Tyre advice - off road van!
Discussion
Hi, hopefully gen-gassing is the best place to post this - sorry if there is a "wheels and tyres" section I've missed.
We are looking at using a citroen c15 van as a backup van for a trip around north africa/europe. It will cover approx 15k miles over 12 months.
Say 70% tarmac (but probably some pretty poor quality roads). 20% dirt/rock roads in morocco/southern europe and possibly 10% wet/snow in northern europe (although we will aim to hit the colder countries in the summer).
Anyway - therefore need a tyre that is:
Going to last 20k miles+
Take the weight of the van and gear (1.5tons fully loaded)
Looking for a reasonable offroad tread, the bikes are running enduro/semi-knobbly road legal tyres, would like something similar for the van.
Standard size is 155/80-13, 165/80-13 would probably be ok.
I've been looking at some of the road-rally/woodland tyres out there which say they are good in sand/mud/snow etc - just wondering whether they will last the mileage (ideally they would be good for more than the 15k just incase) and how they will cope on tarmac.
Any ideas.
Thanks for your time
Jim
We are looking at using a citroen c15 van as a backup van for a trip around north africa/europe. It will cover approx 15k miles over 12 months.
Say 70% tarmac (but probably some pretty poor quality roads). 20% dirt/rock roads in morocco/southern europe and possibly 10% wet/snow in northern europe (although we will aim to hit the colder countries in the summer).
Anyway - therefore need a tyre that is:
Going to last 20k miles+
Take the weight of the van and gear (1.5tons fully loaded)
Looking for a reasonable offroad tread, the bikes are running enduro/semi-knobbly road legal tyres, would like something similar for the van.
Standard size is 155/80-13, 165/80-13 would probably be ok.
I've been looking at some of the road-rally/woodland tyres out there which say they are good in sand/mud/snow etc - just wondering whether they will last the mileage (ideally they would be good for more than the 15k just incase) and how they will cope on tarmac.
Any ideas.
Thanks for your time
Jim
Any reason the citroen van? Honestly!
I've done a fair bit of driving around the areas you're talking about (admittedly not Morocco but Tunisia and Libya as well as places further east of Africa).
I would love to know more about what you're doing - why not drop me a PM with some more info!
I have to say, I do like Africa - and if you've never been, you'll have a fantastic time!
Cheers
The Moose
I've done a fair bit of driving around the areas you're talking about (admittedly not Morocco but Tunisia and Libya as well as places further east of Africa).
I would love to know more about what you're doing - why not drop me a PM with some more info!
I have to say, I do like Africa - and if you've never been, you'll have a fantastic time!
Cheers
The Moose
I've been to southern/central africa before - Botswana/Zambia/Tanzania etc, and really when I say africa this time, I mean Morocco, Tunisia and that's probably it - then back up into Eastern Europe.
The reason for the c15 is; that the total mileage is likely to be 25,000 miles all in between the bike and van, and mpg is a major factor. I've yet to get the c15 under 42mpg and it'll do 50+ on a good run.
It's simple to work on, parts/spare vans are dirt cheap and all over france/spain and it's got a pretty good loadspace. However it is rubbish and looks pants, but very little to go wrong which is key - but if you have a better suggestion? - I looked at all types of 4x4s, pickups and berlingos/doblos etc, nothing could match the mpg/reliability. I'd love to take a landrover 110 or a landcruiser, but don't have anywhere near the budget (fuel alone would double), infact I just sold my 4x4 to fund the trip
How do I send a pm?
The reason for the c15 is; that the total mileage is likely to be 25,000 miles all in between the bike and van, and mpg is a major factor. I've yet to get the c15 under 42mpg and it'll do 50+ on a good run.
It's simple to work on, parts/spare vans are dirt cheap and all over france/spain and it's got a pretty good loadspace. However it is rubbish and looks pants, but very little to go wrong which is key - but if you have a better suggestion? - I looked at all types of 4x4s, pickups and berlingos/doblos etc, nothing could match the mpg/reliability. I'd love to take a landrover 110 or a landcruiser, but don't have anywhere near the budget (fuel alone would double), infact I just sold my 4x4 to fund the trip
How do I send a pm?
Edited by JIM600 on Friday 9th July 00:57
PM - click on my name to the left of this post. Then click the 'Email Me' button top right of the page that comes up.
I wouldn't go into Africa in much other than a Landcruiser if I'm honest. If you don't have the budget then you'll have to make do with the C15 I guess. The reason for this is because if you speak to anyone (African, Australian etc) who actually depends on their vehicle they say something along the following lines "If you want to go into the desert, you take any car. If you want to come back, you take a Landcruiser".
The diesel isn't bad and you can fairly cheaply get a long range fuel tank fitted to the vehicle (in place of the spare wheel which is a b
h on those cars anyway!!) and then fill up in Africa! In the middle of the Libyan desert I bought just over 150 litres of Diesel for less than £20 including a huge tip for the dude filling the car! That lasted me well over 1,000 miles driving north.
I do love that part of the world.
Never done Southern Africa. Am going to Botswana next month and South Africa for new year. My grandad grew up in Kenya, but I've never been. Hopefully one day it will become safer to go and I can go and see where he grew up etc.
Cheers
The Moose
I wouldn't go into Africa in much other than a Landcruiser if I'm honest. If you don't have the budget then you'll have to make do with the C15 I guess. The reason for this is because if you speak to anyone (African, Australian etc) who actually depends on their vehicle they say something along the following lines "If you want to go into the desert, you take any car. If you want to come back, you take a Landcruiser".
The diesel isn't bad and you can fairly cheaply get a long range fuel tank fitted to the vehicle (in place of the spare wheel which is a b
h on those cars anyway!!) and then fill up in Africa! In the middle of the Libyan desert I bought just over 150 litres of Diesel for less than £20 including a huge tip for the dude filling the car! That lasted me well over 1,000 miles driving north.I do love that part of the world.
Never done Southern Africa. Am going to Botswana next month and South Africa for new year. My grandad grew up in Kenya, but I've never been. Hopefully one day it will become safer to go and I can go and see where he grew up etc.
Cheers
The Moose
Cheers for the info - I'll drop you a pm tomorrow morning 
The plan is to spend a couple of weeks in morrocco etc (approx 1 fortnight per country over the year covering most of europe). I'd hope the c15 would cope - not looking to offroad the van as such - but some of the dirt roads look like decent tyres would be helpful.
Botswana was good but Namibia/Zambia are, in my opinion, much nicer places to visit.
The plan is to spend a couple of weeks in morrocco etc (approx 1 fortnight per country over the year covering most of europe). I'd hope the c15 would cope - not looking to offroad the van as such - but some of the dirt roads look like decent tyres would be helpful.
Botswana was good but Namibia/Zambia are, in my opinion, much nicer places to visit.
Ok - well I'm back to work now, so will reply to your message tomorrow if that's ok.
To answer your question, Cooper are a great tyre for all round use. They are pretty bloody good on the road and phenomenal off-road also. I'm sure they do one that will fit the wheel of the C15, just don't know whether they will fit in the wheel arch! You may have to give it a couple of inches lift!!
I can look up the exact style of Cooper tyre tomorrow as they do 3 or 4 types that are good for different things.
Cheers
The Moose
To answer your question, Cooper are a great tyre for all round use. They are pretty bloody good on the road and phenomenal off-road also. I'm sure they do one that will fit the wheel of the C15, just don't know whether they will fit in the wheel arch! You may have to give it a couple of inches lift!!
I can look up the exact style of Cooper tyre tomorrow as they do 3 or 4 types that are good for different things.
Cheers
The Moose
JIM600 said:
I looked at all types of 4x4s, pickups and berlingos/doblos etc, nothing could match the mpg/reliability. I'd love to take a landrover 110 or a landcruiser, but don't have anywhere near the budget (fuel alone would double), infact I just sold my 4x4 to fund the trip
Did you look at the Freelander with the BMW diesel engine?have any of you actually *been* to morocco?
I went on a banger rally, and have been out there surfing 3 years in a row. the first time we took this
ours was the volvo but you'll note the other cars are a r5, 323 and a golf. we later crossed the sahara in these cars.
subsiquent trips we flew, and had a dacia logan (clio) as a hire car. each time it was fine.
depending on what you're expecting the car to do (is it meant to be offroading or just on-road support?) you might find it's too much for the car. does it *have* to be a van? morocco is full of renault savanahs, and has a lot of 205s - something like that would be good for spares. you mentioned not offroading, I'd suggest just taking road tyres. I would just assume you'll have to replace a couple, which is fine. Frugality seems to be a determining factor, and anything with a decent offroad tread will take 10% off your mpg in a second
on another note, how are you getting from morroco to tunisia? when i last looked the morocco : algeria border was shut?
ps. kenya is perfectly safe, and an awesome trip..
I went on a banger rally, and have been out there surfing 3 years in a row. the first time we took this
ours was the volvo but you'll note the other cars are a r5, 323 and a golf. we later crossed the sahara in these cars.
subsiquent trips we flew, and had a dacia logan (clio) as a hire car. each time it was fine.
depending on what you're expecting the car to do (is it meant to be offroading or just on-road support?) you might find it's too much for the car. does it *have* to be a van? morocco is full of renault savanahs, and has a lot of 205s - something like that would be good for spares. you mentioned not offroading, I'd suggest just taking road tyres. I would just assume you'll have to replace a couple, which is fine. Frugality seems to be a determining factor, and anything with a decent offroad tread will take 10% off your mpg in a second
on another note, how are you getting from morroco to tunisia? when i last looked the morocco : algeria border was shut?
ps. kenya is perfectly safe, and an awesome trip..
