Hi,

I'd like to use this post to show another cool way of an overland vehicle set up.
This is not about that it's the best or a better way, it's just another way to do it.
This post is also about how to prepare a 2wd vehicle to use for overlanding, as these vehicles are not always prepared for the bad roads in Africa, Middle East, Asia and so on.

It is also a way to tell people about the fact that you don't need a +20K vehicle to travel the world.

Well, let's get concrete..

Though this W123 was in perfect shape, I'm sure you can use a not so decent example for maybe 3000 dollars too and do your thing. The most important thing when you buy one is to make sure the body is hard. All the other things are easily overcome.

We did only some modifications and it turns out that this car with this setup handles very well. It might be a cool alternative for a bigger 4x4/truck. Though it's big enough to travel with two or three persons and to carry all the equipment to be fully self supporting in deserted places for a couple of days.

Our daily driver is used for our weekend trips, groceries, work and so on, but when the time comes for our next trip that same car is there to serve us again, our W123 300TD.

After I bought it I directly installed a newer Webasto waterheater, as this takes care of a prolonged life of the engine, and as extra luxury one can step into a warm interior in winters.

The Saharagelber after I bought it.


The newer Webasto heater, not really a necessity but very engine friendly:


Then after the Webasto I had the car converted to a Elsbett one tank system to be able to drive responsibly on vegetable oil. The first trip to turkey we could easily fill her up at the supermarket instead of the gas stations.

The first trip we used this simple set up, sleep in the car and extra tanks to fill up with vegetable oil. We brought a 2nd spare wheel with us.

Our first setup


Time to fill her up

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http://300td.org - The weblog of a W123 on veggie oil