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

Originally Posted by juddy

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.



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

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

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.

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.

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

Martyn

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.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

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!!!

Here is some of what they are capeable of;
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZrhuSE_ivA]Real Man's 4WD Track - YouTube[/ame]
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