Again, you'd be surprised what can be achieved off-road just using regular vehicles. When I crossed the Sahara 37 years back on my RD350 the preferred vehicle was a 2CV, VW van or Peugeot 404. In the Australian outback in the 60s and 70s everyone drove either Holdens or Falcons - including crossing the Simpson desert.

A couple of years back I bumped into 4 German backpackers pushing their bogged Toyota Camry in the painted desert .........

.... and in '75 I bought an old Austin/Morris J4 van for £25, put a mattress in the back and spent 3 months travelling around the UK and Europe free camping in lay-bys.

As for driving in snowy mountain conditions, I lived through 3 Toronto winters driving a RWD BMW 735. You very quickly learn all about traction and every driver learns it otherwise they become a hermit for 5 months each year. In my opinion, the gravel roads in the mountains make driving easier, not harder, as the gravel provides additional grip.

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

Yep - but it's not the gravel roads that are the challenge - it's the deep squishy mud that can be a problem :-) Such as these in Russia



..



But your point is well taken regarding the use of regular vehicles for overland travel.

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2014 overland adventure to Russia and Central Asia in Land Rover Defender www.bermudarover.com

my cousin is driving round Europe in a 2wd Hymer camper and you wouldn't believe the places he gets that!!

I would go with something like a van or camper for a long term trip. 4wd options on most are available if you want the extra reassurance of that. How about something like a MItsubishi Delicia? mercedes also do 4wd versions of their vans.

For example:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-T25-Cam...item463c900e57

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FRESH-IMPO...item3a82250bc8

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1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014

1989 Suzuki Sidekick JX -- 2dr -- 4x4

87 suzuki samurai

Best value around. Nothing tougher. Baja tested and survived. So fun to drive in deep sand or tough rocks.
Made for it. Expendable.

Got money to burn? OK, then.
Land and Range Rovers start at around $40K usd here and go sharply north of 90K usd for the best ones.
Most Jeeps are JUNK compared to Suzuki. In Asia, perhaps you can find some Suzuki's ??

My buddy who lives in Baja, bought a 10 year old Suzuki Sidekick 5 years ago for $2500. Replaced water pump and clutch, not a whisper of a problem since. LONG, unsupported Desert trips, no problems.

Yes, the Samurai (or Sierra as it was called in Australia) is the only 4WD I have owned. I bought mine new in 1985 and sold it 3 years later for more than I paid for it! It was truly a go anywhere vehicle but I had the 1 litre, 4 speed version which meant it had a top speed of 102km/h (or 107 on a steep downhill) and that was absolutely flat out!

85km/h was a realistic touring speed, and at that speed fuel consumption was 10L/100km (good for a 4WD but very poor for a 1 litre hatchback). As such, it meant I was restricted to back roads in Australia if I did not to want to end up with long queues of vehicles behind me. Mine was also a soft top with the only glass being the windscreen, so security was not ideal.

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

Maybe one more thing on Land Rovers.
Used discoveries tend to be a cheaper than defenders, and used to have pretty much the same mechanics up until the TD5. Very capable, and comfortable. If looks don't matter, don't rule them out.

With toyota's, you might want to avoid the LX series. Other than that, it doesn't have to be a 4.2l series 80.

And... whatever you buy, make sure it's in good condition. A rundown 4WD is more misery than a decent 2WD. A rundown 2WD is even worse.... .

If you go 2WD, rear wheal drive with a beam axle works really well on rough roads. Much better than front wheel drive with independent suspension.

I have just started using a Citroen C3.......

65+mpg on diesel. but not much ground clearance

In 1968 I drove a s/h Mercedes 190 (ex embassy ) from London to Herat in Afghanistan with the only mechanical problem being a broken half shaft as a result of being forced offroad by a mad Afghani truck driver in no mans land between Iran and Afghanistan. At that time there were many Asians returning to India, Pakistan & Bangladesh in Morris minors and oxfords. Most of the intrepid adventurers in Landrovers were seemingly the ones bogged done along the way waiting for parts. Unless you are planning to go offroad seriously a suitable car would be sufficient and a van as mentioned previously probably more suitable. Having spent another 10 years in the Gulf during the 70/80 90's Toyota appears a good choice as far as service/parts backup. Good luck whichever way you choose to travel.

you need a 2cv then!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trGz2hD-2VA

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1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014

Don't take diesel

diesel is difficult to found is lot of country

I read about some man driving to Myanmar, that on the road, in and after the Stans, many "good" roads are full of holes and bumps ; and that sometimes it takes hours before someone passes (who can help you if your car breaks down).


Personally I have never driven outside of Europe (but I'ld like to try). I'm not an adventurer that wants to do crazy things or go fast of ... (but love discovering new landscapes and cultures) and not handy, and not strong (yes a woman) so if I read your advice, basically it says :


1. if you stay on the main roads, you should be able to get wherever you want to go (does the Russian mud road qualify as a 'main road' or was this to reach a special place off road please ?)

2. you don't need a specially equiped car to drive to South East Asia - any car will get you there

3. driving a new car is not such a good idea : thieves will come ??

4. SHIT. is that true, that diesel is hard to find ???


(I just got a new toyota, exactly to be SAFE to drive to Asia - no risk of breaking down, strong, enough space, less risk if a car hits our car ... bad idea ? and SHIT it is a diesel yes)


I read the adventures of Roy & Michelle I believe it is - they went on a 3 year trip around the world and made a book of it ; they are driving a landrover with all kinds of stuff on it (rope to pull them out ; spare tire on top of the car in front of their window ; fortified metal side bars ; special lights and bumpers ; etc) - am I reading it well, that it is NOT necessary to have all this stuff ?? Because when I see all that, I'm thinking : silly girl, forget about driving to SEA ... your car is not equiped for that.


your thoughts ?

There are definitely 2 schools of thought when it comes to preparation and required equipment.

Mine is the more you add the more likely something will fail, you've added weight so you then need to uprate suspension, a vicious circle. You won't necessarily know the quality of these "up graded" components. You get the picture.
I've deliberately kept my vehicle standard and I'd trust it to go anywhere.

Having said that if you do some research on your vehicle specific forum you may find the odd known weaknesses with a cure.

You haven't mentioned which Toyota but what ever it is (other than a Prius :-) ) is a good starting point. If you search on here for Surfy you'll see that he uses what looks like a pretty standard Toyota.

I don't get the lack of diesel. If there are trucks / tractors in a country there's diesel. Quality maybe an issue, especially in a newer diesel. You could get an additional filter / water separator fitted?

Pushing a Camry is NOT what I call achievement.

Charlie

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Unimog U500 w/Unicat