Would U go round Oz in a Defender or a Uni Mog???

[Four Boar]

After I finish my plumbing/ gasfitting apprentice ship im going around Oz.
I want to go round and enjoy it b4 I get old and decrepit (which I'll do it then too!)

I have a Land Rover Defender which is really mechanically sound. I would hyave a roof top tent and all the gear in the rear. If it did happen to break down it could be towed easily. Mechanically parts would be easier to obtain. But It would be crammy compared to the mog.
Also I have a large Alloy long boat which I could not take with the landy, which means I would also have to deck out a tinnie!

So the mog would be alot more roomy, i could take the long boat, a motor bike too. But if she breaks down the **** would hit the fan.

Any thoughts/ helpful advise /hints would be sweet!

Can't wait!!!

[Reads90]

Take the 110

I did it in a 90 and had enough room so toughen up :-)

Also don't need to off road ability of the mog for the trip around Aus. Also must use more fuel.

If you don't have the room in the 110 then get a trailer still will do about 10-11 ltr per 100k even off road on the tracks

[DiscoMick]

Go the Defender. Carrying extra weight can add a lot to travel costs and you'll be travelling very long distances. Have to be cheaper to travel light and budget to spend a few bucks on local fishing charters, when you gain from local knowledge. Save your money for doing stuff while you're travelling, I reckon.

[SuperchargedSport]

PINZGAUER 6x6 for the winnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!

Uni mogs are over rated...

[DeanoH]

PINZGAUER 6x6 for the winnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!

Uni mogs are over rated...

Pinzgauer, too old and very overated. Credited with killing more Swiss/Austrian military than any other single cause. Way too high centre of gravity, very dangerous in hilly terrain.

Your Landys the best vehicle for what you're planing. Mogs are OK for serious heavy off road work, not the best choice for the 'go see Oz' trip. Unless of course you're planning to do the whole thing off road :D.

Deano:)

[lambrover]

Unimogs are noisy and will go through the fuel.

The Pinzy have got a bad rep for reliability.

110 has heaps of room mate. Fit it out well with draws and stuff. As mentioned take a trailer if you need more room and the 110 will be cheaper to run as well.

[frantic]

In the defender you will go round and through australia in the mog you will go OVER, slowly, using more fuel.

[Benz]

would love to have one and travel with it.
something like this
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/04/538.jpg
well maybe that's a little over the top... but hey, I can dream cant I :angel:

but mogs (well pretty much trucks in general) simply cost too much...

we will be heading off for the big lap next year in our 130 defender.
we will have a very healthy bank balance before we go and plan on being on the road for 2+ years.
many many hours of work have gone into the defender to get it ready and just the way we want it...
i feel if we had of done it with bigger truck like a mog we would be far poorer, it would of taken longer to get ready and we wouldn't be going for another few years...

just go in the 110. set it up a little better for overlanding and you will be on the road sooner rather the later.

[juddy]

Go for a RB44..... Alot cheaper than a Unimog.....
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/04/549.jpg

[timbo]

while I'd kill to own a unimog, or at least perhaps a set of portals, I wouldn't want to tour in it. It would be for short offroad trips only.

[Davo]

If you're going to take that much stuff, just stay home! After all, you'll be bringing most of it with you . . .

But seriously, we have that many goofy, overloaded, grumpy tourists up here that just watching them over the years has put me off that style of travel for ever.

You might want this and need that on your travels, but hauling it around has got to be more of a headache than it's worth. I'm sure that the trip for some of these guys has got to be more endurance than fun.

And there is always someone through on a motorbike, as well, and that's what I call travelling light!

[DeanoH]

Go for a RB44..... Alot cheaper than a Unimog.....


Fine in theory but got a worse name than a 3 litre Nissan Patrol! Fortunately not to be found in OZ.

Then again there are these.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/100.jpg

Aussie made OKA, come in various body combinations, single/dual cab, bus etc. Simple, strong and reliable. Highway cruising (flat) at 100 Km/hr if you're keen but better at 95 Km/hr. Very easy to drive with a great view. Got a bit better than 14.5 lt/100Km on the Gary Highway last year, usually around 16 lt/100Km @95 Km/hr on the bitumen.
Great for extended touring and a lot of fun. Best of all no electronics.
Depending on condition/fitout $25K to $50K will get you going. Good for large families as can be 2,6,8,10 or more seater depending on build.
Got a picture of an OKA somewhere towing a 'Mog', I'll see if i can find it!

Deano:)

[austastar]

Hi,
"and that's what I call travelling light!"

Two up on a motorbike, nearly 4 months, spent less than my wage, 25,000km, Tassie to Broom up the coast (via Birdsville) and back down the center.

What a blast.

