In regards to Charlie's post: Funny thing is that people in Siberia do this sort of trek every day! If they can do it-- so can I.
In regards to Charlie's post: Funny thing is that people in Siberia do this sort of trek every day! If they can do it-- so can I.
Last edited by OttoVonMog; 01-20-2012 at 09:06 PM.
I've come to a decision: one Tatra T-813 Kolos 8x8 and one Unimog U-1400 vehicle for this operation. This will be more than enough to take all of film equipment and gear in the heart of Siberia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBUQT...eature=related
V-12 Air Cooled Diesel Power! It is a beautiful thing.
I wonder if should build a shelter on the back of the Tatra or leave it for cargo? I can pull a 20tonne trailer off road with the truck? Perhaps, I'll put a shelter on the back of the Tatra and live out of that.
Fuel tank insulation and heating is going to be paramount for both trucks on this expedition. I could also put on some insulated fuel lines that will help to keep the fuel from gelling. I'm thinking that adding Kerosene, anti-gelling fuel additives, and cetane boost to the mix should keep the fuel in good working order for the trip-- especially if the fuel tanks are heated to about 10 degrees Celsius.
Observer
Having been in Antarctica, the majority of diesel vehicles there utilize jet fuel to beat the temperature issue. Heaters for the engine, transmission and battery assist cold starting. Even the generator sets run on the same fuel, so carrying an APU to keep things warm would help. You may want to practice some cold weather survival techniques, as Charlie is right, those kind of temperatures are very unforgiving. If there is snow pack the warmest place is inside a man made snow cave created from using a snow saw to get below the surface and use the sawed snow blocks to cover the trench. Carry a good sleeping bag for that kind of emergency. Part of our training required us to actually do what I just described. I'm not sure what the terrain is in that part of the world, but if it is mostly snow, I would recommend a tracked vehicle over one with tires.
This is a documentary film production... to get insurance means all of the crew have to be trained in cold weather survival techniques. So that part is non-negotiable if I want to get funding.Originally Posted by 4x4 explorer
As for tracked v. tires-- tracks are good but since i'm starting in middle of Europe and driven from say like Prague to Siberia tracks will not be practical in the city regions. Also, wheeled vehicles are cheaper to maintain over time period I plan to be making my expedition and documentary. So what I'm looking for are vehicles like the MB Unimog and Tatra T813 series trucks. Trucks that are designed for decent on-road performance but have great off performance.
As for the cold-- the The Sakha Republic is very cold usually averaging about -40C in the winter. However, the nearly -70 was only experienced once in two small remote towns of: Oymyakon and Verkhoyansk they are about 400km apart. Oymyakon tends to have colder average temperature. I plan on visiting both on my way to the Arctic Ocean. So I will be very cold conditions but mostly in the -50 to -60 Celsius range for the most part. But I want things that can withstand -70 or lower just to be prepared.
I would love to go to Antarctica myself-- if Herzog can do it-- I can too. I would love to see what Antarctica looks like from say 70,000ft in altitude as weather balloon ascends. I think it would make a great visual image and really bring home the effects we are having on the planet.
Last edited by OttoVonMog; 01-22-2012 at 04:54 PM.
Adventurer
Sounds like a cool project! Good luck!
I have helped outfitting several "expedition docu team trucks" all of them had woodburning stoves/heating systems on board. Together with a super insulated composite living box they made for a cozy basecamp.
Cheers,
A
That is something I would be very interested in learning more about.
Explorer
why don't you go in march instead of of the
coldest part of the year? there will be muchlightand the temps
will moderate. as far as going off established ice roads,forget it.you willquickly get stuck or break
through river ice.
charlie
Unimog U500 with Unicat camper; diesel BMW X5 35d, diesel BJ40 Landcruiser and diesel M37
You make an awful lot of assumptions don't you. First off you cannot get to many places in Siberia in the Arctic Circle unless it is the dead of winter with a truck. Which is why I want to go. I also want to join a convoy of trucks to reach the arctic circle. It will be give me a better sense of the people and way in which they live. As for going off established ice-roads-- I never said that. I said I want to go Kamchatka over land after I'm done with Oymyakon and the Arctic circle. Not that I'm going off established ice roads I plan on going to Kamchatka in late spring and this will be guided by some local. I know I can make it to the Peninsula over land-- the question is just how long will it take.
And I'm seriously doubting you've seen the Tatra T-813 Kolos in action-- with a few modifications this truck is monster off road. I'll use the smaller U1400 series truck as a scout since it is very mobile and small. Then the big Tatra T-813 will come through area after we have an idea of what we're dealing with.
IMHO it is mechanically do-able. There are diesel-fueled or compressed gas-fueled engine heaters available. Insulated fuel lines are possible; anything is possible with enough $$. The difficulty will be in insulating the engine etc. enough to resist the cold without having it overheat in warmer conditions. Obviously the congealing of all lubricants is also a factor, in the engine gearbox and axles. Extreme cold embrittles most materials, so that would have to be considered carefully in the choice of materials and their dimensions to allow for extra reserves of strength. Solid or run-flat tires would be essential IMO. In terms of survivability, the living space would need to be extremely well-insulated and sufficient reserves of food, water and fuel carried to allow weeks or even months of independent survival in case of becoming stuck in an isolated area where rescue during winter would be difficult or impossible.
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