The most expensive overlander?!
- Thread starter gjackson
- Start date
trailsurfer
Explorer
Landy 89 is just trying to pick a fight where there is not one. Maybe one day when he gets to travel multiple continents in multiple vehicles both and large and small he will have a better perspective.
I wish him luck as a new member of the forum and hope his stay here is productive, it is very entertaining so far!
I wish him luck as a new member of the forum and hope his stay here is productive, it is very entertaining so far!
howell_jd
Adventurer
Hardship is all about perspective...Appreciation is all about attitude
If you visit my profile you will find that my wife is a native of Far East Russia where the definition of a "good" road depends upon comparison. Our visits there have been quite effective at building pride in the quality of US roads...even those stretches of bad pavement in the Arkansas panhandle - boom, boom, boom, boom (was that a bass track or actual asphalt?).
We've managed to enjoy our travels - perhaps your perspective and personal definition will exclude us as overlanders but it won't hurt our feelings - on roads and through areas not otherwise limited to the size of our truck.
I've also had the "pleasure" or "fortune" of pooping in a can for over a year while folks that don't like Americans attempt to send "motivation" my way. I guess I sort of see that as overlanding in a way but again your definition perhaps is different than my own.
Prior to the ER, I had a RoadTrek...decidedly incapable of off-road tracks that have been no problem with the ER...but even the RT saw dirt under the tires - I think that mostly makes a statement about going where you want to and then accepting the consequences of digging or winching or a good Samaritan's assistance. By the way, the RT was MUCH lighter and physically smaller than the ER so "heavy" or "big" really are inadequate for descriptions of limitations.
...By far my favorite recovery was when a bunch of guys hauled me and a few others of my platoon out of some OUTRAGEOUS mud we WALKED into! Night ops and NVGs on foot - I managed to save the boots but my Squad Leaders ensured that a young Lieutenant's ego received proper THRASHING! What a memory...I assure you we all considered our field time as a bit more than "camping" at the time (and to this day as well)...
I guess thread migration has taken hold here - although as a Soldier I think that "expensive overlander" is fitting considering the equipment we travel with!
Hey, here's a photo of a truck we've got at work that moves with no problems in mud or sand...low bearing pressure from the treads!
I'll have to order up a set for the ER someday!
Jonathan
If you visit my profile you will find that my wife is a native of Far East Russia where the definition of a "good" road depends upon comparison. Our visits there have been quite effective at building pride in the quality of US roads...even those stretches of bad pavement in the Arkansas panhandle - boom, boom, boom, boom (was that a bass track or actual asphalt?).
We've managed to enjoy our travels - perhaps your perspective and personal definition will exclude us as overlanders but it won't hurt our feelings - on roads and through areas not otherwise limited to the size of our truck.
I've also had the "pleasure" or "fortune" of pooping in a can for over a year while folks that don't like Americans attempt to send "motivation" my way. I guess I sort of see that as overlanding in a way but again your definition perhaps is different than my own.
Prior to the ER, I had a RoadTrek...decidedly incapable of off-road tracks that have been no problem with the ER...but even the RT saw dirt under the tires - I think that mostly makes a statement about going where you want to and then accepting the consequences of digging or winching or a good Samaritan's assistance. By the way, the RT was MUCH lighter and physically smaller than the ER so "heavy" or "big" really are inadequate for descriptions of limitations.
...By far my favorite recovery was when a bunch of guys hauled me and a few others of my platoon out of some OUTRAGEOUS mud we WALKED into! Night ops and NVGs on foot - I managed to save the boots but my Squad Leaders ensured that a young Lieutenant's ego received proper THRASHING! What a memory...I assure you we all considered our field time as a bit more than "camping" at the time (and to this day as well)...
I guess thread migration has taken hold here - although as a Soldier I think that "expensive overlander" is fitting considering the equipment we travel with!
Hey, here's a photo of a truck we've got at work that moves with no problems in mud or sand...low bearing pressure from the treads!
I'll have to order up a set for the ER someday!
Jonathan
dzzz
™
To get back on this topic, wouldn't we just look at the big 6x6 by unicat and action mobile? My prejudice is that getting over 28' or so the clearance numbers don't work well, even with the biggest practical tires. Plus the vehicle gets bigger than typical commercial trucks in some areas. I don't want to be the biggest truck on the road.
So the "truck porn" of the most expensive offroaders doesn't due much for me. The 6x6 are past my comfort level for mobility.
Many non-unimog owners probably don't realize that the longest standard wheelbase on any model is ~153". Like an average american pickup. The bigger unimogs campers are on wheelbases stretched after production.
Charlie, when you were stuck in Baja, could you not establish a winching anchor point? Have you tried your multiple pull pals?
So the "truck porn" of the most expensive offroaders doesn't due much for me. The 6x6 are past my comfort level for mobility.
Many non-unimog owners probably don't realize that the longest standard wheelbase on any model is ~153". Like an average american pickup. The bigger unimogs campers are on wheelbases stretched after production.
Charlie, when you were stuck in Baja, could you not establish a winching anchor point? Have you tried your multiple pull pals?
dwh
Tail-End Charlie
Hmmm. Dry lakebed in Baja...not many resources around. That'd be a tough nut to crack. Might have to bury a spare wheel to make an anchor point. Could take a while...maybe longer than waiting for help.
