Regarding trucks vs cars...

Id go for the truck. Indeed I have bought a 5 tonner and converting it to a camper van. Just the thought of -after driving- having a walk-in living cuarters is worth the cost.

Also .. a truck gives you a toilet -not a joke- Sometimes in the middle of a foreign city .. its quite inconvenient /impossible to find a public WC (if at all !) .
It can also have propper showing equippment , and huge reserve of water.

With a truck , everything is bigger. Both the joys (quality of life , confort ,independence ) and the problems (getting a 5Tonner stuck is not a joke!) , or blowing a engine , or just fixing a flat. Most trucks can NOT be towed away to the next town . Also I can simply not hold the tyre back in the holder as the wheel weights around 80 kilos !.

Lastly .. do not understimate the complication of making a camper conversion out of a truck . "Its only gonna take me a month" .. and Its being nearly one year and +5000 Eeuros
for the conversion (on top of 2000 Euros for the truck!) .

Go for it
Good Luck
PS. I go lots of time also to "St Pedro de Alcantara" , 20 miles away from there. Nice area too.

Javier.

Andy,

You're right. I forgot to update the directory after moving the website to another server. Will be fixed a.s.a.p.


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Roman (UK)
www.overlandcruiser.info

hi diesel jim, been off line for a little while working! I´m in the UK for several weeks as of August but should be back towards end of september. Keep in touch regarding that beer!

I´m still considering my options regarding vehicle suitability i.e. regular 4x4 or truck etc. Will continue to watch this site and others that are similar.

take care,

Richard

Will do Richard.

where abouts are you going to be when you're in the UK?

Jamie

I´ll be in the city of London somewhere. Will know for sure within the week mind.

Richard

If you are tight on budget I would buy a LHD long wheel base series three Landrover when you're next in the UK. For extra fuel you can mount two extra jerry cans on the front and then carry four miltary surplus water jerry cans inside. Two standard dome tents a camping gas stove and you're well on your way.

I'm sure you'll quickly learn your way around a Series three and your kids will love it!

The rest of it can come with time.

[This message has been edited by ctc (edited 22 July 2005).]

Hi Bert - do you have a website, or could share any photos of your MJ, publicly or via email? I am also considering converting an MJ into a camper, and would be interested to see what you have done, or hear what you have to say about your project...

Is that a picture of your vehicle on this page:
http://www.bedfordmj.zoomshare.com/1.shtml/Other%20Bedfords
(the orange camper, obviously!!)

If you want to email me, please use tmakins(**at**)gmail(**dot**)com

Tim in Ireland

HI Yep its mine
 

Hi Tim
Yep the photo you've picked on is my old girl, still doing a load of mods at the moment. just back from 3 months in Europe, if you want any advice im more that willing to help but im sure there's better sources of info than me!!!
cant email many photos coz im on old phone line.
can email layout drawings for Auto-cad though.

Hi Bert - wow that's a coincidence, though I guess there can't be that many MJ motorhomes so Orange!! You've done a lovely job - it looks brilliant.

I would love to receive your CAD drawings - thanks - that would be very useful indeed, and I am sure they would answer a lot of my questions.

Is the 'box' a homemade one, or ex-Electricty Board etc, or custom-made for you? I'd like to know the type of construction (aluminium? GRP?), and what insulation is in it? Seeing those steps to the roof, set into the body, behind the driver's door, means is must be fairly sturdy?

I'd also like to know how the 'box' is fitted to the chassis? Is it a 3-point fixing, or is it built on the standard bed? If the latter, have you had any problems with flexing when going over rough country?

I presume there is an access door on the other side. How do you do the steps up to the door?

Which insurance company do you use?

Tim in Ireland

PS - a site that people doing things like this might find interesting is here:
http://sbmcc.co.uk/forum/
They mainly deal with people converting panel vans into campers and motorhomes, but there are quite a few people doing some more exotic stuff, and lots of good people ready to answer questions. If you join, (£10.56/year) you get to use the search facility and there are lots of discounts available.

Hi again Bert - thanks for your private message: I am unable to reply to it, as this forum is configured such that a new member needs to have posted 17 messages on the Forum before they can send or reply to a private message!!

Please email me at the following address:
tmakinsREMOVETHIS@REMOVETHISgmailREMOVETHIS.com

Just miss out all the 'REMOVETHIS' bits - I don't want my address to me collected my web-robots!

Tim in Ireland

Personally i would go for the truck over a 4x4 every time, from past experience of friends builds the cost is very much similar but what you get for your money is no comparisen.

Dont know a great deal about the Renault's, they are reliable so i am told and parts cheap when youcan find them second hand (especally in military spec) they sell for £2500 up which is a reasonable price. Now i do like the simplicity of the Bedfords, both the MJ and MT are fantastic to drive offroad and if looked after last for ever, plenty of good units around thanks the to MOD's archacic stock control method, if your budget can run to it the i would spend the extra and buy its replacement the Daf, it is a more 'modern' vehicle and parts are still available new through the dealers!. saying that i doubt that there a mass of factory dealers in the desert.

One point that nobody has mentioned is the use of the old Merc 4x4 and 6x4 trucks, i work with loads of expedition companies, desert race teams and assistance crews and they all love the Merc, parts apparently are as easy as honda bits to find in africa, there extreamly cheap and trucks sell for good money making it a nice investment.

i think the trailor everybody is thinking about is called a 'ben huir'

Jen

Go BIG
 

After travelling with an Italian couple and their Fiat (Iveco engine) truck, I am in favour of going big.
Take a look - scroll down for the pics...
http://www.bigsky-adventures.com/dia.../27-feb-05.htm

A major consideration is the destination of the trip - Luca & Sameena (Fiat Truck) found that Southern Africa in a truck was very very expensive. In East Africa, another couple we travelled with (in a Unimog) were refused entry in Ngorogoro crater due to the size of the vehicle.

Say that, I want a truck for the next adventure...

I know a company called First48 does overland trips and they convert all there own trucks themselves, think they have both Ford and Bedford chassis..

I know the Bedford is up for sale for £5000 with all the kit with it...
http://www.go-overland.com/

For anyone thinking of using a Unimog a cautionary tale... these vehicle are not built like a truck but more a tractor, from personal experience i can say they are far from the sort of thing you can do DIY repairs at the side of the road on... if you do want to use one i would stongly suggest a FULL rebuild before you intend to travel but be aware that is not cheap..£10k plus!