Recent content by DiploStrat

Truck is currently in UK.

Cleaning before putting into storage. At the happy place, Atkinson Vos. On the road to Gara Medouar: https://diplostrat.net/2025/05/16/the-road-to-gara-medouar/

Truck has been well maintained (records available). Initially overhauled by Terry Lee Enterprises (http://www.terryleeenterprises.com/) and, most recently, with annual visits to Akinson Vos, a Mercedes/Unimog specialist in UK. (https://www.unimogs.co.uk/) Well used and loved since 2017. Time...

Greetings from NoVa. Some thoughts: -- While the Bliss modules are designed to be shipped as marine containers, I would ask them how people get these containers to their trucks and mount them, etc. I am sure that there is a way, I just don't know what it is. -- You may not need any special...

Probably easier/cheaper to simply ship your truck. This is what we did. Vehicle shipment is the least expensive part of taking a US camper overseas. Insurance/storage/Schengen visa limitations can be much more expensive...

Yes. Took the truck to them when we first arrived in UK. First time that the truck got a good worker with people who work on these beasts all day. Have gone back every year since for a "spa day." Heading back now to take care of some rotting air lines and worn out bushings. Great people.

We use these cats. A lot. https://www.unimogs.co.uk/

Looks like a fun project! I crossed the Sahara in a Blazer, but now that I am older and uglier, I want a bit more long term sustainability. All the best on your build!

While you are at it, you probably want to rethink your decision not to charge from the alternator. My experience is that you can't have too many charge sources. It is 105F at 8:30PM and, after about four hours of air conditioning, I am going to have to plug in. I'm down to about 70%.

I'll play. Composite box, batteries in the box, inverter/charger mounted outside the box, in an aluminum box. Solar charging works perfectly. Shore power charging works perfectly. Engine/alternator charging was poor, almost nothing. Looked at the batteries - nice big positive and negative...

I'll play. The very first, and most important question is, where are you going? -- North America -- Pan Am Highway -- Europe/North Africa -- Subsaharan Africa -- Silk Road/Asia Each of these has different requirements for water, fresh and grey, and power. Examples: -- For North America...

FWIW, AEONRV use a variation of this idea. 1kw+ inverter feeding the built in 3kW Victron Inverter/Charger. Been using this for a about 50 campers.

My current rig has the spare below the garage. As the spare is really heavy, this requires a heavy steel frame and a winch to lift it. Put it at the bottom/front/side of the garage and use a ramp to lower. A simple hand/electric winch will handle lifting. Lay it on the floor and the tie down...

Actually, internal mounting is much easier and lighter and length is length. Less weight and lower. (Actually, you want the spare up front, as the military do it, but that might interfere with a pass through. But it is your truck and your money. I have a rear mount and know what I would do if...