Needing LOADS of advice!
 

So my boyfriend and I are leaving the UK at the beginning of 2015 on an undetermined length of time tour of the world bar Australia and NZ. We are starting to plan and save now but what's confusing me the most is what type of vehicle is going to be the best. I've tried reading the Overlanders Handbook but being a girl Im a little confused - I know nothing about cars! We want something we can sleep in and maybe cook in? Thinking max we would want to spend is £6000. Has anyone got any pointers?

Many thanks :)

Lisa

No need to rush into anything now... go to some shows, look at other peoples vehicles, talk with a wide range of people (being careful to adjust their information according to their personality, their actual experience etc) and see what type of person and what type of trip seems to best sum up what you think you want your trip to be like.

Then you will get an idea of what you need to do what you think you want to do.

Generally most people go with a Land Rover Defender or Land Cruiser - and a few with something like a Iveco 4x4 or Mercedes van.

You need to tell us do you want to get off the beaten track in Africa (i.e.: the west coast) or just trundle along well worn paths enjoying beach and beer more than anything too adventurous etc

My own advice with a small budget for your vehicle (realistically you will need to double it once you take into account all the servicing etc you should do before leaving) is avoid shipping - so from the UK, stick to Europe, Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, India and South East Asia.

Spend time browsing The Africa Overland Network The Africa Overland Network to see others ideas etc

Good luck!

PS: It is easy enough to sleep inside a Defender or Land Cruiser and also have a roof tent which is much nicer.

Wonderful thank you! Is it possible to get a vehicle for that price? I haven't really looked at Africa yet but am thinking we would like to have a vehicle that will give us that option. What do people do about bathing? Is it likely we can get something for that price with a mini kitchen? LOL such a beginner!

You need to give a lot more thought to your budgetting.

You will need to source a donor vehicle, baseline it so that it is mechanically sound and then upgrade it so that it is suitable for your journey.

I can't comment on other brands, but going the Land Cruiser route, you you will struggle to source an suitable 80 series for the £6k and then that is only the start.

You could pick up a Colorado/Prado and base line it for £6k, but then you will still need to prep it.

Obviously you could pick up a cheaper vehicle like a transit, etc and prepare it for the £6k, but it will severely restrict where you can go and the reliability may not be there.

Perhaps I am being naive thinking we can pick one up already fitted?

I have seen Defenders kind of kitted out for around that price - but unless they have all the receipts for recent mechanical work you will want to change the clutch, check all the bearings, build up a bunch of spare parts to take etc etc etc etc... it all takes money and time, AND IT IS MUCH BETTER TO DO IT NOW RATHER THAN ON THE ROAD. (sorry for shouting, but thats really important!)

That's why we are getting sorted 2 years in advance :) I want to be as organised as possible. Spare parts...Ok...do you mind giving me a list of what spare parts I will need? Unfortunately my boyfriend doesnt drive and knows nothing about cars so he isn't too much help in this area!

Dare I say, let ebay be your friend!! You can get an idea about pricing via that means.

I would say, "steady a while" and get used to researching your subject(s).
For instance, read into the rest of 4 wheels in the HUBB, even "other 4 wheel tech", such as this thread :innocent:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-x-trail-61322

Spare parts lists will follow when you have decided on a make/model of vehicle - I haven't got to that first stage yet.

I know how daunting the choices can be at the outset. We were in your position back in 2007/8.

Roaming Yak is right - shows are a great source of info. You can mooch around peoples vehicles on display and talk to literally hundreds of people who have lots of valuable info. Put this date in your diary for a start. Look for others.

Home - Adventure Overland 2012 - Est.

In the meantime use the internet.

Obviously you've found this site. I also found this very useful.

The Africa Overland Network The Africa Overland Network

There are hundreds of overland trips documented here and lots of people will have included sections on preparation/vehicle choice etc.

Re vehicle choice I know how tempting it is to look for a little home on wheels (I am a girl too ;-) but converted trucks of all kinds have their downsides. They are heavy on diesel, they can't go everywhere, you may find it harder to get parts. Which is why most people end up with a Land Rover/Land Cruiser and a tent set up.

You could also do some searching on the sites of the major overland oufitters here in the UK eg Foleys and Nene.

It will end up costing more than you imagine. The base vehicle is just the start. If you can find a cheap kitted out one great but obviously it needs to be sound. If you don't know what to look for pay someone to check it over for you. Also factor in the cost of a carnet - this can be substantial especially if you plan to travel the east coast of Africa.

You have plenty of time to plan. No rush to buy your vehicle.

Land Rovers and Land Cruisers are popular amongst adventure travellers and so tend to be expensive.

For less money you would be able to get an old mercedes van such as a 609/709 or 811/814. Many will be fitted out cheaply as motorhomes already but if you buy an empty van, putting a bed and a basic kitchen in wont cost much. They are simple and robust and will be suitable on all but the worst roads. Parts of africa will be difficult without 4x4, but if you are on holiday will you want to be digging out of sand in desert heat anyway?

http://www.sur-la-route.fr/3-4-large...ble-cabine.jpg

Stephen Stewarts site XOR has some fab info, this being very helpful as a start

Choosing an Overland Campervan

Same site, this trip included some normal campervans out of their comfort zone! Most did fine though The Silk Route Motorcaravan Network.

If you can find a copy, Tom Sheppard's Vehicle Dependant Expedition Guide has a huge amount of info on vehicle choice. The Royal Geographic Society had a copy at a normal price when I went looking last.

Many will say you don't need four wheel drive. You might need the additional strength, ground clearance, good tyres that come too, but you might not.

This is part of one couples amazing journey, but maybe you won't be aiming for quite such an experience! Well worth a read!

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...kinshasa-53285

Slow is good, but then maybe a roof tent will become a pain? I could go with that, but if I was setting out for a long trip I would rather more space, and my Mrs would insist on it!

She also can't drive our camper which I don't like, if I hurt myself we stop. Maybe get yourself on a Far From Help first aid course? With WMT they also give you a prescription for stuff you won't easily get otherwise from a GP, do the second course too and stitching & saline drips are also covered. Check out what jabs you might need, some need a several month course. The HUBB meet next year may have good first aid stuff too, as well as all sorts of other good stuff? Meeting others who have been there done that can be very eye opening :)

You will never take every spare part you will need, and they can weigh a lot. A lightly laden oldish transit with a mattress in the back may be crude but will give a lot more space than a normal 4x4. A friend of mine took a battered old van he bought for naff all as an MOT failure, drove it to Mongolia and sold it there. You don't have to max the budget!

You could fit out a van quite cheaply as a simple camper, but the weight of plywood soon adds up. A sink, hob and fridge could be easily put in though. This is a cool guide to doing it yourself however big or small Travelvans

And mobile.de - Germany's Biggest Vehicle Marketplace Online. Search, Buy and Sell Used and New Vehicles can give lots of ideas of campers/trucks/4x4s at a wide range of prices.

And as above, please check out the Carnet issues!

visit - australia & nz

Drwnite - I'm originally from Aus so we have plent of time to explore when we move back.

I had a look on eBay and am amazed at how cheap you can get a van that's already kitted out there. Looks like the average is around £2500....leaving us £3500 to get spare parts and get new bits and pieces fitted.

Just a quick q...a van would be no good in Africa?

You need to tell us what and where you want to go - then we can direct you a little better rather than all throwing opinions at you.

The trouble is your probably not sure yet what kind of overlanding you will do, as opposed to what you think you will do ;-p

So relax for now and enjoy reading about others ideas and problems and solutions.

A +strong+ word of warning: Serious long term overlanding is about serious mechanical preparation before you go. You can either spend time and money before you go making sure everything is as good as it reasonably can be - which involves going to the best mechanic, not the cheapest, and using high quality spare parts, rather than cheap crap.

If you don't, you get to spend a lot more time and usually a lot more money on the road where quality spare parts are hard or impossible to find and good mechanics even harder. So they break more than they fix. (I'm used to Africa).

Tales of buying a van for a fiver and selling in Mongolia are fine as long as you accept your van probably would't have made it much further without starting to give serious problems.

For a long round the world trip the vans you are looking at probably need a good mechanic overhaul, so triple the price for a older van, double it for anything newer as a rough guide. It will be money well spent and you can enjoy the trip more rather than trying to fine parts and an honest mechanic.

Don't just listen to advice that suits your budget, figure out what is the best advice and find a way to follow it!

I would strongly advise a 4x4, but if not the most important things with a van is good ground clearance underneath (the space between the ground and the bottom of the vehicle) and not having one thats too long. This makes driving on bad roads easier.

Anyway, relax for now..... ;-)

There you go, like I mentioned.
I think that so far you have some great advice in here, both concerning the technical stuff - such as the links given earlier - and the more general ideas and further questions about what your intentions and plans are; that latter is the really difficult issue that I have been considering for months (with regard to 4 wheels that is).

Consider 2 motorbikes! :D :innocent: + a tent.

There’s some great advice on here, I like the “Anyway relax for now……..”. There is of course the down side of forums, they can scare you to death! And of course beware of the bias that individuals have for certain makes of vehicle.

From your description you are starting with a blank sheet which can be good. My thoughts would be go along to as many meets/shows as possible and try and match your personalities, spending power, intended destinations and starting knowledge with others who have been there and done it. Probably personality and spending power being the two most important.

For some it’s all about a certain type of vehicle and the off roading. I don’t get that from your initial question so you need to be able to filter that out.

