Around the World adventure vehicle
Discussion
Hi folks, purely hypothetical situation here, but I just want a few opinions.
Let's just say I was about to embark on a tour around the World, driving about, just having a bit of an adventure. This would involve a bit of rock crawling, wading through rivers and driving on dunes, muddy swamps, bad roads and just general long distance driving.
No mods beyond tyres and those cool off road bumpers with winches allowed.
I narrowed it down to the following:
Land cruiser (prado) short wheel base
Jeep Wrangler
Defender 90
Merc G350
Now the thing is, they all have their pros and cons. I like Toyota as a brand, but the Prado is the only one on the list without a solid front axle. The reviews are very good, but would it keep up with the others off road? I also like that it has a colossal fuel tank (150 l). I'd really like a troop carrier, but those things aren't available here.
The Jeep Wrangler - very good, but a bit too Yee-ha.
Defender - great, but unreliable. Simple to fix, but always broken.
Merc - If money was no object, this would be my pick. The thing is, money very much is an object.
I'd also like to know how the approach, departure and break over angles compare as well as amount of axle articulation. I tried googling, but this information is proving rather elusive...
Over to you guys.
Let's just say I was about to embark on a tour around the World, driving about, just having a bit of an adventure. This would involve a bit of rock crawling, wading through rivers and driving on dunes, muddy swamps, bad roads and just general long distance driving.
No mods beyond tyres and those cool off road bumpers with winches allowed.
I narrowed it down to the following:
Land cruiser (prado) short wheel base
Jeep Wrangler
Defender 90
Merc G350
Now the thing is, they all have their pros and cons. I like Toyota as a brand, but the Prado is the only one on the list without a solid front axle. The reviews are very good, but would it keep up with the others off road? I also like that it has a colossal fuel tank (150 l). I'd really like a troop carrier, but those things aren't available here.
The Jeep Wrangler - very good, but a bit too Yee-ha.
Defender - great, but unreliable. Simple to fix, but always broken.
Merc - If money was no object, this would be my pick. The thing is, money very much is an object.
I'd also like to know how the approach, departure and break over angles compare as well as amount of axle articulation. I tried googling, but this information is proving rather elusive...
Over to you guys.
Depends on your budget.
I'd avoid the Jeep and the Merc simply because parts availability will be a struggle.
Having had an 80 series LC that broke repeatedly I'd be very wary of a cheap one. Good ones are good, but a bit lacking in character.
Which leaves the Defender... I'd go with a 110 for ride comfort (!) and a Td5 for reliable tuned power for dealing with sand (once the injector harness and exhaust studs are sorted). Replace the shocks, any worn drivetrain bits, the rad and the fuel tank (afaik it's still steel in the Td5...) and pack as light as possible.
I'd avoid the Jeep and the Merc simply because parts availability will be a struggle.
Having had an 80 series LC that broke repeatedly I'd be very wary of a cheap one. Good ones are good, but a bit lacking in character.
Which leaves the Defender... I'd go with a 110 for ride comfort (!) and a Td5 for reliable tuned power for dealing with sand (once the injector harness and exhaust studs are sorted). Replace the shocks, any worn drivetrain bits, the rad and the fuel tank (afaik it's still steel in the Td5...) and pack as light as possible.
Any particular reason you prefer short wheel base vehicles? On most RTW trips the extra storage space/sleeping room/greater stability/smoother ride will easily outweigh the marginal increase in break over angle. It's also worth noting that even in very remote areas the marginal differences in off road ability between any of the serious 4x4s will be largely irrelevant; the only things ever to cause me real issues are deep, sticky mud and unfordable rivers.
What is more important in my opinion is reliability/sturdiness and this is where Toyotas/Mercs really do live up to their reputation. Our 80 series is 22 years/200k miles old and has never suffered a breakdown or serious issue - it just works, year after year despite being continually used and abused. In contrast, I've owned (and loved!) a number of Land Rover products but the thought of taking one anywhere properly remote isn't something I'd relish.
