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.
__________________
Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman
|