2 spare wheels, a full length Brownchurch rack and all the gear we travelled with. I love the idea of a Unimog etc but if you get a 10 ton vehicle stuck, you really need some huge recovery gear to get it out (Which adds lots of weight) or hope some big truck is going to drive past to help you out.
Most of the fun is adapting the vehicle to how you want it.
Money no object i'd have a 130 double cab with covered payload area, a roof tent the same height as the double cab roof, portal boxes on the axles, onboard air, seperate fuel tanks, a Cummins 4BT and LT85 gearbox, Salisbury rear end with locker, front locker, external cage, hydraulic pump from the PTO, removeable hydraulic winch and lines run front and back, seperate Eberspacher engine and cabin heater, a good stereo with loads of books on tape and a credit card with no limit. Mainly though, NO CHEQUER PLATE!
Dave!
Gaz-66 for me
Common in many ex-soviet countries and parts are widely available.
Engine is an old school petrol V8 based off an 1930's american design.
Central tyre inflation system
Heated rear box with generator
Ground clearance- 315 mm (12 in)
Fording depth- 1 m (39 in)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvdRjlWew7o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69EZqwLVgGo
Common in many ex-soviet countries and parts are widely available.
Engine is an old school petrol V8 based off an 1930's american design.
Central tyre inflation system
Heated rear box with generator
Ground clearance- 315 mm (12 in)
Fording depth- 1 m (39 in)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvdRjlWew7o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69EZqwLVgGo
Edited by skyrover on Tuesday 3rd June 10:15
Gassing Station | Off Road | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff