It's Quiet Here
 

It's a bit quiet here so here goes.

I've been under the G Wagen today, all transmission fluids changed for fully synthetic apart from the gearbox. It's a manual but uses ATF and the best I could find today was Dexron 3. 6 is fully synthetic. All UJ's greased. Tomorrow is replacing the fuel tank retain straps (1 has failed so I've only been putting maybe 20 litres in at a time, I don't fancy 95+litres in there!)

Next will be replacing all the fuel lines, sorting out the centre diff lock...........

Why? Well if all goes to plan I'm jumping off the hamster wheel next year.

But I'm pondering selling it and getting a scaby Sprinter van (they're all scaby by 3 years old I think they paint them with white emulsion from B and Q value range).

I figure even a 2wd one will take us just about anywhere. But it'll have a permanent double bed, fridge / freezer a bbq and that's about it. We're not going anywhere cold and wet so what more would you need?:thumbup1:

Yep.
I did wonder if the new layout for "4 wheels" is working?

As you say, I am one who has moved on, in terms of 4 wheels, to own a transit van, 2 wheel drive.
With a lightweight bike in the back (motorised or mountain bike) it does what I want; base camp, sleeping system off the ground with a roof over my head for any inclement weather, capable of carrying all manner of spares, diesel fuel economy, and I get to ride the bikes without luggage attached.

I do really like my G Wagen, it's extremely capable, and being a lwb has enough room for 2 to sleep in the back and with a roof rack it will have sufficient capacity to carry our stuff.

I've just swapped the engine for the 24 valve straight 6 MB engine (a 606 for anyone interested). Non turbo for less heat and stress so it's going really well at the moment.

But when I was underneath it yesterday (and today) you really start to think about the sheer complexity and weight such a vehicle involves. For 90% of the time pretty unnecessary.

So everything is a compromise I guess. My G Wagen is a known quantity (and OK call me shallow but I like it's rarity, slightly off pieste image)

But then I take a ride in a pretty new Sprinter (my son has the 4x4 version for work) and I'm liking the space and comfort.
And then there's Transits as well, rwd (a must if it's only 2wd IMHO) and plentiful, slightly cheaper then Sprinters as well.

Decisions.........

Ive recently done a loop thru europe, with my 110 and had similar thoughts about it being a "sledgehammer to crack a walnut". I love driving it , and wouldnt consider anything else say traveling thru Australia , where it was ideal for bush camping, but Europe during summer people must look and think what are you doing driving it along an autobahn.
In view of those thoughts , an American RV seems to be the answer for comfortable extended Ist world travel, some of the older diesels are quite affordable , to buy and run .

What I have heard about the RWDs is that they have higher ground clearance because of the room provided for the drive shaft and the depth of the differential.
On the other hand it is said that the diffs do whine too much.

I have a FWD which is fine for me when I have offroad tyres on the bikes in the back.
Ground clearance can be raised a bit by fitting AT tyres to a van, but I haven't bothered with that.

In a previous life I had the choice of a Series iii LR or a Transit as a work vehicle. I took the transit, with a mix of skill(yea right) and brutality it would go just about anywhere a heavily laden Series 3 would. If you yanked on the handbrake whilst flooring the throttle you had primitive traction control

Yes I think the rwd transits have better ground clearance, apart from the rear shock mounts. I'm not intending on limiting ourselves to 1st world, so I figure with some decent tyres and sensible / cautious attitude we'll not limit ourselves.

Rightly or wrongly I've convinced myself that fwd is more fragile than rwd off tarmac.

Newish Sprinters have traction control as well.

Maybe we'll try the G Wagen rear bed idea first. My wife hates roof tents but if it's just the 2 of us the G Wagen maybe OK.

Have ever looked closely at one of the (very cheap if at least 5 yrs old) average American RVs? Like a "Class C"? The shoddiness of construction is incredible. And they come with great big petrol V8s and automatic transmissions, which account for fuel consumption 2-3 times what something close to the same size gets in Europe.
Nobody buys a Unimog for fuel economy, but my 12 ton U500 camper gets better mpg than one of those 6.5 ton junkheaps.

Charlie

my cus is touring europe with his missus in his hymer motorhome, has been for 2 years now. They love the van, but do really want 4wd because even in places like greece and cyprus it would be useful.

The G wagen is a mighty fine vehicle, beautifully built from the days when MB construction quality really meant something, wheras as you have said, on their newer vans it doesn't. You pay a premium for a perception of quality that just isn't deserved, the build quality is awful.

I've always liked the look of Hymers.
A kind of chunky outline with the driver, and front seat passenger, in a very "forward control" location.

So, where are M Benz manufacturered nowadays?
The complaints about their QC/QA sound very much like those made about BMWs, the cars (BMW lemon website) and the motorcycles.

I was thinking more on the lines of a diesel "pusher" , more top end than the economy model gas , or FRED 7.5 tonne models , dont think you would call those shoddy construction, and they are much sturdier build than anything on the european scene , which are very much built within significant weight restrictions. Did consider modifying a Mog for a while having owned one whilst in Australia , but same sort of vehicle as the 110 . Horses for courses :)