Need advice & feedback: LC 100 1-3+ year expedition

[Pskhaat]

3) Valid title, registration and license on foreign market 80 series diesel LC while in use in non-USA countries (don't have a solution for this, need help)...We DO NOT seek to register this vehicle in the US.

Yeah, I was curious as to the desire on the last part also about wanting registration in the States. Sorry I can't be much further help on non-domestic registration & things as I have very little knowledge there. However, is it possible to register a US not-for-profit company for business/research/writing in Canada and then register said vehicle under Canadian company?

 

[Scott Brady]

How is your trip preparation and vehicle selection coming? Looking forward to following your progress.

 

[dhackney]

How is your trip preparation and vehicle selection coming? Looking forward to following your progress.

Timely question. I've been offline working on a project for that last few months and have just returned to reality. Now 100% focused on "what's next."

Before submerging for the last portion of that project my last official act was to have a long conversation with Christo Slee, who lived up to his stellar reputation for honesty, experience and insight.

His first comment to me was "these things work great for 2-3 weeks of camping, but for what you are looking at they will get very small, very fast." After much consideration, conversation and several soul searching reviews of what we are lookinig for in a four-wheeled transportation platform, I think I've got to agree with him.

Here is the list of our decision points, our decisions in ( ):

• Trailer Y/N (N)
• U.S. registered vehicle Y/N (Y, want all of our documents to match)
• U.S. market chassis Y/N (probably Y due to previous)
• Diesel Y/N (Y)
• 4x4 Y/N (Y)
• Factory 4x4 Y/N (Y if possible with chassis)
• Global parts and service capability Minimal / Doable / Maximum (Maximum if chassis allows, must be at least Doable)
• Toilet / shower Y/N (Y)
• Permanent bed Y/N (Y)
• Canvas side or hard side (H)
• Level of mud / rough road / off road capability – Minimal / Capable / Anything (Capable)
• Self recovery capability - Minimal / Capable / Maximum (Maximum)
• Amount of interior space – Minimal / Compact But Doable / Plenty (CBD)
• Amount of storage space - Minimal / Compact But Doable / Plenty (CBD)
• Standard/HiCube/RORO shipping (container if at all possible)

For a U.S. registered vehicle in the price range of what we're willing to put into a self-insured (once we leave the U.S.) depreciating asset, that list of decisions pushes us towards:

- Sportsmobile EB Ford E350 w/aftermarket 4x4
- Provan Tiger Chevy Diesel 3/4 or 1 ton factory 4x4
- Xplorer Ford Diesel 3/4 or 1 ton factory 4x4
- Mercedes / Dodge / Freightliner Sprinter 158" LWB w/custom aftermarket 4x4 conversion

Optimally, we'd prefer a foreign chassis set up for 240VAC, etc. but given our experience at land border crossings, we feel having all of our documents be consistent, i.e. same address, same country, etc. is more of a priority.

Width is a real factor in the developing nations we prefer to travel in, so the Sprinter is best there. It also has by far the best parts and service availability worldwide of these choices. Downside is a hodgepodge custom aftermarket 4x4 conversion that will also be very expensive to implement.

I'd like to post a general query for input on these choices and a long list of considerations that go with them and the results. What is the appropriate forum here where I can get the maximum feedback?

Doug

 

[calamaridog]

I'm glad you spoke to Cristo Slee and I'm glad he lived up to his reputation.

I figured two people living off the back of motorcyles would find the LC to be rather spacious

I was thinking about the Sprinter conversion idea but I keep getting hung up on this little fact:

"2.7-liter I5 Turbo Diesel engine produces 154 horsepower at 3,800 RPM and 243 pounds-feet of torque from 1,600 to 2,400 RPM."

I'm just not seeing it. Call me skeptical, but I don't see the power numbers to move a large 4x4 RV around the 3rd world. Then again, your not in a hurry right? The the Mitsubishi diesel makes similar power...

The good news is that several people who participate here will have some good ideas about this new approach.

