Overseas (non-US) Expedition wheelers.... the wild stuff!

[e9999]

OK, let's face it, here in the US, we are mostly like babes in the woods compared to some of the routine stuff that our hardier brethren endure routinely on the tracks. Yes, there is Alaska, the Mojave, and the Northern woods, but even then we are usually not more than 50 miles from the closest Starbucks...


So, let's hear a bit from where the more primeval action is taking place: the Outback, South Africa, Sahara, Asian or South American jungles...

So, how'd you build your trucks? What's important for your wheeling? Interesting experiences? Pics? Advice?

 

[rusty_tlc]

OK, let's face it, here in the US, we are mostly like babes in the woods compared to some of the routine stuff that our hardier brethren endure routinely on the tracks. Yes, there is Alaska, the Mojave, and the Northern woods, but even then we are usually not more than 50 miles from the closest Starbucks...


So, let's hear a bit from where the more primeval action is taking place: the Outback, South Africa, Sahara, Asian jungles, Darrien Gap, Siberia...

Stories? Interesting experiences? Pics? Advice?

You need to get to Northern Nevada. It's not uncommon to be 100+ miles from any thing resembling an AM/PM much less Starbucks.

This guy knows how to set a rig up for expedition travel

 

[e9999]

well, sure, there are places in the US where you can still get away from it all for a while. All the same, though, it's a bit different if there is no infrastructure at all for hundreds of mile around you, no dealer, no hospital, no mechanic, like some places in Africa, say, or if you get stuck you may well die... Among other things, rig reliability becomes more a priority in those situations I would think.

 

[expat]

You really need to get out of California more. There is lots of expedition style wheeling left in North America... Look North to Canada.

 

[Teebag]

Namibia

Roadways:
total: 42,237 km
paved: 5,406 km
unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)

Read more Here

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

OK, let's face it, here in the US, we are mostly like babes in the woods compared to some of the routine stuff that our hardier brethren endure routinely on the tracks. Yes, there is Alaska, the Mojave, and the Northern woods, but even then we are usually not more than 50 miles from the closest Starbucks...


So, let's hear a bit from where the more primeval action is taking place: the Outback, South Africa, Sahara, Asian or South American jungles...

So, how'd you build your trucks? What's important for your wheeling? Interesting experiences? Pics? Advice?

hop in your truck and head over the south border. There are many areas in Baja where it will take a year for anyone to find your corps

 

[e9999]

Canada, Mexico, and AK don't count, those are overseas.... well sorta... well, OK, fine, they speak funny there, that's enough to count as overseas....


seriously, not to diss everybody else, but our Oz friends, they have the long range exped cruiser thing all worked out...

 

[FJason80]

I second Rusty's comment about Nevada. I'm sure you could get some places where there is no civilization for hundreds of miles in every direction. One could easily die out there.

 

[lshobie]

It's not as much about being in the middle of no where - it's more about the Aussie research and development in the 4x4 world that we are looking for.

The idea of a vacation for many Aussies is driving a few thousand miles into the middle of nowhere for a few days and then head home - we in north america don't do that and for the most part don't have the variety of vehicles that can handle what the Aussies put them through. Sure, we have some 80's and in Canada we have a bunch of diesels, but the main test ground that we can access is Australia.

 

[Mark W]

We're overseas, we talk funny and we don't don't get away from infrastructure???

Ya really don't know anything about Alaska it seems.


I will have to agree with some of what I think you are trying to say. In the US, most of what guys call "expedition" is actually "road trip". And most "Expedition rigs" are really daily drivers with lots of gingerbread and gadgets.


Mark...

 

[OGBeno]

And most "Expedition rigs" are really daily drivers with lots of gingerbread and gadgets.


Mark...

 

[roscoFJ73]

My experience with doing long trips in remote areas is to keep the vehicle as close to standard as possible.
You dont need SOA or vast amounts of horsepower to cross a desert and if you have to have parts airlifted in at great expense ,you want to get it right the 1st time.
Long distance vehicles are usually going to spend most of the time on bad roads with a heavy load so they need to be stable and the suspension needs to be designed around that.
Soft flexy rock crawling suspension ensures a rollover if you have to do an emergency swerve around a camel at 40 mph.
So IMO,a suspension lift should be just enough to clear the tyres loaded,any more is a waste.

