That is my Travel vehicle since 8 Years and 110`000km:



After living over an year inside the vehicle, crossing africa and other beautiful trips - it is time to see what was really neccessary out of my vehicle prepping.

Where and why I did use the snorkel, whinch, lockers and so on?

Would I equip my next vehicle again with? Why?

Article:
https://www.4x4tripping.com/2020/09/...aucht.html?m=0

What we need or not - is very individual. Hope my article with detailed arguments against/for different gears may help others who are start planning their vehicle/travels.

There is a language switch to the right.

Surfy

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

Good question: in our experience the answer to "really necessary" is in two parts:

1) things we have used and would ensure we had in the future:

- snorkel - has been necessary many times
- transmission breather - the same
- suspension upgrade with lift - not really "used" but has been very valuable
- sand flag - legally required from time to time
- UHF radio - also legally required and very useful
- compressor - necessary and useful

2) things we have not (or have rarely) used but would consider important to have as security:

- winch - rarely used, but worth having
- sand ladders (recovery tracks) - never used but essential in case
- shovel - goes with the sand tracks
- rescue kit

60k worth overland trips. Half in a pragmatic prepared lr disco half in a 2wd lada station wagon we paid 700euros for. The disco got me everywhere I wanted to go. Got stuck once. When we where about to start digging and lifting, an other lr showed up and towed us. We lost about an hour on a nine month trip.

The lada got stuck three times resulting from driver error. In total during a three month trip, we spend two hours getting unstuck. We used a shovel or the assistance of passers-by in the process. On one occasion, the lada was not able enough to get us where we wanted to be (darvaza gas crater in turkmenistan). We chartered a gigantic six wheel drive truck to get us there for less than a tank full. We met some really cool turkmen in the process.

I learned that there is very little one really needs to travel far and adventurous. A sense of adventure and some common sense. Money to pay for transport, fuel, food, visas,... And the vehicle you like. Either for the pictures, the comfort, or just for fun....

Sent from my FP3 using Tapatalk

Good question. In the last ten years, I have done a good few of the off-road and overland tracks in Australia. Sometimes in cheap vehicles and sometimes not. I will put aside the questions of route, spares, tools, first aid so on, and how severe you have planned you're route for broad suggestions. There is loads of info on that, and a lot is just personal choice and what you get used too.

I have found the best mods to be "really necessary".

1. Tyres
2. Suspension
3. Snorkel (good for water crossing. Even better for dusty conditions)
4. Long handle shovel
5. Driver Training (the none sexy stuff, but you will thank yourself later)

 Sand flag (is a legal requirement in the Simpson desert) but depends on where your route takes you
 Compressor, airline and pressure gauge, really useful for soft sand so on
 Rated shackles, snatch strap, and good quality recovery equipment

o Sand ladder (max tracks) – used once, they look cool
o High lift jack never used it, and they also look cool but can be very useful, especially for lifted vehicles. Be careful with them!

o UHF is like the winch and sat phones, essential when you need it and useless the rest of the time. I'm still waiting
to use them, and I hope I don't need too. You make your own choice.