I'm sure Scott will direct you to a more appropriate section, I'm not 100% sure.

Here is a link to another idea, but maybe it is too wide for your needs:

http://www.ruf-inc.com/aatrec.htm

 

[dhackney]

I was thinking about the Sprinter conversion idea but I keep getting hung up on this little fact:

"2.7-liter I5 Turbo Diesel engine produces 154 horsepower at 3,800 RPM and 243 pounds-feet of torque from 1,600 to 2,400 RPM."

[snip]

Here is a link to another idea, but maybe it is too wide for your needs:

http://www.ruf-inc.com/aatrec.htm

LC vs. bike: After we allow for basic gear, spares, recovery, etc. we don't gain much in the way of cubic carrying capacity. It comes out to about one to two pannier boxes of space. The primary advantage is it allows my wife to share the driving duties, but it remains primarily a "hotel to hotel" type of platform since, in her words, she's "not a tent girl."

Power: In the developing economies we prefer to travel in the road conditions severely limit your rate of travel anyway, so speed is not much of a limiting factor. You need enough torque to climb the passes, but flat out speed isn't used much outside of open desert, savannah areas or the Oz outback. You are usually very limited by the "target rich" environment...

Here's a really well done web site from a Swiss family out in a Sprinter: http://www.escampette.net/ They are currently in Pakistan up near Kashmir and started over in Viet Nam, so I guess its working for them. Note, however, that they are in the medium wheelbase (228" / 19 ft / 5.79m) version.

Thanks for the link, I hadn't seen them before. Actually pretty perfect for our needs. Size is OK compared to what we're looking at, only 1" wider than the Sportsmobile & Tiger. Big limiting factor in size is the ability to fit into a shipping container. Looks like you'd have to take the box off the RUF to fit it in.

Check out the turning radius comparison:

- Tiger extended cab: 50.8 feet
- Toyota Land Cruiser: 39.7 feet
- RUF AATREC: 37.7 feet – it actually turns tighter than a Land Cruiser!

 

[calamaridog]

I'm understanding your needs better now that you said your wife is not a "tent girl". I can certainly understand that, I've lived out of a tent for a month before, and it's not for everone. I'm sure my wife would not live out of a Land Cruiser and sleep on the roof for a world tour

The newer Mitsubishi diesel offers more torque than the Sprinter, but if you are going for a smaller/lighter design similar to the one you linked, then I can see how it would work for you.

The issue with the shipping container is interesting too. Definitely a limiting factor. The AATREC site says "Complete camper autonomy from the chassis when required, enabling the fully functional shelter to be removed and operated independently from the chassis while the chassis is used for other purposes". Then you have the expense of shipping two large items.

800 mile range with 73 gallons of fuel capacity? Don't know if that is important to you?

The turning radius of the cabover design is amazing.

And at perhaps $150,000 for that AATREC thing, you could sure stay in a ton of hotels!

This is all very interesting Have fun planning, and keep the updates coming. This is much more fun than reality TV

 

[gjackson]

Couple of issues to throw into the mill: You are completely right to not worry about the power. The TDI in my D110 produces something like 115bhp. For a truck that big it is very low power, but it wasn't until we got back to the States that I felt I needed more power. Even places where you can go fast in the 3rd world, it usually isn't wise to.

Just from our experience in Africa, we started by stopping at a hotel almost once a week just to break from camping, but after getting ripped off, getting fleas and worrying constantly about the safety of the truck, we found it much more relaxing and enjoyable to camp. Everyone is different, but the truck security issue really brought it home to us.

cheers

Graham

 

[kbellve]

Something not mentioned is a Ford Diesel Excursion as an option.

It has a very simple but strong suspension with a common solid front axle.

It has plenty of room for storage, even sleeping inside.

It has a decent diesel engine.

On the con side it is heavy and large.

 

[Scott Brady]

Good suggestion kbellve,

I also like the Excursion, and have even considered it as a solution. It could easily be built into a serious expedition platform. :clapsmile

Oh, and welcome to the forum