Yea, I'd like to know how those work with a heavy beast.
dzzz
™
For a buried anchor point I've thought about carrying some angle iron under the truck. Two pieces bolted into an X with an eye bolt.
I would like to know more about setting an anchor point in rock.
I can winch about 230', but that's not as far as it seems outdoors. A typical 4x4 would a only be an adequate winch anchor if buried. I don't think most people offering to help would go for that......
I would like to know more about setting an anchor point in rock.
I can winch about 230', but that's not as far as it seems outdoors. A typical 4x4 would a only be an adequate winch anchor if buried. I don't think most people offering to help would go for that......
charlieaarons
Explorer
I had only 1 pullpal but now I have 2 inthe truck.
With just 1, it dragged. 2 will probably "catch".
The main thing is to thoroughly prospect "dry" lakes
and lower psi to minimum to decrease ground pressure.
I also now have an 8 ton air bag with 4' lift.
Charlie
With just 1, it dragged. 2 will probably "catch".
The main thing is to thoroughly prospect "dry" lakes
and lower psi to minimum to decrease ground pressure.
I also now have an 8 ton air bag with 4' lift.
Charlie
dwh
Tail-End Charlie
And even if they would...who'd wanna dig the hole? :ylsmoke:
I love all this that rig is too big crap. I love to ride off road on dirt bikes or ATV's on roads that most cars would be destroyed on and many so called off road SUV's would never tackle. The one vehicle I see on every trail back into the woods are the vehicle's the trails were designed for. Since they all started out as logging roads I see big trucks with huge payloads. Not overbuilt Tacoma's but Peterbuilts and Freightliners! Hauling *** usually. I wonder if those drivers are considered overlanders or off road certified! No I don't mean BJ and the Bear are traveling down the Rubicon trail but did you guys ever take a look at some of the trails your driving on and wonder how the hell did that truck parked over there get HERE? The one overlander you will be guaranteed to see in the rain forest is a logging truck!
OK now somebody post some pics of a Unimog god's sake!
OK now somebody post some pics of a Unimog god's sake!
LukeH
Adventurer
no no you've got it all wrong!
That's impossible!
There's no way that a defender could ever need to be helped out by a bigger vehicle. Bigger vehicles are rubbish off road.
We Have Been Told By He Who Knows.
Sorry guys I just couldn't resist. Maybe that's why you chose that vid.
Intrigued by an air jack with four feet of travel; scary all that pressure in a sewn bag.
Is it stable enough to lift an end at a time? Or should one keep to one corner at a time?
That's impossible!
There's no way that a defender could ever need to be helped out by a bigger vehicle. Bigger vehicles are rubbish off road.
We Have Been Told By He Who Knows.
Sorry guys I just couldn't resist. Maybe that's why you chose that vid.
Intrigued by an air jack with four feet of travel; scary all that pressure in a sewn bag.
Is it stable enough to lift an end at a time? Or should one keep to one corner at a time?
dzzz
™
There's not much pressure in air bags. Just a lot of force due to size.
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Following this thread to the couples blog is an interesting read. They're sleeping in a RTT on their "landy". If the landy is somehow superior to a camper for this type of trip the advantages are well hidden. Helen is the blog writer. Perhaps if driver Paul had written the entries there would be some evidence of the superiority of this 50 something couple sleeping on their roof. All I could think of is how I would prefer to crawl into my own camper each night.
I also think the Most Expensive Overlander is probably too big for this type of round the world trip.
---------
Following this thread to the couples blog is an interesting read. They're sleeping in a RTT on their "landy". If the landy is somehow superior to a camper for this type of trip the advantages are well hidden. Helen is the blog writer. Perhaps if driver Paul had written the entries there would be some evidence of the superiority of this 50 something couple sleeping on their roof. All I could think of is how I would prefer to crawl into my own camper each night.
I also think the Most Expensive Overlander is probably too big for this type of round the world trip.
charlieaarons
Explorer
The air bag only hold 9-10 psi; the surface area pushing upwards is ~48x48", so that computes to ~20000 lb!
It is made by Matjack.
Charlie
It is made by Matjack.
Charlie
egn
Adventurer
In 2009 I rescued a large trailer truck in the Czech Republic with my high pressure Vetter V40 (40 metric tons) air bags (max. 10 bar).
I first lifted and secured the trailer, and then pulled out the truck. Then we build a support with my aluminum sand blades and coupled the trailer again. Another pull rescued the complete truck.
The Lithuanian driver was very happy because he would have to wait 4-5 hours for expensive help from a professional service. My help was immediate and for free.
The air bags can be used very well to lift part of a heavy vehicle. I got them cheap from the german army. I have two 40 t and one 32 t air bag and a control panel. It is allowed to put two of them above each other to increase the lifting height.
I first lifted and secured the trailer, and then pulled out the truck. Then we build a support with my aluminum sand blades and coupled the trailer again. Another pull rescued the complete truck.
The Lithuanian driver was very happy because he would have to wait 4-5 hours for expensive help from a professional service. My help was immediate and for free.
The air bags can be used very well to lift part of a heavy vehicle. I got them cheap from the german army. I have two 40 t and one 32 t air bag and a control panel. It is allowed to put two of them above each other to increase the lifting height.