Ive also gone back to split rims and tyres to suit after my BFGs blew out on a desert road and the nearest 33in tyres were 1500 miles and 10 days away.
In central oz ,if you need tyres, spares or fuel you will most likely have to deal with an Aboriginal community store and the service limited almost exclusively to split rims,landcruisers and diesel(because thats all they use )

I carry 2 batteries,one loose in a battery box to power my fridge,lights and soon to be purchased HF radio for the Flyin Doc.
The HF radio can also receive weather faxes,make phone call$ as well as help deal with any emergency. You have to be member of a club to receive the non emergency benefits.
After much thought I decided the sat phones and the problems people were having with billing and connections were no better than the HF radio which is quite cheap for what you get.
I have a Yamaha 1000 generator that can recharge batteries and supply power at the same time.

I dont have too much permanently attached to my cruiser. If Im seriously stuck everything can be unloaded or ditched if I need to lighten the load.
I carry 80 litres of water in 4 containers and 20 litres of spare diesel (plus 2x90ltr in the tanks)

Long distance travel requires some creature comforts to be enjoyable but its a fine line between being prepared and being overloaded.
I like a comfortable bed,comfortable chair,cold drinks and a hot/lukewarm shower daily.
Carrying portable toilets ,diabolical tents and too much furniture is a definite no no for me.

 

[e9999]

good points!

but what is a diabolical tent?

 

[roscoFJ73]

good points!

but what is a diabolical tent?

It should have read diabolically difficult or one that takes more 47 seconds to erect

 

[Mickldo]

x2 on the KISS principle.

Rule number 1 is the first thing that will break is the last thing you modified.

Reliability, fuel economy, ease of use, comfort, communications.

 

[roscoFJ73]

x2 on the KISS principle.

Rule number 1 is the first thing that will break is the last thing you modified.

Reliability, fuel economy, ease of use, comfort, communications.

Nice pic Mick,where is that?

 

[rusty_tlc]

I agree that there are more the guys in Oz and Africa that have experience in expedition style driving and building expedition rigs.

But I also think there are a few people right here at home who know what they are about in these areas as well. For instance I think Mark might have just a little experience in this area


roscoFJ73:
Nice summary.

I like your less is more attitude about equipment. In my backpacking days after every trip I sorted my gear into three piles; stuff I used, stuff I didn't use but had to have (first aid, ten essentials, etc.), and stuff that never got out of the backpack. Then I looked at the last pile with a very critical eye and ditched as much of it as I could. I have started that same practice with our car camping gear.

We have been RV'ers for years and are just getting back into car camping. So we are just now building our "Kit". The first thing we will replace is our POS $40 tent. Nothing is worse than fighting with a tent when you are tired and trying to get camp set up, dinner cooked etc. I would hate to set up the tent we have now in the dark, or in a storm.

 

[roscoFJ73]

I agree that there are more the guys in Oz and Africa that have experience in expedition style driving and building expedition rigs.

But I also think there are a few people right here at home who know what they are about in these areas as well. For instance I think Mark might have just a little experience in this area


roscoFJ73:
Nice summary.

I like your less is more attitude about equipment. In my backpacking days after every trip I sorted my gear into three piles; stuff I used, stuff I didn't use but had to have (first aid, ten essentials, etc.), and stuff that never got out of the backpack. Then I looked at the last pile with a very critical eye and ditched as much of it as I could. I have started that same practice with our car camping gear.

We have been RV'ers for years and are just getting back into car camping. So we are just now building our "Kit". The first thing we will replace is our POS $40 tent. Nothing is worse than fighting with a tent when you are tired and trying to get camp set up, dinner cooked etc. I would hate to set up the tent we have now in the dark, or in a storm.

Im sure there are Americans who have solid knowledge on expedition type trips. After all South American trips are some of the most arduous you could do if you want to get off the beaten track.