Van’s are all over Africa, held together with string and a prayer. I’m sure given a sympathetic driving style and a good basic van to start with you would be fine, but as others have mentioned you haven’t said what type of route/roads you are planning on. My experience of cheap van's is that they have had a hard life with little care and maintenance. Recent ones, say less than 10 years old tend to be full of electronic engine management. I would suggest you investigate spares availability along your intended routes.

To prepare a vehicle (without throwing money at useless bling) and to keep it going, even by bodging it, it would be useful to have some mechanical knowledge. How about investigating basic mechanic courses at your local college?

Russ

Yes, I had some similar thoughts recently about the original post: for me a lot of it comes down to ones' philosophy toward travel.
For instance, "is the destination or the journey of greater importance" and that type of thing.
There are a few threads in the HUBB about this, probably more inclined to the 2 wheel school, including bicycles, rather than 4, or more.

Hey guys,

So had a little squizz on eBay and found a caravan with 49 000 on the clock and has all te stuff I want. Has an oil leak. £800..worth buying and spending £5000 on new and spare parts?

I've got a Mercedes Benz T1 campervan built by Westfalia (James Cook model) and have taken it along many 000s of kms of dirt roads in Aus and throughout Europe with no great problems - stuck once in the Pyrenees. Longest trip has been nine months and you then appreciate that having a hot shower in the morning, turning on the heating, cooking inside with a fridge, etc. etc. We have waffle boards and a Tirfor winch for when I get too stupid and go beyond the capabilities of the tyres.

There are quite a few German campers around that are 4x2s but with a diff lock - which will get you almost as far into trouble as a 4x4.

If you are desperate for a muddy road 4x4 then the Volkswagen 4x4s with a Westfalia conversion are a good buy in Germany.

When you see that the majority of locals dont have 4x4 and are driving down dirt roads all the time you start to wonder whether 4x4 is just an expensive and rarely used luxury - unless you have some very specific locations that really do require 4x4 only. Years ago we used to drive down our local beach in Kombis and Utes - now only 4x4 are allowed by the council.

Just bear in mind that a lot of the posts here aren't talking about traveling in Africa. Of course you can travel the length of Africa without 4x4 but it will limit you. You need a 4x4 to visit most game parks - for many a quintessential part of a trip to Africa. Or if you want to explore some of the desert. Or any number of places just a little off the beaten track whether that be a rough track down to a lakeside or up a mountain.

But life is a compromise!

Hello. You don't have to spend lots of money. You can, but you don't have to!
Like Darrin says, the most important thing is a reliable vehicle. Fitting fancy spot lights could cost £300, or a fitting a gearbox oil seal might cost £30, which is going to get you home?!
And like someone else said, you don't have to have a 4x4. A good estate car would be fine. Or a small van, or even a small car! People have driven around the world in every type of vehicle you can think of.
Cheers, Matt Savage

Hi
just come back after 3.5 years away, to me its about what you want to do/go, 4x4 is handy but if you don't want to go to deserts and deep mud jungle roads you don't need it. Two good friends of mine have been the same places as I have been in a 308 merc camper van, no ground clearance, no 4x4. Yea they got stuck on the beach and had to be pulled up to the lake on the Karakorum, but no big deal always someone to help. It was ultra reliable and inexpensive. If you don't want to go off road to those really really remote places you don't need a 4x4 but like I said it is handy .

The merc is easy to get repaired, change the clutch and do the essentials, however you can garuantee the part that breaks is the part you have not got. The best bit 3 bits of advice I got was:

don't spend all your cash on a vehicle that you cant then afford to take anywhere.

In choosing whether to go somewhere don't listen to those that have NOT been there.

And in case of breakdown or disaster put on kettle and calm down its always easier after a cuppa

Good luck you will love it and have the time of your lives, be warned coming back into the real world can be really, really hard.
hope this helps Mark

BRILLIANT advice there Mark! especially number 3! :-)

Merv.

Thanks so much for your help guys. So I've decided that we would like a van/truck of some description that is kitted out already...or maybe not. Have budgeted £6000. 4x4 is important I think unless theres a fair amount of clearance. We will be going to game parks and desert.

We plan to go for 3-4 years...not to just Africa but ship over to South America, go up to canada and then ship to Asia and head back. we are thinking of taking £50 000 and eating really cheap (think markets, fresh food and cooking ourselves), staying in the car, doing mostly outdoors walks, etc, we aren't into adventure sports. We also plan to work in Europe a bit more on the way to Africa, and then wherever we can really. Is 50 000 enough?

In view of length of time you intend travelling then something larger than a L/crsr or defender would be preferable eg
this
Military vehicles, militaria and military classifieds

or this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TALBOT-EXP...item2328f504f3

or another
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leyland-DA...item27cee49ac4

HTSH