The most expensive overlander?!

[westyss]

Wow, thanks for the info, I wont be going anywhere now, Anyone looking for a Fuso FG? mine is for sale now.


Any one have an old Defender for sale, I am looking for one?:hehe:

 

[dwh]

but i never bothered to tell him that 100kms ahead was a hand cut tunnel that was less than 2 yards wide and 2.5 yards tall.

Puhleeeeze...

The specs on a Defender say it's 70.5 inches wide. Two yards would be 72". So if that tunnel was "less than 2 yards wide" by even 2", then even your oh-so-slim-and-lightweight Defender wouldn't get through.

So really...what's the difference if you're driving a Defender or a MAN if NEITHER ONE will fit?

Now I guess it's time for the ADV guys to start bagging on those big fat heavy Defenders that are incapable of doing single track trails.


Oh, and rich guys are bad, m,kay? Don't help them, m'kay? Cause, they're bad, m'kay?

 

[MNDodge]

So apparently all of those large expensive machines that compete in the Dakar drive in the soft sand with the help of.......magic tires....????

 

[762X39]

but i never bothered to tell him that 100kms ahead was a hand cut tunnel that was less than 2 yards wide and 2.5 yards tall.

Well...weren't you nice

 

[egn]

We shouldn't make this a discussion large vs small, rich vs not so rich, ... just because someone has problems to see that this is really unimportant. Instead it is important that overlanders/travelers help each other and the local people when necessary.

I always enjoy helping people, and I am sure most other people have the same feeling. Sometimes it is the start of a friendship. With the behaviour shown above you are not making friends.

I hope for him that he himself doesn't need help sometime, and meets a person with a similar attitude.

 

[howell_jd]

My wife tells me I am full of hot-air from time-to-time so that must help my flotation in sand! And my daughter believes in fairies so the magic pixie dust may actually be a component in my travels as well. I have been known to pray that I will make it over the next rock without breaking something too.

I do get stuck every once in a while but I like relating my own derailment stories much better than the ones about others deprecating someone else's adventures no matter what they drive - or where for that matter. Saying that - I have seen some wicked driving skills demonstrated off-road in classic two wheel drive RVs.

An open mind to all sorts of adventures and expeditions - wheeled or afoot - is what makes this forum so much fun and an informative site.

To landy89, You are welcome here in my opinion - not that it may matter - but a different manner of describing your opinion may not have as inflammatory effect in a thread that is defined by larger vehicles (ER, GXV, Unicat, etc.). Your perspective with a lighter vehicle is relevant but not exclusive or objective. I personally would appreciate seeing less of the one-upmanship or condescending treatment of what others select as their method to find a trail to journey upon.

Hopefully my viewpoint won't interfere with yours or others' vistas.

Enjoy.

Jonathan

 

[Kowboy]

I frequent a lot of different forums 'cause I enjoy the variety and my goofy rig don't really fit into any of 'em.

However, the "my rig is best ... and your rig sucks" attitude is not appreciated in any forum that I know of.

Perhaps you can locate a nice lil' forum for your Defender and share your thoughts with those Folks.

 

[charlieaarons]

We shouldn't make this a discussion large vs small, rich vs not so rich, ... just because someone has problems to see that this is really unimportant. Instead it is important that overlanders/travelers help each other and the local people when necessary.

I always enjoy helping people, and I am sure most other people have the same feeling. Sometimes it is the start of a friendship. With the behaviour shown above you are not making friends.

I hope for him that he himself doesn't need help sometime, and meets a person with a similar attitude.

Thank you, EGN. I detest "class warfare" on this forum.
Actually I find my U500 quite competent off tarmac,
except in bottomless muck.

Charlie

 

[landy89]

The specs on a Defender say it's 70.5 inches wide. Two yards would be 72". So if that tunnel was "less than 2 yards wide" by even 2", then even your oh-so-slim-and-lightweight Defender wouldn't get through.

It was a tight fit. and frankly i didn't tell the other driver because i forgot, not because i wanted to be mean. My point is that if you drive something wider than 2 meters, you must be thinking about that..same goes for height...with a regular sized vehicle you know that if it is a road, then chances that you can drive it are very high..not so with a monster machine.

