DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
Andreas, nothing specific at the moment but a friend of ours has been transferred from Jeddah to San José, which makes us very focussed on the issues of ULSD.
SOLD (Sorry) - 2013 Malayan Tiger, 3500 Chevrolet Duramax
- Thread starter DiploStrat
- Start date
Andreas, nothing specific at the moment but a friend of ours has been transferred from Jeddah to San José, which makes us very focussed on the issues of ULSD.
DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
Apples and Apples
The Malayan is Tiger's answer to all of the complaints about the older Tigers - no insulation, noisy heat, single pane windows, condensation, wooden construction, etc. Unlike the Bengal, the water system in the Malayan will not freeze. The difference in depreciation is the difference between a four year old vehicle and one that is over a decade older. The other difference is that ours has all of the 4x4 work done already. A 2006 Tiger is not third world ready out of the box.
All of that said, can you take a Tiger to Central and South America? Absolutely: http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Travelin-Tortuga/south-america/overview.html Just remember that it is the feedback from this and other trips that created the Malayan.
However, for someone heading for Central and South America, ULSD is going to be a problem for a few more years. ;-( Modern gasoline engines are great, but I would have loved to have had the turbo diesel in the Andes. That said, an electronically controlled V-6 gasoline engine did very well for years.
A few years ago there were some nice delete kits that you could have installed in the US with an EPA letter or in Mexico without, but now, I don't know anyone who has a reliable high sulphur conversion tuner. ;-(
The Malayan is Tiger's answer to all of the complaints about the older Tigers - no insulation, noisy heat, single pane windows, condensation, wooden construction, etc. Unlike the Bengal, the water system in the Malayan will not freeze. The difference in depreciation is the difference between a four year old vehicle and one that is over a decade older. The other difference is that ours has all of the 4x4 work done already. A 2006 Tiger is not third world ready out of the box.
All of that said, can you take a Tiger to Central and South America? Absolutely: http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Travelin-Tortuga/south-america/overview.html Just remember that it is the feedback from this and other trips that created the Malayan.
However, for someone heading for Central and South America, ULSD is going to be a problem for a few more years. ;-( Modern gasoline engines are great, but I would have loved to have had the turbo diesel in the Andes. That said, an electronically controlled V-6 gasoline engine did very well for years.
A few years ago there were some nice delete kits that you could have installed in the US with an EPA letter or in Mexico without, but now, I don't know anyone who has a reliable high sulphur conversion tuner. ;-(
DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
I would not be so fast to blame big brother - I like to breathe. I'm old enough to remember smog in the US and have been in Beijing recently enough for my eyes to water. And I was there at a good time. That said, I don't think that anyone really understood how dirty diesels are. The impact is huge in Europe, where many private cars a diesels.
Thank you for the kind words. We worked with Tiger for about five years on details of that truck, trying very hard to address every complaint that had been registered.
I notice that you are considering a trip south. I have spent the half of my career in that part of the world and will do anything I can to be helpful.
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yeah I've been to SA and CA as well as mexico, and every time I go I meet travelers and really admire them. I just want to hit the open road and enjoy the planet.
I agree with the smog issue, but regulating small passenger vehicles as heavily as they have defeats the purpose. When my 2015 Duramax went into regen I was getting 11 miles per gallon for almost 50 miles and it would regen every 200, versus my 98 dodge diesel that got 22-23mpg all the time, then all the toxic goodies in the filters etc, I can't see the improvement in the big scheme of things.
DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
Shameless Bump for Living Systems
Stephen Stewart wrote the seminal discussion of the overland campervan, especially as it pertains to the challenge of living "in" the vehicle, as opposed to "beside" the vehicle.
See: http://www.silkroute.org.uk/equipment/choosevan.htm
Beloved Spouse and I have done a lot of the latter:
And, in the process, we have learned a lot about being too wet, too hot, too cold, etc. We are especially notorious for setting off from a home in the tropics and ending up in the Andes or the middle of the Sahara in November. BRRRRRR!
With Ndeke Luka we wanted a vehicle that you could really live inside, where you could be (reasonably) warm/cool and dry, no matter what the weather outside. We were surprised to learn that many camper owners routinely use campground facilities for bathing and toileting, as opposed to using the systems in their vehicle. Perhaps it is a legacy of a life misspent in the Third World, but we never wanted to have to depend on a campground for a hot shower, etc. To this end, we paid special attention to the following:
-- Insulation: Ndeke Luka has a lot. Similarly, the windows are all double paned and have integrated screens and shades. All water lines, etc., are inside the heated camper.
-- Heat: Many camper heaters are only good for spot use, or for "taking the chill off." They use too much propane and electricity. The Webasto Dual Top sips diesel and the the electrical supply is more than adequate. Basically, we turn on the heat in the Fall and leave it on, 24/7 all the time we are traveling. The thermostat keeps the temperature where we want it.
-- Cooling: Dirty secret, if it is over 90F, we head for a campground or driveway where we can get shore power. For anything else, we have a fantastic fan and we can run the air conditioner for three or four hours without difficulty.
-- Keeping clean: With some forty USG of fresh water, we can easily go four days or more with two adults taking a hot shower every morning. (The cat takes care of himself.) Shower every other day and practice any form of economy and you can go for weeks.
