Favorite expedition rig

[Mark W]

There wouldn't be much left on MUD if we all played by those rules

Not really. Some uses of the Cruisers ARE all about the rig. Some are equally about the rig and everything else. I just don't feel that "Expedition" use, or serious back country travel should be primarily about the rig.


Mark...

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Some excellent links

Apart from my cruiser My favourite expedition rig would have to be a Unimog or an OKA.

Try these links.
http://www.oka.com.au/
http://www.schoensleben.ch/sur/content/index_e.shtml
http://www.xor.org.uk/unimog/campermog.htm
http://www.maximog.com/
http://www.expeditioncampers.com/
http://www.actionmobil.com/

 

[roscoFJ73]

Not really. Some uses of the Cruisers ARE all about the rig. Some are equally about the rig and everything else. I just don't feel that "Expedition" use, or serious back country travel should be primarily about the rig.


Mark...

Well that was tongue in cheek.
As I Ive said before Im more of minimalist when it comes to Landcruisers.
Like the old bushwalkers refrain"Travel light, freeze at night"(within reason)

 

[roscoFJ73]

Apart from my cruiser My favourite expedition rig would have to be a Unimog or an OKA.

The OKA up the top I think is one built for a Swedish couple. Ive always had a soft spot for them except the old 4 cyl 4.0 ltr Perkins Phasar diesel.
This engines claim to fame is that it has half the moving parts of other diesels of the same size
I understand they have restarted their plant and are fitting a new engine.
At one stage they were talking with Caterpillar but it fell through.

I did some work for the companies number 3 man once and he offered me a drive at their test track.
I always regret not taking him up on the offer

 

[sandcruiser]

Nice rigs.
I'm partial to slightly smaller expedition rigs, but that is based on the fact that in Central America, you in inevitably spend a fair amount of time in towns with narrow streets, where a larger rig just isn't any fun

love those gullwing doors on the 75!
But I don't understand why you would want leaf springs instead of coils (at least up front) and personally couldn't justify two fridges... maybe a fridge and a cooler, but two fridges..... seems like just too much power draw.

 

[hks3sgte]

Wow! You guys think BIG!

My ideal Expedition "rig" would be something like these... everything you need, and nothing you don't!

 

[roscoFJ73]

love those gullwing doors on the 75!
But I don't understand why you would want leaf springs instead of coils (at least up front) and personally couldn't justify two fridges... maybe a fridge and a cooler, but two fridges..... seems like just too much power draw.

The 75 with leaf springs works fine ,especially when loaded up.
The new style fridges are very economical on power,I think about 2 amps an hour per fridge. The owner lives out of them for a couple of weeks at a time.
A lot of owners have solar panels which they set up when stopped.
I have a small Yamaha generator and a 100amp deep cycle battery.
I dont really need the genny,but take it as an emergency back up.
When I get my battery power sorted out I may leave the genny behind

Its great being in the middle of a desert and munching on a crispy cold apple or sinking a beer so cold it rattles your teeth

 

[Max.Powerzz]

Do you mean the red thing.? I dont thinks its a headrest,their children are quite small and dont reach that high.
I think its another one of their specialised canvass bags

It's in the right-hand picture on post 8, the head-rest looks like the fabric from the early 90's tercels, gray "splashed" with small bright squares and "accent" slashes.

But it's still awesome and I still covet it.

 

[Max.Powerzz]

Wow! You guys think BIG!

My ideal Expedition "rig" would be something like these... everything you need, and nothing you don't!

I love the old rovers. I know we give them grief on Mud but they're what got me into cruisers: functional, utilitarian design, and tough (well, 2 out of 3)

 

[roscoFJ73]

It's in the right-hand picture on post 8, the head-rest looks like the fabric from the early 90's tercels, gray "splashed" with small bright squares and "accent" slashes.

But it's still awesome and I still covet it.

I never noticed it. Looks like a seat cover from Kmart

 

[Mickldo]

The OKA up the top I think is one built for a Swedish couple. Ive always had a soft spot for them except the old 4 cyl 4.0 ltr Perkins Phasar diesel.
This engines claim to fame is that it has half the moving parts of other diesels of the same size
I understand they have restarted their plant and are fitting a new engine.
At one stage they were talking with Caterpillar but it fell through.

I did some work for the companies number 3 man once and he offered me a drive at their test track.
I always regret not taking him up on the offer

That OKA is from the second link in that list. There is the full story on the build up of the truck and the camper body. Very good read. That OKA is the first of the new model with the new motor.

That sucks missing out on a drive of their test track.

 

[Mickldo]

Not really. Some uses of the Cruisers ARE all about the rig. Some are equally about the rig and everything else. I just don't feel that "Expedition" use, or serious back country travel should be primarily about the rig.


Mark...

Wow! You guys think BIG!

My ideal Expedition "rig" would be something like these... everything you need, and nothing you don't!

I think the vehicle is one of the more important things to consider on an expedition. After all it is the only thing to get you home to civilisation. If the worst was to happen a well set up vehicle could be the difference between life and death.

Sure many people have and will continue to travel in stock vehicles. They have the times of their lives having an adventure but IMHO they are risking their lives unnecessarily.

Having a reliable, mechanically sound, capable vehicle is paramount to doing the trip safely.

A lot of the mods done to an expedition rig are luxury items ie; drawer systems, roof top tents, etc. Most though are safety items that every rig should have when venturing to remote areas. Bull bars are needed to protect the radiator in case of animal strikes. Radios and satphones are for emergency communications. Long range fuel tanks are heaps safer than multiple jerry cans. Water tanks carry lifes most essential commodity. Even fridges I consider essential ( can't let the borbons go hot ).

I agree with the less is more approach though. Weight needs to be kept to a minimum but not at expense to the safety of the travellers. I think that this is one area that this particular forum will be helpful. Expedition travellers sharing ideas on the best way to get everything that is needed packed in the most space and weight efficient way.

 

[JO MAOMA]

Wow! You guys think BIG!

My ideal Expedition "rig" would be something like these...

here is my expedition rig...

 

[hks3sgte]

here is my expedition rig...

YEAH! That is (for me) the second best way to travel!

 

[splitshot]

As far as Mog's, this one is

 

[HZJ60 Guy]

Those vehicles arent very comfortable to drive, and remember youre going to be driving MORE than youre going to be doing anything else!!!!

Earth Roamer baby!

 

[roscoFJ73]

Those vehicles arent very comfortable to drive, and remember youre going to be driving MORE than youre going to be doing anything else!!!!

Earth Roamer baby!

True they are not comfortable ,but its all about how you want to do it.
Some want to cover a 1000 miles a day others want to do a 100 miles a week before moving onto another campsite

 

[Mark W]

Those vehicles arent very comfortable to drive, and remember youre going to be driving MORE than youre going to be doing anything else!!!!

Earth Roamer baby!

Depends on just what your "expedition" really is and what it's about. Many people will not be doing more driving than anything else.


Mark...

 

[roscoFJ73]

That OKA is from the second link in that list. There is the full story on the build up of the truck and the camper body. Very good read. That OKA is the first of the new model with the new motor.

That sucks missing out on a drive of their test track.

Great links but I still couldnt find on OKA's site what engine or even the capacity of the engine

I like the concept of the OKA being built from mainly off the shelf parts from worldwide companies that can be bought anywhere

 

[cpg]

here is my expedition rig...

Can you get a extra large tank for that bike? I thought they had a range of 100m?