A good off-roader for desert driving

[bibblybobbly]

It's been a dream of mine to take an off-roader out to sandy deserts, for periods of a couple of days at a time, and camp in the back. I want to go searching for scorpions with a UV light at night.

What would be tough enough for this kind of punishment? I've always loved the look of Land Cruisers, especially the J80s. Are these too old and decrepit now? In general, I have a kind of superstitious faith in the strength and reliability Japanese SUVs. Not least because you seem to see a lot of those guys in Dubai bashing dunes in Land Cruisers, Nissan Patrols etc.

Will I die?

[bibblybobbly]

Thanks, that's good to hear. I have always thought Land Cruisers were sexy as hell. Nice to have an excuse to buy one. There's nothing I love more than a reliable, well-built, durable car. Even more so than a high-speed car perhaps.

I've never really done any off-roading though. How best to learn and prepare for this adventure?

Tyres etc.?

Edited by bibblybobbly on Friday 11th March 17:31

[bibblybobbly]

Bill said:

Best idea is probably to look at what the locals use and join a local club, not least because its not wise to go alone.

I don't know about joining a club. The idea would be to drive over from the UK and just drive around, say, Northern Africa a bit. Is that possible?

More and more, I'm thinking: "Fuggit. If I die, I die." I really want to do this.

[bibblybobbly]

gareth h said:

Of those countries Morocco is the only one I would consider, although they contribute quite a lot of labour to ISIS there don't seem to be too many problems internally.
We saw lots of guys on self supported trips, there does seem to be a well trodden route, but you could get into problems if you stray too far off those routes and have problems, it gets piggin hot!

Thanks for the responses guys. I had not considered the political dimension. Urrgh.

Self-supported you say? I don't intend on venturing out to the most far-flung, inhospitable, terrorist-ified areas. A well-trodden route sounds fine to me.