Overland vehicles

[Predictable Bob]

To be honest, If i was putting all my hopes on a truck to survive an overland trip.

I wouldn't bother with a 2.4. I dont really trust mine that much. Id hate to be covering thousands of miles a day an spending more time with my eyes on the temp guage then the surroundings.

As far as 2.4 owners go I think that's heresy isn't it ????

Personally, if I had the balls (and Jackie would let me !) I'd go for the LC every time - although the extra seats would be sacrificed for the loadspace

[24Seven]

If you really want to do 20,000 miles on shoe string, look out for a 2.8 non turbo, you're still going to need to spend some money on prep work because these trucks are 15 years or so old now, but I guess it would be the cheapest way of doing it, say £1K for a truck and a £1.5K on new suspension, bushes, bearings, drive train etc.

I'm still not sure it's worth the saving on say a nice Jap import 80 series, yes you will not have the lockers but the condition will be better than a UK truck of the same age and even without lockers It would be better offroad than a Hilux, guess you would still need prep money though.

[RodLeach]

As far as 2.4 owners go I think that's heresy isn't it ????

Personally, if I had the balls (and Jackie would let me !) I'd go for the LC every time - although the extra seats would be sacrificed for the loadspace

probably... but i normally avoid any real long journeys.

I dont want to have to fork out to fix a duff head!


The LC is by far a better choice... even going down to prep money.

You will amost definatly want a 2nd tank on the Surf. You'll probably be ok without doing that on an LC.

[blackpoolsparks]

If you have your mind set on a Deisel Surf I would opt for the 3.0Ltr.
I have owned both and the difference between the 2.4 and 3.0 on long journeys is significantly different.
Most of my offroading involves a 5 to 7 hour journey roundtrip, on the motorways , A-Roads, etc ;not including the actual offroading.
Since purchasing the 3.0L, I now return home after a day out much less tired and frustrated than I did in the 2.4.

[24Seven]

Guess we need to know a budget for truck plus prep work, I'm starting to like this idea though, I thought for a long time maybe people go over the top and spend a huge amount to make a expedition vehicle.

I'm 99% sure my Hilux Pickup would do 20,000 miles of mixed terrain, with a few hundred pounds spent on it and driven with care and as for extra fuel, just bung some jerry cans in the back and my non turbo does 30 mpg instead of the 24 I get out of the LC.

If you only have X amount to spend and you want to do a long trip, something has to give.

[Sancho]

I'd go for a 2CV myself.

I'm not joking.

[Albannach]

I'd go for a 2CV myself.

I'm not joking.

2CV and the first VW Beetle are allegedly the only 2 marques ever built that met their manufacturing brief by 100%

The best bit of 'ask' ever has to be the 2 furrows wheelbase and 1 furrow ride hight on the 2CV!

[Guest]

Go for an 80 series Diesel. if you are going for the auto get a transmission cooler. Talk to Julian Voelker at Overland Cruisers - he is the oracle.

Alternatively get a 75 troopy which for many would be the ultimate overalnd machine - 1HZ non turbo engine, not to powerful but will go on forever.

Or a 3 litre Surf or 4runner, fit a larger radiator and some underbody protection, probably 2 inches of lift and bigger tyres for some added ground clearance.

2.8 (3L engine) Australian Surf would do good too.

[adpsimpson]

I'd go for a 2CV myself.

I'm not joking.

I lived in Tanzania for a while and met these guys as they passed through... Think we're looking for an easier ride!

Lots of great advice here. Budget isn't set in stone for the trip yet (nothing is) but the general aim would be to do it in the cheapest reliable vehicle we can get - Defenders are too expensive (even if easily maintainable), leaving the Patrol, Landcruiser and Surf as possibles. Best bit about the Toyotas is absolute saturation of spare parts supply anywhere in the world. Still mostly true of the Patrol, not so true of the trooper.

I'd thought the best would be a LWB 70 series Landcruiser, but good ones are hard to come by in the UK (although still sold new in Africa and other parts). I'd been put off an 80 series cos of all the extra electronics, engine controls, etc - maybe being too skeptical about them? What age would people recommend?