Now I have a defender 130 and want to do it all again.

cheers

[dick180641]

WELL! My last trip round was last Xmas in my '85 County 110 (with an ex-RangRover 2.4lt VM). Bewt, but my best 4 round Oz trips have been made in my 1958 S 11, 88" (powered by LandRover's 12th made 2 1/4 Diesel. Eng No.2710012a) still my day-to-day drive, 11klm for every litre of fuel, no carpets, door tops, ign keys or door locks, just hose it out when it gets really grubby. Apart from S 1's, thats what Landies are all about, none of yer poofta tinted windows and air con, flat out at 90klm/hr, I've actually SEEN Oz as I travelled round it!! Back to Uni Mogs, my mate Alan O'Brien has one, slow as the second coming, costs $80 per year to register (AS A TRACTOR!) But like a tractor cannot be stopped! and he lives up on Mt Poverty.

[superquag]

Whatever your Hairy Chest tells you.. or dreams about, you'll be doing the majority of miles on the blacktop.... so pick the vehicle that is nicest to drive & tour in, that does'nt wreck your back or hip-pocket, and tips you out at the end of the day feeling reasonably awake and pain-free. Un-stressed would be good too...

Don't forget the relative co$t of being 'recovered' from some awkward spot that is'nt on the map. The smaller vehicle stands a better chance of being towed out by another 4WD. !

The Defender makes better sense.

[Bushie]

Australian Land Rover Owners forum - The answer was probably going to be obvious :D:D:D:D:D

Martyn

[Blknight.aus]

the deefer, I've done long range huals in the big mogs before the words cheese, masturbation and grater spring immediately to mind.

Then we'll think about fuel cost
tyre cost
repair cost
registration
limitations on driving hours (its a medium rigid, failing to keep your log book up to date and paying attention to the time/distance cameras will get you fines)
Have fun with border crossings in a dedicated 4x4 truck when it comes time to quarantine.

Have you TRIED changing a mog tyre on the side of the road? how about in the middle of nowhere on soft sand.

youve helped out winching out a landy right... you've seen the size of a mogyeah. heres a hint I have personally gotten a 1700 so bogged that it needed more than 30T of pull to get it out. Thats pretty much all the basic stuff an old school R series twin boom wrecker can put down to effect recovery without laying down additional anchor points.

[sashadidi]

Have you TRIED changing a mog tyre on the side of the road? how about in the middle of nowhere on soft sand.

youve helped out winching out a landy right... you've seen the size of a mogyeah. heres a hint I have personally gotten a 1700 so bogged that it needed more than 30T of pull to get it out.
Have to agree with this, travelled in part of a around Africa trip with a german party that had unimogs (actually they were Mercedes factory engineers) my memory was even the Germans said it needed much more maintence, they had at least 6 or 7 different types of oil which was quite unusual from memory. could carry great loads and did well in the dunes of the sahara but when they got stuck it was no fun at all and took a vey long time and with a lot of labour to get it out., We came across one stuck for 3 days in the mud in Zaire and still no sign of finishing the dig out!!!Absoutley right about changing the tyres in the sand, a feat in itself I can tell you and they got some punctures in Zaire as the thorns would even get throught their sidewalls which was strange. Unless serious off roading with loads of people you do not need one, I have been round half of Ozzie in my 110 and I can tell you its much better overall , I had the chance to drive the unimogs off road quite a bit on that trip (we swapped for the day quite often) and even the Series 2s and 3s were much more enjoyable (Of course was a long time ago I know. Take the Landy!!!

[Four Boar]

Here is some of what they are capeable of;
Real Man's 4WD Track - YouTube
Very nice!

Got a picture of an OKA somewhere towing a 'Mog', I'll see if i can find it! Am intersted to see the photo's Deano!

Every one has been really helpful and I appreciate all of the input, any other advice/ ideas would be great!

Cheers Cal

[Four Boar]

Take the 110

I did it in a 90 and had enough room so toughen up :-)

Also don't need to off road ability of the mog for the trip around Aus. Also must use more fuel.

If you don't have the room in the 110 then get a trailer still will do about 10-11 ltr per 100k even off road on the tracks

Reads90 the bottom part of ur blurb reads 99' 300Tdi? I'm curious as I was positive the 300Tdi's ran from 94-1998? unless u used the td5 as ur boat anchor/ art reef and put the 300tdi in??? just curious?

[Four Boar]

would love to have one and travel with it.
something like this
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/04/538.jpg
well maybe that's a little over the top... but hey, I can dream cant I :angel:

but mogs (well pretty much trucks in general) simply cost too much...

we will be heading off for the big lap next year in our 130 defender.
we will have a very healthy bank balance before we go and plan on being on the road for 2+ years.
many many hours of work have gone into the defender to get it ready and just the way we want it...
i feel if we had of done it with bigger truck like a mog we would be far poorer, it would of taken longer to get ready and we wouldn't be going for another few years...

just go in the 110. set it up a little better for overlanding and you will be on the road sooner rather the later.

Benz would love a link/ photos/ a pm with how ur rig is set up! Frothin!!!

[juddy]

Fine in theory but got a worse name than a 3 litre Nissan Patrol! Fortunately not to be found in OZ.

