Belgium Iltis: Belgium to Japan rijstkorrel.be

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Iltis85

New member
Here is a link to an expedition from Belgium to Rijstkorrel Japan in a Belgium Bombardier Iltis.

www.rijstkorrel.be

The Adobe flash video is incredible and well worth watching the entire trip report. The video is mainly in the Belgium language, but very interesting. You can also look at pictures of the restoration that was done on the vehicle prior to the trip. They pulled of the original military body and put on a New Old Stock (NOS) body tub. The vehcile was basically stock, as produced by Bombardier. The original tires were replaced by the time they reached Bulgaria. New tires were shipped by DHL. They had some problems with the CV axles in Romania. The inner CV bolts broke and were replaced. The trip took them from Belgium to Germany, Hungery, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, across many of the xxxxStan areas, then into Tibet, China a short detoure to Indonesia and then Japan.

The VW Iltis was designed in Germany. Canada bought the license for it's own production and then shipped the plant over to Belgium to produce the Belgium Bombardier Iltis. The drive train is the Audi Quatro. The engines are about 74 hp and designed as low compression engines. This is best for using bad gas. On this sort of trip, the low compression engine got it's share of bad gasoline.

Happy viewing........


I am in the process of completing an off frame restoration of a Bombardier Iltis, so I was pleased to see how well the Belgium Bombardier Iltis did on this extended trip of a lifetime.


Cheers!

Stuart
Canada
 
Christian P.

Christian P.

Expedition Leader
Staff member
wow, this is the craziest overlander site I have never seen.

the intro video about the Iltis with the 3 "Abba" girls is so funny.
 
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H

homeyclaus

New member
Uff... the Iltis. I swear that on every exercise and deployment I spent more time under the hood of one than driving the thing. Mexican-made rejected Volkswagen parts assembled in Quebec. Then some fool removed the fuel filter because it was clogged and you had to stop every couple of km's to scoop crud out of carb's float chamber.

I REALLY REALLY like the German TDI Iltises though.

A working Iltis is a capable vehicle.
 
I

Iltis85

New member
Iltis in real world conditions

homeyclaus said:
Uff... the Iltis. I swear that on every exercise and deployment I spent more time under the hood of one than driving the thing. Mexican-made rejected Volkswagen parts assembled in Quebec. Then some fool removed the fuel filter because it was clogged and you had to stop every couple of km's to scoop crud out of carb's float chamber.

I REALLY REALLY like the German TDI Iltises though.

A working Iltis is a capable vehicle.
Click to expand...
Did you watch the video? That Belgium Bombardier Iltis did an amazing trip. The only issues they had were breaking an inner CV bearing bolt and replacing tires (which would happen on the territory they covered) . As you may know, the Iltis engine was designed as a low compression engine. This design factor was to permit the use of bad gasoline (which was the kind available on this trip). The issue of the break down of the foam balls in the gas tank and the collecting of junk in the fuel filters is also well known. DND replaced the Facet fuel pump from under the body (near the gas tank) and used higher PSI pump in the engine bay with a recirculating filter system (actually a diesel filter) with a drain. This fix seemed to get rid of the junk in the carb float chamber.

You have to remember that the vehicle used in this video was a restored 1986 Belgium Bombardier Iltis. After the manufacture stopped in Canada, the line was sent to Belgium for the final production in a German VW plant. Not many folks would be able to do a trip of that challenge in a 25 year old 1/4 ton vehicle. I liked the video because it shows the exact environment that the VW/Bombardier Iltis excels in...... rough road endurance... which is why it did so well in the Paris-Dakar rally.

Ya, I hear you about the issues on the CF Iltis in exercises. I do all my own mechanical work on my Iltis which I have been driving since 2005. Mine runs well and I have very few issues at all. There is a big difference between driving a vehicle that a bunch of 19 to 24 year old pvt and cpl have been sticking their hands into the engine compartment, and having your own vehicle to drive and maintain. I really enjoy the wee beastie....

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/25551-1985-Canadian-Bombardier-Radio-Iltis-HF-VHF

Picture of my Iltis from around 2 years ago...............
attachment.php



Cheers!
 
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