Quote:
Originally Posted by mark manley
I travelled in Africa with a couple in a LWB Land Rover Defender who were finishing a RTW trip with no real modifications and minimal luggage. Their vehicle was basically standard with a roof tent, roof rack with spare wheel and a few jerry cans.
Their luggage was carried in plastic boxes strapped down in the back, 2x20 litre water carriers and that was about it. The jerry cans were filled where diesel was cheap such as Iran or when it might be needed, outback Australia and the Sahara, the owner told me that by not carrying excessive amounts of fuel and water he had not needed to upgrade the suspension which lasted the whole two and a half year trip with nothing more than new rubber bushes two months before the end. He also said that the other 4WD owners he had spoken to who had extra fuel and water tanks plus other weighty and expensive extras had a lot more suspension problems.
My own experience on two wheels is similar, a lighter load causes less suspension and handling problems, for me anyway less is preferable.

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totally with you there Mark, I have always travelled with minimal kit.
Fuel estimate +50%
water estimate +50% (with emergency reserve)
small tool kit. 2 spare wheels (probably the biggest extra single weight, but I have had to use both in quick succession)
tools, just the basics
bodging kit
spare hoses and belts
oils
ground tent
buy local food but carry some ratpack type food for emergencies
footpump
compressor (if you don't have one, you tend to be reluctant to air down when you should and get stuck)
each person is limited to one medium size soft bag for clothes (soft bags pack better)
recovery ropes (one snatch, one tow)
On this trip
each vehicle was carrying about 3/4 ton of school books. In addition to that we had to carry all the personal kit, tools spares etc for our team of 4.
By using 2 vehicles the same we could divvy up spares. each carried a shovel, but we had a shared set of waffle boards and other kit. Note the shitty roof racks!!
It could be argued that the only really essential kit, is fuel and water! especially with 2 vehicles the same
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