Probably a bit of a long shot but if you don't ask.....


Having spent years trying to make up my mind which vehicle to use as the basis for a multi-year, "at least round Africa and Asia but then who knows" trip, I've decided to go for a modern vehicle after all (I know - electronics) and after visiting Bad Kissingen this year came across the Oberaigner 6x6 conversion.

I have an HGV license so was going to go for an old Merc 1222 AF or similar but have decided that for a very long term journey, driving comfort, noise levels, engine efficiency etc are worth paying more for, though I understand the downsides of modern electronics. So, decision made, it will be a modern 4x4 or 6x6 and I'm going in with my eyes open.
www.oberaigner.com if you don't know the vehicle.

I like the idea of having a 4.8m x 2.2m cabin but not having to haul it round on a 9 tonne vehicle. Using the Oberaigner means it should come in at under 5 tonnes on a 7 tonne GVW chassis, which I consider ideal. It's also 250mm to 400mm shorter, another advantage.

I've raced, rallied and rolled a few 4x4s for 20 years in Dubai so am not looking for an extreme desert adventure truck - I've already got that out of my system - but my only concern with the Oberaigner is ground clearance. Max clearance is given as 257mm on the tallest, identical wheels all round tyre option. I'm an experienced dune / sand track / corrugated gatch track driver but not so much on mud or "African terrain" - whatever that may throw at me (though 2 weeks spent in the Masai Mara last summer gave me some idea what to expect at least on dry roads.)


I figure there will be plenty of people here with an opinion / knowledge as to whether 257mm is going to be a limiting factor or just as good as a Land Cruiser or Defender in the ruts and mud.


Thoughts and comments welcome before I drop a great deal of money on a supplier quite soon - the plan is to start the journey post summer 2015, from Dubai.


Thanks, and have a great, healthy, safe, 2015.

have you considered that if this is a euro5, or even worse euro6 engine you will have fuel issues due to the sulphur content?

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1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014

Hi Moggy - yep, but I may be able to lay my hands on an earlier, unused Sprinter which is I believe Euro 3. Alternatively I'm looking at using a petrol engine 2011 chassis, also barely used (little more than delivery mileage).which I can currently buy at half price - because it's petrol. But I figure what I spend extra on the fuel I can make up for in ease of use and anyway, I'll have paid for the first year's difference with what I save on the chassis.


Question is, in either case, am I asking for trouble using a vehicle weighing 5 tonnes with only just over 8" ground clearance. Maybe I'm still just trying to find excuses not to 'take the jump' but I'd welcome any input from those with far more experience than me.

I can't really help with the advice you're looking for but that's a pretty neat truck, I hope you make a build thread for whatever you buy as I'd like to see what you do with it.

Interesting vehicle, it looks like the 6x6 Sprinter has a much wider track, do you know the width? that's the only other disadvantage I can see combined with the ground clearance,, if its getting closer to an HGV track then you will find it very difficult to straddle deep ruts on a Western Trans Africa and with that amount of ground clearance it could be an issue - but this is only one area of Africa, people have got far less capable vehicles through. Id definitely be looking at diff locks on both rear axles, the ramp angle looks fairly good.

What are you planning for sleeping, will you have a back body on the vehicle? with the double cab there wont be a huge amount of room for a good sized sleeping compartment.

Ive often thought that a well prepped Sprinter diesel 4x4 on tall tyres would be the best compromise overland vehicle - decent living room for 2, fairly capable and quite fuel efficient, good luck!

Long term Im not sure if the petrol would be a good idea, I guess it would get you past all of the emissions Euro 3/5 can of worms for remote travel and if you are going to keep the vehicle for a long time not so bad, but the resale value will be very low in Europe with a petrol engine - most people wont touch it.

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Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

Hi Grif


5 diff locks available - across all three axles, one 'centre' diff plus one between the two rear axles - that should help keep me going! Check out the www.krugxp.com site for pretty much what I'd be specifying - a full live in cabin on the single cab LWB chassis. James I'll be having the back coach built by others - I don't have the time or temperament to build the whole of the cabin to the sort of quality I know it'll need to survive. Maintain it - yes, build it - I fear I'd never finish it!


Good point about the track width. I've been looking just now and can't find a figure but I suspect you are right that it may be close to HGV width. Hmm, food for thought. Ramp angle is good - 30 degrees or more depending on how I spec the back. Wading depth is 600mm as standard.


I'll be keeping it many years I hope and will be registering it in / setting out from Dubai. I guess if I bring it back here, where NOBODY drives diesel cars it'll be easier to sell. The diesel is 500ppm sulphur here and destroys modern engines, anyway why would you bother when a V8 petrol costs the same to run as a diesel.


All good points - keep 'em coming (I haven't been completely put off yet!)

deffo the way to go

Fit good underbody clearance and I reckon you'll be fine. According to my 1980s book on crossing the sahara one of the finest vehicles for doing it in was a VW combi, and they don't have great ground clearance.

As you say, you won't be doing balls out off roading so I reckon you'll be fine. You've got plenty of experience and that combined with a bit of mechanical sympathy goes a lot further than an idiot with 2 feet under his portal axles!

I love the potential of that 6x6 for an expedition motorhome, but I would worry about spares availability for the drivetrain and suspension, and it's complexity.

Have you looked at the Iveco 4x4, thats a nice looking bit of kit

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1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014

Mercedes is one of that brands, who is able to remove the Euro5/Euro6 Stuff for world travelers...

I recently wrote about: 4x4tripping: Moderne Euro5 Diesel-Fahrzeuge auf Weltreisen

There also some links to travelers where mercedes did remove the euro5 stuff as the travelers had their first breakdown in egypt.

Back to the 3 axles: The 3 Axles would allow a plenty of more load and will be a beast for sand and other offroad purpose.

Repairing and spares can be an issue, but this days you have this issues if you use modern cars. No real showstopper, but can cause headache.

Surfy

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About Overlanding, Travelogues, Equipment
Trans-Africa over the west coast

Hope to see the truck when you set off from Dubai!

Surfy that's GREAT information, thank you - the Google translate was a little 'loose' in places but I definitely got the idea. I have a friend who is into overlanding and who works for Mercedes Middle East (I've been busy planning ALL the elements of this trip ;-) ) so I will have a chat with him about what is, and is not possible to 'fix' either here or in Germany / Austria before the truck is shipped from Europe. That's REALLY helpful, thank you.


Certainly James, but it's at least 6 months away, maybe more depending on work and family issues, but my 2015 resolution is to stop talking about it and head out!


Moggy: I definitely hear what you're saying, and no vehicle will ever be 'perfect' but Oberaigner is a factory approved supplier who already makes OEM axles for Mercedes. The designs are fully factory approved, meaning there's a Mercedes part number for every item and I can order them from anywhere. Yes it's more complex, but I'll carry a few critical spares, and have had several meetings with the Oberaigner team while they were in Dubai recently and believe they are the right people for the job. I've been mulling this over for too many years and need to choose something!


I considered IVECO, know it's not a bad choice, but the load capacity and Mercedes support swung me toward the Ob. And a part of me, which is probably completely mad, quite likes the idea of being one of the first to try a not so well known vehicle and proving it can be done! I plan on being 'gone' for years so need something big enough to live in, not just ride in. Until I saw the Ob. I was going to use a big Merc., but the Ob. just appeals to me. If I quit in tears 6 months on, at least I can say I tried :-)