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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
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Old 16 May 2008
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Join Date: Oct 2006
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the practicalities of using a 2wd truck

Hi all,

For a long time I have been keen on the idea of getting a truck for living in and travelling, I am finally saving some decent money and so I am now doing serious research rather than far flung dreaming.

My background is probably different to many of your in that the truck will not only serve as a home when I’m travelling but also during the periods of time that I am in London, these will realistically compromise the bulk of my time for many years. Full time travelling is something I can aspire to for the future. I will live in the truck on traveller sites and so my choice of a large truck is based on the necessity for having a toilet and shower amongst other things. Camping is fine when you know you have a house to come back when the travels are done to but is obviously totally impractical for day to day working life in a big city.

I am not interested in testing my vehicle through masochistic excursions into Siberian tundra or through war zones in Africa, however when I travel I want to get far and do not want to be limited by being in an inappropriate vehicle. I expect much of my travelling to be in Asia and Europe and I eventually want to drive to Singapore, I do not expect to be going further into Africa than Algeria and Morocco.

For years I have been totally set on the idea of buying a large 4x4/6x6 military vehicle such as Bedford TM, man kat or magirus deutz but as the time to spend money draws near the reality of living with such a vehicle become more important to me. What will ultimately be important to me is that I have a vehicle which I can easily service, which will be reliable and which will be adequate for the areas which I want to travel.

My budget is in the region of £10,000 for the truck chassis, although it would be nice if a basic insulated box could be included in this price. My searches have basically shown me that I can get an excellent 4x4 truck for this money, but it will be a truck that is more than 20 years old and often will be from a manufacturer that either no longer exists such as Bedford or Magirus, or that has limited service or parts distribution in western Europe or beyond such as tatra or kamaz. If I want a 2 wheel drive truck I can get one which is around 5 years old from a major manufacturer such as Mercedes or Volvo. However well looked after and low mileage the military trucks are, I find it to believe that they will be as reliable as a modern freight vehicle, am I wrong about this?

My question is whether a truck such as the one shown below (with small modifications to improve ground clearance and approach/departure angle) will be adequate for round the world travels? If I am honest with myself much of my travelling will be on roads, but is 4x4 necessary for the times when good roads are not available? For information the truck below has a rear axle difflock as do many trucks in this weight class.



I am looking at trucks in the region of 10t to 18t, I want something which is operating well below its maximum weight limit and I am aware through experience that trucks in this weight category are built significantly more ruggedly than lighter ones.

Do most goods truck operating in the areas I intend to travel have 4x4?

I would not consider the use of a 2 wheel drive car but the improved ground clearance and more robust construction of large trucks may make them more suitable for travelling, is this the case?

many thanks for your help,

Nick
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