So apparently all of those large expensive machines that compete in the Dakar drive in the soft sand with the help of.......magic tires....????

The dakar trail isn't as soft as you think. i have driven the 2011 trail and most of it is hard pack. Furthermore, if you get stuck in the dakar it is not a serious problem as there is machines around to pull you out...not the case when you are traveling on expedition. Would you and your spouse like to spend 5 days stuck at 5000 meters altitude because your heavy machine broke through the crust of a wet road - i've seen this before.

To landy89, You are welcome here in my opinion - not that it may matter - but a different manner of describing your opinion may not have as inflammatory effect in a thread that is defined by larger vehicles (ER, GXV, Unicat, etc.). Your perspective with a lighter vehicle is relevant but not exclusive or objective. I personally would appreciate seeing less of the one-upmanship or condescending treatment of what others select as their method to find a trail to journey upon.

Sorry if i offended all you heavy machine owners and lovers. I was only trying to give you some real world information when these machines are put to use in the environment for which they are claimed to have been built. I know that few of you will think i am trying to be objective, but i am and i certainly had and do have the resources to drive any vehicle we are talking about...yet i chose a light machine....You are welcome to drive around south america for a few years and see what vehicles are being used and where..i have and i have talked to many of the overlanders and what i posted about these machines is commonly accepted knowledge. There is nothing wrong with driving these machines, as there is nothing wrong with a 2CV, but there are very big compromises to be aware of that only experience will teach you. drive what you want, i will always help you when you need help. I am trying to help you right now with just a little feedback from the field, and i apologize if it isn't what you expected.

as for my choice of a Defender, it comes with compromise as well. compromises that are fairly obvious in terms of indoor living space. All vehicles are compromises, and my point remains that the marketing claims of these heavy machines do not live up to reality and that there are very real compromises to be aware of with these heavy machines.

Oh, i forgot one other big compromise for the heavy MAN type vehicles: very limited contact with local population. These rigs are designed as metal armor bubbles to isolate the driver from the outside world and it works, only criminals feel it is ok to approach the vehicle. instead a small vehicle is open and easy for local to approach to talk to you.

 

[trailsurfer]

Why people think they need to come to a forum and criticize other peoples choices remains a mystery to me. I have rigs of all sizes and have driven all types of vehicles all over this world. Drive what you want!

I just completed an Overland trip in Mexico with my Earthroamer and a buddy in his Defender 90. We both went to the same places and neither of us got stuck or had a problem. I even let him use my shower 50 miles down a 4x4 road!

 

[egn]

Oh, i forgot one other big compromise for the heavy MAN type vehicles: very limited contact with local population. These rigs are designed as metal armor bubbles to isolate the driver from the outside world and it works, only criminals feel it is ok to approach the vehicle. instead a small vehicle is open and easy for local to approach to talk to you.

My experience is different. Whether you get contact to local population mostly depends on your own attitude and not on the vehicle size you drive. If you are open, friendly and speak a few words of the language, then it is very easy to come in contact. It is even more easy if you provoke curiosity. Talking about an exotic vehicle is often a start for a very long conversation. Of course, when you have a large vehicle, most of the time the first question is: "What is the fuel consumption?". :sombrero:

 

[dwh]

Of course, when you have a large vehicle, most of the time the first question is: "What is the fuel consumption?". :sombrero:

Heh. In the U.S. we have a saying; "If you have to ask, you can't afford it."

 

[egn]

This was I meant with open and friendly. Saying (openly) something like this is exactly what would stop any further communication. :ar15:

Let people make up their own mind, instead of offending them and you have a good time.

 

[dwh]

This was I meant with open and friendly. Saying (openly) something like this is exactly what would stop any further communication. :ar15:

Yes. Perhaps I should have mentioned - it is a joke.

 

[egn]

Sorry, no offense. :bowdown:

I just wanted to point out that one has to be very careful when communicating. Something meant to be as joke can easily be taken as offense, if you don't know the communication partner very well.

I am always very careful in the beginning. But after warming up and drinking a few beer :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: we can call us bloody bastards without offense taken.