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

[haven]

Adventure travelers have used all sorts of vehicles on their journeys. Motorcycles, passenger cars, and trucks of all sizes each have their place in the history of motorized overland travel. Can there be a "just right size" vehicle for overlanding in most circumstances?

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.

Given these assumptions, some vehicles are too small to provide enough space for people and supplies, and lack enough off-pavement capability to safely make the journey. Other vehicles are too large to fit on tight trails. And some vehicles are just right.

In photos:

Too little
---------------
Suzuki Jimny

Mercedes Gelandewagen 2 door SWB

Icon CJ3B

A little too big
-------------
Ford F150 Raptor

Hummer H1

Dodge Power Wagon

Way too big
------------
Ural 4320

MAN heavy truck with custom camper

Unicat on Mercedes Actros

 

[haven]

And some are just right

Brute Double Cab

Tacoma Double Cab (forum member Tacodoc)

Land Rover 130 (forum member Oilworker)

 

[haven]

The dimensions of the "just right" vehicles fall within these ranges

Wheelbase -- 125 to 140 inches
Overall length -- 205 to 220 inches
Width -- 70 to 75 inches
Bed size -- about 60 inches square
cargo capacity -- 1200 to 1400 lbs

Much smaller than this, and the vehicles lack enough space.
Much larger, and the vehicle won't fit on enough trails

But this "just right" size is a good place to start your considerations.

Then you can add consideration of other characteristics for your overlanding vehicle, including
fuel economy, which translates to miles before the next fill-up
independent front suspension vs solid front axle
wheel and tire size
ease of repair
availability of parts where you'll be traveling

 

[haven]

My idea here is to get people thinking about the best size vehicle for their overland adventures. I chose a couple of parameters that seemed reasonable for most people. Your needs may be different.

For example, if you're traveling in a country where hostels and boarding houses are common, and you can buy food at the town market or from roadside vendors, you may not need the same capacity to carry camping gear. Ditto if you may be traveling in a climate where you can comfortably sleep out without a tent. Or if you're traveling with more than four people, you may need more space than my "just right" vehicle provides. Or perhaps you're traveling in a group with several smaller vehicles, and you agree to share the load.

What's the "just right" size of vehicle for you?

 

[cwsqbm]

People travel cross country on bicycles, but I'd personally like something that I can sleep in instead of on or beside. I agree with keeping the outer dimensions small as possible, but having a 4-door pickup truck for one or two people is a waste of potential bed space. For two people, a full size regular cab truck with an 8' bed can haul an nice sized pop-up camper and all the supplies you need without being too big. I'm not a flippac fan, as I prefer a solid roof over my head, or at least not having to worry about a rain fly as it always seems to rain no matter where I am.

With more than two, it gets complicated to have enough seating and a vehicle everyone can sleep in. At that point, I start looking at vans with a pop-up roof. A VW Syncro is about ideal, but old and expensive. A small truck with four people and pop-up camper is probably overloaded by the time you consider the weight of the camper, people, and supplies, and not really that much smaller than a regular length van.

 

[gjackson]

Perfect size for me and my wife is a D110, but we can easily get away with a RRC at 100 inches wheelbase. Anything bigger is just silly (for us). I used to lust after a 130, but now realize there's no need for the extra size; we are very comfortable with what we have.

cheers

 

[Corey]

The right size vehicle is the one I have right now.
I made very important decisions when looking at it as a new purchase that it would have enough cargo space in it to haul whatever I might need to.

Kids are grown so no need for back seats, plenty of power, parts are easy to get, and tons of aftermarket support, ect.

 

[john101477]

Ok that 130 is sexxxy. believe it or not I have never seen one. Now I gotta do some research on that!!!!

 

[Lynn]

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.

 

[bob91yj]

Depends on where I'm going, who/what is going with me. I'm fortunate enough to have two totally different rigs (Dmax/pop up camper and a Jeep LJ), and a 24' enclosed trailer so I can take it ALL with me sometimes!

The truck is comfortable for my wife and I and our dogs (Boxer's), with room left for our grandson when he is old enough to travel with us. It's not great for over land travel but will get us to remote camping locations. The LJ can be packed for a week for two in Baja, or a few days in Death Valley with the dogs along. I'd miss the options I have if I was limited to one vehicle.

 

[1leglance]

As I have said before in other threads I have 5 different configurations and 3 different types of trips...
Configurations:
just me
me & 1 son
me & both sons (13 & 20)
me, wife & 1 son
me, wife and both son

trips..
weekend..
less than 1 week..
more than 1 week...

