Overland in a van?
 

Hi everyone,

A friend and I are looking into converting a Mercedes Sprinter LWB into a camper (nothing fancy, mind) and driving to India from the UK. Depending on the political situation, our route will be either:

- Europe->Turkey->Iran->Pakistan->India
or
- Europe->Turkey->Turkmenistan->(various 'stans)->China->India

I've been researching the practicalities of it, CPDs, insurance, visas, etc. and it all seems doable, however I was a little surprised when I came to this site and saw that everybody else is using motorbikes or 4x4s!

Is there something I'm missing? Are the roads that bad, or are you guys just looking for more off-road adventure than we are? I'd appreciate any advice you have.

Thanks,

Des

no problem
 

Hi, I did it myself in 93/94 in a 608 mercedes. there was only one section without tarmac and then only a few km just over the border from Iran into Pakistan. There were many bad roads but the locals dont have 4x4. so you wont have a problem.

Graeme

Thanks!
 

Hi Graeme,

Thanks, you really put my mind at ease! Good point about the locals, I didn't think of that.

Could I ask you just one more question as you've done the trip in a Mercedes - did you find it difficult to locate parts, or did you even need to for that matter?

Thanks again,

Des

Just looked at who was watching this thread - interesting:clap:

No need
 

I've drove from Europe to Nepal and vice versa via Iran, Pakistan and India 11 times (but not since 1998) in a 2wd truck. Never got stuck.
The only section used to be a bit of that road between Quetta and the border with Iran, but it is a bus route and if they can make it, you can.

Thanks
 

Thanks guys, you've really given me the confidence to do this. Eleven times?! And I was worried about just one...

Thanks again :thumbup1:

Des

We did this route in 2005/2006 and travelled with a dutch couple in a 1986 Hymer camper which was no problem. Stick to the main roads and their all tarmac.

I did not need many parts. I took plenty of oil and fuel filters, I did not need air as it had an oil bath type. I took an alternator because I had one, but did not need it. I bought spares in Iran for stock as they were cheap (brake shoes and steering joints). Also fuel and oil were stupidly cheap in Iran so stock up.did 36,000km had one puncture in Switzerland, shook a injector loose in turkey, broke a spring in India (had one made by a blacksmith). spares were not that available then in India, but now with internet and DHL if you need to you can wait for shipping.
go for it and don't worry, clean your air filter and change oil regularly, check for things coming loose and you will be fine.

Graeme

We have a Mercedes Sprinter camper in the family. It apparently did Luton to Manchester on a regular basis for a few years before being sold and converted. It makes a great camper with plenty of room for two (or more).

It's very reliable and hardly uses any oil. It took us down to the Algarve in great style as well as to a HU meeting at Ripley. :)

It also has an after-market cruise control fitted that I found very useful on longer stretches.

You can see from the photo how the windows are configured in the conversion.
Stephan

Lots of people on that route in vans.... just remember to bring an extra couple of jerries marked "for motorcyclists on the iran-pak stretch".

simon

2x4 Van
 

Hi Des
I hitched back from India in the 80s, and was surprised to find 5 British Pakistanis on the Iran/Turkish border in knackered old transits going home to load up with nylon shirts and saris.
They did it regularly. The roads were OK then, and should be better now.
Happy travels
Bruce

Wow, Graeme thanks for the info about parts, it's great to hear Mercedes can take a bit of punishment. I'll remember your advice.

Stephano your Sprinter looks great, that's exactly what I had in mind for ours! It's great to see someone else with one converted. I'll send that picture to my friend.

Bruce, Simon, thanks for putting my mind at ease. I was really worried for a while there. Don't worry, I'll help out anyone brave enough to do this on a motorcycle!

Thanks again for helping out guys, this forum is great. I'll make sure to check back regularly.

Des

You don't need no four wheel drive?
 

It can be done via the Stans, China and Tibet in a two wheel drive 12-year-old Elddis Autoquest camper van with 150,000 miles on the clock.

See China 2002.

