Hi all,

I'm going to propose something that might seem 'ridiculous' to some, but I feel like it's worthy bringing up regardless…

We've been in the process of planning an overland trip from Oz to Europe for some time now, and have looked at many trucks and weighed up the pros and cons, and have come to the following conclusions:

- The vehicle needs to fit in a 20" container, to keep the cost down on multiple shipments over an 18 month period. So:
- Max length 5.75 and height 2.28
- We need to be able to get from sleeping position to behind the wheel, for security purposes
- We need to sleep 2 adults, 2 children

The above cancels out rooftents, as well as any existing camper conversion based on either landrover or landcruiser, incl. troop carrier, what's available in Australia anyway.

So, I've ended up been 'convinced' that building a camper to go on the back of a landcruiser '79 cab chassis is the best approach.

See sketches below.

Here's the catch:
As many past-overlanders have pointed out, Europe to India doesn't really require a 4wd, neither do the bits between Australia and India.

As many aboriginals proove, driving old holden utes (2wd), 99% of the area's in Australia where we'll be travelling, will be fine in a 4 x 2 with reseanoble ground clearence as well. Of course 'most' ozzies will not venture outback unless they're in a $70k landcruiser with $30k with of extra kit, but many of these vehicles have never seen the simpson dessert.

So, now I'm thinking: Should we really go to all the expense and effort of kitting out a landcruiser with a camper on the back, with as end result a vehicle that is most capable 'off road' (how much off road will we really be going - 5% if given the chance?), or are we better off with a Ford Transit van, 2.4 diesel, heaps more room, as it's a 'cab-over' design, which means more room for the kids, more room for camper fit-out, and ultimately a more 'comfortable' travelling experience purely because of the extra room?

So:
- I can pick up an early 2000 transit bus and do a relatively 'simple' camper conversion myself, by installing a pop-top in the existing roof, and doing the usual camper kitout inside the existing shell,

Or:
- Buy an early 2000 landcruiser and go the full hog with building an entire camper from scratch, including cutting open the landcruiser cab to allow for an open connection between camper and the cab…

Note that We'll be avoiding the rainy seasons in all relevant countries we're travelling through, however we will be travelling on 'high' roads, such as the road to Kathmandu and the Karakoram Highway however these road to get travelled by transits as well far more capable vehicles…

No, you can't get a 4x4 transit in Australia :-)

What is wisdom? At this point I don't know… I'm weighing the above issues up… I'd be interested in your thoughts!

cheers

Kai

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