Roof Tent or Trailer?

[Nige1955]

Got the option of fitting a roof tent with all associated HD gear for a 110 or maybe 130. Estimated weight of fully loaded LR over 3000kg.
Alternatively, remove half the weight and take a trailer with a roof tent weighing in at about 1500KG.
So, do I load the LR to near max and scrap the trailer
or
Lighten the LR and take a trailer?
Not going too far off road, used trailers for years so 'qualified' to drive/reverse one!
Any suggestions as to which might be a better set-up?
Cheers
Nige

[roamingyak]

Are you driving to Tesco's or Cape Town?

[Nige1955]

Certainly not Tesco's! Fortnum and Mason's maybe...

Route from Oman via Tanzania to South Africa. Working in South Africa and after that...Maybe South America or India and points east.

Can see advantages in both a trailer and lighter vehicle or no trailer and heavier vehicle.

Or maybe I should just get a Unimog?

[roamingyak]

Absolutely forget the trailer. Those few who have travelled with them across Africa usually regret them. You will (probably) lose all sense of exploration and it will just be a burden in so many ways.

They are better for holidays where you will stay in just one or two places.

Most landies when packed up are around 3,000kg. Drive slowly and you'll be fine.

[Nige1955]

Fair enough. Was thinking along those lines - whilst used to having a trailer, it does cause problems, especially city parking.

Right, loaded Landie it is.

Thanks very much for the advice - just needed a nudge in the right direction.

Cheers

Nige

[itchyfeet38]

If you took a trailer you'd probably end up ditching it in frustration. As RY says it is great for a two week trip to a game park so you can "set up camp" and drive away each morning but otherwise it will be a huge pain.

Think carefully about what you take. You simply can't win trying to pack for every eventuality (and trust me we tried!). The rule is whatever breaks will be the only thing you don't have a spare of. Our Land Rover was nearer the 3500kg mark and it was amazing what we DIDN'T use. Also think very hard about how you organise what you do take. Accessibility is everything for everyday stuff (not so much obscure spares which you can bury). You just won't use what you can't easily access which means you may as well leave it behind.

[roamingyak]

Perhaps give us a list of things you were looking at adding onto the landy and we can 'help' knock a few off. A run down the east coast isn't very challenging if you stick to the beaten paths (I didn't much) and we can maybe save you some hassle and costs (though we want 10% commission on all savings!! ;-p )

I had capacity for 280 litres of fuel for example, and a huge number of spares that you don't need down the east coast.

110 is a good size for many reasons, 130 will get stuck a bit more often if you are heading off the beaten track etc. If you go for a truck (which personally I'm against for many reasons) then your costs will increase a lot (diesel, shipping, tolls, park entrances etc).

A well kitted out standard 4x4 is a perfect size for Africa imho.

[Nige1955]

Thanks for the offer - sorry for the delay, out in the hills with no service

Still at the setting up stage so very provisional list...NOT in any order or preference but here goes:-
Heavy duty:- drive train - prop shafts, diffs, differentials with ARB lockers, crowns, suspension with air assistance, diff breathers,
Front and rear winches and bumpers
Bash plates all under, side rock runners
Long range fuel tank with jerry cans and rack
Water tank with filters and extended hose with pump
Chequer plate protection as required
Air compressor (tied in with snorkel to keep crap out) and tools, snorkel, high exhaust
Waterproofed engine (as far as is reasonably possible) no swimming intended
Roll cage - external?
Window grills and safety film
Safety door locks, Lockable cubby, roof console with additional instrumentation
Additional lights - LED inside and working lights, spots fogs etc
Solar panel(s)
Battery management system
Fuel/battery cut off (hidden)
Bull bar
Air conditioning(pondering this one for the other half)
HD roof rack with tent
Storage boxes, cases, trays
Cooker, toilet (and tent?)
Hi lift jack and mount, bull bag (air jack bag)
Sound system tied in with GPS/laptop/GPS tracker etc. and phones (his and hers)
Steering guard
Spare tyre mount x 2
Split rims or 'Wolf' style rims...
Anti-roll bars
Twin rear shocks
Tow straps, shackles, tyre levers, wheel brace, radiator plugs, Haynes Manual(!) puncture repair kit/gel/foam, axe/hatchet, spade, socket sets etc
Inverter/generator
Side awning(s)
Sun roof/escape hatch
In-built cameras - as per reversing but at front as well
CB radio - if legal
Better seats, harnesses
Additional alternator
2" lift and modified drive train to suit
RAM mounts for camera, laptop etc
Light/radiator guards
Rear cargo grill
Braided hoses all round
Twin Kenlowe fans
HD water pump
Additional screen washer
HD brakes - as it will be heavy
Fridge
Overdrive - do they still make them? Had one on a 73 Series 2A Station Wagon, excellent
Air horns, load liners, Halogen lights, Waxoyl/Dinatrol, locking wheel nuts,
Oil cooler and gearbox fins
Revised dashboard/console for switches/instrumentation etc
Hi aerial with flag for dunes (standard warning out here in Oman)

That's it so far. All taken from either personal knowledge or ideas nicked from vehicles in Oman/U.A.E.

