Oh MAN ... after all this work to get to where you are, you GOTTA take the 40!!!
Great job restoring the Mule!!!
Great job restoring the Mule!!!
Blue Mule resto in Malawi
- Thread starter M5driver
- Start date
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Go with the 40, fuel uncertainty is just another of Africa's little challenges 
Chamba
Too short. Too long. Just right: the 43
G'day Dan,
We have similar problems here (although, by no means as severe) with petrol and gas. When we go into the outback in my FJ40 (I wish it was a BJ42, but what can ya do?), I can't get gas anywhere, so I have to run petrol (my rig is dual fuel, although I almost never run petrol, as it is far too expensive in Australia- Aussies LOVE tax
). Last time I was on the Strzelecki Track, there was no gas at all, and I paid nearly $10 per gallon for petrol. Meanwhile diesel Cruisers were everywhere, filling up on $7 per gallon diesel and using about 1/3 as much as I was. I spent nearly $1000 on petrol on that trip.....
When I had my 2002 Hilux, going bush was a lot more fun because it was diesel. Having to worry about fuel really takes away from the enjoyment of the whole trip. I say take the Mitsi, and enjoy one of your last trips into Laurens Van Der Post's imagination. The Cruiser will keep, and you will use about 1/3 as much fuel.
Cheers,
Josh
We have similar problems here (although, by no means as severe) with petrol and gas. When we go into the outback in my FJ40 (I wish it was a BJ42, but what can ya do?), I can't get gas anywhere, so I have to run petrol (my rig is dual fuel, although I almost never run petrol, as it is far too expensive in Australia- Aussies LOVE tax
). Last time I was on the Strzelecki Track, there was no gas at all, and I paid nearly $10 per gallon for petrol. Meanwhile diesel Cruisers were everywhere, filling up on $7 per gallon diesel and using about 1/3 as much as I was. I spent nearly $1000 on petrol on that trip.....When I had my 2002 Hilux, going bush was a lot more fun because it was diesel. Having to worry about fuel really takes away from the enjoyment of the whole trip. I say take the Mitsi, and enjoy one of your last trips into Laurens Van Der Post's imagination. The Cruiser will keep, and you will use about 1/3 as much fuel.
Cheers,
Josh
Dan
There are always fuel shortages in Zambia,
The one trip we did, the govt shut down their refinery for maintanence, and the whole country ran out of fuel, we ended up doing 1500km from Chavuma in North Western Zambia, (Near the Angolan DRC border) through Kafue Nat Park to Livingstone without any refueling - just on 1500km
Fortunately all of the vehicles (All Cruisers; 105's, 80's, and 79's), on this trip all had long range tanks - we each carry >280ltr of fuel for just this reason. When we did eventually find black market fuel at Kaloma it was over $2.5 per ltr. and there was no measuring device, it was dispensed from drums with a plastic bucket
Just another day in Africa
The joys of Africa
There are always fuel shortages in Zambia,
The one trip we did, the govt shut down their refinery for maintanence, and the whole country ran out of fuel, we ended up doing 1500km from Chavuma in North Western Zambia, (Near the Angolan DRC border) through Kafue Nat Park to Livingstone without any refueling - just on 1500km
Fortunately all of the vehicles (All Cruisers; 105's, 80's, and 79's), on this trip all had long range tanks - we each carry >280ltr of fuel for just this reason. When we did eventually find black market fuel at Kaloma it was over $2.5 per ltr. and there was no measuring device, it was dispensed from drums with a plastic bucket
Just another day in Africa
The joys of Africa
Although it isn't common, we here in the SE US just got over a severe fuel shortage that lasted several weeks. You could only find gas at about 1/3 of the stations (if that) and lines were long at those. This was more associated with hurricane damage to refineries and power outages along the path of the main pipeline that supplies gas/diesel to the eastern seaboard, but it was a pain nonetheless and no one knew when it was going to end at the time...
Things are tough all over!
It would sure be nice to see you able to take the 40, though. As you said, that's it's "natural habitat".
I've really enjoyed reading your thread! I almost hate to see you come back to the states...
Things are tough all over!
It would sure be nice to see you able to take the 40, though. As you said, that's it's "natural habitat".
I've really enjoyed reading your thread! I almost hate to see you come back to the states...