Right now the 75 series Troopie is near perfect for everything unless there is foul weather.
I am not a hard core wheeler so not too worried about trails I can't go on.

More and more I am thinking it would be better to have 2-3 rigs..
a Ural with powered side car for solo travel
Troopie
Excursion 7.3L diesel with a Colorado Camper Van pop top for highway comfort and sleeping for 4

 

[haven]

The "just right" size of a vehicle like a Tacoma Double Cab means it's (barely) small enough and maneuverable enough for tough trails like Rubicon or Dusy-Ershim, but still large enough to carry a camper and enough supplies for an extended trip.

Every vehicle choice has its strengths and weaknesses. Not all of us have the budget for multiple expedition vehicles. If you need a vehicle that can work in a wide set of circumstances, then the "just right" size deserves a careful evaluation.

 

[charlieaarons]

What you are proposing is ludicrous!

Sure, I understand if you are talking for yourself exclusively. But in general? That is like claiming to know the perfect boat to "sail the waters".

Great way to spur a conversation though.

I thoroughly second Joaquin Suave's opinion! Have you ever lived in a vehicle for 3 months at a time, with females? And just wait till you get to our age.
So far, in an elapsed total of ~7months in Australia, we've "compromised" route planning once in a major way due to dimensional considerations: we took the main road to Cape York instead of the Telegraph Track.
And Lynn's point about the world being serviced by 5 ton trucks is very cogent. As I often state, when one is 8000 miles away from home one doesn't actively seek out the roughest, toughest 4WD challenge. For a long list of very good reasons.

Charlie

 

[grizzlyj]

Hi

My wife and I hooked up with a couple in a 130 earlier this year for some Moroccan pistes and it struggled. Personally I think Landies are cool and a 110 is a good choice, but a 130 is too big for the design. The nice 130 pictured seems jacked up enough to maybe get around the clearance issue, but you will, I think, have too much weight on the back axle on a long trip. And you can't escape the fact that if you want as much space for you in any given wheelbase you don't want a long bonnet.

Snipped-
And Lynn's point about the world being serviced by 5 ton trucks is very cogent. As I often state, when one is 8000 miles away from home one doesn't actively seek out the roughest, toughest 4WD challenge. For a long list of very good reasons.

Charlie

That point is perfect sense, except I don't want to go where the buses and delivery lorries stick to, yet that by no means extreme off road. Not comfy for my wife sometimes but not a problem for the truck at least

We also hooked up with an Austrian couple in a 6 year old 3.5 ton Bremach, which seemed to work well enough, and is their only vehicle at home other than a scooter too.

The problem with both the Bremach and the 130 was a fabric pop top, so the occasions that the inside was not too hot, not too cold, and not too noisy with it flapping in the wind were rare.

My own Mog has a lovely big box on the back allowing loads of storage and living space, as well as sleeping across the vehicle in a permanent bed with decent mattress, but may be too big for some people. Its size has just about not stopped us going anywhere yet, but plenty of places that does mean getting out to walk into town etc.

 

[Iain_U1250]

I have a 110 Defender, fully kitted out for remote travel ( I took the telegraph track back from Cape York Charlie - your Mog would have made easily).





For me the big question do you want to "live beside" or "live inside" If you are happy using the vehicle just for sleeping in, then a Land Rover 110/130 of Landcruiser Troop Carrier would be great. We found that the "live beside" option is great for two -three week trips, and as long as the weather is good, everyone is happy. If you are out in a remote areas where it rains for a few weeks - then the fun stops and your are basically just surviving. We were outback last year during the record rains out near Birdsville - and living outside is not fun at all. After a few days of constant rain, everything you own is wet, muddy and generally "feral"

My Unimog is one of the smaller ones, only 7.5 ton and 2.2m wide, 6.1m long, a 3.2m wheelbase and 3.3m high. In that we have permanent double bed with a proper sprung mattress, a composting toilet in a cupboard, two comfortable seats and a table, a shower area, a fridge and freezer, diesel stove, sink, proper water filter and 180lt of water, 25lt of hot water, 9kW diesel heater for when it's cold, 450AH of batteries and 425W of solar panels. We can carry over a ton of extra "stuff" if necessary and will carry a whole load of stuff for "living beside" when the weather is good.

We think this is the minimum for an "expedition vehicle" that we can drive around the world for two years or so - any less equipment and you are just camping