Hadn't come across the surf till last week, but it seems to have everything - good engines (esp the 3.0), chassis, the space of a landcruiser, etc. They also seem incredibly cheap for low mileage, well maintained vehicles, and there's a lot less noise (most ones on sale are good, many old patrols are scrap)

We're looking at 2 vehicles (4 people) so would probably want the same thing twice. I would guess the budget would probably be about £4-5k max each, ready to go. My offroad driving experience has mostly been bad roads in Africa, much like most of what we'll be doing - this sort of stuff. That's all been done with manual transmissions, hence my worries over an auto. I've done very little green laneing style at all. Very interesting to hear the auto is preferred here.

Big question is this: Lots of people here have recommended the landcruiser. I know firsthand it's an amazing machine, well capable, etc. But lined up against a 3.0, 2nd gen surf with second/enlarged tank, raised suspension, winch bumper, snorkel etc, is there anything the landcruiser can do that the surf can't? Is it worth the extra 1 or 2 grand?

[Surf01]

As some one that has travelled extensively across Southern Africa, the older LC is a brilliant vehicle as we used them and the long wheelbased L/R. Also it needs to be remembered, it is the avialability of spares at a reasonable price that counts in Africa.
Hi Lux spares are two a penny, but the Landcruiser is normally only driven by the wealthy so spares can be imported and anyway you will pay a premium on LC spares. the older ones will have been knckered beyond knackered!
I hate to say this, for overland nothing to beat a older L/R Countryman long wheel base as spares are plentyful and it is a proven vehicle for this type of arduos journey Secondly the Hi Lux including the Surf. Either way, both need to have air conditioning.
I would be very interrested in your proposed route because at the moment overland completely may be out of the question unless you want to return in a coffin. some get vehicles uplifeted by air over dangerous terrain. You need to get to Kenya and then after that southwards is not really a problem. It has always beena dream of mine to do an overland trip as I can make myself understood as Swahili can be understood far and wide. Another one I have consider is travelling accross Russia then onto Alaska and then who knows where. Canada, America or even a trip down to South America. Better check to see if I have won the lottery.

[adpsimpson]

I would be very interrested in your proposed route because at the moment overland completely may be out of the question unless you want to return in a coffin. some get vehicles uplifeted by air over dangerous terrain.

The plan was east Africa all the way - Egypt, cut through the north east of Sudan to Ethiopia, then into Kenya and southwards. I thought the north of Sudan was safe enough - has this changed recently?

Na una sema kiswahili? Safi!

[Surf01]

Morocco - Libya - Egypt-????- Ethiopia - Kenya - Tanzania - Mozambique or via Zambia.
IMHO main issue is Egypt to Ethiopia as Eritrea / Sudan may also be an issue with banditry. You will need to be constantly updated with issues in the area. Bribery is the order of the day so make sure that you have a few extra items. Learning Swahili will get you out of a lot of sticky areas but knowing the language is not always the answer as you need to know the local customs in the various areas and I am not talking about border post customs.

[Apache]

is there anything the landcruiser can do that the surf can't? Is it worth the extra 1 or 2 grand?

Difflocks, so very difficult terrain is easier. I dont know whether you'd be doing the sort of thing you do on offroad playdays, or whether it would be more similar to UK laning. I suspect the latter, in which case for 99.9% of the time you probably wont need them, and taking on that sort of trip you probably have some experience and you aint gonna be stupid and risk getting stuck if there's an easier (more sensible) route nearby are you?

The 80 series is definitely bigger than a Surf inside too, and somewhat more comfortable. Personally speaking (as a 3.0 2nd gen Surf owner) for your type of trip I would take the LC as it would be nice to be comfy on that sort of trip, and JUST INCASE you do try to cross a muddy bottomed river, the difflocks would be an insurance policy wouldn't they - though a Surf with a winch would probably do if a bit less elegantly? I've looked underneath a member's LC80, and its built like a brick sh1thouse - the structure is twice as big as the Surf's. Got to count for something...

OTOH, Surf's are very VERY cheap now, and that means you'd have much more dosh for kitting it out, perhaps even fitting difflocks?

I dunno - if it was me, and the money wasn't a problem, LC, with comfy leather interior, climate control, difflocks, more space, bigger engines etc.

<edit> Hi Ian!

[Surf01]

Although tghe Hi Lux is a very common vehilce I agree with apache in that the Landcruiser is the better choice as spares are more readily available and if really stuck there is a Toyota factory in South Africa.

[surfenstein]

i have the 3l engined 2.8 non turbo surf.its a manual and a bit of a slug but it does have exceeedingly good fuel economy,all i can say is thats its never ever let me down,and its just as capable off road as any other surf.if not more capable.wanna buy it.