Hello there !

I'm looking for a pickup for an upcoming overland trip from CH to at least Mauritania (via Morocco), maybe further south to Senegal and back.

We are a swiss couple without children, that means that we only need two seats and don't have so much things to carry. I'd still want a double cab pickup because of the improved security (key lock in the cabin) for some of our stuff.

Does taking a pickup over a traditionnal 4x4 make sense ? My opinion is, as long as I have a big enough cabin, the big loading space of a pickup really makes sense for overlanding.

I've already started to look for some of the available models and found these three :

Two japanese "classics" : Nissan Navarra (2.5) and Toyota Hilux (2.5 or 3.0)
The european newcomer : VW Amarok (2.0 BiTDI)

I managed to try both the 3.0 Hilux and VW Amarok (both in manual and automatic gearbox) and the VW is definitely well made and the easiest to drive (like a car, just bigger). The fuel consumption of the 2.0 VW engine is very impressive too (less than 9.5 litres/100 km).
The Hilux is simpler (which is both a pro and a con) and probably more reliable. It's other advantage is the availability of the parts if something breaks down...

The japanese are cheaper than the VW, especially used, but I have some kind of personnal affection to VW which makes me love the Amarok.

Do you have some advice or personnal experience to give ?

Thanks guys, take care !

PS: my previous offroad experience was with an old Mercedes GE-230 (automatic) which is now time to replace with something newer.

I spent years overlanding in a Hilux 4x4, single cab, but I was alone.

I made an aluminium deck which can be locked down to the rear tub, meaning the storage space there is more secure than in the cab. It also meant I could cover this with a normal tonneau cover, which made the truck look completely normal, very important for me. A pickup is also a lot lighter than say a Landcruiser, and pretty much as tough. The rear deck is 220+ cm long, meaning I can strike a standard tent on this, and collapse it easily and cover it with the tonneau cover.

The only down side was that it is not possible really to seal water / dirt out of the rear tonneau, and that there was limited space in the cab. An Xtra cab might solve the space issue, but with the same length of rear tub, it makes the vehicle very long indeed.

As for your choices, my gut feeling would be to stay well clear of such a small engine in such a huge truck. The Amarok is almost as big as a F150, but the smallest F150 has a 3.5 litre twin turbo petrol, and 365 BHP. That 2.0 diesel must be very highly stressed, and I guess very sensitive to bad fuel. A Toyota is definitely the machine to take out of Europe.

__________________
4.5 years around Eurasia in a Toyota Hilux|http://eurasiaoverland.wordpress.com/
Pictures Here|https://picasaweb.google.com/113619413612674951960

Thanks. It really makes sense about the engine. Of course a small cc new generation engine will probably be a lot more sensitive to bad fuel and will need to be revved harder (the Amarok is HEAVY !).

And if it breaks, I don't think that I have any chance to find spares out of South Africa, Western EU, some parts of SA and maybe Asia. In the rest of the world, the Toyotas are the kings...

I found your blog a few months ago, that's amazing. I think you are the one that made me think about a pickup for overlanding.

========

Looking at your pictures, you don't seem to have changed a lot of things on your Hilux. It didn't look like a Dakar rally car or coming directly from Mars, which is a HUGE advantage in these parts of the world...

What are your recommendations ? What are the things to modify or reinforce on an Hilux (in general, not especially on the newer ones) ?

Yes, stealth is the key... I wouldn't feel so comfortable driving across Afghanistan with a typical 'expedition' prepared Landcruiser with snorkels and rooftents and stickers and sagging rear springs

I am not familiar with the latest generation of Hilux, but I would say to keep it as standard as possible. I have upgraded the standard leaf springs and shocks on my truck, but mostly because the originals were finished, and good quality aftermarket springs by Old Man Emu are still cheaper than genuine ones.

I would try to make a luggage / cover system which is as inconspicuous and convenient to use as possible, and save the rest of my money for actually travelling!

__________________
4.5 years around Eurasia in a Toyota Hilux|http://eurasiaoverland.wordpress.com/
Pictures Here|https://picasaweb.google.com/113619413612674951960

One more question : was your Hilux a diesel engine ?

Yes, a pre-common rail diesel with a rotary pump and mechanical injectors, relatively easy to fix and will burn any rubbish sold as diesel!

__________________
4.5 years around Eurasia in a Toyota Hilux|http://eurasiaoverland.wordpress.com/
Pictures Here|https://picasaweb.google.com/113619413612674951960