-- Ah P**P!: A Nature's Head makes this easy. Dump the urine bucket every 2-3 days and the compost pile every two weeks to a month. Did I mention that I do not like black tanks and especially dislike dirty hoses? Everyone will tell you that a composting toilet cannot work. Well, the same folks can prove that a bumble bee can't fly. We just invite people to take the sniff test - and we always win.
-- Food! We like food and so we have a convection microwave/grill, an induction cooktop, and a diesel stove. Each has its own virtues and weaknesses and all work on the electrical system and all are included. (You will have to buy your own grill.)
Size and numbers matter: As we used to say of the Red Army, "Quantity has a quality all its own." Very, very few overland vehicles can approach these numbers:
Battery: 600Ah of Lifeline AGM
Solar: 500w of GS100 panels
Alternators: 2x125A
The result is an extremely capable electrical system that can handle massive loads without strain and is virtually self regulating. It just works. (But you can enjoy the show on the two battery monitors if you are bored.)
If you can find a better equipped expedition vehicle at this price, buy it. (But do tell me what you found because I probably want one.) :lurk:
Stephen Stewart wrote the seminal discussion of the overland campervan, especially as it pertains to the challenge of living "in" the vehicle, as opposed to "beside" the vehicle.
See: http://www.silkroute.org.uk/equipment/choosevan.htm
Beloved Spouse and I have done a lot of the latter:
And, in the process, we have learned a lot about being too wet, too hot, too cold, etc. We are especially notorious for setting off from a home in the tropics and ending up in the Andes or the middle of the Sahara in November. BRRRRRR!
With Ndeke Luka we wanted a vehicle that you could really live inside, where you could be (reasonably) warm/cool and dry, no matter what the weather outside. We were surprised to learn that many camper owners routinely use campground facilities for bathing and toileting, as opposed to using the systems in their vehicle. Perhaps it is a legacy of a life misspent in the Third World, but we never wanted to have to depend on a campground for a hot shower, etc. To this end, we paid special attention to the following:
-- Insulation: Ndeke Luka has a lot. Similarly, the windows are all double paned and have integrated screens and shades. All water lines, etc., are inside the heated camper.
-- Heat: Many camper heaters are only good for spot use, or for "taking the chill off." They use too much propane and electricity. The Webasto Dual Top sips diesel and the the electrical supply is more than adequate. Basically, we turn on the heat in the Fall and leave it on, 24/7 all the time we are traveling. The thermostat keeps the temperature where we want it.
-- Cooling: Dirty secret, if it is over 90F, we head for a campground or driveway where we can get shore power. For anything else, we have a fantastic fan and we can run the air conditioner for three or four hours without difficulty.
-- Keeping clean: With some forty USG of fresh water, we can easily go four days or more with two adults taking a hot shower every morning. (The cat takes care of himself.) Shower every other day and practice any form of economy and you can go for weeks.
-- Ah P**P!: A Nature's Head makes this easy. Dump the urine bucket every 2-3 days and the compost pile every two weeks to a month. Did I mention that I do not like black tanks and especially dislike dirty hoses? Everyone will tell you that a composting toilet cannot work. Well, the same folks can prove that a bumble bee can't fly. We just invite people to take the sniff test - and we always win.
-- Food! We like food and so we have a convection microwave/grill, an induction cooktop, and a diesel stove. Each has its own virtues and weaknesses and all work on the electrical system and all are included. (You will have to buy your own grill.)
Size and numbers matter: As we used to say of the Red Army, "Quantity has a quality all its own." Very, very few overland vehicles can approach these numbers:
Battery: 600Ah of Lifeline AGM
Solar: 500w of GS100 panels
Alternators: 2x125A
The result is an extremely capable electrical system that can handle massive loads without strain and is virtually self regulating. It just works. (But you can enjoy the show on the two battery monitors if you are bored.)
If you can find a better equipped expedition vehicle at this price, buy it. (But do tell me what you found because I probably want one.) :lurk:
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Kgh
Let’s go already!
Fred,
A very belated thank you for inviting us into your home (Tiger) on the last day of ExPo East 2015. Sad to see you are selling, but your lifelong overlanding will probably have you back on the road as soon as is feasible.
We have been in Europe for the past 16 months, and have travelled and camped extensively. We just returned from a 2 week trip to Iceland, and fully understand "live in" vs. "live beside". We were in our older Defender and a roof top tent, and had great days, and days of 80MPH winds with snow and sleet. Still, was a blast.
To other readers, Fred and his wife have crafted on of the nicest, most capable vehicles I have ever seen. If you have the opportunity to pick up this rig, go for it!
Regards,
Kip
A very belated thank you for inviting us into your home (Tiger) on the last day of ExPo East 2015. Sad to see you are selling, but your lifelong overlanding will probably have you back on the road as soon as is feasible.
We have been in Europe for the past 16 months, and have travelled and camped extensively. We just returned from a 2 week trip to Iceland, and fully understand "live in" vs. "live beside". We were in our older Defender and a roof top tent, and had great days, and days of 80MPH winds with snow and sleet. Still, was a blast.
To other readers, Fred and his wife have crafted on of the nicest, most capable vehicles I have ever seen. If you have the opportunity to pick up this rig, go for it!
Regards,
Kip