vw van in africa
 

has anyone travelled in a vw van in africa? any advice?

the old Sahara Handbook authors used a kombi and swore by it - good clearance and engine over the wheels plus no rad. The problem is dust getting sucked into the rear engine - a forward air intake helps.
There's other VW advice in the Handbook. and there are VW wrecks all over the Sahara - if its because they were so popular or so unreliable depends on who you ask...

Chris S

Crossed the Sahara to Nuackchott, without guide, in the company of a French Volkswagen 4 wheel drive camper van. I was very impressed. It did get stuck a few times but was soon out with the help of some good sandladders. We only had to pull it out once, on a slope, where there seemed to be a lack of engine power. It would have got out on its own eventually but towing was easier. It overheated a little in soft sand but generally very capable and ok if treated well. Elsewhere we ran into a 2 wheel drive Volkswagen van at Guoina Falls. How it managed to get there neither us nor the driver knew. We did have to tow this one and the owner eventually sold it. I would not recommend the 2 wheel drive version but the 4 wheel drive should be ok if you keep to the more beaten tracks (major routes). Not sure how easy repairs are though.

Malcolm