Driving around India...
Discussion
Ok the plan is hatched, we're planning 3-4 months around India...
The initial idea is to ship a vehicle out there and then do the full tour (10.000 kms), so my first hurdle is the height of a 40ft shipping container, I think there 2.18m ... After 5 bike trips I've promised the wife we wont be on a bike, so my Africa Twin and Enfields are out.
The key requirement is the possibility to sit and sleep inside with some comfort, so no roof tents. This pity much puts out the Toyota LC and LR 110 ... I keep coming back to a VW T3 (T25) maybe with a Scooby engine or 1.9td conversion but it just leaves me cold.... its missing something.... The latest idea is a pickup with demountable camper back...
Maybe a Bongo !
this is on a budget so no €150,000 Marc unimogs
Any other ideas ?
cheers
Matt
Whatever you choose, I would be tempted to go with a diesel.
The Scooby lump into the T25 is great for Europe, but you are highly likely to encounter some pretty rough and low grade fuel.
Why not a T4 with a pop top and a demountable field kitchen hanging off the back - it'll give you a good deal more room inside.
The Scooby lump into the T25 is great for Europe, but you are highly likely to encounter some pretty rough and low grade fuel.
Why not a T4 with a pop top and a demountable field kitchen hanging off the back - it'll give you a good deal more room inside.
There's pretty much a jump on the Indian roads from the mahindra jeep / Hindustan ambassador / muruti swift size vehicles to the std "Horn Please" big trucks. Very little in between.
I'd be concerned that anything you do drive will be surrounded by a flock of bikes and tuk-tuks. The big cities are crazy! Have you considered hiring a small mini bus and crucially a driver? Very few Westerners drive in India, you just get a driver. If you do get something of your own make sure it's easily repairable, will run on poor fuel, has decent ground clearance (VERY important!) and has aircon if possible. Speed is not a major issue, everything is pretty slow.
I'd try and ease yourself in - have the vehicle shipped into a quieter port and build up slowly, don't try and find your way through mumbai in monsoon season! Not sure I'd try it myself, but I have mountain biked round the Kathmandu ring road - that was fun! Seriously hard core, and Inida is FAR worse the Nepal.
And avoid the cows!
I'd be concerned that anything you do drive will be surrounded by a flock of bikes and tuk-tuks. The big cities are crazy! Have you considered hiring a small mini bus and crucially a driver? Very few Westerners drive in India, you just get a driver. If you do get something of your own make sure it's easily repairable, will run on poor fuel, has decent ground clearance (VERY important!) and has aircon if possible. Speed is not a major issue, everything is pretty slow.
I'd try and ease yourself in - have the vehicle shipped into a quieter port and build up slowly, don't try and find your way through mumbai in monsoon season! Not sure I'd try it myself, but I have mountain biked round the Kathmandu ring road - that was fun! Seriously hard core, and Inida is FAR worse the Nepal.
And avoid the cows!
TBH you don't need off-road capability, just the ability to absorb bumps and potholes so high profile tyres and decent suspension are a priority. As is crash protection.... Having seen the results of an accident between a camper and an artic I'd be wary of taking a camper as most of the roof structure is chopped away.
Roof tents are as comfy as a camper and have the advantage that you don't need to be very organised inside the vehicle as you don't have to sleep in there as well.
As people have mentioned the driving in India is interesting. It is perfectly doable, but you need to keeps your wits about you constantly and starting somewhere quiet would be wise. A local driver isn't necessarily the best solution either as they all drive like loons.
Roof tents are as comfy as a camper and have the advantage that you don't need to be very organised inside the vehicle as you don't have to sleep in there as well.
As people have mentioned the driving in India is interesting. It is perfectly doable, but you need to keeps your wits about you constantly and starting somewhere quiet would be wise. A local driver isn't necessarily the best solution either as they all drive like loons.
VxDuncan said:
There's pretty much a jump on the Indian roads from the mahindra jeep / Hindustan ambassador / muruti swift size vehicles to the std "Horn Please" big trucks. Very little in between.
I'd be concerned that anything you do drive will be surrounded by a flock of bikes and tuk-tuks. The big cities are crazy! Have you considered hiring a small mini bus and crucially a driver? Very few Westerners drive in India, you just get a driver. If you do get something of your own make sure it's easily repairable, will run on poor fuel, has decent ground clearance (VERY important!) and has aircon if possible. Speed is not a major issue, everything is pretty slow.