I'm doing S. America in a 1978 Chevy van, lived in Kenya for five years, and like others say, the locals don't have 4x4 and manage. I tend to go off the beaten track, and do get stuck. I carry a few tow roads, a shovel and have managed to get myself out of nasty scraps.
You'll be fine.
Lorraine

1996 S280 S Class Merc across Siberia
 

Yo fellow travellers,

Prepin a S280 merc for Siberia in its summer, Springs, shocks, sump guard, pushbar,spots, roofrack, water tank, jerry cans, 6 gravel tires, sports exhaust, big big service check. Car in ace condition but worth nowt. so givin it one last run there and back for charity.

Any comments welcome re this as a bad, good ,daft or plain stupid idea.
Don't know why I'm askin as I'm doin it any how. The more people say I must be mad the more tanacious I become. Is that how you spell tanacious.


Later
Richard

Nope, but I know what you mean (and only the first and last letter have to be right to get your point across - so the research says!!).

Sounds like you will ditch the car if it has a total failure and do a "drive-fly".
Have a great trip.

the end of the earth
 

Yo Walkabout,

That's the deal and it's what's making this trip appeal to me.
So many things have happened during the early stages of planning this trip that if when it comes off it will give my patrons the media clout they need to make the most of the charity side of the trip.

Do you have any info on cargo shipping from Russia's east coast to Anchorage US.

Richard

For the pictures...
 

Looks are important for the pictures!
That's why I spend some time covering the interior with zebra skin:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1047/...75148d17e2.jpg

And off course a suit to fits the car (Uzbzkistan):

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/...bc243df4e4.jpg

As long as you realize you don't need 6 wheels and additional lights... . Keeping it light is the best strategy to get about everywhere.

More pics:
Collection: 2007 Central Asia

Excellent pics
 

Great pics Robbert! It is indeed good to travel with an amount of style.
I know that it is so easy to lower your standards from collar and tie.
That could be a white wedding car if it were not for the tent!

Keep it light seems to be the answer in all cases, no matter what form of transport is in use.

Sorry Old Punk, I don't know a damn thing about shipping there, but I know you will get good advice on the thread that deals with that part of the world.

Appropriate attire
 

Yo Walkabout

Doing our trip in the buff, LOL its what the PR guys says will capture the attension of the TV guys. Damn keep it light, chance would be a fine thing. My car does 25 MPG with a 20 Gallon tank @ 400 to 500 range so I need jerry cans 6 off, bloody things weigh 25kilo each. Gonna ditch Russian speaking scout en route to kill weight, so all well.

Seriously guys this site is bloody ace, not gonna get much work done now.
The info commin in is giving me loads to research, just hope I can put it in to practice for a proposed trip start date of 1-05-08.

Later

Richard

Light!
 

Richard,

Really, unless it's for the pics (that merc on the sketch really looks cool) you don't need 6 wheels, six jerries and a watertank. Meaning you also don't need a roofrack.

It's a sturdy car, so it'll take some beating, but still. I'd take 1 max 2 20 liter (5gallon) jerries and a few cans octane booster, one spair in good condition, one plastic jerry for water and few bottles.

Need not greed
 

Yo Robert,

Take you point dude, Journey is proposed accros Siberia to Magadan so 4 tarmac tyres, 4 Gravel reiforced tyres. Fuel range is an issue on my car so allowing for getting lost, need at least 10 gallons @ 5 10L cans. addatives are somthing I'm lookin at at mo re shit benzene. My car will run on any scrap but can't risk blockin fillter or fowling valves.

Roof rack will be super light and bold puntured tyres will be dumped. Need to cover my arse. Driving into 200 miles of rough gravel road between locations in Siberia is a little differant from driving around Sheffield crap roads LOL. Contact at MOD gave me pointers so takin some of their advise. Drop us a private message re the trips you have undertaked. You comments re keepin it light have made me re asses some of what other people have told me. Its all a bit of trade off Weight/Stamina don,t want to brake a axle luggin to much weight.

Later

Richard