The chosen vehicle for the entire expedition is a 1989 110" Land Rover powered by a good old and trusty 3.5l Rover all alloy V8. I could have taken a diesel engine on this trip but the petrol version gives easier maintenance and well, more shear grunt to get me out of trouble when I need it. The disadvantage is of course water. At the slightest hint of the wet stuff, the V8 goes on holiday and then takes sick leave on its' return. I sat in a small puddle in Botswana for 20mins until a friend pulled me onto dry land. It then took only 1 hour to get the engine running again!
The vehicle is well maintained and has had main gearbox, transfer box and rear diff rebuilt so these are all know components. The alloy engine seems to put up with a lot more than the average engine and still goes well. The gas conversion means that the bills are kept down wherever the LPG fills are available.
The vehicle was chosen for its' off road prowess. I believe it is still the Best 4x4xFar despite what some Toyota drivers claim. I have been places where Toyota's have been damaged or stuck fast and I have not even blinked. I have also embarrassed the Td5 drivers which I have been privileged to travel with. The sticker on the rear door of my beast states 'Toyota Recovery Wagon' and this has only been proven a few times, but it has been proven!
The vehicle has heavy-duty suspension and has air bags in the rear springs. The vehicle is otherwise a basic old Land Rover and copes with anything thrown at it and then some. The roof rack which is of the old steel variety is there to carry the roof tent and nothing more. The Land Rover specification for weight carrying on the roof actually covers the roof rack and nothing more so anyone thinking about carrying the smallest of items on the roof rack, then think again cos its not made for it!
I can carry 290litres of petrol and 100litres of LPG along with 100+litres of water. The vehicle is therefore capable of going just about anywhere and has a range of some 1500km.
There is so much to tell about the vehicle which is my 'Baby'. I will answer questions from anyone interested. See more below for latest changes.
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Latest Modifications
In late 2007, the trusty petrol V8 was destroyed through the use of Opal Fuel, a new petrol derivative produced solely by BP for use in Australian aboriginal areas. Main use is in the Northern Territory but some is available in other states. The fuel is not good for older petrol engines and was responsible for overheating the V8. BP was not interested in my complaints, despite having all necessary proof of the problem so I decided to bite the bullet and go Diesel. This was quite a change but brings with it many advantages including lower fuel consumption, higher torque, more power and the ability to run in water more effectively. Maintenance should be easier and the new engine means starting from a known point for the next leg of the trip.
The engine chosen was the MWM International 2.8L 4 cylinder turbo HS Series. This engine drops straight into the Land Rover and mates to an R380 gearbox with no modification. It gives much needed power and makes the vehicle very driveable.
During the engine change, the vehicle was updated with a new rear axle encompassing a Maxidrive diff lock and disc brakes. A winch is now housed in the front bumper following a redesign and some modification to the original. The winch uses a 10mm Dyneema winch rope which keeps weight down and still retains strength. Two more fuel tanks add to the total fuel capacity, giving a range of more than 2000km if needed. The tanks are bespoke stainless steel and feed into the main tank via a transfer pump. A hot water shower now nestles itself on the top of the engine and together with a pump, provides on demand hot water when the engine in running. A must for the completion of those long driving days before a sundowner on the roof.
Some serious electrical work took place and updated all systems on board including Mp3 capability, UHF radio and lighting. Solar panels connect to charge the dual battery when stationary to allow the Engel 32L to run throughout the day.
On the suspension side, new shock absorbers now adorn the front of the vehicle and the rear has gained another pair of similar shocks to give better long distance handling. The Airbagman airbags are still present and allow for the ride to be tightened up when on road and then relaxed for off road activity.
With all these additions, the vehicle is well and truly set up for the next leg and I am keen to test all this new kit in the touring environment.
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