NOT checked weight yet not if everything available for chosen vehicle - not chosen vehicle either...

Any suggestions?

Hopefully internet will stay up and I can get access

Cheers

Nige

[roamingyak]

OK assuming this was me kitting out a Defender or Land Cruiser for a year down the East Coast of Africa, and I had about £10,000 to £20,000 to spend including buying the vehicle and getting a mechanical overhaul (WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART ;-)

First of all, buy yourself a copy of this: Chris Scott ~ Overlanders Handbook and read it before spending any money.

1. DEFINITELY
Water tank with filters and extended hose with pump (saves money in the long run).
Air compressor
HD roof rack with tent - I recommend Autohome is the world's leading�roof top tents manufacturer. as the South African style tents are too much hassle for daily use. Columbus variant with the winter cover (blocks out 90% of the sun in the morning, and extra hours sleep. The triangle shaped ones allow doggy style ;-p
Storage boxes, cases, trays - Use plastic square stackable Rako boxes myself.
Cooker - gas is easier
Hi lift jack and mount
Steering guard
Spare tyre mount x 2
Tow straps, shackles, tyre levers, wheel brace, radiator plugs, Haynes Manual(!) puncture repair kit/gel/foam, axe/hatchet, spade, socket sets etc
Side awning(s)



2. GOOD IDEA IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY
Bash plates all under
Long range fuel tank with jerry cans and rack (saves money in the long run usually)
snorkel
Window grills - don't need 'safety film' just never leave anything in sight, and always have the vehicle somewhere it is guarded. 5 years in Africa and never had a break in.
Safety door locks, Lockable cubby
Additional lights - LED inside and working lights, spots fogs etc - good idea to have plenty of outside light, and lights you can use underneath if need be i.e.: movable led's
Solar panel(s)
Battery management system
Fuel/battery cut off (hidden)
Bull bar - not a bad idea in traffic etc
Air conditioning(pondering this one for the other half) - mostly good for when driving in cities, of as it often is, sitting in traffic. I have never used.
Split rims or 'Wolf' style rims... I use Wold rims - dunno about split rims, what about spliff rims instead? ;-p
Twin rear shocks - worked well for me with Koni shocks and slow driving
Light/radiator guards
Rear cargo grill
Braided hoses all round
Twin Kenlowe fans
HD water pump - not sure there is one for my landy???
HD brakes - as it will be heavy - depends on what vehicle.
Fridge - nice to have, need a 2nd deep cycle battery to run it off and ideally a 100-120watt solar panel.
locking wheel nuts
Oil cooler and gearbox fins
diff breathers


3. NOT NEEDED
Front and rear winches and bumpers
Side rock runners
high exhaust
Roll cage - drive slower!
roof console with additional instrumentation - not a space craft ;-p
bull bag (air jack bag) - dunno, but I think best for sand. You need something that will hold the vehicle in place better in case of mechanics when you have to use a hammer etc
Anti-roll bars - not sure what they are?
Invertor - everything can run off 12 volt nowadays
Sun roof/escape hatch
In-built cameras - as per reversing but at front as well - use your eyes, they are free. If in doubt, use the handbrake, open the door, walk around to the back and look.
CB radio - if legal - if only one of you, who are you going to talk too? Useful if more than one of you, but better to just use small handhelds and be descreet.
Additional alternator - I have a slightly upgraded one. You shouldn't need.
2" lift and modified drive train to suit - don't use lift kits I say. HD springs, with air bags or helped springs
RAM mounts for camera, laptop etc - not needed as laptop is best not mounted in the cab etc
Additional screen washer
Overdrive - do they still make them? Had one on a 73 Series 2A Station Wagon, excellent
Air horns, load liners, Halogen lights, Waxoyl/Dinatrol,
Revised dashboard/console for switches/instrumentation etc
Heavy duty:- drive train - prop shafts, diffs, differentials with ARB lockers, crowns, suspension with air assistance, diff breathers


4. USELESS WANK
Chequer plate protection as required
Waterproofed engine (as far as is reasonably possible) no swimming intended
toilet - take a tiny hand sized garden spade and a spray bottle of water. She will get used to it.
Sound system tied in with GPS/laptop/GPS tracker etc. and phones (his and hers) - sorry ;-p Sound system is good idea, nice to have music, but keep it all hidden! no need for a laptop with gps, uses too much space in a small cab and far too much hassle to put away when you stop for lunch, the bank etc. Something like the Garmin 276 with tracks4africa loaded is perfect.