In terms of the ultimate vehicle, I think the 80 series is definitely up there, locking axles and long travel coil springs with a glorious straight six that'll outgrunt a Rover V8 whilst using half the fuel. All this combined with incredible build quality make it hard to beat. It's also comfortable and fast (ish) for the long stretches of on road work needed to actually get anywhere remote.
G-wagons are good but the older (affordable) ones are either slow or annoyingly thirsty if you for a straight six petrol.
In saying all that, we made it to Ulanbataar taking in Iraq, Iran, all the 'stans, the Pamir Highway and even the Gobi Desert in a 1.2 diesel Fiat Doblo without suffering a single breakdown!
What is more important in my opinion is reliability/sturdiness and this is where Toyotas/Mercs really do live up to their reputation. Our 80 series is 22 years/200k miles old and has never suffered a breakdown or serious issue - it just works, year after year despite being continually used and abused. In contrast, I've owned (and loved!) a number of Land Rover products but the thought of taking one anywhere properly remote isn't something I'd relish.
In terms of the ultimate vehicle, I think the 80 series is definitely up there, locking axles and long travel coil springs with a glorious straight six that'll outgrunt a Rover V8 whilst using half the fuel. All this combined with incredible build quality make it hard to beat. It's also comfortable and fast (ish) for the long stretches of on road work needed to actually get anywhere remote.
G-wagons are good but the older (affordable) ones are either slow or annoyingly thirsty if you for a straight six petrol.
In saying all that, we made it to Ulanbataar taking in Iraq, Iran, all the 'stans, the Pamir Highway and even the Gobi Desert in a 1.2 diesel Fiat Doblo without suffering a single breakdown!
Maybe a 70 series MWB or a GR patrol swb with the
4.2 six, Mb g waggon would be good but maybe a bit rare in some countrys if you had problems ,my Aussie adventure plans involve either a 75 series troopy ,80 or 105 series cruisers I wouldn't want to go out of the county let alone the country in any landrover... Would avoid the Prado not bad but the ifs suspension isnt great compared with a solid axle....
4.2 six, Mb g waggon would be good but maybe a bit rare in some countrys if you had problems ,my Aussie adventure plans involve either a 75 series troopy ,80 or 105 series cruisers I wouldn't want to go out of the county let alone the country in any landrover... Would avoid the Prado not bad but the ifs suspension isnt great compared with a solid axle....
Edited by powerstroke on Wednesday 26th March 08:14
Get yourself a copy of the "Vehicle Dependant Expedition Guide" by Tom Shepherd (Desert Winds Publishing)... Read & digest.
Essentially, any car will do:
M
Essentially, any car will do:
- Keep any mods to a minimum, especially the drive train & suspension components as it will make parts supply easier if you break something.
- Make sure it is properly serviced.
- PACK LIGHT! The less kit you pack, the better it is for the car, reducing the chances of breaking something!!
- Winch... Don't bother with a vehicle mounted one. If you're on an expedition, use a hand winch. You're not in a hurry and you then have the option of pulling the car backwards (or any other direction).
M
I own both a Toyota Prado and a Defender 110.
For off roading the Defender wins. 6 manual speeds, high and low range, gives you more control than the Prado's auto box. Especially on steep descents. The Defender is narrower so fits in gaps that would rip the sides off the Prado. The Defenders approach and departure angles are better.
For long tarmac journeys I would take the Prado as it is more comfortable.
Reliability - both are about the same. Yes the Defender should be easier to fix if you know what you are doing, but parts for the Prado will be easier to obtain in some parts of the world, and will be more familiar to most local mechanics.
For off roading the Defender wins. 6 manual speeds, high and low range, gives you more control than the Prado's auto box. Especially on steep descents. The Defender is narrower so fits in gaps that would rip the sides off the Prado. The Defenders approach and departure angles are better.
For long tarmac journeys I would take the Prado as it is more comfortable.
Reliability - both are about the same. Yes the Defender should be easier to fix if you know what you are doing, but parts for the Prado will be easier to obtain in some parts of the world, and will be more familiar to most local mechanics.
camel_landy said:
The last thing you'll want to do is break the car, dicking around in a remote location!!
M
Ha- been there, done that! M
In a Prado!
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.
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