Hey Dan,
We look forward to seeing you and the mule when you get to DC. Great thread! You really worked hard getting those guys to work! I always thought it would be cheaper and easier to do a restoration outside the US but i guess not.
The thread reminds me of how much work I have to do on my 74 40
.
Maybe once you settle down, you could do a little slide show at the CLCC meeting.
Safe travels.
Sebastien.
We look forward to seeing you and the mule when you get to DC. Great thread! You really worked hard getting those guys to work! I always thought it would be cheaper and easier to do a restoration outside the US but i guess not.
The thread reminds me of how much work I have to do on my 74 40
.Maybe once you settle down, you could do a little slide show at the CLCC meeting.
Safe travels.
Sebastien.
M5driver
MUD Addict (Ret.)
- Thread starter
- #607
Trip to S Luangwa
We had a fabulous trip!
Well, there were a couple of glitches 
but overall, it was super.
Taking the Pajero was the right move. I really wanted to take the 40, but the petrol shortage is real. I'm low on petrol at the embassy right now, so I don't let anyone, including me, fill cans - just tanks. Diesel is in good supply. There was not one drop of petrol available between Lilongwe and the game park, and even with 6 cans, I doubt we would have made it there and back, since my tank is only 110L (28 gal). Good argument for the second tank when we get back to the US.
We used about 200L of diesel and the Pajero gets much better mileage than the 40.
The main problem with the drive was... well, the roads. More specifically, the road between Chipata and Mfuwe in Zambia. Zambian roads are generally poorly maintained, at least by comparison to Malawian roads, but that road!!! Right after Chipata, the road turns to dirt (hurrah!) but has some really bad stretches. The dirt section is exactly 100km, and took us 5 hours each way for that 100 km, so the overall drive was 8 hours.
On that dirt section, in one of the better parts we got forced off the road by a large truck blasting more or less down the middle, but out of control and darting back and forth each time he hit a bump. We saw that truck, upside down, with the cabin pretty much ripped off, on our way back from Luangwa.
In any event, to avoid being hit head on, we ended up off the left side of the road and struck the only roadside obstacle in the whole 100km Well, flats in this region are not exactly rare, but this log destroyed a good tire. A few minutes with the jack and we were on our way again. In the end, we also lost our front shocks (too light duty for the hard roads) so I had to change them when we got home, since I am selling the Pajero. Pity we can't take it with us - the engine and drive train on this shorty are great... 5-sp, locking center diff, 2.5L intercooled turbo diesel.
Here is the tire damage: Flat, the culprit, and a close up of damage.
We had a fabulous trip!
Well, there were a couple of glitches but overall, it was super.Taking the Pajero was the right move. I really wanted to take the 40, but the petrol shortage is real. I'm low on petrol at the embassy right now, so I don't let anyone, including me, fill cans - just tanks. Diesel is in good supply. There was not one drop of petrol available between Lilongwe and the game park, and even with 6 cans, I doubt we would have made it there and back, since my tank is only 110L (28 gal). Good argument for the second tank when we get back to the US.
We used about 200L of diesel and the Pajero gets much better mileage than the 40.
The main problem with the drive was... well, the roads.
More specifically, the road between Chipata and Mfuwe in Zambia. Zambian roads are generally poorly maintained, at least by comparison to Malawian roads, but that road!!! Right after Chipata, the road turns to dirt (hurrah!) but has some really bad stretches. The dirt section is exactly 100km, and took us 5 hours each way for that 100 km, so the overall drive was 8 hours. On that dirt section, in one of the better parts we got forced off the road by a large truck blasting more or less down the middle, but out of control and darting back and forth each time he hit a bump. We saw that truck, upside down, with the cabin pretty much ripped off, on our way back from Luangwa.
In any event, to avoid being hit head on, we ended up off the left side of the road and struck the only roadside obstacle in the whole 100km
Well, flats in this region are not exactly rare, but this log destroyed a good tire. A few minutes with the jack and we were on our way again. In the end, we also lost our front shocks (too light duty for the hard roads) so I had to change them when we got home, since I am selling the Pajero. Pity we can't take it with us - the engine and drive train on this shorty are great... 5-sp, locking center diff, 2.5L intercooled turbo diesel.Here is the tire damage: Flat, the culprit, and a close up of damage.
