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4 wheel Overland Travel NON-technical 4 wheel forum, for subjects specific to TRAVEL with 4 (or more!) wheeled vehicles. e.g. Driving Techniques, Shipping etc.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



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  #1  
Old 27 Jun 2009
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On My Shopping List When I win The Lottery!

Mercedes Benz G-Wagen Expedition Vehicles and Accessories

Nice Having said that a little mad as well when you read things like
"special titanium shovel head made and fitted it with a carbon fiber handle"

I’ll have bought and sold vehicles for less than the cost of the shovel.


For anyone interested it looks like it’s based on the military spec 461. Can be bought in certain Euro countries for around £60K I think.


So even if I do come up on the lotto I’d rather build my own, maybe I should be on a LR forum

Seriously my thoughts around weight reduction wouldn’t be carbon fibre roof tents, it’s a £15 Gelert ex demo/second ground tent. Nice shade of blue though

Russ

Last edited by RussG; 27 Jun 2009 at 11:43.
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Old 28 Jun 2009
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Yeah, you're right - a pre-built, pre-designed, already-perfect vehicle takes all the fun and much of the challenge out of overlanding...

Besides, overlanding with unlimited budget and specialists that have already worked out everything for you is 'easy'... where it gets interesting is when budget and experience is limited!

A fridge AND a freezer? Really?

Hmmm, maybe not so perfect in the first place!

I like the aluminium wheel inserts though - and the 'round' jerry can in the spare wheel is - well - uncanny!
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  #3  
Old 28 Jun 2009
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That is a very heavy car, even before you pack the M&S ready meals! I like the way they commission a special edition CFibre Maggiolini to save weight on top and then bolt a Hi-lift right next to it!

Still some nice ideas there for self-builders to crib - the auxiliary tank setup makes a lot of sense. And who doesn't want a CF/Titanium spade..? I bet that V6 is lovely too...
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  #4  
Old 29 Jun 2009
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You say you would sleep in the £15 ground tent but have you ever slept in a MaggotLiner?

Pure Class no more ground tents for me even at 55Kg. After you have hauled it onto the roof though it would get you thinking "if only i spent more on the CF shelled one!". At ~35kg its a fair bit lighter and I got my previous Safari-Equip RTT on by myself! (also 35Kg).

Worth it for the comfort I believe (and thats coming from a young(ish) overlander ).

As said before, Nice motor, but I rather steal ideas and build my own

G
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Old 29 Jun 2009
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Ground Tent?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Griffdowg View Post
You say you would sleep in the £15 ground tent but have you ever slept in a MaggotLiner?

As said before, Nice motor, but I rather steal ideas and build my own

G
Ah I didn’t say I would prefer to sleep in a cheapo ground tent.

On the one hand the comfort of a decent roof tent does appeal and I do admit to some jealousy when listening to what a wonderful nights sleep my rooftent equipped neighbours talk about. Having said that the price (for the amount of use it would get) doesn’t appeal so much plus I have a real aversion to anything at all on the roof. Comes from years of driving overloaded Defender 110’s with a stupid amount of weight on the roof.

Or just the noise and wind resistance

Anyway I may splash out on one of these for our next trip: (Morocco in Sept. and counting down the days!)

http://seconds.quechua.com/index.php5?lg=EN#/produit/13/

Russ
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Old 30 Jun 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RussG View Post
Ah I didn’t say I would prefer to sleep in a cheapo ground tent.

the price (for the amount of use it would get) doesn’t appeal so much plus I have a real aversion to anything at all on the roof. Comes from years of driving overloaded Defender 110’s with a stupid amount of weight on the roof.

Russ
I know what you mean, but they do hold their value surprisingly well if looked after (buy 2nd hand is the key). I look at it as almost an investment. I know I could sell it for what I paid for it in 12 months time.

I understand your point regarding weight, more reason to justify the carbon one surely?!

On top of all this I do believe in buying quality kit over cheaper (often considered) throw away items as this has adverse effects on our environment in a variety of ways. As I read in the Overland Journal recently "buy once, cry once".

Think about it.

G
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