Searching for the "just right" size for an overlanding vehicle

[RMP&O]

I am agreeing with Haven's original post. There is definately to big and to small.

Sure you can do it in a 2500lbs SWB super small vehicle but will it be fun, maybe, maybe not. And sure you can do it in a 60,000lbs million dollar truck. Will you be living like a king out there? Without a doubt but you will also be severly limited in where you can go.

Everybody has their own ideas. If you usually just go out into the deserta nd camp then by all means to small and to large may both work fine. In heavily wooded areas, jungle, rocks and the mountians to big or to small is not going to work very well at all.

Then you have the whole arond the world overland travel thing. In this case to small is definately better then to large. Fr example, try navigating that 60,000lbs rig through Latin Streets that are about 12ft wide. Make a wrong turn, come to a dead end and spend 4hrs getting it turned around! Or it is to tall and you gte hung up on some of those low hanging power lines. None of those kinds of things would I want to deal with.

For long range multi use around the world travel, there is defiantely an ideal size of the truck.

cheers

 

[rblackwell]

For me, with a family of four and plans that include long-term livability, our 'dream rig' is one of haven's 'oversize' rigs. Our requirements would add:

Living in the vehicle, not beside it, for weeks to months at a time.
The security and comfort of hard walls.
Alaskan, Eastern European, Australian, and African destinations.

As member Shachagra pointed out in his thread, remote towns are still serviced by 5-ton trucks. Reading trip reports and exploring other sites (like Stephen Stewart's) shows me that there are few areas so remote a 2- to 5-ton 4x4 truck can't get there. More remote than that, and we will just have to pass. That's a compromise we are willing to make.

Smaller trucks simply wouldn't have the load capacity to make serious overlanding enjoyable for us. Camping, yes, but long-term overlanding, no. And remote travel in a rig that is close to or beyond its designed capacity would stress me to no end.

If we have to sacrifice traveling some 'tight trails,' I think they are going to be very few. Especially if I design it with good approach and departure angles, and with the overall height reasonable.

That 'too big' Unicat would be very close to perfection for us.

I agree completely with Lynn. For really long term travel (year+) in all weather we want to be able to live inside.

Also want a vehicle with ample even excess GVW and if possible NO aftermarket modifications to the drive train and suspension.

On the 110 question - We have owned a number of 4x4 vehicles including
a LR Defender 110 (300TDi) when we lived in Aust, traveled in it with 2 kids. Great vehicle in some regards, amazing fuel consumption (11-12.5 l/100km regardless of terrain), good off road, great at water crossings - would go through over 4 feet of water but one of the most uncomfortable vehicles I have even experienced. A/C was a token gesture, in hot weather the floor got so hot my shoes would melt. And the 300TDi does not have a great reliability record.


Unicat (or GXV/ER) style vehicles are expensive to buy and to run, not all "overlanders" can or want to afford such vehicles.

But human nature being what it is we all justify our own position or decisions. We are a perfect example of this. When we had our Tiger in South America we often commented about the "silly Europeans and their big trucks". Now that we are getting a "big truck" we have a different perspective.

There is no "right" answer. But it makes for an interesting discussion.

Rob Blackwell

 

[witt]

Another variable in the live inside vs. live outside decision (which also influences vehicle size) is the climate you're travelling in.

During a year in Africa, we lived outside of a Defender 110 in a rooftop tent. Out of probably 300 nights camping, there were only a handful that we wished we were inside - mostly because of wind. The tent was fantastic, and I would do that again without hesitation.

We're now planning our next adventure through South America, and we expect it to be generally colder and windier than Africa. For that reason (and because we now a have a child) we're going with a camper solution so we can live inside.

 

[gchinsr]

Just to add another variable to the live in/live on debate. Due mainly to the loss of flexibility after my spinal reconstruction, a live in platform was not a choice, but a must. The use of a roof rack, or RTT would be extremely painful to use daily, and long term not be physically possible. The Land Rover 110HT has many proven options that are readily available, which best suit a live in arrangement. Also cost(er..lack of a large budget), being another factor influencing our choice for a vehicle which is easily converted into a live in camper. One advantage to being retired now, is time to research, and finding that purchasing, importing, and adapting the 110 as a live in, is not nearly as expensive as most believe it to be, making importation a non issue for a 110 as a base vehicle. Given the limiting factors, this is the best choice, and perfect size for us to build, to complete the journey. Not everyone's cup of tea by any means, and not meant to be.

