hi all im planning to do a trip driving from uk to south africa in 2013. i will be giving full details of trip. im also looking for ppl to join me on this trip. i have a 95 2.8td mitsubishi shogun. im planning a 3 month trip go out have fun enjoy an adventure.
im looking at doing most down the east coast of africa.

Hi,
I'm currently doing a similar trip, and I just wanted to highlight the fact that there are very few, if any, Jeep Cherokee's in this part of the world. There might be a couple in the bigger cities in South Africa, but on the road it's all Toyota's, Nissans and Isuzus (with the occasional LR as well).

In terms of spare parts, bush repairs, etc, you would not necessarily have an easy time getting back on the road again.

Just my two cents.

Joova

Although the JC is a very comfortable machine it may not cope to well with prolonged use on inferior roads. My experience with friends machines is that the body(monocoche)twists and the doors dont shut properly.

If you could sell it and buy a comparable Nissan/Toyota it would be better.

Me and my fiancee are planning a year trip towards the end of 2013 in our old 109 and if you wanna join us for the trip down we're also looking for more members. Safety in numbers and all that.

Hi,

Indeed you do not come across any Cherokees doing the overland trip. I just completed it with a friend and we only saw in Toyota Hilux, Landrovers and Toyota Landcruisers.

Concerning the numbers it is all fine to travel alone most of the trip. Especially below Marsabit (Central Kenia) there are a lot of westerners on the road if you travel via: Arusha, Dar Es Salam, Lusaka, Maun, Windhoek, Capetown.
The trip between Marsabit and Moyale I would do in a group (no official police guidance needed). Although for this part of the trip it is much nicer to go via Lake Turkana, which is by far the highlight of the trip. But you can only do outside of the rain-season.
As of Ethiopia the road is a bit more intense, but a lot of fun as well. It was safe may-july 2011 when we travelled. We travelled informally with people we met on the road, as in the end you all go to similar campsites.

When you are still looking for a vehicle I would like to highlight we have our allmighty "beast" up for sale. I perfectly prepared overland vehicle.
When you are interested please visit our website Web Hosting Hub | Website Suspended and find out more about our beloved "Beast".

Good luck with planning the trip, I envy you for having this a head of you.

Cheers,
Ed

My father had a 1996 Grand Cherokee and I can affirm it's a piece of junk.

He's a farmer, so some light off-road all the time: doesn't excel, but not as bad usually said (we look for the easiest pass, not as off-roaders), but totally agree with Tony (not the car for this). But the POINT: it is totally UNRELIABLE, especially the ELECTRICS. CRAP. Looks nice and it's comfortable (not the back seats, too short), but that's it. I could list problems, but it'd be too long. And spares are very expensive! Avoid it at any cost!

He had the 4 cyl. 2.5TD engine and it was soooo bad. It overheats, everyone around had the headgasket gone or the engine seized up in hot summer days (I refer to Andalusia, Spain, so very hot). If I recall it was an Italian engine. I assume yours is probably 6 cyl. 4.0L or v8 5.2L or even 5.9L. Have you checked the consumption? I knew other people who had it and they were desperate.

Get anything made in Japan instead of the Grand Cherokee. Furthermore, I'd rather go in a bubble car than in a GC.

EdRek,
Afraid your link, shown above, is broken.
According to the link itself, that web page is suspended.

Well, that saves me considering a GC any further!

__________________
Dave

Just to point out....there are absolutely billions of Jeep Cherokees in Egypt, cheapish parts and dirt cheap labour from people who know them well.

and...for the record... I very much enjoy bashing around the desert in our 1996 Cherokee with very little drama and all that power and lightness.

Actually it always takes me a bit of grumbling adjustment when the Toyota comes out of customs and I switch from one to the other.

Don't get me wrong though, I know which one I'd choose to cruise the continent.

__________________
JT

I read later you actually have one, so you may have your own experience, but...

Cherokee or Grand Cherokee? I can only tell about the second, and in particular about the 2.5 TD manual gearbox. I'd have loved to know about any cheap spares anywhere. Just an example: the headlamps tend to fill up with so much dust that you cannot see anything at night (that should definitely happen in Egypt) and then they brake. Cost a FORTUNE in Spain at the time.

This appears in the first research googling "Jeep Grand Cherokee 2.5 TD":
Jeep Grand Cherokee 2.5 TD ´99 ¿Es buena compra? - ForoCoches "Is it a good purchase?"


They refer to it several times textually as a f**ing sh*t (=p*ta mi*rda, once quoting a salesman from Jeep) and the recurring problems with the "culatines" due to overheating. That one is a problem with the 2.5 TD engine, that's why I make the difference with the petrol engines. But electrics -assuming they may be the same- are CRAP. Furthermore, my father still keeps it as a back up car (you cannot really get any money from it now) and of course A/C is not working and most lights in the panel neither. Miraculously is still running after 180.000 kms 95% on motorway.

People in Spain bought other better/cheaper parts made in Argentina to fix engine problems (you can read it in the thread). About Cherokees in the Egypt, I can't tell, I wouldn't have imagined that. Good to hear they work better and you enjoyed it. Actually, I loved and hated the car, both.

And all my apologies if I sound radical: I try to be impartial, but that car was costing a fortune and headaches, so I may take it a little too much personal against...

BTW: JamieT, snowing here in CH and subzero temperatures

hi there i have change my car for a 2.8td mitsubishi shogun to do trip so if ur still up for trip so am i end of 2013

i have now bought my self a 95 mitsubishi shogun 2.8td which im planning to use to drive from uk to south africa in. im driving through end of 2013 over several months looking for ppl to join. 07791931977

From 1 piece of shit to another piece of shit.

OK, the Paj, isn't as bad as the GC, but still very wanting for a trip like this.

Why don't you rather look for a Toyota.

My money would be on a Toyota, long before any Paj.

vette