Then again there are these.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/100.jpg

Aussie made OKA, come in various body combinations, single/dual cab, bus etc. Simple, strong and reliable. Highway cruising (flat) at 100 Km/hr if you're keen but better at 95 Km/hr. Very easy to drive with a great view. Got a bit better than 14.5 lt/100Km on the Gary Highway last year, usually around 16 lt/100Km @95 Km/hr on the bitumen.
Great for extended touring and a lot of fun. Best of all no electronics.
Depending on condition/fitout $25K to $50K will get you going. Good for large families as can be 2,6,8,10 or more seater depending on build.
Got a picture of an OKA somewhere towing a 'Mog', I'll see if i can find it!

Deano:)


Total misconception that the rb44 is no good. In service it was prone to a number of issues and did not perform as thought, most were returned to rb, upgraded and placed into reserve stock, then sold off some years later, $10000 gets you a 12,000klm machine that cost well over $250,000 per unit when new.

There's also one in Qld.

[UncleHo]

Charlie's has arrived ???????? :D

what's it like?

[Benz]

Benz would love a link/ photos/ a pm with how ur rig is set up! Frothin!!!

the mog? haha no that's not mine...
I wish!

if you look here (http://unimogblog.blogspot.com.au/2008_09_01_archive.html) you should find out some info

here you will find it's history (http://unimogblog.blogspot.com.au/search?updated-max=2008-01-04T09:44:00-08:00&max-results=7&start=7&by-date=false)

[TwoUp]

Defender makes good sense.

Changing the tyre on a mog?? What lifting it .... same as the F1 etc loop a rope and use your weight? Making it safe then that's an issue.

Passenger comfort in the mog is worse than a Defender.

Mog is good fun if you are not in a hurry. Mog is not so good if you have issues though. But hey

Regards,
PeterW

[superquag]

Total misconception that the rb44 is no good. In service it was prone to a number of issues and did not perform as thought, most were returned to rb, upgraded and placed into reserve stock, then sold off some years later, $10000 gets you a 12,000klm machine that cost well over $250,000 per unit when new.

There's also one in Qld.

Found this on the web... start at the bottom of Page 1...

RB44 --are they really as bad as people say ? (http://www.arrse.co.uk/reme/66195-rb44-they-really-bad-people-say.html)

[juddy]

The RB44 Story : ~ dodge50.co.uk (http://www.dodge50.co.uk/rb44-story-1.html)

This is worth a read too.

[rick130]

Reads90 the bottom part of ur blurb reads 99' 300Tdi? I'm curious as I was positive the 300Tdi's ran from 94-1998? unless u used the td5 as ur boat anchor/ art reef and put the 300tdi in??? just curious?

Seeing as Ali hasn't been back yet, yes, some where built and available very early in '99, I think production stopped in either Jan or Feb.

Mines a '98, first registered '99, and then Tdi's were still available for South America, South Africa and Eastern Europe up until about three or so years ago.

[spudboy]

I reckon Read's 90 was a UK import when he emigrated, so maybe they could get TDi 300's for longer than us (or it was ROW spec) (Rest of World)).

I've never heard of the RB44 - so am off doing some searching now..... Can you get them in Australia?

[Four Boar]

the mog? haha no that's not mine...
I wish!

if you look here (http://unimogblog.blogspot.com.au/2008_09_01_archive.html) you should find out some info

here you will find it's history (http://unimogblog.blogspot.com.au/search?updated-max=2008-01-04T09:44:00-08:00&max-results=7&start=7&by-date=false)

Nope, THE DEFENDER please!!!

[Benz]

Nope, THE DEFENDER please!!!

oh haha... silly me

here =] (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members-rides/125736-touring-defender-making.html)

she's not quite done yet
but will have allot more goodies added in the next month.
and by years end it will be 100% completed

btw sorry for heading off track a bit

[juddy]

I reckon Read's 90 was a UK import when he emigrated, so maybe they could get TDi 300's for longer than us (or it was ROW spec) (Rest of World)).

I've never heard of the RB44 - so am off doing some searching now..... Can you get them in Australia?

Indeed you can, pm me for full details, and to arrange viewing.

[weeds]

defender......

[juddy]

Audi rs4. Or maybe a 6x6 defender .

[camel_landy]

Travel light & take a Defender...

With a 110, if you need to take a trailer or stick anything on the roof, then you're carrying too much.

I did a trip around Oz, family of 4 in a Defender 110... However, if I was to do it again, I'd consider a Unimog, purely for convenience of having a 'camper-van'. Even in a Unimog, I'd still pack light.

M

[Reads90]

Reads90 the bottom part of ur blurb reads 99' 300Tdi? I'm curious as I was positive the 300Tdi's ran from 94-1998? unless u used the td5 as ur boat anchor/ art reef and put the 300tdi in??? just curious?

Yeah they did
But mine is a jan 99 compliance plate 300 tdi so I believe one of the last into Australia.