5. I WILL POUR SUGER INTO IT IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE YOU INCONSIDERATE %$£@!
Generator - use solar and 12 volt - easy, plus many campsites in east Africa have mains electricity available (well, sometimes!)

[estebangc]

Originally Posted by roamingyak.org

If you go for a truck (which personally I'm against for many reasons) then your costs will increase a lot (diesel, shipping, tolls, park entrances etc).

A well kitted out standard 4x4 is a perfect size for Africa imho.

I know about your long experience and would be very interested to know about those reasons.

Not that I am for a truck at all, just to know pros and cons beyond being able to carry 6 members family and increasing all costs as you mention. Just that I might consider one in the future if we had several children.

Esteban

[Nige1955]

Thanks for that! Tried to reply yesterday but no joy
Will have a re-think about everything.
Off into the hills again, more off-roading but no internet
Will catch up when I get back
Cheers
Nige

[danward79]

Just one additional note on what Darrin has said about your list.

I was looking at an additional alternator mount for a defender from Glynn Lewis, the other day.

I use a unrated alternator for my split charge, but have often thought about carrying my old alternator as a spare. They can be bulky and a pain to store if you are short of space.

The Glynn Lewis mount would provide a great way of storing your spare. Unconnected.

What do you think?

Twin Alternator Mount 300 Tdi Defender/Discovery 2nd Alternator Mount WARN 8274 | eBay

[Griffdowg]

Originally Posted by danward79

Just one additional note on what Darrin has said about your list.

I was looking at an additional alternator mount for a defender from Glynn Lewis, the other day.

I use a unrated alternator for my split charge, but have often thought about carrying my old alternator as a spare. They can be bulky and a pain to store if you are short of space.

The Glynn Lewis mount would provide a great way of storing your spare. Unconnected.

What do you think?

Twin Alternator Mount 300 Tdi Defender/Discovery 2nd Alternator Mount WARN 8274 | eBay

If you can change the brushes in an alternator I would just take those.

You could mount in in the engine bay but it will just get full of crap which is arguably how you would end up blowing up the original one! I agree they take up space but would still keep one inside or atleast boxed up somewhere.

I suppose you could mount it inside a tough bag on that mount? seems like a lot of money though just to 'store' your spare.

food for thought

G

[Surfy]

roamingyak.org
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer


@ roamingyak: thanks for sharing your experience

@Nige: I can also add the point fuel usage. Modding your car will burns more fuel. On my V8 Diesel we talk about 3l at 100km - with all the mods - additional use..

You should look what results others have - with you car and same engine. Maybe this would change your thoughts about modding too.

I`m pretty shure that my buildup is overkill - but i would do it again this way - because we will travel alone - and have to be able to help us by yourself.

Most travelers found other travelers on the way - and drive many parts as team. When you plan to handle it the same way - you dont have to do an overkill with you build.

Surfy

[Gipper]

Yep, definitely forget the trailer.

Id agree with RoamingYaks 'revised' list.

If only 2 of you travelling go with a 110 hard top or station wagon - station wagon being my personal favorite, mount fridge where one of the side 2nd row seats is.

Having used a Hannibal for a few years they are not bad, especially when its hot and I dont find them too fiddly to set up or pack away, all roof tents have their drawbacks, their main advantage is you can transfer them to a new vehicle relatively easily.

The best set up would definitely be a lifting roof conversion, park up, pop some catches, climb upstairs and go to sleep.

www.landy-camper.de

Theres a few German companies that do lifting roof conversion, they are not cheap, but look at the cost of a camping trailer, winch and full roll cage and the conversion is not far off the same price.

Dont take a big pile of spare parts, put new parts on the Defender before you leave. take sensible spares.

Fit long range fuel tanks, can save money in long run and gives piece of mind if fuel is difficult to find or you wish to take a longer route or detour.

Invest in a good simple reliable water storage system.

Use fairly cheap, lightweight camping gear.

Fit a good side awning to get out of the sun/rain

If it doesnt have at least 2 uses dont take it.

Less weight = less stress on engine, drive train, suspension = more reliabilty = less stress for you