M5driver
MUD Addict (Ret.)
- Thread starter
- #608
I also found Keith's next project 
I'd buy this thing if I could afford the shipping. Flip the bezel, put a wheel/tire on the right rear and it'd be just about ready to drive It's sitting right beside the M3 going through Mchinji, in Malawi near the Zambia border, if anyone wants to look it over.
I'd buy this thing if I could afford the shipping. Flip the bezel, put a wheel/tire on the right rear and it'd be just about ready to drive
It's sitting right beside the M3 going through Mchinji, in Malawi near the Zambia border, if anyone wants to look it over.
Chamba
Too short. Too long. Just right: the 43
Dan,
You ought to pull the drive train out of the Mitsi and ship that to the US with your Cruiser. Then you can sell the rest of the mitsi to a wreckers, and put that drive train into your Father-in-law's 79 FJ40
Josh
You ought to pull the drive train out of the Mitsi and ship that to the US with your Cruiser. Then you can sell the rest of the mitsi to a wreckers, and put that drive train into your Father-in-law's 79 FJ40
Josh
DanS HJ-45
SILVER Star
That 45 looks better than my HJ-45!!!!
Looks like a fun trip!
Dan
Looks like a fun trip!
Dan
M5driver
MUD Addict (Ret.)
- Thread starter
- #611
Safari pix
As promised, a few photos of the rewards of the trip to S Luangwa. The elephant feet belong to the big gal known as Wonky Tusk - if you've seen the photos of the elephants walking thru Mfuwe Lodge, this is the one. We were on foot when I got this photo - she was walking straight at us. Of course, we were on HER path
As promised, a few photos of the rewards of the trip to S Luangwa. The elephant feet belong to the big gal known as Wonky Tusk - if you've seen the photos of the elephants walking thru Mfuwe Lodge, this is the one. We were on foot when I got this photo - she was walking straight at us. Of course, we were on HER path
Great pics!!! Thanks!!!
I really like the elephant feet and the sunrise. I would like to see the elephant feet enlarged to somewhere around 24x18, maybe even larger.
I really like the elephant feet and the sunrise. I would like to see the elephant feet enlarged to somewhere around 24x18, maybe even larger.
Great pics Dan, hope you enjoyed your parting safari 
M5driver
MUD Addict (Ret.)
- Thread starter
- #617
End of the road
Sadly
the Blue Mule will be put in a box for shipping in just 2-3 more days. Since I was taking pix for insurance purposes, I thought a few photos of the finished truck would be a good way to end the thread. The ConFerr rack is back in place, and I put the winter shoes and rear mud flaps back on. I'm leaving the front flaps off for now until I find out if they will be required once back in the US. Once the mule goes in the box, I won't see her again for 3-5 months... shipping time from Malawi to Baltimore runs 75-150 days! 
It's been fun. Once we're sort of settled in, I'll be back with questions about paint shops to do the seam sealing, and advice to iron out the last couple of mechanical issues before she goes for the breath test. Then we'll need to get her out for some wheeling exercise
Until then
'n' s for all!
Dan & Sandy
Sadly
the Blue Mule will be put in a box for shipping in just 2-3 more days. Since I was taking pix for insurance purposes, I thought a few photos of the finished truck would be a good way to end the thread. The ConFerr rack is back in place, and I put the winter shoes and rear mud flaps back on. I'm leaving the front flaps off for now until I find out if they will be required once back in the US. Once the mule goes in the box, I won't see her again for 3-5 months... shipping time from Malawi to Baltimore runs 75-150 days! It's been fun. Once we're sort of settled in, I'll be back with questions about paint shops to do the seam sealing, and advice to iron out the last couple of mechanical issues before she goes for the breath test. Then we'll need to get her out for some wheeling exercise
Until then
'n' s for all!Dan & Sandy
Dan
Hope you enjoyed your stay in Africa and at least the "Africa Time" syndrome afforded you the time to rebuild the mule and again well done
Look forward to hearing of the Mules' arrival in USA
Hope you enjoyed your stay in Africa and at least the "Africa Time" syndrome afforded you the time to rebuild the mule and again well done
Look forward to hearing of the Mules' arrival in USA
