carmicheal 6x4
 

I have built an offroad camper on a carmicheal 6x4 r/ rover for trip down to capetown and beyond.but i am having second thourghts because its only 6x4, has any one had any experience with this set up.I know you can get a6x6 conversion but its 5k!

Unless you are planning carving your own track through the Congelese Jungle then you will be fine with 6x4. Loads of people go trans africa in 4x2, most of the local vehicles are 4x2 and whilst it may be reassuring and nice to have, its completely unnecassary.

Carmichael 6x4
 

No youll be fine with a 6x4, better flotation in soft sand and mud than a 4x4. What a cracking idea! I always fancied a Carmichael overlander. Are there any piccies of your beast anywhere? When do you leave? Want company for part of the route?

R (Def 110)

we have no firm date for leaving, hopefully sept 07 depends on work letting me go[retire] if you are going around then it would be great to have company,I intend to do a shake down trip to morroco this coming spring.If you send me you email address I will send you some piccies

sometime ago (like 20 odd years!)one of the off road mags went into the desert with a landy 'lighweight' 6x4. the biggrest problem was the trailing axle digging in, rather suprisingly, so I would go for a very non aggressive tread pattern on that axle.

maybe not that strange?
 

Is that front wheels and back axle driven? in that case, not so strange I think that that axle is digging as the front rear axle churns up the sand, which makes for a bad start of the back axle.

Anyway, I wouldn't be to concerned about the few 100miles of sand driving when contemplating trans africa. Most of the time you'll be on corrugated pistes, where I'd asume that more axles= more confort. otherwise it'll be tar or sand, mud huge holes,... , and you'll get trough everything, maybe get stuck so once in while, but a bit later you'll be unstuck. It's not a race right?

Hi - rather than increasing flotation - a dead axle will cause drag like towing a trailer.
Rob, the rear axle is undriven - as its difficult to get the drive through the diffs to the rear axle.

However the 6x4 is a good vehicle -and as Toby2 mentions theres plenty of 2wd vehicles driving down there no problem.

The Rangies great suspension will help a lot - just fit decent tyres and make sure the CDL is working OK.

Steve, Is it still Rover V8 Powered ?- if so make sure the vehicles cooling system is in tip top (new/recon rads/extra fans) condition and that there is no vapour locking in the fuel system - something that Rover V8s are prone to in hot climates and low speeds.

Any chance of some photos for us LR anoraks ?

Have a good trip
Cheers
Grif