http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10897
Go to the link in the above short thread.
download or read the free parts/ books and make your own mind up.
Basicly a very experienced chap...wrote a good book, with lots of experience related points to do with both driving, vehicle preperation and equipment.
From his desert book free down load.. for example...
"Section 4: FUEL, WATER AND FOOD
4.1 FUEL
4.1.1 How much to carry. It is as vital to carry sufficient fuel and sensible reserves in the desert as
it is not to overload the vehicle. Fuelling points are invariably widely spaced; the distance between
them -as shown in the notes on Vehicles for Desert Terrain - is a major criterion in selection of
vehicle, total payload and payload left over for crew and other supplies. If D is the distance
between fuelling points:
Total gallons required = D + 25% + 100 miles all divided by the expected mpg.
(i.e. a reserve of 25% plus 100 miles to cover diversions and difficult going).
4.1.2 Distances. Away from tracks (e.g. an expedition reaches a base supply town and then
branches out to a study region across country) D will be a distance measured off a map. Factor it
according to terrain; on a big map (1:1m say) actual distance will be about 1.2 times measured
distance, given reasonable going such as gravel and some stony regions. Savannah, slow going
with much zig-zagging between grass tussocks will 1.3; sand dunes 1.5 to 2; smooth sand/gravel
plain 1.1.
4.1.3 MPG. Some actual Mpg’s encountered are:
Tracks and Tarmac
Land Rover, I-tonne military (V8) 14-18 mpg
Land Rover, LWB, 6 cyl, UK-Gulf 15-18 mpg
Land Rover, 2.51 Turbo Diesel 23-27 mpg
Range Rover, UK-France touring 14-21 mpg
Range Rover, + 12 cwt trailer 9-19 mpg
Range Rover, 7.50 x 16 Michelin XS tyres
bad track: 12-15 mpg
fair track, tarmac: 15-20 mpg
Off Tracks, Open Desert (Sand, Rock, Some Dunes)
Land Rover, I-tonne military (V8) 7-14 mpg
Land Rover, L WB, 6 cyl, Libya 11-14 mpg
Land Rover, LWB, 4 cyl, Mauritania 10-12 mpg
Land Rover, 2.51 Turbo Diesel 22-25 mpg
Range Rover 10-15 mpg
Bedford RL 4-ton truck 2-5 mpg
4.1.4 Fuel Accounting. It is essential to do a nightly calculation of MPG and check on fuel
remaining in tanks and cans. Know the exact number of gallons to top up each night and divide it
into distance covered. Use a jerry can dipstick calibrated against a petrol station pump in the UK to
establish the fuel put in.
4.2 WATER
4.2.1 How Much to Carry? The human body is a machine relying on the simple - unchangeable -
laws of physics to maintain water-balance and ultimately, to maintain the performance of its
thermoregulatory apparatus. There is thus no such thing as a tough person being able to do with
less water than a cissy. Both respond to the same laws, like it or not. Both will only perform well if
they have enough water each day. A simple guide to ‘enough’ being the frequency and colour of
urination. Infrequent urination, passing dark urine (that sometimes stings), often accompanied by
headaches and extreme fatigue are indications of insufficient water intake. Dizziness, nausea,
cessation of sweating and a rise in body temperature indicate things have gone too far and the
Desert Expeditions 17
person is in danger -see notes on Medical and Survival (also guide to survival on given amounts of
water).
Personal experience over a number of expeditions show water required at low physical work loads:
1.5-2 galls/head/day with night/day min/max 5 to 35oC
2.5 to 4 galls " " " " 25 to 45oC
4.2.2 For How Many Days? No hard and fast rules here but a minimum of three extra days’ worth
is a prudent reserve to cover. say. time-consuming breakdown repair work. Thus a journey
involving 6 days’ travel should take 9 days’ water. Radio, rescue facilities, work load at regions of
scientific study, replenishment potential must all be considered.
4.2.3 Purification. Halazone (Steratabs. Puritabs etc) are effective. If in doubt purify, though most
communal tap supplies in Algeria appear to be satisfactory to use as they are.
4.2.4 Survival Consumption Rates: See notes ‘Medical and Survival’.
4.3 FOOD
4.3.1 Dehydrated or Tinned. Weight being an ever present problem. the lightness of dehydrated
foods has its attractions. In general, if water is readily available en route the weight saving can be
considerable and provisioning for a whole expedition is feasible using dehydrated foods. However,
over long waterless regions dehydrated food plus the water with which to reconstitute it weighs as
much as fully constituted tinned rations - and is probably less pleasant to eat as well as requiring
more cooking fuel.
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