Thread: DESIGN AN OUTBACK, REMOTE AREA, EXPEDITION VEHICLE

Agree Pat some are doing it others are talking about it and hypothesizing from behind keyboards.

Originally Posted by PAT303

A serious answer would be a mechanically sound defender or discovery with Koni shocks and Michelin tyres with increased fuel capacity and secure internal storage.Leave all the chest beating BS for the internet,travel light and drive to the conditions. Pat

Originally Posted by 2stroke

I find my 130 works just fine with the 120L main tank and 70L auxilliary. People don't seem to value economy but on last year's CSR trip, the two Landcruisers accompanying us used 400 L more (100 series) and 500L more (HJ47). Trip left from Brisbane and covered 10500 km in 4 1/2 weeks.
The Iveco might be a good choice though carrying capacity only needs to be in proportion to how much you carry.

People don't value economy because they only see engine power,it's only after they buy their ARB fitted out 200 series twin turbo V8 and head off do they realise just how big Oz is and how far between fuel stops they have to go.It's funny to hear the bicky dippers talk about 4 cylinder engines not being powerfull enough but then they drive at 80 to save fuel,the same speed as a 4 cylinder. Pat

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Good start (apart from the noise and room in the cab). However a 6x6 101 is no longer a 101 - unless you are planning to put an axle in the middle.



This bit was a joke though, right??? No matter how much you upgrade them, they will still break.



Std are 36", so you are going down 1" in diameter



That is a lot of work to polish a turd and produce something that is about .05L more in capacity than an HS2.8. The bottom end of a 300tdi probably wouldn't handle a compound turbo.


Sorry but that is just horrible, and would break down before you even got to a remote area.


And before anyone says I haven't said what I would build, I have posted before in other threads...

roughly:
Mog high speed portals with CTIS.
dual air springs at each corner (redundancy)
Dual compressors to supply air springs (redundancy)
ISUZU 4HE1-XS, plus ISUZU 6-speed
LT230 or ATLAS t-case
105" Wheelbase cabover (dual cab) ute design

Yep,I've broken seven rover diffs,wore out six Tdi bottom ends,got stuck fourteen times because I only have 235/85 tyres and my windscreen washer bottle ran out,POS Land Rover . Pat

Originally Posted by Dave_S

You guys are all soft. Expeditions are about adventure and excitement, not horsepower and comfy beds. You need a stock Series III LWB, preferably diesel but petrol will do, long range tanks and a swag. Seeing as it's remote area, you only need one change of undies for when you roll into town. Otherwise, pack only what's necessary to keep the vehicle running and stop you from actually dying.

In other words, the perfect vehicle was designed and built decades ago. Wanting more is just an excuse.

I used to do just that,come home filthy but then I didn't get sex for the following week or two so that put an end to it,now I do a nudie swim in a creek or ocean,I've found a spot down on the bight below Ecula thats good and it all sweet. Pat

Originally Posted by goingbush

Iveco Daily 4x4 , had mine for almost 12 months now, 30,000 km and as far as off road ability its vastly surpasses any Landrover I've owned, better wheel travel, more articulation, 101:1 low low , will climb anything you throw it at, MUCH better on sand than a Defender, alleged 48degree rollover angle , Infinetley better on Corrugations than a Defender or 80/100 series cruiser , 3 x hydraulic diff locks standard, ABS auto deactivates when CDL engaged YAY !!!

Its quieter and smoother than the Defender or Cruiser on the highway too. The cabin fresh air is via a huge filtered air box, no more dust chewing .

Downsides - it only has a 90L fuel tank as standard . any more negatives Nope (turning circle is midway btwn 110 and 130)

If you don't like the complexity of the most fuel efficient 3.0L twin turbo diesel in the world (it averages 15.5 L towing the caravan) and to fit the OP requirement well then pull out the engine/gbox and very easily fit any engine /gearbox you want because it has a short jackshaft to the transfer case.

(BTW the new Fuso Canter 4P10 engine is in fact the 3.0L iveco engine , the engine is so good the Japs are now using it)

Another bonus - you sit about a meter higher than a regular full size 4x4 so you see over the scrub and spinnefex, the difference in visibility when touring is awesome.

Also it fits on 95% of outback tracks, (just fold the mirrors in)

some dash cam clips from recent touring (all with caravan )

I can't send you a PM? I'd like to ask a few questions about the Iveco

Originally Posted by Dave_S

You guys are all soft. Expeditions are about adventure and excitement, not horsepower and comfy beds. You need a stock Series III LWB, preferably diesel but petrol will do, long range tanks and a swag. Seeing as it's remote area, you only need one change of undies for when you roll into town. Otherwise, pack only what's necessary to keep the vehicle running and stop you from actually dying.

In other words, the perfect vehicle was designed and built decades ago. Wanting more is just an excuse.

I would agree entirely, except that I would prefer a 2a, although I agree there is little to choose. Swb does have its points, particularly for a single traveller.

Diesel has the advantage of longer range, more readily available fuel, and probably more reliable engine, although there is little difference in dry climates. But petrol has the advantage that you can easily hand start it in the event of a starter failure or flat battery (not if the battery is dead flat, but a solar panel will boost it enough to run the ignition in half an hour or so). But a diesel, once started, is completely independent of electric.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I would agree entirely, except that I would prefer a 2a, although I agree there is little to choose. Swb does have its points, particularly for a single traveller.

Diesel has the advantage of longer range, more readily available fuel, and probably more reliable engine, although there is little difference in dry climates. But petrol has the advantage that you can easily hand start it in the event of a starter failure or flat battery (not if the battery is dead flat, but a solar panel will boost it enough to run the ignition in half an hour or so). But a diesel, once started, is completely independent of electric.

John

I agree in principle - and have said the moment I "need" a camper trailer/caravan/mobile home is the moment I stop travelling - however it is a slippery slope argument. One could argue that you don't need a vehicle at all...

Originally Posted by Dave_S

You guys are all soft. Expeditions are about adventure and excitement, not horsepower and comfy beds. You need a stock Series III LWB, preferably diesel but petrol will do, long range tanks and a swag. Seeing as it's remote area, you only need one change of undies for when you roll into town. Otherwise, pack only what's necessary to keep the vehicle running and stop you from actually dying.

In other words, the perfect vehicle was designed and built decades ago. Wanting more is just an excuse.

The best survival stories start with the worst preparations.