I used to see these behemoths and others like them in the Sahara. Frankly they look rather foolish. Actually they are rather foolish. And the Dempster? I've driven it three times in a rental car.
Thank you so much for your factually supported insight into the usefulness of the DAF versus other potential overland vehicles.
Very constructive, now I know not to buy one.
I don't know the dempster highway but I'm certain that if you were to do all the things they were able to do in their truck in your rental car you would wake up very stiff (I don't believe your rental had a permanent double bed) and the rental company would charge you extra cleaning and sanitising fees; after all taking a dump or having a shower in a rental is not advised.
Sorry it's Monday morning.
In my search for a platform I tried to stay away from the 170 hp trap. All across Europe that generation of military vehicles were all specced to 170HP and even though the engines are always torquey, I found them just too sluggish even unladen. Sure you can soup it up but I'm not enough of a tuning expert to feel comfortable travelling long distances with non standard stuff. (says the guy who's built a double cab from a single).
And that's not to mention all the green that I would have had to paint over. But that's just a matter of taste. Some people like using military green in civilian applications; it makes them feel like something they are not.
Good to see anyone who can actually get out and go.