Best 4x4 for rural / remote living - UK
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I seem to remember seeing that for sale months ago when browsing off-roaders - they might take a lower offer....
I'm sorry but to me, it looks like a very short hearse!
Agreed. RReading (see what I did there) the spec sheet it's a bit more 'pimp' than 'mud' anyways.
On the subject of 4x4 overland vehicles, I gave this a lot of idle thought some time back. I like hardcore offroaders, but the reality is that you just dont need them 99.99% of the time and when you consider the cost, maintenance, fuel economy and upkeep of something like a Unimog, it's a bonkers option. Seriously, how likely is it that you will ever take a camper van rock-crawling? Consider how tall they are too? You'd be taking branches off trees and grinding under bridges all over, with some seriously limited access in towns and the like. That's not a good brief for a camper, even one that needs to be rugged. Also vehicles like Defenders and Land Cruisers, while excellent offroaders and good cars generally, are just way too small to "live in".
There is a solution though, I give you the Mercedes Vario 4x4....
All wheel drive, traction control, ABS, good ground clearance, ladder chassis, live axles etc. There are about 80 model variations to choose from, but this one is the double cab chassis back.
http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-656624-1-1385322-1-0-0-0-0-0-11702-656174-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html
Give it a suspension lift, some mud tyres, a bit of armour and put a custom back on it and I think it'd be perfect. Lot cheaper than a Unimog too.
There is a solution though, I give you the Mercedes Vario 4x4....
All wheel drive, traction control, ABS, good ground clearance, ladder chassis, live axles etc. There are about 80 model variations to choose from, but this one is the double cab chassis back.
http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-656624-1-1385322-1-0-0-0-0-0-11702-656174-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html
Give it a suspension lift, some mud tyres, a bit of armour and put a custom back on it and I think it'd be perfect. Lot cheaper than a Unimog too.
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martyn mate, loving that.On the subject of 4x4 overland vehicles, I gave this a lot of idle thought some time back. I like hardcore offroaders, but the reality is that you just dont need them 99.99% of the time and when you consider the cost, maintenance, fuel economy and upkeep of something like a Unimog, it's a bonkers option. Seriously, how likely is it that you will ever take a camper van rock-crawling? Consider how tall they are too? You'd be taking branches off trees and grinding under bridges all over, with some seriously limited access in towns and the like. That's not a good brief for a camper, even one that needs to be rugged. Also vehicles like Defenders and Land Cruisers, while excellent offroaders and good cars generally, are just way too small to "live in".
There is a solution though, I give you the Mercedes Vario 4x4....
All wheel drive, traction control, ABS, good ground clearance, ladder chassis, live axles etc. There are about 80 model variations to choose from, but this one is the double cab chassis back.
http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-656624-1-1385322-1-0-0-0-0-0-11702-656174-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html
Give it a suspension lift, some mud tyres, a bit of armour and put a custom back on it and I think it'd be perfect. Lot cheaper than a Unimog too.
best overland wagon.... Toyota Hiace AWD.
You don't need a tricked up comp spec vehicle for dirt roads. Look at what the locals drive around the world. Africa & Asia the Hiace is the workhorse of choice.
You don't need a tricked up comp spec vehicle for dirt roads. Look at what the locals drive around the world. Africa & Asia the Hiace is the workhorse of choice.
its just a modified landy... well range rover with a fibre glass body on it. so yes there is no unmodified landy that can keep up with a modified one in the mire.
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My dad spent a year driving to Bangladesh and back in the 60's. Spent about a year out there, mostly in India. He drove a Land Rover Series IIA 109 van. He only engaged 4x4 a couple of times. He had boards across the rear benches with a mattress on top and slept in the back if he needed to. All the gear was stashed underneath
I met another guy in London who drove a 2CV to India and back, twice. Bit too hard core for me - but the principle of a low cost, utilitarian car with soft springs is a sound one.
The high energy approach is seductive, but a big flash vehicle becomes a paranoia inducing target, shouts about your comparatively vast wealth, uses huge amounts of fuel, and being complex is more likely to break down. All that self sufficient luxury is also in danger of insulating you from the environment and it's people. Be shame to travel all that way and realise you'd missed out on the adventure.
I met another guy in London who drove a 2CV to India and back, twice. Bit too hard core for me - but the principle of a low cost, utilitarian car with soft springs is a sound one.
The high energy approach is seductive, but a big flash vehicle becomes a paranoia inducing target, shouts about your comparatively vast wealth, uses huge amounts of fuel, and being complex is more likely to break down. All that self sufficient luxury is also in danger of insulating you from the environment and it's people. Be shame to travel all that way and realise you'd missed out on the adventure.
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TurboGirl
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Oh, ye baleful spirits of the woods, how the heck did my name become associated with desire for a black munchin jeep-hearse in the quote on comment #128?! I got a professional image to maintain! arrrggghhhHHHHHHH!!!!!!
I'd have to agree, for a combination of on road comfort and off road ability they take some beating.
TurboGirl
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
How about building your own vehicle, complete with woodburner?
http://englishrussia.com/2010/02/03/russian-self-made-hummer/
http://englishrussia.com/2010/02/03/russian-self-made-hummer/
TurboGirl
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Loving the 3rd pic down... looks like a health and safety warning about why NOT to put a woodburner in a vehicle... the situations they've got that vehicle into are amazing!
Wish there was more info around on Janie Oliver's 'Cock In Cider' Bedford MK... love that vehicle and heard its available to hire B)
Wish there was more info around on Janie Oliver's 'Cock In Cider' Bedford MK... love that vehicle and heard its available to hire B)
I picked up a decent Audi A6 Quattro estate the other day. Tow-bar, boot-liner for the dog, 100k, FSH, cams done last service, £1,500. Leather interior, 4-zone climate-control. Low ground-clearance, but good enough for 99% road-work, 1% snow, ice, mud. Not for proper off-road use, but it runs nice, and is a genuinely useful AWD car.
Quite quick, too, with a 2.4l V6.
But I'd still recommend the standard 2litre Scooby Forester.
Quite quick, too, with a 2.4l V6.
But I'd still recommend the standard 2litre Scooby Forester.
TurboGirl
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
That sounds a great deal, Jeffz 
As most of the rest of us have become embrioled in pure fantasy, my offering is a 6x6 Ural campervan on the delightfully random Fleabay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Expedition-Motorhome-Campervan-6x6-events-Ural-4320-Diesel-/300617172253?pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item45fe2e051d#ht_4967wt_932
As most of the rest of us have become embrioled in pure fantasy, my offering is a 6x6 Ural campervan on the delightfully random Fleabay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Expedition-Motorhome-Campervan-6x6-events-Ural-4320-Diesel-/300617172253?pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item45fe2e051d#ht_4967wt_932
