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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Paul Stewart, of Egle Gerulaityte - Must love Donkeys!

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Must love Donkeys!
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Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 1 Sep 2005
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Buggys (Buggies?)
Has anyone any Saharan experience with the new road legal buggies (Dazon, PGO, Xinling) etc.?

Link to the sort of thing I'm talking about:

http://www.nan-buggy.com/products.html

In theory they could be a lot of fun, but not sure how that might translate across in practice?

Also, whilst completely legal on EU roads, I'm not sure what the Tunisians/Algerians etc. might make of them?

Sam.
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  #2  
Old 2 Sep 2005
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a (totally crazy) swedish guy crossed the whole africa last year with a buggy...:

http://www.redbuggy.com/
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  #3  
Old 2 Sep 2005
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Quote:
a (totally crazy) swedish guy crossed the whole africa last year with a buggy...:
http://www.redbuggy.com/
And barely made it, even though he rarely went off the beaten track...

I recall that he had MANY various mechanical problems, not to mention a very limited fuel/water/equipment capacity.

As a plaything (with backup from more suitable vehicles) they must be fun though!


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[This message has been edited by Erik D. (edited 02 September 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Erik D. (edited 02 September 2005).]
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  #4  
Old 3 Sep 2005
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Yeah, but that's not the sort of buggy I'm talking about! It's already a car.

Take a look at the link and you'll see what I mean! Ignore the kit-carrying problem, and you have something that'll go most places a Toyota or Land Rover can!

Sam.
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  #5  
Old 3 Sep 2005
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Hey Sam,

And how about deep ruts and water puddels?
I'm not so sure? But someone has to try off course. And if it works with 2CV's...
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  #6  
Old 3 Sep 2005
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My son and his mates used one frequently in dunes in Oman.Great fun but no carrying capacity incl fuel and prone to BDs.BUT if u have a trailer and fancy towing it all the while then great fun.
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  #7  
Old 4 Sep 2005
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Hi Sam
Friend of mine took a small motorbike on the back of his truck and nearly had it confiscated in Niger as he couldn't provide any insurance for it, he reckoned in some countries that any vehicle that has a number plate requires the same docs as your main transport even if your not driving it at the time!!

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  #8  
Old 4 Sep 2005
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That's normal. I spend large quantities of time taking trailers full of trail-bikes through borders in west Africa - they get as much attention as the towing Land Rovers.

It would be the same with the buggies.

It doesn't sound, though, as if buggies in the Sahara is being done much!

Sam.
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  #9  
Old 4 Sep 2005
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Sam,

I thought you were asking about using them as the sole vehicle. Sorry!

If you are thinking of using such buggys as an addition to your regualar vehicles, then I agree that they might be put to good use to access hard to reach places. Or for fun if used for an "Event/teambuilding/expedition" trip for a group of people/company etc with your business.

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  #10  
Old 8 Sep 2005
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Buggies are ideal for short trips and I've been looking at the best way of buying or transporting a double buggy or a couple of single seaters, to a house I have in the south of Morocco. Does anyone know of any agents / dealers operating in Morocco or have thoughts on the best ways to transport - much appreciated.
Guy
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  #11  
Old 9 Sep 2005
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Drive it there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sam.

Sorry!
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  #12  
Old 25 Nov 2007
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Am feeling pretty inspired to take buggies for the Saharan trip I am planning at the mo'. We will probably build them ourselves if we do go down this route (its this or bikes), so I'm not overly concerned about reliability. As someone has already said, if it breaks down, fix it! In terms of capacity this should mean we can take as much fuel etc as we need (need to do some maths on this).

Not sure about which engines to use though - the ones you can buy vary from 150cc to 1100cc. I am thinking a 750cc to 1100cc in-line 4 of some kind, does anyone know the best way to add a reverse gear to a bike engine, without resorting to using the starter motor a la goldwing? Diesel might be worth a look as well... maybe?
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  #13  
Old 25 Nov 2007
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shara and buggies!
For myself, I was the first, in france, to build Buggies, in 1969
But, i never sed them in sahara.
after buggies, I built Baja's: lightened VW.
With them, I went to Sahara, and especially ténéré, and also to afghanistan.
The weight of the car, empty, is about 700kilos!
It works better than Land, Rover and crusier)

ACCUEIL

Yves
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