You don't need to spend Mega Bucks

[Boycie]

My wife and I have just returned from a Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Magadan 21k trip in our 20 year old Toyota 4Runner.


I bought the truck 6 years ago for £1900 and before I left in April I replaced tyres,shocks, rear springs, brakes, alternator, batteries and timing belt. I made the roof box out of plywood mounted on Thule roof bars. Changed all oils and set off in April returning 10 days ago.


Despite more than a third of the miles of the trip being off road on dash shaking corrugations, blinding dust, the odd quagmire and scary potholes the only problem was replacing front Stabilizer Bar Links.


Driving sympathetically and changing filters and oils when required we returned in one piece. We slept in the back of the truck and never had any problems by doing so.


We estimate the trip for just over three and a half months and 21k cost 5 and a half thousand pounds plus a thousand for all our visas. Despite being OAPs on a fixed income we think it was worth every penny. Don't get carried away with bling. We took an extra spare wheel and 2 20lt jerry cans that were not necessary.


If cash is your big worry even big trips can be done without breaking the bank.


Boycie


Parked on the cliffs east of Magadan





In the eastern Kazakhstan steppes.