I'm a sailor and spend most months a year working abroad (a lot of that time on shipyards). I have been thinking about buying a vehicle capable of overland travel for a few years now and therefore been observing what (smaller) vehicles are mostly used in normal day life. The most used flatbed truck (that is also available in 4x4) by far no mather what continent seems to be the mitsubishi fuso/canter followed by the isuzu N-series and nissan cabstar. I assume this makes it easyer to find spare parts...
I often drive a 2012 iveco daily (2wd) when I'm back home and what I really don't like about it is the steering and pedal operation. It is to light and don't give any feedback.. (Don't know if they are drive by wire or not but they curtainly feel like it).
The 2.3ltr diesel has plenty of power though. We use it to tow a trailer with a 1500kg steel rowing boat + equipment and 6 people to competitions around northern europe. Don't know the total combined weight but I estimate somewhere between 5 and 6 tons. The ride is comfortable enough, often driving for 2 to 3 hours without a break.
Another thing about the iveco is that you don't see them a lot outside of europe so I think spare parts and service can be a problem, although I do start to see more iveco lorry's.
The mercedes sprinter (freightliner in america) is another van that I see regularly, mostly converted to luxury taxi buses. The 4x4 models don't look very tough to me though... I used to drive a mercedes vito and never had any big mechanical problems with it. It did rust like crazy though.
There are many other big vans you can choose from of course but I think most of them are only populair on their own continent and only look like they can go offroad. But I'm getting off-topic here and then we can spend the rest of our lives discussing different makes and models...
I often drive a 2012 iveco daily (2wd) when I'm back home and what I really don't like about it is the steering and pedal operation. It is to light and don't give any feedback.. (Don't know if they are drive by wire or not but they curtainly feel like it).
The 2.3ltr diesel has plenty of power though. We use it to tow a trailer with a 1500kg steel rowing boat + equipment and 6 people to competitions around northern europe. Don't know the total combined weight but I estimate somewhere between 5 and 6 tons. The ride is comfortable enough, often driving for 2 to 3 hours without a break.
Another thing about the iveco is that you don't see them a lot outside of europe so I think spare parts and service can be a problem, although I do start to see more iveco lorry's.
The mercedes sprinter (freightliner in america) is another van that I see regularly, mostly converted to luxury taxi buses. The 4x4 models don't look very tough to me though... I used to drive a mercedes vito and never had any big mechanical problems with it. It did rust like crazy though.
There are many other big vans you can choose from of course but I think most of them are only populair on their own continent and only look like they can go offroad. But I'm getting off-topic here and then we can spend the rest of our lives discussing different makes and models...
