dhackney
Expedition Leader
Interview Date: 20 October 2008
Interview Location: Cuenca, Ecuador
Overlander(s): Joseph & Dorothea Mertens
Overlander(s) Nationality: German
Overlander(s) Web site: http://www.monster-worldtour.de/
Overlander(s) Favorite Destination: Joseph – Australia; Dorothea – Iran
Overlander(s) Least Favorite Destination: Viet Nam (found the people to be too capitalistic)
Overlander(s) Most Memorable Person Met On Route: Too many to count.
Overlander(s) Biggest Lesson(s) to Date: It is impossible to build a single vehicle that is "best" for the entire world. Each region is different and has different requirements. A vehicle that perfect for Asia is not perfect for Europe is not perfect for South America is not perfect for Australia, etc.
Expedition Route: Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand, Columbia, Ecuador; plan to explore the rest of South America
Expedition Begin Date: 6/2005
Expedition Planned Duration: open ended
Expedition Comments:
Vehicle (year/make/model): 1977 Mercedes 4x4 119; ex-German police communications; 1977 Zundap (the bike was manufactured within three months of the truck)
Vehicle Engine (displacement/type): 5.7L, 6 cylinder, naturally aspirated/non-turbo, ~130 HP
Vehicle Kilometers When Purchased: 38,000
Vehicle Current Total Kilometers: 140,000
Vehicle Current Expedition Kilometers: 100,000 on the truck, 3,000 on the bike
Vehicle Fuel Efficiency: typical 21 liters per 100 kilometers / 11.201 miles per gallon
Vehicle Wet Weight: 10 metric tons
Vehicle Dimensions: Length: 7.4 meters / 24.3 feet; Width: 2.5 meters / 8.2 feet; Height: 3.2 meters / 10.5 feet
Vehicle Liquid Capacities: Fuel – 500 liters / 132 gallons; Water – 320 liters / 84.5 gallons; Gray water – 18.5 liters / 4.9 gallons; Black water – 15 liters / 4 gallons
Vehicle Expedition Maintenance/Repairs: broken fuel tank mount (Australia); radiator (Viet Nam, then permanent fix in New Zealand); re-ring motor (Australia)
Vehicle Comments: Very clean example of this popular expedition vehicle. Thoroughness and attention to detail in design, assembly and maintenance is obvious. Camper is bright, open and spacious. Cab modifications greatly enhance the driving experience. Things they would change include: genset and the air conditioner. Refrigerator capacity is 15 liters / 4 gallons and runs on 24 VDC or 220 VAC. Solar capacity is 200 watts @ 24VDC. House bank battery capacity is 190 AH @ 24VDC.
Shipping Company/Companies:
Shipping Comments: Spent $18k USD to ship from New Zealand to Columbia
Insurance Company/Companies: country specific liability
Insurance Comments: Were unable to secure P&C insurance from any carrier.
Interview Overall Comments: Joseph and Dorothea owned an RV/Caravan dealership in Germany. Joseph bought eight of these trucks from various locations when the national police retired the fleet. His was the only one of the eight that used any oil. He attributes the re-ring to “metal tiredness” in the 30 year old rings. They have experienced no other issues with the chassis and are very happy with the vehicle as a whole.
Interview Location: Cuenca, Ecuador
Overlander(s): Joseph & Dorothea Mertens
Overlander(s) Nationality: German
Overlander(s) Web site: http://www.monster-worldtour.de/
Overlander(s) Favorite Destination: Joseph – Australia; Dorothea – Iran
Overlander(s) Least Favorite Destination: Viet Nam (found the people to be too capitalistic)
Overlander(s) Most Memorable Person Met On Route: Too many to count.
Overlander(s) Biggest Lesson(s) to Date: It is impossible to build a single vehicle that is "best" for the entire world. Each region is different and has different requirements. A vehicle that perfect for Asia is not perfect for Europe is not perfect for South America is not perfect for Australia, etc.
Expedition Route: Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand, Columbia, Ecuador; plan to explore the rest of South America
Expedition Begin Date: 6/2005
Expedition Planned Duration: open ended
Expedition Comments:
Vehicle (year/make/model): 1977 Mercedes 4x4 119; ex-German police communications; 1977 Zundap (the bike was manufactured within three months of the truck)
Vehicle Engine (displacement/type): 5.7L, 6 cylinder, naturally aspirated/non-turbo, ~130 HP
Vehicle Kilometers When Purchased: 38,000
Vehicle Current Total Kilometers: 140,000
Vehicle Current Expedition Kilometers: 100,000 on the truck, 3,000 on the bike
Vehicle Fuel Efficiency: typical 21 liters per 100 kilometers / 11.201 miles per gallon
Vehicle Wet Weight: 10 metric tons
Vehicle Dimensions: Length: 7.4 meters / 24.3 feet; Width: 2.5 meters / 8.2 feet; Height: 3.2 meters / 10.5 feet
Vehicle Liquid Capacities: Fuel – 500 liters / 132 gallons; Water – 320 liters / 84.5 gallons; Gray water – 18.5 liters / 4.9 gallons; Black water – 15 liters / 4 gallons
Vehicle Expedition Maintenance/Repairs: broken fuel tank mount (Australia); radiator (Viet Nam, then permanent fix in New Zealand); re-ring motor (Australia)
Vehicle Comments: Very clean example of this popular expedition vehicle. Thoroughness and attention to detail in design, assembly and maintenance is obvious. Camper is bright, open and spacious. Cab modifications greatly enhance the driving experience. Things they would change include: genset and the air conditioner. Refrigerator capacity is 15 liters / 4 gallons and runs on 24 VDC or 220 VAC. Solar capacity is 200 watts @ 24VDC. House bank battery capacity is 190 AH @ 24VDC.
Shipping Company/Companies:
Shipping Comments: Spent $18k USD to ship from New Zealand to Columbia
Insurance Company/Companies: country specific liability
Insurance Comments: Were unable to secure P&C insurance from any carrier.
Interview Overall Comments: Joseph and Dorothea owned an RV/Caravan dealership in Germany. Joseph bought eight of these trucks from various locations when the national police retired the fleet. His was the only one of the eight that used any oil. He attributes the re-ring to “metal tiredness” in the 30 year old rings. They have experienced no other issues with the chassis and are very happy with the vehicle as a whole.
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