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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 George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

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


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 9 Aug 2011
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Anyone for a new G-Wagon?
Doesn't look like they're doing too well here...

Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen | Technical problems | Outback

...and Merc expedition prep seems to be somewhat lacking
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  #2  
Old 10 Aug 2011
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Tsk tsk, bad mouthing a Merc . If the "expedition" drivers are mainly journos then I'm not surprised, the buggers go all out to destroy 4x4s and do things that most sensible owners would not do - eg 100kph on 20kph corrugations. There has been some TV shows recently showing Nissans and Toyos dragging camper trailers along the Canning, whilst its hard due to the distance, lack of water and the need for a fuel drop, its nothing out of the ordinary for Outback roads.

Plenty of bike riders have done it - I remember meeting some guys from Perth (+- 1985) who had done it two up on K series BMWs when they were first released.
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Old 10 Aug 2011
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In the photo those G-Wagons look pretty well loaded up, and I agree if journos are driving they'll be seeing how fast they can go or take it as a challenge to see if they can break something. So bearing this in mind, why didn't Mercedes pack some spare shocks???? Lots of people driving their own vehicles and taking care of them so as not to incur huge repair bills take spare shocks so I'm suprised Mercedes didn't think of this before letting the journos loose on the corrugations.
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  #4  
Old 10 Aug 2011
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I dont know where they got the first to travel bit from plenty of 4wd have done it including clubs . A friend of mine does tag along tours on the canning (he uses a defender) . Oz is a good testbed for finding vehicle weaknesses, and I recovered plenty of people that found theirs !
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  #5  
Old 15 Aug 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tacr2man View Post
I dont know where they got the first to travel bit from plenty of 4wd have done it including clubs.
Loads of private people travel the route, but I think they're the first manufacturer to organise something here.
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Old 17 Aug 2011
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'When we undertook this journey we were well aware of the punishment that the vehicles would endure," he says. "We put in place a group of very experienced Outback operators who have the expertise and logistical knowledge to cover off any eventuality.'

But not carrying spare shocks, muppets!!! I have never driven in Oz but I have been told that their corrugations are mere minnows compared to the african ones so I think it's a poor show. To be honest the vehicles don't look that heavilly loaded

shepherd, that god of expeditions and vehicle prep drives a MB, but one of the older ones. Modern mercs (all of them) are shadows of their former cars and the G wagon, as with most new off roaders is too complex and too highway orientated for it's own good.

Air con 'essential' for 30+ degrees, I don't think so, man up!!!!!!

I am constantly suprised that no manufacturer brings out an 'expedition spec' version of their vehicles without all the electronics, fancy suspension etc etc. (for landrover that may be a vehicle closer to the santana spec than the current landie for example, or maybe LR and MB could utilise their military spec vehicles for expedition use) which can be repaired in the bush and has less to go wrong in the first place
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  #7  
Old 17 Aug 2011
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Originally Posted by moggy 1968 View Post
'When we undertook this journey we were well aware of the punishment that the vehicles would endure," he says. "We put in place a group of very experienced Outback operators who have the expertise and logistical knowledge to cover off any eventuality.'

But not carrying spare shocks, muppets!!! I have never driven in Oz but I have been told that their corrugations are mere minnows compared to the african ones so I think it's a poor show. To be honest the vehicles don't look that heavilly loaded

shepherd, that god of expeditions and vehicle prep drives a MB, but one of the older ones. Modern mercs (all of them) are shadows of their former cars and the G wagon, as with most new off roaders is too complex and too highway orientated for it's own good.

Air con 'essential' for 30+ degrees, I don't think so, man up!!!!!!

I am constantly suprised that no manufacturer brings out an 'expedition spec' version of their vehicles without all the electronics, fancy suspension etc etc. (for landrover that may be a vehicle closer to the santana spec than the current landie for example, or maybe LR and MB could utilise their military spec vehicles for expedition use) which can be repaired in the bush and has less to go wrong in the first place
Aus has plenty of big corrugations...definately comparable to Africa, but it depends on when you drive a particular road as to how bad they are. If you go the week before the grader passes through it'll be rough, the week after it'll be smooth.

Merc had one or two military spec G's on this trip and suprise suprise they didn't break their shocks, not sure if they're releasing this version in Aus though.
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  #8  
Old 1 Sep 2011
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the british mil spec LR Wolfs were pretty much straight out of the LR Catalogue.

East African safari spec Defenders to which the army added special paint and its standard light switch.

For this LR charged the army about twice the equivilant price it would charge someone like BP or other large companies in the market for large numbers of rugged basic 4x4.

38
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Old 1 Sep 2011
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Originally Posted by 38thfoot View Post
the british mil spec LR Wolfs were pretty much straight out of the LR Catalogue.

East African safari spec Defenders to which the army added special paint and its standard light switch.

For this LR charged the army about twice the equivilant price it would charge someone like BP or other large companies in the market for large numbers of rugged basic 4x4.

38
Typical eg of how UK defence procurement is such a dog's breakfast. Have a look at this book - Wasting money saving lives - Telegraph
Last edited by ilesmark; 1 Sep 2011 at 16:12. Reason: can't spel properly
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