I'd try and ease yourself in - have the vehicle shipped into a quieter port and build up slowly, don't try and find your way through mumbai in monsoon season! Not sure I'd try it myself, but I have mountain biked round the Kathmandu ring road - that was fun! Seriously hard core, and Inida is FAR worse the Nepal.
And avoid the cows!
when was the last time you were there? x5's , e class mercs , lots of scorpios and sumo'sI'd be concerned that anything you do drive will be surrounded by a flock of bikes and tuk-tuks. The big cities are crazy! Have you considered hiring a small mini bus and crucially a driver? Very few Westerners drive in India, you just get a driver. If you do get something of your own make sure it's easily repairable, will run on poor fuel, has decent ground clearance (VERY important!) and has aircon if possible. Speed is not a major issue, everything is pretty slow.
I'd try and ease yourself in - have the vehicle shipped into a quieter port and build up slowly, don't try and find your way through mumbai in monsoon season! Not sure I'd try it myself, but I have mountain biked round the Kathmandu ring road - that was fun! Seriously hard core, and Inida is FAR worse the Nepal.
And avoid the cows!
Firstly - don't be concerned about fuel quality for either petrol or diesel. Having recently driven through the area ( http://www.london2sydney.net -admittedly everywhere BUT India), fuel was never a problem. We had lots of dire warnings about taking a petrol vehicle, but it was genuinely never an issue.
Air con would be an absolute must. Just being able to wind up the windows to escape truck fumes and dust without being baked makes it worthwhile.
Not sure why you want to avoid roof tents, but given that, I think the pickup with a canopy on the back is a good idea if you plan to sleep inside. A relatively new turbo-diesel Hilux would be the pick of the bunch I think. People have mentioned not needing anything quick because traffic is slow - which is true, as long as you are happy trundling along at the 40km/h average speed that trucks are doing. To be able to safely overtake the slower moving stuff, it would be nice to have a bit of 'go'.
Edited to add - starting somewhere quiet if possible is a good idea! You want to work your way up to driving through a city
Air con would be an absolute must. Just being able to wind up the windows to escape truck fumes and dust without being baked makes it worthwhile.
Not sure why you want to avoid roof tents, but given that, I think the pickup with a canopy on the back is a good idea if you plan to sleep inside. A relatively new turbo-diesel Hilux would be the pick of the bunch I think. People have mentioned not needing anything quick because traffic is slow - which is true, as long as you are happy trundling along at the 40km/h average speed that trucks are doing. To be able to safely overtake the slower moving stuff, it would be nice to have a bit of 'go'.
Edited to add - starting somewhere quiet if possible is a good idea! You want to work your way up to driving through a city
Edited by holloway_dave on Thursday 27th August 15:43
shakotan said:
dtmpower said:
Mitsubishi Delica
Pajero running gear in a camper style body.
Not quite, but a very bulletproof vehicle.Pajero running gear in a camper style body.
wiki said:
1993–1996
The fourth generation is based on the chassis of the Mitsubishi Pajero and has full off road capabilities, with four-wheel drive, high and low ratio gears and differential locking. It has engine variations from 2.5 litres through to a 2.8 L intercooled turbodiesel. A 2.4 L and a 3.0 L V6 petrol engine with 12 or 24 valves, each with 4 gears and overdrive. Apart from the 2.8 L diesel model they are available as a two or a four wheel drive version.
Body specifications range from XR, XG, Exceed, Super Exceed and Royal Exceed, and both long and short wheelbase versions were available.
The fourth generation is based on the chassis of the Mitsubishi Pajero and has full off road capabilities, with four-wheel drive, high and low ratio gears and differential locking. It has engine variations from 2.5 litres through to a 2.8 L intercooled turbodiesel. A 2.4 L and a 3.0 L V6 petrol engine with 12 or 24 valves, each with 4 gears and overdrive. Apart from the 2.8 L diesel model they are available as a two or a four wheel drive version.