I also go over my gear with a critical eye at the end of a trip. I try and take things that have a multiple purposes like my large block of Jarrah wood.
Its a jack stand in soft sand,turn it on its end and its an axle stand, or wheel chock, mini workbench or stool

I have a $25 tent that goes up in minutes. I dont know how long it would last in a storm,but for quiet nights in a desert it keeps the swarming hordes of insects off me.
With tents you should make it a rule to stop and set up camp in daylight. If you need to make up for lost time,leave early

Im packing my gear now for a 7 day prospecting trip and Ill be 130 klms from town so I dont want to be running in there for things I forgot.
I will be trying to design my meals around a bbq plate on legs and leave the gas stove behind.(plenty of dry desert wood where Im going)
With meals I try and have fruit and cereal for brekky,cold meat and salads for lunch and a hot cooked meal for the evening

 

[Gold Boy]

i have to admit Canada is right in there with Oz for wilderness....

 

[Mark W]

In my mind, a true "expedition" involves long distances (thousand+, not just a couple hundred). It involves primarily road and reasonably traversed trails. It takes you to new places with new experiences, but not necessarily places completely without people or untouched by mans activities.

I don't do that much of that sort of travel. I have done a bit and will do so again. But overall it's not what I spend my time doing or planning for.

Most of what I do these days would more accurately be called scouting. Perhaps I should make that "Scouting". Long distance scouting shares a lot with hardcore expedition travel. But it's not the same thing. It shares a lot with high challenge weekend play time. But again, it's not the same thing.

Scouting is about going where other folks don't go and where there are no maps or relayed reports to depend on. Going where there are no other people and the trails are nothing more than the tracks that your or maybe half a dozen other guys have laid down over the years. When you're lucky it's a pair of tire tracks that disappear and reappear once in a while for miles and miles. When you're really lucky there are no tracks except the ones you're laying down as you go. Not too many places where you can play this game. I'd venture that there's basically nowhere in the '48 where you can. The distances are not as long as most true expeditions. But as mentioned in my thread about our upcoming Talkeetna Mountains exploration, a couple to several hundred miles from trail head to trail head is not uncommon

This takes a lot of the same type of gear and vehicle capabilities as hard core expedition travel. But generally you are approaching things a bit more spartanly in terms of your gear and comfort items. You are not out for as long as you are on a long expedition and you can sacrifice comfort a little. Rather than roof top tents, you pitch a tent if you're gonna stay static for long, and throw your bag under the rig if you're just grabbing some shut eye 'til morning. MREs and quick simple food warmed over a camp fire takes first place over stoves and grills and onboard refrigerators. This is largely because you have to travel lighter. You wouldn't head of for a weekend of rock crawling or mud bogging with a 7000+ pound wagon. When you're scouting new country you have to be prepared to run into the challenging stuff too. You have to be a bit more self sufficient (no resupply of even fuel or local foodstuffs and provisions). Tools and parts and ability to make something work somehow to get back to the road is IMPORTANT. Not that this is not important in expedition travel as well. It's just a little different.

Scouting trips share a lot with weekend glory hunting. Or they can. Often times the reason that the trail ends is because of the challenge it presents. Mud, rocks, water or? If you want to go further you have to be able to overcome the obstacles that have stopped everyone else. Or the general difficulty that dissuades everyone else from bothering. But a good scouting trip gets you a lot further away from the modern developed world and keeps you there a lot longer than most weekend runs.

While an expedition rig is usually built with long term road manners pretty high on the list of priorities, a Scouting rig tends to be a blend of the expedition rig and a play toy. At least at first glance. Larger tires, more power, things like that set it apart from most expedition rigs. But higher fuel capacity and an emphasis on dependability and durability (and often simplicity) set it apart from most weekend warriors. And while it may be built with the kinds of capabilities that rival a lot of trailer queens, it has to be up to running a couple hundred miles or more to reach the trailhead.


Some "expeditions" have a lot of "scouting" built into their agenda. Some have none at all (think back to the Tubby tales that ran as a multi-part piece in the Trails recently.



There's more to it than this, but I'm tired of pontificating for the moment.


Mark...