My best under the insulation/rubber floor repair also included rust converter and a thick coating of roofing tar encapsulating any future trouble, before covering with insulation...............Good you got a solid repair as a foundation underneath.
What did you do on your 70 series today? (23 Viewers)
- Thread starter IH8MUD
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Hello,
I visited my mechanic and I found this.
I could not talk to the owner. Is he in 'MUD?
I also found an example of the elusive FZJ78. Sadly, this Troopy had its rear differential blown. The repair bill has a five-figure number. Now it is waiting for parts.
Another picture.
There is a web page, drivingfate.com, but no contact information.
Juan
I visited my mechanic and I found this.
I could not talk to the owner. Is he in 'MUD?
I also found an example of the elusive FZJ78. Sadly, this Troopy had its rear differential blown. The repair bill has a five-figure number. Now it is waiting for parts.
Another picture.
There is a web page, drivingfate.com, but no contact information.
Juan
@JuanJ you can find him on Instagram: Login • Instagram - https://instagram.com/drivingwithfate?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Apparently, as I just found out, he has the “goal” of setting a new Guinness World Record of countries driven in… something he’ll have an incredibly hard time doing on so many levels. Not sure where to start: his rig & overloaded setup, or the fact that to reach 181+ he’ll have to visit tiny Caribbean islands with no regular ferry service and many countries that are completely closed to “overlanding”.
For a true, inspiring, amazing story - and legendary car - look no further than Otto and his Merc G (though apparently he’s quite far from the current record): The World's Greatest Traveler: A 1988 Mercedes That Has Been to 172 Countries - https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/worlds-greatest-traveler-1988-mercedes-has-been-172-countries/
He had such a basic setup - and great car.
Even then, he had many “pointless” car-country visits and the support (at least in some way) of both Allianz (IIRC) and Mercedes.
Apparently, as I just found out, he has the “goal” of setting a new Guinness World Record of countries driven in… something he’ll have an incredibly hard time doing on so many levels. Not sure where to start: his rig & overloaded setup, or the fact that to reach 181+ he’ll have to visit tiny Caribbean islands with no regular ferry service and many countries that are completely closed to “overlanding”.
For a true, inspiring, amazing story - and legendary car - look no further than Otto and his Merc G (though apparently he’s quite far from the current record): The World's Greatest Traveler: A 1988 Mercedes That Has Been to 172 Countries - https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/worlds-greatest-traveler-1988-mercedes-has-been-172-countries/
He had such a basic setup - and great car.
Even then, he had many “pointless” car-country visits and the support (at least in some way) of both Allianz (IIRC) and Mercedes.
Hello,
Thank you for the link. Unfortunately, I do not use Instagram much.
According to my mechanic, he said he came from Alaska when he entered the shop.
Otto is the 300G's name. His owner's last name is Holtzthorp or something like that.
Otto is now on display in the Mercedes-Benz Museum, which is located in Stuttgart, if I remember correctly. A few years ago, when I was watching the evening news, I saw a report of the final drive from its home to the museum. Lucky me.
Juan
A friend of mine once had a VW beetle with a rotten footwell. Didn't pass TÜV inspection.
He couldn't weld, but was a tiler, so he poured some screed, put the carpet over it and painted it with undercoat. Made the inspection ....
Before moving to the museum, 300GD 'Otto' set off for another 2 years trip and eventually made 215 countries, including now almost impossible ones like North Korea, and quite some not even in existence any more..
The owner was Gunther Holtorf.
Gunther Holtorf – Wikipedia
Before moving to the museum, 300GD 'Otto' set off for another 2 years trip and eventually made 215 countries, including now almost impossible ones like North Korea, and quite some not even in existence any more..
The owner was Gunther Holtorf.
Gunther Holtorf – Wikipedia
de.wikipedia.org
Hello,
Thank you for the information. I am sorry to hear he passed away.
I remember that on one of his Africa trips he made it to the Somalian border, back in the early 1990s. He took a picture of the road to Somalia and drove back: the civil war had started and the country was not safe anymore.
He and Otto did visit a number of island countries that overlanders do not.
I cannot believe how time has passed since that night when I saw Otto entering the museum.
Juan
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hit the nail on the head there Janyyc,,, not only a poor vehicle choice to begin with, but overloading it like that it just making it prone to problems. oh well, at least he's doing it, so many people would like to but for various reasons never will.
edit: i'm remembering now a guy who travelled around the world in a 300TD sedan,,, the car was awesome, the setup was light and simple.
edit: i'm remembering now a guy who travelled around the world in a 300TD sedan,,, the car was awesome, the setup was light and simple.