Edited by 5lab on Friday 9th July 07:11
Edited by 5lab on Friday 9th July 07:13
Cheers for the info, those pics look top - makes me want to go even more.
Yes it needs to be a van, spare mountain bike/motorbike/tools/and possibly somewhere to kip in the back. We are both 20/21 so insurance on a 4x4 is big money (when combined with decreased mpg, purchase price etc), 3rd party on 1500 quids worth of van is less scary.
The van will only be used on roads, my worry is that in some of these places roads = rocky tracks and tyres might be an issue. But as you say, sacrificing mpg/rest of the trips road performance for 2 weeks in morocco seems a no-go. Would be easier to stick a couple of spare road tyres in the van.
Re; borders - The original plan was to go down through Spain/Portugal into morocco and then back up through the eastern side of Spain. Tunisia/Kenya are a possibility but probably too much for this trip (it was really meant to be round Europe with Morocco tacked on) - still weighing them up.
I've had a look at the cooper tyres this morning, Having looked at the pics of the 205s etc above, I'm now thinking a decent set of road tyres and a few spares to cover the whole trip might be a better idea.
Thanks
Jim
Yes it needs to be a van, spare mountain bike/motorbike/tools/and possibly somewhere to kip in the back. We are both 20/21 so insurance on a 4x4 is big money (when combined with decreased mpg, purchase price etc), 3rd party on 1500 quids worth of van is less scary.
The van will only be used on roads, my worry is that in some of these places roads = rocky tracks and tyres might be an issue. But as you say, sacrificing mpg/rest of the trips road performance for 2 weeks in morocco seems a no-go. Would be easier to stick a couple of spare road tyres in the van.
Re; borders - The original plan was to go down through Spain/Portugal into morocco and then back up through the eastern side of Spain. Tunisia/Kenya are a possibility but probably too much for this trip (it was really meant to be round Europe with Morocco tacked on) - still weighing them up.
I've had a look at the cooper tyres this morning, Having looked at the pics of the 205s etc above, I'm now thinking a decent set of road tyres and a few spares to cover the whole trip might be a better idea.
Thanks
Jim
http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b0s3...
Good strong tyre with decent looking tread which would probably give a bit more sand grip than the usual road tyre.
Good strong tyre with decent looking tread which would probably give a bit more sand grip than the usual road tyre.
JIM600 said:
I've had a look at the cooper tyres this morning, Having looked at the pics of the 205s etc above, I'm now thinking a decent set of road tyres and a few spares to cover the whole trip might be a better idea.
Thanks
Jim
What about a cross over tyre so you've a harder construction than a regular tyre? I've be worried about a road tyre being too soft if you're on gravel / off road. Something like the Michelin Latitude Cross or goodyear Wrangler HP should provide a little more reliability...Thanks
Jim
jon- said:
What about a cross over tyre so you've a harder construction than a regular tyre? I've be worried about a road tyre being too soft if you're on gravel / off road. Something like the Michelin Latitude Cross or goodyear Wrangler HP should provide a little more reliability...
They come in 13"? HellDiver said:
jon- said:
What about a cross over tyre so you've a harder construction than a regular tyre? I've be worried about a road tyre being too soft if you're on gravel / off road. Something like the Michelin Latitude Cross or goodyear Wrangler HP should provide a little more reliability...
They come in 13"? HellDiver said:
jon- said:
What about a cross over tyre so you've a harder construction than a regular tyre? I've be worried about a road tyre being too soft if you're on gravel / off road. Something like the Michelin Latitude Cross or goodyear Wrangler HP should provide a little more reliability...
They come in 13"? JIM600 said:
HellDiver said:
jon- said:
What about a cross over tyre so you've a harder construction than a regular tyre? I've be worried about a road tyre being too soft if you're on gravel / off road. Something like the Michelin Latitude Cross or goodyear Wrangler HP should provide a little more reliability...
They come in 13"? regarding 'a few spares' - i wouldn't bother taking them with you. as long as the tyre size is pretty normal, you can get spares anywhere in the world.I've found the further south you go the better they are at patching\bodging tyres as well, which helps a lot.
re place to sleep - some pickups can be used with a roof-top tent (I know you can get one for an L200) - might be worth seeing if you can pick up similar (or bodge on similar) for whatever you choose to take
re place to sleep - some pickups can be used with a roof-top tent (I know you can get one for an L200) - might be worth seeing if you can pick up similar (or bodge on similar) for whatever you choose to take
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