Body specifications range from XR, XG, Exceed, Super Exceed and Royal Exceed, and both long and short wheelbase versions were available.
jas xjr said:
VxDuncan said:
There's pretty much a jump on the Indian roads from the mahindra jeep / Hindustan ambassador / muruti swift size vehicles to the std "Horn Please" big trucks. Very little in between.
I'd be concerned that anything you do drive will be surrounded by a flock of bikes and tuk-tuks. The big cities are crazy! Have you considered hiring a small mini bus and crucially a driver? Very few Westerners drive in India, you just get a driver. If you do get something of your own make sure it's easily repairable, will run on poor fuel, has decent ground clearance (VERY important!) and has aircon if possible. Speed is not a major issue, everything is pretty slow.
I'd try and ease yourself in - have the vehicle shipped into a quieter port and build up slowly, don't try and find your way through mumbai in monsoon season! Not sure I'd try it myself, but I have mountain biked round the Kathmandu ring road - that was fun! Seriously hard core, and Inida is FAR worse the Nepal.
And avoid the cows!
when was the last time you were there? x5's , e class mercs , lots of scorpios and sumo'sI'd be concerned that anything you do drive will be surrounded by a flock of bikes and tuk-tuks. The big cities are crazy! Have you considered hiring a small mini bus and crucially a driver? Very few Westerners drive in India, you just get a driver. If you do get something of your own make sure it's easily repairable, will run on poor fuel, has decent ground clearance (VERY important!) and has aircon if possible. Speed is not a major issue, everything is pretty slow.
I'd try and ease yourself in - have the vehicle shipped into a quieter port and build up slowly, don't try and find your way through mumbai in monsoon season! Not sure I'd try it myself, but I have mountain biked round the Kathmandu ring road - that was fun! Seriously hard core, and Inida is FAR worse the Nepal.
And avoid the cows!
dtmpower said:
shakotan said:
dtmpower said:
Mitsubishi Delica
Pajero running gear in a camper style body.
Not quite, but a very bulletproof vehicle.Pajero running gear in a camper style body.
wiki said:
1993–1996
The fourth generation is based on the chassis of the Mitsubishi Pajero and has full off road capabilities, with four-wheel drive, high and low ratio gears and differential locking. It has engine variations from 2.5 litres through to a 2.8 L intercooled turbodiesel. A 2.4 L and a 3.0 L V6 petrol engine with 12 or 24 valves, each with 4 gears and overdrive. Apart from the 2.8 L diesel model they are available as a two or a four wheel drive version.
Body specifications range from XR, XG, Exceed, Super Exceed and Royal Exceed, and both long and short wheelbase versions were available.
The fourth generation is based on the chassis of the Mitsubishi Pajero and has full off road capabilities, with four-wheel drive, high and low ratio gears and differential locking. It has engine variations from 2.5 litres through to a 2.8 L intercooled turbodiesel. A 2.4 L and a 3.0 L V6 petrol engine with 12 or 24 valves, each with 4 gears and overdrive. Apart from the 2.8 L diesel model they are available as a two or a four wheel drive version.
Body specifications range from XR, XG, Exceed, Super Exceed and Royal Exceed, and both long and short wheelbase versions were available.
christer said:
pugwash4x4 said:
can also blind the s
t out of any trucks coming the other way at night.
I am not sure how this would help.....t out of any trucks coming the other way at night. might is right and all that- and night time driving is scary as hell- trucks in the middle of the road with no lights on- found that a set of 4 HID spots cleared the road completely!
goodwoodweirdo said:
Update ... We're driving to India and then doing the tour.... I think it will be a Land Cruiser VX80 ..Jap imports in the UK are the bargain of the century.
Now looking at opening roof conversions – very popular down under and in SA.
Cheers
Matt
Matt would be really interested in anything you find out about these conversions- I run a UK 80. Now looking at opening roof conversions – very popular down under and in SA.
Cheers
Matt
Be careful wit the jap ones- some of the dealers can be pigs to get jap parts from- suggest you check www.toyodiy.com fort part numbers and talk to Milners for pattern parts and Julain Voelker at http://www.overland-cruisers.co.uk/ for OEM parts and bearings.
Chap in germany does the pop top conversion- http://en.toms-fahrzeugtechnik.eu/de/customization...
he's changed his website unfortunately but i know he does some cool stuff!
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