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4 wheel Overland Travel NON-technical 4 wheel forum, for subjects specific to TRAVEL with 4 (or more!) wheeled vehicles. e.g. Driving Techniques, Shipping etc.
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 4 Apr 2002
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Belgium
Posts: 56
Africa with 2WD Mercedes 508 + crossing Durban to India

Hello,

does anyone of you out there knows if it is possible to cross Africa (from Morocco to SA, going to Chad and Sudan) by 2WD? I am thinking of doing this with my Mercedes 508 van (which is very reliable and is used almost all over the world). Problem is that this van has only 2WD, altough the wheels in the back are double. Has anyone done this before or seen someone doing this?

On the internet i also read that it is possible to ship a vehicle from Durban in SA to India (passing Mauritius). Can anyone confirm this?

I am very interested in any feedback.
Greetings,

Koen
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  #2  
Old 26 Jul 2002
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Location: Attenhoven Belgium
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hello,

I think it is possible to do it. Because we did it with a mercedes 608. We past Marocco to Benin. We had a few problems but it was not so bad.
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  #3  
Old 12 Oct 2002
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Location: Nottingham, UK
Posts: 180
Hi,

Very late reply, but just for the record, we did see a UK couple in a similar 2WD Mercedes van in northern Zaire, heading south in 1995!. He had apparently managed fine until then, including travelling through the Sahara and CAR. (Though I suspect he must have struggled with the mud as he got deeper into Zaire).

Good luck, and happy travelling,

Michael...
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Michael & Sandy
http://www.expeditionoverland.com
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  #4  
Old 23 Oct 2002
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Join Date: Apr 2002
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Thanks for the replies.

I have started the preparation of the van in the mean time. If everything goes well (especially saving money for the needed budget and finishing my house so i can rent it) we will be gone in 1 and a half year, spending two years on the road.
I figure that if we have enough time digging the van out of the mud or the sand occasionally may even be fun.

Lots of pleasure on the road to all of you!

Koen
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