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Got an estimate to refresh some of the dents/scratches/rust and removed a nut/bolt combo that the previous owner had installed in the seat folding mechanism to prevent it from going down.
Experiencing some rattling from the rear windows and I couldn't see an easy way to access the two front hinges. Tightened the push out mechanism but it didn't improve it. Anyone know how to tighten it down before I start pulling a bunch of trim? I've been unsuccessful searching threads here.
Experiencing some rattling from the rear windows and I couldn't see an easy way to access the two front hinges. Tightened the push out mechanism but it didn't improve it. Anyone know how to tighten it down before I start pulling a bunch of trim? I've been unsuccessful searching threads here.
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'Top heavy' is an understatement.. What the h.. is all loaded up there?
Light and simple is key..
Like these guys who traveled the world for 22 years in a 1928 Graham Paige. The Zapp family. Set out as a couple, completed the trip as a family of 6.
Argentine family arrives home after 22-year drive around the world
The Zapp family arrive back in Buenos Aires after finishing a 22 year-journey around the world that started on January 23, 2000.
www.batimes.com.ar
Unfortunately most of their vids are in Spanish language, and my Spanish is poor.
Picked up the sexy new block Saturday after many-many-many delays. We spent a couple hours getting parts reorganized, measuring for the head gasket and then had some time to start bolting sh1t on. Stoked to have the 77 running again.
Oil level plug broke off right at the base when pulling the engine. Forgot about that. Any ideas on a replacement?
put a new pin in that plug, do you have the FSM? its got a list of the plugs and pins.
Good call. Thank you! Tried de-pinning last night and broke the brittle top tab piece in record time. Will try again tonight and look for the pin info in the manual.
One of my favorite books that anyone who wants to overland will enjoy, especially if you like land cruisers: Who Needs a Road?: The Story of the Longest and Last Motor Journey Around the World Who Needs a Road?: The Story of the Longest and Last Motor Journey Around the World: Harold Stephens and Albert Podell: 9780964252158: Amazon.com: Books - https://a.co/d/41aB3cj
It's the story of a few young men who spent a couple
One of my favorite books which would be an enjoyable read to anyone interested in overland or land cruisers is: Who Needs a Road?: The Story of the Longest and Last Motor Journey Around the World Who Needs a Road?: The Story of the Longest and Last Motor Journey Around the World: Harold Stephens and Albert Podell: 9780964252158: Amazon.com: Books - https://a.co/d/41aB3cj
It's the story of a few young men and their adventures as they spent a couple years of the mid 1960s driving "around the world" with a Land cruiser, jeep, and a popup camper. It's one of those books you can't put down.
Toyotas are well proven to survive cross country over landing while extremely overloaded. Some pics: https://pin.it/UJtiNsf
is that sarcasm? i think i recognize that.
but my comment is more about the way its loaded,,,, a pickup truck would be infinitely better suited to his needs, add to that, loaded the way it is your really limiting yourself to well below the off road capability of that 4 runner, so,,,, poor vehicle choice IMOP.
Exactly… but the root of this would be: you don’t need that much stuff overlanding. See the countless examples above - simplicity is key. Fuel, water, food for a few days. Camera gear if that’s part of your role/goal/profession. Two sets of clothing. Which begs the question… What on earth is in those bins on the second level?
Just making fun man. I agree with most people who would be trying to build the best most highly capable vehicle. With a over roof rack that large unless specially designed for a specific needed purpose for carrying loads on smooth road, or very lightweight bulky items...You reach a point when you are better off with a trailer.
I do however laugh sometimes when people are being overly pure/perfect/etc.. We don't know what he plans to carry on that roof rack. If it is something light like perhaps Kayaks it will be OK.
In a moment of intense automotive achievement excitement and danger tonight I overtook and passed a slower vehicle on a 2 lane highway with oncoming traffic in my BJ73. Luckily I was close to the dirt road home and was able to take a breath calm down after this death defying ordeal..... Truth/Sarcasm? or both. At any rate there was a cold beer available once we left the public road and just happened to be a new litter of wild hogs in the dirt road to the house. I suspect they'll be in my garden soon.. So either it's pulled pork BBQ or fresh vegetables depending on who does what before long.