 

[charlieaarons]

I am agreeing with Haven's original post. There is definately to big and to small.

Sure you can do it in a 2500lbs SWB super small vehicle but will it be fun, maybe, maybe not. And sure you can do it in a 60,000lbs million dollar truck. Will you be living like a king out there? Without a doubt but you will also be severly limited in where you can go.

Everybody has their own ideas. If you usually just go out into the deserta nd camp then by all means to small and to large may both work fine. In heavily wooded areas, jungle, rocks and the mountians to big or to small is not going to work very well at all.

Then you have the whole arond the world overland travel thing. In this case to small is definately better then to large. Fr example, try navigating that 60,000lbs rig through Latin Streets that are about 12ft wide. Make a wrong turn, come to a dead end and spend 4hrs getting it turned around! Or it is to tall and you gte hung up on some of those low hanging power lines. None of those kinds of things would I want to deal with.

For long range multi use around the world travel, there is defiantely an ideal size of the truck.

cheers

Can you truthfully say that you've carefully read Stephen Stewart's "treatise" on "Which van"?
"Before considering specific types of overland campervan it is useful to review some of the "features" that have to be balanced in a good overland campervan. For example vehicle size.

When parked most people would prefer to live in a large, rather than a small, vehicle. Whereas when navigating the back streets of Cusco anything larger than a car seems to be a liability. The balance people chose is a function of what they find important. People who are used to living in a small space and are very tidy may not value extra space much. On the other hand an (ex-)truck driver used to driving 40 tonne trucks thru small villages will not be intimidated by driving an eight metre campervan thru the back streets of Cusco."

If not, I suggest you read it.
http://www.xor.org.uk/silkroute/index.html

Charlie

 

[bajajoaquin]

I'm a little puzzled how we get from the original assumptions to a Tacoma being the right size:

"First, a couple of assumptions to frame the discussion. By overlanding, I mean a vehicle-assisted journey for two or more people that involves some travel on dirt and gravel roads, passage through remote areas, and at least a week of camping before restocking supplies."

I don't see in there anything about tight trails, steep ledges, or anything that would preclude a 1-ton truck, much less a Unicat. Now if you want to include additional criteria, like MPG, daily driver in an urban environment, ability to run a 3+ trail or whatever, I get it. But if you do that, you're getting away from the idea that the assumptions are broad-based.

 

[762X39]

I'm a little puzzled how we get from the original assumptions to a Tacoma being the right size:
I don't see in there anything about tight trails, steep ledges, or anything that would preclude a 1-ton truck, much less a Unicat.

The comment that it won't fit on a tight trail always causes me confusion. Overlanding or bush camping for a week or more at a time doesn't mean tight trails to me. We typically travel to wherever and once camp is set up I will explore on foot or hop on the mountain bike to hit the trails or go into town for supplies.
I have found that most destinations are reachable by a 5 tonne truck.
I have no interest in sleeping outside my vehicle anymore so my F150 with a camper is the least that I will do now. I think that a 1 tonne truck will never be too big but it will likely be too small. If the trips are limited to 7 days or less and the weather is temperate, people can endure all kinds of discomfort but extend the trip length and make the weather crappy, a big truck will almost be big enough.

 

[Buliwyf]

Most of North america seems fitted for a short to medium wheelbase fullsize truck.

IME a fullsize truck will fit just about anywhere that isn't a truely hardcore offroad trail. Makes sense being that most jeep trails were designed for jeeps, or were originally 4 wheel and dirt bike trails.

Any road that serves the purpose for vehicle travel, a fullsize fits down just fine in my area, give or take a few pin stripes from tree branches.

The only places I haven't been able to fit, usually went nowhere I'd want to wheel my expo rig, or any place that took me anywhere I wanted to go. Usually the tight trails in my area just go around in circles and are there just for off road entertainment, not actually traveling anywhere.

