Double Dutch World Safari 2010 - 2020 UPDATE

[Fearless]

Hi all
It has been a long time ago, but as most overlanders know, sitting behind a desk at home writing stories and day dreaming away is a lot easier then travelling the world and looking for the next good camp spot, light the fire have a coldie and enjoy the stars. Before you know it is time to go to bed, or your remote spot has no phone connection hence updates are being postponed.
Anyway enough excuses
1. Our Fuso FG 84 was sold last year; it did hurt a little as we spend so much money on it to get it right. (NEVER BUY NEW AGAIN) Since we professionally upgraded the truck in Europe (different suspension-shock absorbers) we travelled West Africa-to North Cape-Followed by Siberia in winter-Mongolia, China, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia without anymore hassles
2. But having seen the expertise in truck building in Europe we kept looking for a larger truck something what could also carry a motorbike, more heavy duty and more water capacity.
3. Ultimately we return to Australia so the truck had to be Right hand drive. While in Laos we received a call from our friends in Holland that a Mercedes Atego 4X4 Ex Army was on the market and it was Right Hand drive. Hard to sell in Europe so the price was right. It took 1 week and the deal was done.
4. Rest is history, Camperbouw Holland build the living part, sub frame and welding work done by professional s with Paris to Dakar experience
5. March 2013 our new truck was ready and we embarked on Stage 6 of our World Safari. Europe to Nepal. Crossing Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan (Absolute gem) Kyrgyzstan-Tibet and Nepal. Here we left our truck to go home for a month.
6. Nov 2013 we returned to Nepal to start stage 7 which includes India-Bangladesh-Pakistan-Iran-Oman- Saudi Arabia and Sudan. (Exact route to be decided)
Our website is update (blogs and photos) till Nepal end of Stage 6, India update stage 7 is coming soon.
www.doubledutchworldsafari.com or join us on facebook robert.vandenhoven@facebook.com

Cheers
Fearless

 

[Wainiha]

Looking foward to more of your adventure and checking out your vehicle.

 

[Fearless]

Hi Wainiha

Thank you for the response, you will find plenty of trip information on our site but very little truck info.

Main reason I am non technical. Other reason before we started our world tour we travelled in varies cars (landcruisers and Nissan Patrols) for around 30 years. In this time I have learned that once you go away for extended time ( not the usual weekend trips or the annual 4 week holidays) things will go wrong and repairs are needed. (the more really off road the more repairs.

In 2010 we purchased a light truck (Mitsubishi FG 84 4X4) and converted this into a motorhome. At the time we build it our experience was limited to our living part and what we required for extended travel. This is why we choose a off road caravan builder to build this to our specifications as we knew what we wanted plus my feeling is that a off road caravan is build much stronger than a motorhome fit out. (The caravan bounces up and down behind your car)

The problem was and still is that aftermarket gear for 4WD is available everywhere in Australia. Most of the mechanics are off road fanatics so understand what is required. Companies such as ARB and TJM have most available off the shelf.

BUT this is not the case in Off road trucks hence no expertise except in the mining industry where plenty of mechanics are around and the driving is not the type of off road driving we do. In our case a lot of suspension issues shock asorber issues etc etc. Worse of all once you leave Australia you lose all your warranty.

In a nutshell a lot of issues and a lot of cost. Lucky we solved all issues in Europe after 12 months africa travel when I realized that off road truck building is very professional (Thanks to the Paris to Dakar race) and many companies specialize in this type of work. Further to this no need go with after market suspension etc etc as most heavy duty trucks such as MAN and Mercedes 4X4 Off Road trucks 7500KG and over come with this standard including diff and centre diff locks.

The light trucks (up to to 7000KG) trucks are just that light trucks and need a lot of work to get to the standard we as overlanders require. In the end we got it right but we spend more money than if we had purchased a mercedes/MAN or Unimog.

Cheers
Fearless.

 

[alan]

Hi Fearless,
Good see you back on the road, i wondered what happen to the Fuso, so basically the coil spring suspension set up could'nt cope or other reasons?
Keep living the dream!!!:smiley_drive:

 

[Fearless]

Hi Alan,

No all the suspension issues we had in 2010 where all solved in 2011 in Europe and no further issues after this.
However while in Europe we saw bigger and better things?? As you do. So after 150000KM and 3.5 years of overland travel we realized we wanted a little bigger and a motorbike in the truck.

We purchased the larger truck while doing stage 4-5 of our world safari. This was build while we continued to travel towards South East Asia in 2012. Once we arrived in Malaysia we got back to Europe early 2013 to take delivery of our new truck and continued doing the Stan Countries-Tibet and Nepal in the new truck. It only took a few weeks to sell the old truck and this was sold to a follower on our website.
Currently travelling in Southern India enroute towards Pakistan and Iran in March/April.

Cheers
Fearless

 

[Fearless]

Hi All

Our website www.doubledutchworldsafari.com Stage 7 India until week 10 is now updated blog and photos.
Currently travelling north along the India East Coast.

Cheers
Fearless