Every forest road, park road, etc. to get to my campsite is no problem for a fullsize. I need something that can cross a roadside ditch, power through mud 18" deep, flex over rutted rocky dirt roads that are left messy to keep suburban type folks out, pull a small fishing boat, and carry two motorcycles in the bed.

[Coolest thing about a fullsize, when you get as far as you can fit, just find a place to ditch it, and use your bikes to get the rest of the way to the campsite.]

 

[UHAULER]

I think somebody should tell these people their truck is too big and too "domestic" to travel the world.

http://turtleexpedition.com/

 

[GroupSe7en]

Another thing that we've had to add to our vehicle selection criteria is the aprox. 2500 miles we need to drive on the highway to get somewhere - 5K highway miles per trip! Our favorite overland trip is to Goose Bay Labrador and then around Newfoundland. Getting to Northern Canada from Central Florida is a loooong way. Our 'Just right' size vehicle needs to be a comfy, fast, and an economical highway cruiser on top of everything else.

Our next consideration was about the bugs. The mosquitos in Northern Labrador are out of a Stephen King novel. There's no way you could 'live beside' and actually 'live'.

We started off looking for something big enough to be comfortable for the three of us plus dog - a big unicat style rig. Lumbering along in a big truck wasn't going to work for us. Last trip we towed a small trailer and it was a pita. We've argued and bargained and made ourselves miserable trying to solve this problem!

We've whittled it down to a Cayenne with RTT and a sideroom.

Forget the fact that it's a Cayenne for a moment - think of it as a mid-sized SUV. With a small camp kitchen, it's 'just the right size' to fit all of our stuff for a couple of weeks. It's also cheap for the ferries. It can fit into any little flat spot on the side of the trail for camping.

'just right' for everything? No.
It's the best we could come up with, when all of the compromises battle it out in a no-holds-barred cage match. Not necessarily pretty, or totally logical, but...

 

[wild1]

Baby bears bed

Much like Goldylocks we have tried lots of alternatives to find the just right size for overland type travel. Our current platform has done over 70,000 miles and hundreds of nights out. They have ranged from overnight at the local fishing hole to several months long trips through the Southwest and Baja. Through it all it has been dead reliable, comfortable, utterly competent. I think that a one ton extended cab pickup with an eight foot box is about the perfect blend of size, durability and cost. With a flatbed or service body and a popup or hardsided truck camper it can perform a wider range of duties then almost any other vehicle. These kind of trucks and campers are widely available used and the prices are often a fraction of new. Having driven wildland fire fighting trucks throughout my career I can vouch that a one ton truck will go way more places then I would ever consider taking a camper!

 

[bob91yj]

I love your set up. I currently have the stock bed and a Sun Lite pop up camper...in a perfect world, a service body and a custom camper. The service body is on my to-do list.

 

[dare2go]

"Have you ever lived in a vehicle for 3 months at a time, with females?"

Most of us can't take (or choose not to take) 3 month trips, with or without females. I refer to the first post where I described some assumptions, including "at least a week of camping."

Well - 3 months is NOTHING - try for 3 years!! Our next trip will be (hopefully) around the same length, so I'm looking for something in your class of "too big", like a Mercedes 814DA or another small truck, maybe even Unimog.

 

[98dango]

I think the perfect rig is made from Unobtainium .

Unobtainium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In engineering, fiction, and thought experiments, unobtainium (also spelled unobtanium, and sometimes handwavium) is any extremely rare, costly, or impossible material, or (less commonly) device needed to fulfill a given design for a given application. The properties of any particular unobtainium depend on the intended use. For example, a pulley made of unobtainium might be massless and frictionless; however, if used in a nuclear rocket, unobtainium would be light, strong at high temperatures, and resistant to radiation damage. The concept of unobtainium is often applied flippantly or humorously.

 

[hochung]

Can there be a "just right size" vehicle for overlanding in most circumstances?

Yes there is such size. Any size will do, IF YOU WILL. Just take what you got and go travel. Make it work.